German drives-maker establishes UK base

Germany`s third largest manufacturer of gearboxes and motors, ABM Greiffenberger Antriebstechnik, has set up a UK sales office in Kettering, Northamptonshire. ABM, whose turnover exceeds £40m, previously had a low profile in the UK, dealing with local customers through distributors.

The company specialises in developing gear and motor systems for particular customer applications, manufacturing most of the components itself. "We`re not an off-the-shelf producer," explains Colin Fletcher, ABM`s UK sales manager, who joined the company from Simplatroll (now Lenze).

This approach provides customers with purpose-designed components rather than them having to rely on standard products. ABM`s range includes single- and two-speed geared motors from 0.04-30kW, single-and three-phase AC motors, and DC machines. Its gearboxes include helical, bevel, worm and shaft-mounted varieties - and combinations of these.

One of ABM`s strengths is in battery-powered vehicles such as forklifts. The company has recently won a couple of orders in the UK for applications of this type. Fletcher says that ABM`s UK turnover is now around £2m.