The acquisitive Japanese motor manufacturer Nidec is buying Sanyo Seimitsu, a subsidiary of Sanyo Electric that specialises in producing small precision DC motors such as those used to produce vibrations in mobile phones. The deal is reported to be worth $83m.

Nidec says that the acquisition is in line with its aim of becoming the world’s leading manufacturer of all types of electric motor, with sales worth ¥2,000bn ($24.2bn) by 2015.

Sanyo Seimitsu employs 290 people and has operations in China, Indonesia, Singapore and Hong Kong. Its sales fell from ¥35bn ($423m) in the year ending March 2008 to ¥23bn ($278m) in the year to March 2010.

Sanyo Electric is selling off some of its non-core businesses to focus on environmental technologies, such as solar panels, before it is taken over by Panasonic in 2011.

Nidec recently acquired Emerson’s Motors and Controls business.