Motors & Drives Information

Saftronics and A.O. Smith have announced the formation of a strategic alliance that will allow both companies to enhance their complementary marketing strategies.

Under terms of the agreement, Saftronics will leverage A.O. Smith's existing distribution-channel strength to augment its own channels. And A.O. Smith will supplement its broad line of commercial and industrial motors with the Saftronics line of AC drives.

"This new relationship expands our presence in specific channel niches that are critical to continuing the aggressive growth Saftronics has experienced in recent years, said David van der Merwe, president of Saftronics. "Our two companies are uniquely compatible in the ways we manage our business and how we approach the market, adding to the strength of our alliance".

Paul Doyle, vice president of marketing for A.O. Smith Electrical Products Company (EPC), was equally upbeat. "This alliance positions us to offer a wide range of motor and drive solutions for a long list of standard catalog and application-specific requirements. It further validates our commitment to meet the complete motor-related needs of our customers, particularly our industrial and commercial distributors."

Based in Ft. Myers, Fla., Saftronics is a $48 million company that develops and manufactures solid-state motor controls. The company has subsidiaries in Portland, Ore.; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Charlotte, N.C. During the past 25 years, Saftronics and its affiliates have supplied AC drives, solid-state starters, and DC drives to a host of major industries, including textile, lumber, plastic, paper, oil, HVAC, and wastewater operations. Those products are used in a wide variety of equipment and applications, including conveyors, pumps, fans, hoists, elevators, and general process-control systems.

A.O. Smith Electrical Products Company, based in Tipp City, Ohio, is A.O. Smith Corporation's largest operating unit, with 1999 sales of $723 million. It manufactures a comprehensive line of hermetic, subfractional, fractional, and integral horsepower AC and DC electric motors used in a wide array of consumer, commercial, and industrial products.

# posted by Medical Information : 2:25 AM