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Exico motors name is reborn after a 10-year absence
Published:  10 June, 2015

The Exico name is returning to the UK motors and inverters market after an absence of ten years. Jerry Hodek who ran the business previously, is back as managing and technical director of the reborn Exico, with Lucie Hodkova as sales director.

The Exico name disappeared after the business was bought in 2004 by the Dutch motor-maker Rotor, which changed its trading name to Rotor (UK). In 2010, Rotor was itself acquired by the US motors giant Regal Beloit, and Hodek became technical director of Regal’s UK operation.

Late last year, he left Regal to re-establish Exico. As before, the business is located in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, and is targeting mainly OEMs and re-winders. Also as before, the mainstay of Exico’s product range will be motors made in the Czech Republic by MEZ in a highly-automated factory that also produces machines sold under several well-known brand names.

As well as three-phase motors in efficiency ratings up IE4, Exico is selling single-phase motors, explosion-proof motors, marine motors, and medium and high voltage motors. It will also supply variable-speed drives, gearboxes (including Flender models), and accessories such as brakes, fans, encoders and slide rails. To cater for the lower-price end of the market, it is selling a range of Chinese-made motors.

Exico will also build integrated drive packages and supply bespoke motors with, for example, windings for non-standard voltages, shaft modifications, and fitted brakes and encoders.

The company is aiming for a turnover of about £1m in its first year but, according to Hodkova, “we are likely to hit [this target] a lot sooner than year-end, based on the first-quarter results”.

Hodek: back in the saddle

“We need to be big enough to service our clients in the way that they want us to,” she adds, “and for those who do not remember Exico from the first time around to know who we are and to be confident that we can meet their motor needs.”

Exico is setting up a network of distributors across the UK. “We already have four in place and will be assessing more potential partners to ensure we have good geographic coverage and are represented in all our key sectors,” says Hodkova. She is also “looking forward to developing an export business”.

In the ten years since Exico was last active, the performance and efficiency of motors has developed considerably. The new company will therefore be approaching previous customers to help them ensure their machines and processes are as efficient as possible.