AEG Lafert is spending £10m on a new plant in Spain which it asserts will be the first new motor factory to be built in Europe for five years. The plant, which will make motors at the larger end of the company`s 0.09-200kW range, is due to come on line in a year`s time.

AEG Lafert also has a factory in Venice, making smaller machines. Unlike some of it rivals, it makes only motors. "We have no claims for global domination," says Nigel Evenett, sales manager of AEG Lafert`s UK operation, formed last year.

The company has about 6.5% of the European motors market with sales last year amounting to €89m. It focuses on special machines with unusual options, such as flanges or shafts. For example, it offers a choice of 20,000 different shaft configurations.

Evenett`s aim is for AEG-Lafert "to become the benchmark for customer-specific motors" in the UK. To achieve this, he is setting up a network of 12-14 distributors and forming a partnerships with OEM clients.