Segment and challenge
Mitsubishi FR-A800 is a premium heavy-class VFD. Standard series 11-280 kW, with separate rectifier option up to 700 kW. In our B2B sales 2024-2026, FR-A800 means: overhead cranes, sugar industry centrifuges, stamping presses, logging winches, continuously overloaded conveyors, oil and gas equipment with explosion protection.
2026 situation on the Ukrainian market:
- Mitsubishi-Europe has a warehouse in Germany, lead time through us — 4-6 weeks
- Price of FR-A840 22 kW (00470-E2-60) — ~UAH 110,000 ex-VAT (EUR 2,683 + freight + customs)
- Alternatives in UA stock: INVT GD300, Veichi AC310, Delta MH300 — lead time 2-7 days, price UAH 40-65k
Customers often ask: «Our old FR-A700 on the crane burned out. Order an FR-A800 or take a Chinese one?» This is an honest answer article.
What is ordered with FR-A800 and why replacement is hard
FR-A800 is not just a «powerful inverter». It is part of an ecosystem, which is why a simple swap is not always feasible.
1. CC-Link IE Field. If the site runs MELSEC iQ-R, iQ-F PLCs and CC-Link IE Field network — FR-A800 integrates natively via the FR-A8NCE card. A third-party VFD must connect through a CC-Link/Profibus or CC-Link/Modbus gateway, adding UAH 15-25k and integration risk.
2. Real Sensorless Vector Control. Mitsubishi RSVC is their proprietary algorithm giving up to 200% torque at 0.3 Hz without a sensor. INVT GD300 and Veichi AC310 also have vector control, but typical starting torque is 150-180%. For an overhead crane with a full bucket this is the difference between «starts without slipping» and «pulls out».
3. Certifications. FR-A800 has a full CE/UL/RoHS/functional safety SIL2 (opt. SIL3 with FR-A7AY/FR-A7NF) package. If your site needs certification (HACCP, GMP pharma) — Chinese alternatives will not pass review.
4. Service contract. Mitsubishi-Europe guarantees spare parts for 7 years after series end-of-life. INVT/Veichi — as the market provides, typically 3-5 years.
Real 22 kW alternatives in the heavy industry class
| Parameter | Mitsubishi FR-A840-00470-E2-60 | INVT GD300-22G/30P-4 | Veichi AC310-T3-022G-B |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power | 22 kW | 22/30 kW (G/P) | 22 kW |
| Supply | 3×380-480 V | 3×380 V | 3×380 V |
| Output current | 47 A | 45 A | 45 A |
| Control | V/f, SLV, RSVC, V/f with PG, vector with PG | V/f, SLV, vector with PG, synchronous PMSM | V/f, SLV, vector with PG |
| Starting torque | 200% at 0.3 Hz (RSVC) | 180% at 0.5 Hz | 150% at 0.5 Hz |
| Overload | 200% 0.5 s, 150% 60 s (HD) | 180% 1 s, 150% 60 s | 180% 1 s, 150% 60 s |
| Modbus | FR protocol + Modbus RTU | Modbus RTU standard | Modbus RTU standard |
| Comms cards | CC-Link IE Field, ProfiBus, EtherCAT, EtherNet/IP (FR-A8N*) | Profibus, Profinet, EtherCAT, CANopen | Profibus, Profinet, CANopen |
| STO Safe Torque Off | SIL2 (built-in) / SIL3 with FR-A7NF | SIL2 built-in | SIL2 built-in |
| Lead time Ukraine | 4-6 weeks | 2-7 days from stock | 2-7 days from stock |
| Price (May 2026) | UAH 110,000 | UAH 67,000 | UAH 57,000 |
| Service contract | 7 years | 5 years | 3-5 years |
When you must wait for FR-A800 (4-6 weeks are justified)
1. Drop-in replacement. If your FR-A540 or FR-A700 burned out and the terminal block is compatible with FR-A800 — that is 1-2 hours of installer work versus 1-2 days of configuration rework for INVT/Veichi. On a line with UAH 30k/day downtime the choice is obvious.
