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Dunkermotoren acquires Copley linear motors business

05 August, 2011

The German motor manufacturer Dunkermotoren has bought the Copley Motion Systems (CMS) linear motor business, based in Basildon in the UK, for an undisclosed sum. CMS’s previous owner, the US-based Analogic Corporation acquired the business when it bought the motion controls manufacturer Copley Controls for $69m in 2008. Copley had acquired the operation, formerly known as Linear Drives, from receivership in 2002.

The acquisition adds linear motors to Dunkermotoren’s existing portfolio of brushed and brushless rotary motors with integrated controls. CMS – now renamed Dunkermotoren Linear Systems (DLS) – makes compact, rugged tubular linear motors that operate up to ten times faster than ballscrew systems. The UK operation is already displaying its new name (above).

“We are excited to be able to provide this expanded range of solutions for our existing customers and market segments," says Dunkermotoren’s managing director, Nikolaus Gräf. “The new DLS technology and product lines are logical complements and the extended product portfolio gives our globally positioned sales team the chance to offer even more comprehensive solutions to the customer.”

Dunkermotoren plans to keep the development and manufacturing operation in the UK. At present, the business employs 21 people and has annual sales worth around €2m. Its linear motors are sold under the ServoTube brand. Dunkermotoren believes that sales could be increased considerably using its distribution channels.

Dunkermotoren, founded in 1950, currently employs around 950 people, including 720 in Germany and 130 in China. Its sales have doubled in the past six years and were worth around €140m last year. Its portfolio includes brushed and brushless DC motors, small AC motors, gearboxes, controllers, gateways, encoders, brakes and venetian blind drives.

Last year, Dunkermotoren was bought from Alacatel-Lucent by the private equity investor Triton for €145m.




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