Portuguese acquisition boosts motor output

WEG has taken the next step in its strategic plan to become the world's largest manufacturer of low voltage electric motors, with the acquisition of a new manufacturing plant in Maia, Portugal.

WEG has taken the next step in its strategic plan to become the world's largest manufacturer of low voltage electric motors, with the acquisition of a new manufacturing plant in Maia, Portugal.

The new acquisition is designed to build upon WEG's global growth of 30% in 2001, and to bring the company closer to its European customers, ensuring optimised lead times in an increasingly demanding market.

Commenting on the acquisition, Decio Da Silva, WEG's Chief Executive Officer, said that: "This investment comes at a difficult time for industry in general and highlights our commitment to European manufacturing, which is in direct contrast to many of our competitors, who are moving their production to Asiatic countries.

It is another phase of our growth strategy, building upon 40 years intensive investment in our business - in the personnel training, state-of the art manufacturing facilities, quality systems and new technologies - which has brought us outstanding growth worldwide and taken our global sales past the US $600 million dollar mark".

WEG has purchased the Maia manufacturing plant from EFACEC Universal Motors, the leading motor manufacturer in Portugal.

The acquisition is WEG's fourth outside Brazil and has been undertaken to further reduce lead times to all European customers and to increase WEG's share of the large European market, which at present represents 24% of the company's global business.

Currently WEG manufactures over 8 million motors annually for the world market, enough for three complete laps of the globe.

The added capacity provided by the new 11,545m2 manufacturing plant - with its workforce of over 150 - complements WEG's existing lines with low voltage ATEX compliant explosion proof motors and TEFC motors.

These are manufactured in both standard and special configurations in frame sizes ranging from 225S/M (37kW/50kW) up to 800 (10MW, 15kV).

Overseeing production of these motors, and overall management of the plant, is Martin Werninghaus, former Production Director of WEG Motores in Brazil.

Commenting on his appointment he said that: "The multi-million-pound investment in the Portuguese plant is in addition to WEG's plans for its factories in Brazil where the company is poised to spend over $150 million over the next 3 years investing in manufacturing processes and technology.

The majority of this is to be spent on constantly researching and developing WEG motors to ensure that they are always the best available".

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