ITE/Siemens 5600 and 5640 Series Motor Control Centers and MCC Buckets: What to Do Now That OEM Support Has Ended

For decades, the ITE/Siemens 5600 and 5640 Series Motor Control Centers (MCCs) have been the backbone of industrial facilities across North America. These MCCs earned a reputation for durability, reliability, and long service life. Today, many of these lineups are still operating daily in manufacturing plants, water treatment facilities, commercial buildings, and processing operations.

Unfortunately, one significant challenge has emerged: OEM support for the 5600 and 5640 Series has ended.

If your facility relies on these MCCs, finding replacement buckets, parts, or technical support has become increasingly difficult. The good news is that replacing an entire MCC lineup is rarely the only option.

What Does End of OEM Support Mean?

When a manufacturer discontinues support for a product line, several issues typically follow:

• New replacement buckets become unavailable through the OEM.
• Replacement parts become increasingly difficult to source.
• Repair lead times grow longer.
• Equipment failures can result in extended downtime.
• Complete MCC replacement is often recommended—even when only a single bucket has failed.

For many facilities, replacing an entire motor control center represents a substantial capital expense, often involving engineering changes, production downtime, and electrical modifications that extend well beyond the cost of the original problem.

Your Existing MCC May Still Have Years of Life Remaining

Although OEM support has ended, many 5600 and 5640 lineups remain mechanically sound. In many cases, only individual buckets require replacement due to equipment upgrades, electrical failures, or physical damage.

Rather than replacing an entire lineup, many facilities choose to replace or retrofit only the affected bucket, allowing them to:

• Extend the service life of the existing MCC.
• Minimize production downtime.
• Reduce capital expenditures.
• Upgrade specific motor starters or breakers without replacing the complete lineup.
• Maintain compatibility with existing infrastructure.

New Replacement MCC Buckets

At Select Equipment Co., we specialize in helping customers keep legacy MCC systems operating safely and reliably.

We manufacture new replacement buckets designed for existing ITE/Siemens 5600 and 5640 Series motor control centers.

Depending on your application, replacement buckets can be configured with:

• Across-the-line motor starters
• Reversing motor starters
• Molded case circuit breakers
• Motor circuit protectors
• Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs)
• Soft starters
• Control power transformers
• Pilot devices and control stations
• Custom control circuits
• Terminal blocks and customer-specific wiring

Every application is different, which is why we work directly with customers to configure replacement buckets that meet their operational requirements.

Retrofit Solutions for Modern Components

One of the biggest advantages of replacing a bucket instead of an entire lineup is the opportunity to modernize the internal components.

Legacy contactors, overload relays, and breakers can often be replaced with current-generation equipment that offers improved performance, easier maintenance, and better long-term parts availability.

Retrofitting can provide benefits such as:

• Improved reliability
• Easier future maintenance
• Better availability of replacement parts
• Updated overload protection
• Modern breaker technology
• Integration of VFDs or soft starters
• Custom control modifications

The result is an MCC that retains the existing lineup while incorporating modern electrical equipment where it matters most.

Replacement Doesn't Always Mean Standard

Every facility has different operational requirements.

Some customers need an exact functional replacement for an existing bucket. Others take the opportunity to improve their process by adding new control features or upgrading motor protection.

Select Equipment can work with customers to provide solutions such as:

• Converting starter buckets to VFD buckets
• Upgrading breaker technologies
• Adding control relays or monitoring
• Custom wiring modifications
• Pilot light and pushbutton changes
• Customer-specific control schemes

Our goal is to provide a solution that fits both your existing MCC and your operational needs.

Technical Experience Matters

Legacy MCC systems often require more than simply replacing components. Proper fit, stab alignment, wiring layout, and integration with the existing lineup are critical to reliable operation.

Working with a company experienced in legacy motor control centers can help reduce installation issues and shorten project timelines.

Don't Replace the Entire MCC Until You Explore Your Options

A damaged bucket does not necessarily mean the entire motor control center has reached the end of its life.

In many situations, replacing or retrofitting a single bucket can restore reliable operation while avoiding the cost and downtime associated with a complete MCC replacement.

If your facility operates an ITE/Siemens 5600 or 5640 Series Motor Control Center, Select Equipment Co. can help evaluate your options and develop a practical replacement or retrofit solution.

Whether you need a replacement starter bucket, a new breaker bucket, a VFD conversion, or a custom-engineered retrofit, our team can help extend the life of your existing MCC investment while bringing modern technology into your electrical distribution system.

Need help identifying or replacing an ITE/Siemens 5600 or 5640 Series bucket? Contact Select Equipment Co. to discuss your application and available replacement or retrofit solutions.