European motor giant ATB is to take over British icon Brook Crompton, having acquired a near 30 percent shareholding in Brook's parent group Lindeteves Jacoberg (LJ), with plans to increase this to over 50 percent. ATB, which claims around 50 percent market share in Germany, says the acquisition will boost its own manufacturing capacity as well as significantly increasing its presence in the UK. It also reckons it has the track record to turn around the fortunes of Brook Crompton.
The combined turnover of the two groups is approaching Euros 400million, which puts them in the top three European motor makers. The groups are represented in all geographic regions and all significant markets. Product ranges encompasses standard low and high voltage AC induction motors, permanent magnet motors, DC motors, high precision servomotors, explosion proof motors, and sizes from fractional horsepower to multi-megawatt.
ATB has appointed Heinz Grossman CEO of the LJ Group and Neil Stewardson as COO and Deputy CEO. Stewardson, who has 20 years experience in the UK motors industry, gives an overview: "Brook Crompton is a fine firm with a long pedigree, but in the last few years it has suffered cash flow difficulties that have compromised its UK customer service levels. The injection of new capital by ATB immediately relieves many of the problems. Although there is still work to do, the foundations have been laid for a stronger recovery during 2006 and beyond.
"Brook's product quality has never been in doubt; with the liquidity issues addressed we can look forward to rebuilding its reputation and rightful market position by once more offering market leading customer service levels. On the international front the combined might of Brook and ATB will rapidly become and irresistible force."
Christian Schmidt, the ATB Austria CEO, is clearly satisfied with this latest investment motors supply: "For the ATB Group, this acquisition not only means significantly increased sales, but more importantly an excellent strategic supplement. Both groups now have access to markets where we were previously underrepresented, plus we have enlarged of our product portfolio with a number of complementary ranges."
Brook Cormpton once enjoyed a market share as high as 70 percent in the UK, but even the current estimated 20 percent still makes it the UK's biggest player. The wide range of standard motors is complemented by the capability to build custom machines, with examples including a water cooled motor which fits into a vacuum pump.
The company's credentials in the vacuum market are exemplified by the development of an axial airgap motor for an innovative dry vacuum pump. The motor was designed from scratch to meet the specific requirements of the project. The demarcation between motor and pump was determined by manufacturing practicalities, with an extended motor housing that encloses some of the pump mechanisms and that is leak-tight to vacuum industry standards. This incorporates the vacuum inlet port, the motor foot becoming the base-plate for the complete pump. The motor terminal box provides the connection for the pump-cooling fan.
The axial airgap motor differs most obviously from conventional AC motors in its compact, pancake shape and a shaft extension that has an offset crank. The castings and mouldings that form the electrical enclosure (frame, end-shield, feet and terminal box) are unique and have been tooled up specially. The wide voltage-band capability of the motor means that the same unit can be used in Europe or the USA. Additional features were also designed in for this application, including an electronic timer to record hours of service, a plug and socket, on/off and a voltage change switch.