2. CC-Link IE Field integration. If the site already has MELSEC iQ-R/iQ-F and the SCADA knows Mitsubishi format — FR-A8NCE integration = 10 minutes. Third-party VFD + gateway = 2-5 days and risk.
3. Site certification. HACCP/GMP/functional safety sites require documented certificates. Mitsubishi has the full package out of the box, Chinese alternatives — partial.
4. Real Sensorless Vector with 200% torque. Overhead cranes with buckets, logging winches with full loads — starting torque is critical. INVT/Veichi at 150-180% may pull out without an encoder, FR-A800 RSVC holds.
When you can (should) take an alternative
1. New site with no legacy MELSEC. If you design from scratch and do not need to integrate with the Mitsubishi ecosystem — INVT GD300 or Veichi AC310 close 90% of tasks at half the price.
2. Line downtime 50+ k UAH/day. If you are down now, waiting 4-6 weeks for FR-A800 = UAH 1.5-3M lost on downtime. Take INVT GD300 from our stock now, integration 1-2 days.
3. Budget pressure 40-50%. For private B2B customers with limited capex, the 110 vs 60 k UAH × 5 drives = UAH 250k savings.
4. Second-priority site. Backup line, test stand, retrofit of old equipment to be modernized in 2-3 years — premium does not amortize. Take INVT.
Hybrid strategy: when to mix Mitsubishi and alternatives on one site
In real B2B sales we often propose a mixed strategy:
- Critical drives (1-3 units per line): Mitsubishi FR-A800. Crane hoist, main press drive, sanitary centrifuge.
- Auxiliary drives (4-10 units per line): INVT GD300 or Veichi AC310. Auxiliary conveyors, cooling fans, cooling pumps.
This gives you critical quality where needed and savings where possible. Mitsubishi-ecosystem + Veichi-auxiliaries — we have done 3-4 sites like this in 2024-2026.
What we offer on the site
FR-A800/FR-A840 in stock: 11 main typesizes (0.75 kW through 30 kW), procurement cycle EU warehouse 4-6 weeks, price at current EUR Mitsubishi-Europe pricelist. Examples:
- FR-A840-00023 (0.75 kW) — UAH 34,100
- FR-A840-00170 (7.5 kW) — UAH 60,300
- FR-A840-00470 (22 kW) — UAH 175,000
- FR-A840-00620 (30 kW) — UAH 199,000
Alternatives INVT GD300/Veichi AC310/Delta MH300 in stock: in Ukraine, delivery 2-7 days.
How to make the right choice — 5-step algorithm
- What lead time can you afford? <2 weeks → INVT/Veichi/Delta. >4 weeks → Mitsubishi or alternative, but watch the price.
- Legacy MELSEC PLC on site? Yes → Mitsubishi justified. No → save with an alternative.
- Need SIL2/SIL3 functional safety certificate? Yes → Mitsubishi or ABB. No → INVT/Veichi.
- Is starting torque critical? 200%+ → Mitsubishi RSVC or INVT GD300 with encoder. <180% → any VFD works.
- How many drives per line? 1-2 critical → Mitsubishi OK. 5+ repeating → save with INVT/Veichi at scale.
Bottom line
Mitsubishi FR-A800 is a premium solution with real technical advantages (RSVC, CC-Link IE Field, SIL3, 7-year service). In its place in 2026 it is justified only where these advantages are concretely needed. In 60-70% of heavy industry 22-55 kW tasks, INVT GD300 or Veichi AC310 will cover the same process at half the price and 5× shorter lead time.
If unsure — write to a manager with the specific task (power, load type, integration, budget, lead time). We will propose a realistic option.
Useful reading: Mitsubishi FR-A800 catalog, INVT GD300 catalog, Veichi AC310 catalog, Mitsubishi Electric brand page.
