In short:Compact 12/24 VDC actuators, industrial electric rod actuators and screw or belt rodless units from other makers can replace many Thomson series, but only once force, speed, duty cycle, supply voltage, onboard controls, sealing and mounting are matched to the real application.
What Thomson makes
Thomson is one of Regal Rexnord’s linear motion brands. Its range is broad: electric linear actuators, ball screws and lead screws, linear bearings, guides and shafting, linear units, screw jacks, lifting columns and related gearheads, clutches and brakes. Thomson and Electrak are trademarks of their owner.
The parts most engineers ask us about are the electric actuators. Electrak HD and XD are heavy-duty DC actuators with optional onboard electronics; Electrak MD, Electrak 1 and Electrak 050 are compact units; Max Jac is aimed at mobile and off-highway equipment; the PC Series is a precision industrial rod actuator; and the WM (POWERLINE) and WH (SPEEDLINE) linear units provide screw- and belt-driven rodless motion.
Why engineers look for a Thomson alternative
- Lead time for a specific stroke, voltage or electronics option.
- Second source for a part that would otherwise stop a production line.
- Budget, where the full feature set of a smart actuator is not needed.
- Different technology. Some axes started on a DC actuator and now need servo positioning, higher duty or washdown construction.
- Different format, such as a rodless unit instead of a rod actuator to save length.
How to check a linear actuator alternative is equivalent
- Force in both directions. Push and pull, dynamic and static (holding) load.
- Speed at load. DC actuators slow as load rises; compare the speed curve, not the no-load figure.
- Duty cycle. At your load and ambient temperature.
- Supply and control. 12, 24 or 48 VDC, or a servo or stepper drive; limit switches, potentiometer or encoder feedback, PWM, analogue or CAN control.
- Mounting and envelope. Retracted length, stroke, clevis or trunnion details, and rod end.
- Environment. IP rating, salt spray, temperature and vibration for mobile use.
- Life and approvals. Rated life in cycles, and any CE, UKCA or industry approvals your product carries.
- Rodless units. Payload, moment loads, guidance stiffness, stroke and repeatability.
Our guides on how to select a linear actuator and how to size a linear actuator cover the force, speed and duty calculations.
Linear actuator alternatives in our supply network
For compact DC applications, the G-Series leadscrew actuator is a 12/24 VDC acme screw unit with an internal gearbox and built-in limit switches, rated to 6,000 N. The GT44 actuator has an aluminium housing and stainless rod with 6,000 N push, and the GD geared actuator offers five gear ratios trading 300 to 2,000 N against speed. For fast, light loads, the LA55Z compact actuator moves 250 N at 150 mm/s with IP66/67 sealing.
For fixed industrial machines, the Tolomatic RSA-ST rod actuator is a general-purpose electric cylinder in six sizes up to about 17.9 kN, and the ERD stainless-tube actuator is a lighter option for pneumatic replacement. Where a rodless unit is the better fit, the MXE screw-drive rodless actuator and the B3W belt-drive rodless actuator, with strokes up to 14.6 m, are typical alternatives to WM and WH linear units.
The linear actuators hub lists the full range.
Notes on these comparisons
The table under this text compares each Thomson series we hold data for with the closest product from our supply network, on published figures only. “Equivalent” means a product that meets the stated specification for your application, confirmed by an engineer; it does not mean identical. Specify Motion is not affiliated with, authorised by or endorsed by Thomson or Regal Rexnord, and no logos are used. Names are used only to identify the products being compared.
Where an industrial actuator is shown against a mobile DC actuator, read it as a different technology that meets the figures, not a drop-in replacement. Send us the model code and how the actuator is controlled and we will say which it is.
