Chinese drives users prefer brands of European origin, according to survey conducted by IMS Research. When asked to name drives brands that they had used, ABB, Siemens and Schneider together accounted 45% of the responses.

Japan`s Mitsubishi and Fuji completed the top five with a combined figure of 15%. The remaining 40% was split between 22 companies, indicating the fragmented nature of the market beyond the major players.
 
Additional questions revealed that while Asian products were thought of as being less expensive, European suppliers were generally perceived to be industry experts, offering premium quality products.

♦  After shrinking in 2009, the global market for low-power AC drives will start to expand again next year, according to a forecast from the ARC Advisory Group. It says that the market will resume “moderate growth” in the period to 2013, once financial stability has been restored and investments resume in infrastructure and manufacturing industries worldwide.