Imperial Electric Celebrates 100 Years

With just a handful of employees and a few electric motors, Imperial Electric opened its doors on January 27, 1908 in Akron, Ohio. Today, still in Akron, the company employs 325 people, has revenues approaching $100 million, and is an operating company of Kinetek, a privately held global manufacturing company with 28 facilities in North America, Europe and Asia.

Imperial Electric is one of Kinetek’s flagship brands — and along with sister companies, Motion Control Engineering, Kinetek De Sheng (KDS) and Zhongxiu Kinetek (ZXK) — forms Kinetek’s Elevator & Escalator Solutions Group (EESG) which provides innovative and high performing products to leading independent elevator contractors and global elevator companies like Otis, ThyssenKrupp, KONE, and Schindler. And as strong as Imperial is in the elevator & escalator industry, they are just as prominent in the commercial floor care market segment. Imperial counts many world-class floor care companies among its customers.

Any company that has been around for a century has seen significant change — and Imperial is no different

From its North American vantage point in Akron and international locations in China and Europe, Imperial Electric has been a key player in the evolution of motors. Most recently, this innovation has focused on the development of high torque permanent magnet gearless AC traction machines that use 40% less power than traditional asynchronous motors but still deliver outstanding ride quality. These gearless traction machines are generations removed from the simple electric motors first designed and produced in Akron 100 years ago.

While Imperial Electric has consistently grown and prospered since its founding, the past decade has seen an increase in changes for the company. Imperial manufactures twice as many products as it did a decade ago, and has quadrupled its revenue during the same period. Training and efficiency have increased and Imperial now operates out of a 100,000 square foot Akron facility where product orders are filled in matter of days. Imperial’s current product lineup includes permanent magnet motors, gear motors, AC and DC elevator motors, AC induction motors, generator sets, transaxles, wheel drives, gearboxes and special reducers and gearing.

Today, Imperial outsells all other brands combined because it continues to set the industry standard for rugged reliability and efficiency. Part of this improved efficiency included a complete redesign of Imperial Electric’s production line. While it previously took several hours to switch between products on the production line, employees can now change products in a matter of minutes.

“We’ve improved our processes, devoted a significant amount of effort and resources, and have done a lot of cross training. We’re also backed by great employees,” said David Molnar, president of Imperial Electric. “Several employees have been with us for over 30 years.”

To remain successful for 100 years requires a strong focus on embracing change, said Gary Ward, vice president, sales and marketing. “Over the years, as products and markets change, Imperial Electric has changed to remain dominant in the markets that we serve.” Ward continued, “We’ve lead the elevator industry through innovation — from DC hoist motors with motor generator sets, to single and two speed AC motors, to variable voltage variable frequency AC motors, to permanent magnet gearless AC machines for machine room and machine roomless applications. Each new product released must be better in performance, durability, and price to maintain our strength in the marketplace.”

Imperial Electric is continually searching for environmentally friendly products. One example of this is Imperial Electric’s new “green” line of elevator motor systems. According to Ward, Imperial’s permanent magnet gearless AC machines provide a method where generated power can be returned to the electrical power grid. “This “green” feature brings the future to the present with smaller, more powerful, more efficient machines — designed for heavy traffic buildings — to help revolutionize the elevator industry.”

Experience the benefits of Imperial Electric’s 100 year history of innovation. Learn more by visiting Imperial’s booth at NAEC 2008 at the Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, Texas, September 11 and 12. And help celebrate Imperial’s 100th birthday by joining us Thursday night, September 11, from 5 to 7pm, at the Gaylord’s Riverwalk Café.

Whether its motors, traction machines, or gearing, with more than 100 years of experience in electrodynamic devices, Imperial Electric is the industry’s best choice to keep products in motion and performing to specification.

About Imperial Electric
With more than 100 years of experience, Imperial Electric offers a complete line of products including permanent magnet motors, gear motors, AC and DC elevator motors, AC induction motors, generator sets, vacuum motors, transaxles, wheel drives, gear boxes, special reducers, and gearing. For more information, please visit Imperial Electric’s web site at www.imperialelectric.com