The first new motors factory to be built in Europe for several years has recently started to produce LV machines at its site near Barcelona, Spain. The €20m AEG plant, at Terrassa, replaces an older factory nearby that was becoming too big and expensive to maintain.

The 22,000m² plant, part of the Italian family-owned Lafert group, has the capacity to produce 620 motors a day, compared to 485/day at the old plant. Luca Trevisiol, the managing director, is hoping to average about 530 machines a day in the first year of production.

The plant, which employs about 300 people, will produce single- and three-phase motors in ratings from 0.06-200kW. It will focus on customised motors, which are expected to account for about 75% of its output.

According to Trevisiol, AEG Lafert is the fastest-growing motor company in Europe. Its share of the European market climbed from 1.5% in 1994 to 6.9% by 2002. The UK accounts for 6% of its business (and is growing), and 10% of the group`s revenues come from outside Europe, particularly in the US where it claims to lead the sales of IEC motors.

AEG Lafert set up a UK subsidiary in 2001. According to managing director, Nigel Evenett, the business grew by 45% last year, and he expects a further 30% of growth this year. The UK subsidiary has a strategic relationship with Microclutch Developments of Weston-super-Mare which holds the UK stocks of AEG motors.