Thomson series and the closest match from our supply network
Each row compares the highest published figures for the series. A match here is a starting point: an engineer confirms the fit for your load, duty, mounting and interface before recommending anything.
| Thomson series | Type | Closest match |
|---|---|---|
| Electrak 050 (E050) | Compact actuator | G-Series Leadscrew Linear Actuator meets or exceeds the figures compared Meets or exceeds all 2 figures compared |
| Electrak 1 / Electrak 1SP | Compact actuator | G-Series Leadscrew Linear Actuator meets or exceeds the figures compared Meets or exceeds all 2 figures compared |
| Electrak 10Legacy | Rod actuator | Tolomatic RSA-ST (standard thrust) meets or exceeds the figures compared Meets or exceeds all 3 figures compared |
| Electrak HD | Rod actuator | Tolomatic RSA-ST (standard thrust) meets or exceeds the figures compared Meets or exceeds all 3 figures compared |
| Electrak MD | Compact actuator | G-Series Leadscrew Linear Actuator meets or exceeds the figures compared Meets or exceeds all 2 figures compared |
| Electrak XD | Rod actuator | Tolomatic RSA-ST (standard thrust) meets 2 of 3 figures Meets 2 of 3 figures compared |
| Max Jac | Compact actuator | G-Series Leadscrew Linear Actuator meets or exceeds the figures compared Meets or exceeds all 2 figures compared |
| MLA motorized lead screw actuator (stepper motor linear actuators) | Compact actuator | G-Series Leadscrew Linear Actuator Same product type |
| PC Series precision linear actuators | Rod actuator | Tolomatic RSA-ST (standard thrust) meets or exceeds the figures compared Meets or exceeds all 3 figures compared |
| Warner Linear B-Track K2 | Rod actuator | Tolomatic RSA-ST (standard thrust) meets or exceeds the figures compared Meets or exceeds all 3 figures compared |
| WH (SPEEDLINE) linear units | Rodless belt actuator | Tolomatic B3W Belt-Drive Rodless meets 1 of 3 figures Meets 1 of 3 figures compared |
| WhisperTrakDiscontinued | Compact actuator | LA55Z High Speed Compact Linear Actuator meets 2 of 3 figures Meets 2 of 3 figures compared |
| WM (POWERLINE) linear units | Rodless screw actuator | Tolomatic MXE Screw-Drive Rodless (MXE-S / MXE-P) meets 1 of 2 figures Meets 1 of 2 figures compared |
Specify Motion is not affiliated with Regal Rexnord. Brand and series names are used only to identify products. Comparisons use published figures; always confirm against the current datasheet.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a direct replacement for an Electrak actuator?
For the smaller Electrak and Max Jac models, compact 12/24 VDC acme screw actuators with built-in limit switches cover similar force and stroke ranges. The harder parts to match are the onboard electronics, such as position feedback, CAN bus control or end-of-stroke signals, and approvals for mobile equipment. List every feature your machine uses, not only force and stroke, before choosing.
What duty cycle should I compare between DC actuators?
Compare the duty cycle at the load you actually run. Compact DC actuators are often rated well below 100 percent; the GT44, for example, publishes 10 percent (1 minute on, 9 minutes off). A unit with the same force but a lower duty rating will overheat in a busy cycle. If your machine runs continuously, a servo-driven rod actuator is usually the safer choice.
Can an industrial rod actuator replace an Electrak HD or XD?
In a fixed machine with mains power and a servo or stepper drive, yes, and it may give better positioning and duty. On mobile machinery running from a 12, 24 or 48 V battery, it usually is not a like-for-like swap, because the motor, drive and controls change. Tell us the supply voltage and how the actuator is controlled so we compare the right products.
What should I send to get a Thomson equivalent proposed?
Send the full model code, the load in push and pull, stroke, speed, duty cycle, supply voltage, control method (switches, PWM, analogue, CAN), feedback needs, mounting dimensions, IP rating, temperature range and any approvals. For WM or WH linear units, add the payload, moments, stroke, speed and the motor or drive you plan to use.
Sources
- Thomson Industries newsroom (Thomson as a Regal Rexnord linear motion brand; product lines)
- Thomson: Electrak XD electric linear actuator
Figures are summarised from the sources above and from manufacturers' published data on the date shown. Always confirm against the current datasheet for your exact part.