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Control Techniques names Pickering as its new president

13 December, 2017

Control Techniques has appointed drives industry stalwart Tony Pickering as its new president. He joins the Welsh-based drives-maker almost a year after it was acquired from Emerson by Japan's Nidec group of companies.

Pickering brings with him 30 years of experience in the variable-speed drives business, most recently as Schneider Electric’s zone industry president for the Middle East and Africa, based in France. His previous roles have included being Schneider Electric’s drives and motion sales manager in the UK, Danfoss’ senior director for Northern Europe, and Lenze (AC Tech)’s international general manager.

Pickering wants to see Control Techniques return to the top table of drives manufacturers. “Control Techniques’ heritage in the drives market is well known,” he says. “If you look at the history of drives, Control Techniques was the first to market with so many things we take for granted now.

“We have ambitious plans,” he adds. “We have a great range of products and we need to get that message across loud and clear. I bring the expertise of almost 30 years in the market, working at a high level, so I understand the tactics of the market and the needs of the customer.”

Pickering believes that Control Techniques must build on its British heritage. “It's a huge plus for us,” he says. “The drives are designed, tested and manufactured in the UK. Our expert teams offer fantastic technical support from the UK. We are the last major British drives manufacturer and with the backing of Nidec, the world's largest manufacturer of motors, we can build from a solid base. It’s a marriage made in heaven.”

Pickering: aiming to put Control Techniques back on the map

As someone who began his career as an apprentice, Pickering understands the importance of attracting and developing the next generation of talent. “We have a superb graduate programme – the E3 Academy – and we want the best young engineers to want to join Control Techniques,” he says. “They should know they will have everything they need to achieve great things in their careers. It's one of the most impressive working environments you could ever hope to see, in an amazing part of the country.

“My ambition is to put us back on the map,” Pickering declares. “We talk drives, we live drives, and everyone in this company is from a drives background. The length of service I've seen from the various PhDs and chartered engineers in this organisation is incredible.

“Control Techniques has great existing products and some exciting new things on the horizon,” he concludes. “We have everything we need to really move this company forward.”




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