Motors and Drives The Challenges to a Global Company

Abstract

The challenges to a global company in the electric motors and drives business are substantial but exciting. Economic pressures are causing global consolidation within the industry and there is a progressive shift in emphasis towards the world’s emerging markets. Simultaneously a growing awareness of the need to conserve our environment has pushed energy saving up the social/political agenda particularly in developed territories. Our industries and our products need to respond to both these pressures. A challenge certainly but one which can be met.

Within my own company B.T.R., the Power Drives Group comprising Brook Hansen, Fasco and Rexnord make fractional and integral horsepower motors, drives and associated power transmission equipment. It is thus closely associated with the subject of this conference. The group has a turnover of 1.6 billion US dollars and is part of the engineering products portfolio of B.T.R which has a total turnover of 15 billion US dollars.

We are one of the global players in our industry, not just in size but also in investment. More than 70% of our products have been redesigned in the last five years. Size for size our new gear units transmit more power than their predecessors, the efficiencies of our new motors are amongst the best in the world and new energy saving electronic drives are becoming increasingly important.

In parallel with an annual investment in new products and production facilities equal to 6% of turnover, sales volumes and profitability have increased year on year. These facts provide my credentials for addressing this conference.