WEG acquires electric machinery
April 2012
News
Brazilian motor and control manufacturer WEG has signed an agreement to acquire the United States based organisation Electric Machinery. Gary Daines, sales and marketing director of Zest WEG Group in South Africa said the acquisition is an exciting development since Electric Machinery has 100 years of history in large machines, a strong reputation for high quality products and excellent brand recognition in key market segments.
Electric Machinery’s facility in Minneapolis
“From a global perspective, this acquisition complements WEG’s offering, with state-of-the-art products and technology,” he says.
Electric Machinery, founded in 1891 and based in Minneapolis, custom designs and manufactures motors, generators and brushless exciters that serve thousands of customers worldwide, primarily in the oil and gas and power generation industries. The business also provides a complete range of after-market services including installation, field support, parts, repairs, upgrades, stator rewinds, high-speed balancing and technical support.
Harry Schmelzer Jr., WEG’s chief executive officer, says the production platform in North America now combines the plant in Minneapolis with our plants in Mexico, allowing us unsurpassed flexi-bility and providing integrated solutions in the region.
Electric Machinery has an installed base of more than 5500 units and is a technological leader in the development of high value added products, such as 2-pole turbo generators and slow speed synchronous motors. Revenues for 2011 are estimated to reach US$ 56 million.
WEG acquired the Zest Group in 2010. ZEST distributes markets and supports a wide range of electric motors, variable speed drives, transformers and switchgear in sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, the organisation owns a number of subsidiary companies serving key areas of South Africa’s mining, manufacturing and municipal sectors.
For more information contact Jamie Wilson, Zest, +27 (0)11 723 6000, www.zest.co.za
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