Mounting Plates

Mounting Plates

A mounting plate is the steel base that connects equipment to its installation point — motor to gearbox, pump to bedplate, accessory to machine frame. Get the plate right and the assembly is solid, true, and easy to service. Get it wrong and the equipment vibrates, misaligns, or simply doesn't fit. AIMS Industrial stocks mounting plates for the common motor, gearbox, and equipment configurations found in Australian industry.

What we stock

• Motor mounting plates — for IEC and NEMA frame sizes, with standard hole patterns and slot adjustments
• Gearbox adapter plates — for connecting gearboxes to non-standard mounting points
• Pump bedplates — for centrifugal pump and motor combinations
• Equipment base plates — for fitting machinery to skids, frames, or floor mounts
• Sliding motor bases — for belt-drive setups where tension needs adjustment

Material and thickness

Most mounting plates are mild steel, machined and welded, supplied raw or painted depending on the environment. Thickness is the spec to watch — too thin and the plate flexes under load, defeating the alignment work. Standard thicknesses run 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm, and 16mm. For corrosive environments, stainless and galvanised options are available on request.

Standard or custom?

Stock plates suit the common motor and gearbox sizes. For non-standard hole patterns, oversized plates, or unusual thicknesses, we can supply blank or part-finished plates and quote on machining if needed.

Sliding motor bases — the underrated option

If you're running a belt drive (V-belt, Micro-V, or timing belt), a sliding motor base lets you adjust tension without unbolting and shimming. The motor sits on a sub-frame with adjustment screws — a few turns of the screw moves the motor, retensions the belt, and locks back in place. A small spend that pays back every time the belts need attention.

Finishing — paint, galvanise, or leave raw?

Most mild-steel mounting plates come raw or with a primer-only finish so the installer can match the rest of the equipment. Painted plates suit indoor workshops; hot-dip galvanised plates suit outdoor and damp environments where a paint film won't last; stainless suits chemical, marine, and food-grade applications. Raw plates need a finish applied before installation — bare steel rusts fast under coolant or condensation, and surface rust under bolt heads loosens fasteners over time.

Drilling and modification

Steel mounting plates can be drilled, slotted, or trimmed on standard workshop equipment with the right cutting tools. For thick plates (12mm+), a magnetic-base drill with annular cutters is faster than a standard twist drill. Cut clean, deburr the edges, and protect the cut surfaces if the plate is going into a corrosive environment.

Need help with a fitment?

contact our team with the motor frame size or gearbox model, the bolt pattern you're working into, and any space constraints — we'll match a plate or quote a custom one.