The acquisitive US motor-maker Regal Beloit has bought Ramu Inc, a Virginia-based start-up company founded by Professor Krishnan Ramu of Virginia Tech in 2008 to develop switched reluctance motor technologies. The business has yet to generate any operating revenues.

Ramu is said to be developing a “unique” switched reluctance motor design that is suitable for applications that require high efficiencies and/or operating speeds, or that need to operate in high ambient temperatures. Switched reluctance motors do not use permanent magnet materials to create their operating torques.

Ramu’s current management and technical team will continue to run its research and development efforts, and will stay at its headquarters in Blacksburg, Virginia. The team will focus on expanding the company’s portfolio of patents and patent applications and on integrating the technology into Regal Beloit’s motor portfolio for commercialisation across several Regal Beloit brands.

“We are very excited to announce the acquisition of Ramu Inc,” says Regal Beloit’s chairman and CEO, Henry Kneuppel. “The company’s innovative and talented R&D team is an important strategic addition to our global technical resources. We see potential differentiated value for our customers if we are able to successfully integrate this technology into our energy efficiency motor portfolio.”