In it for the long run

Like many major motor makers it has acquired a number of manufacturing companies over the years, generally maintaining the existing brands at least in the medium term. Regal was formed in 1950 as a buy-out from US conglomerate General Electric and has always sought to grow both organically and acquisitively, the latter method being used particularly for establishing a presence in new geographic regions.

"Naturally this leads to a proliferation of brands,” explains Lucie Hodkova, UK national sales and quality manager for Regal Beloit UK (RBC UK) and Rotor UK. "We have now reached a point in our development where it is beneficial for the market if we bring groups of similar motors together under unified identities.”