Renew Mag - The AEMT Journal

As a year marked by severe supply chain pressures draws to a close, and with few signs of relief as 2026 approaches, Thomas Marks, General Manager of the Association of Electrical and Mechanical Trades, argues that the electromechanical repair sector is more vital than ever.

Mark Brady, Director at HAYLEY 247 DEXIS, looks at the role that the repair and refurbishment of electromechanical equipment can play in optimising its total cost of ownership.

Today, leveraging third-party knowledge and experience is invaluable to businesses looking to keep pumping and rotating equipment in optimal condition. Dom Swanick, Winding Technician at Arfon Engineering, discusses why more young professionals should consider a career in the winding industry, and what is being done to bridge the growing skills gap.

October 2025 marked the 50th anniversary of the Low Voltage Variable Speed Drive, which was used in a commercial application for the first time at a sawmill in Finland in 1975. It was developed in the 1970s by Strömberg, a predecessor to today’s global motor and drives industry specialist, ABB.

Cassiano Antunes Cezario, R&D Manager at WEG’s Industrial Motor Division, introduces the W80 AXgen axial flux motor.

WHEN A LONG-STANDING UK CABLE tie manufacturer began facing repeated drive failures earlier this year, the impact on production was immediate. Each failure meant downtime, disruption and costly OEM service exchanges.

WEG HAS SUPPLIED A BRAZILIAN egg producer with 30 motors from the W30 Smart EC line, as part of a project focused on energy efficiency and improving thermal comfort in its poultry houses. The replacement of old, low-efficiency equipment was carried out with motors featuring integrated drives. After a few months of operation, on-site measurements confirmed the effectiveness of the adopted solution: 48.6% energy savings.

WHEN A CRITICAL PUMP BASE plate at one of Hayley 247 DEXIS’s clients’ facilities began showing significant wear, the risk of continued operation became clear.

Innomotics has been awarded its first order for a water-cooled retrofit project from offshore accommodation specialist Floatel International. The upgrade will extend the operational lifetime of one of Floatel International’s semi-submersible accommodation rigs by modernising its existing thruster drive control systems.

A MAJOR STEEL MILL SPECIALISING in rolled products made entirely from recycled materials was facing a recurring issue: premature bearing failures in their guide roll assemblies.

ELECTRO-WIND LTD HAS RECENTLY supplied bespoke transformer solutions for two major infrastructure projects in the UK.

MENZEL ELEKTROMOTOREN HAS manufactured a pump motor for the Red Cross in Syria. The vertical motor will help stabilise the water supply in communities destroyed in the civil war. The pump station operator required a straightforward drop-in replacement for an old V1-type motor, matching the existing mechanical interfaces without any constructional changes. This called for various complex features.

ABB HAS ANNOUNCED TWO NEW safety features for its Gearless Mill Drive (GMD) technology, introducing certified anchor points and LED motor lights, inside ring motor chambers. Designed to meet customer needs, these upgrades will improve operational efficiency and safety for inspection teams working in confined spaces at heights over 20m.

ALFA LAVAL HAS INTRODUCED Clariot, an AI-powered condition monitoring solution designed for hygienic process equipment to deliver more precise analysis and support. It monitors equipment and processes, offering actionable insights that improve uptime and optimise resource efficiency.

WEG HAS ADDED TO ITS RANGE OF motors with the release of the W22 Water Cooled. Designed to overcome the most demanding challenges, this solution uses water cooling technology, ensuring high power density and high performance, even in confined spaces or with limited air circulation.

The new look AEMT annual conference, which celebrated the Association's 80th anniversary, has been hailed a resounding success by visitors, exhibitors, sponsors and the organisers.

Thomas Marks, Secretary and General Manager of the Association of Electrical and Mechanical Trades (AEMT) reflects on the cyclical nature of the electromechanical repair industry and the vital role played by repair and refurbishment in driving sustainability.

ERIKS HAS LAUNCHED A DEDICATED Yaw Gearbox Cell at its centre of excellence for renewables in Aberdeen, delivering refurbishment of yaw gearboxes for onshore wind turbines. The service addresses a well documented failure mode in certain yaw gearbox types and has the potential to reduce turbine downtime from months to hours. The new cell has seen an investment of £500,000, with upwards of £750,000 having been invested in the Aberdeen site in the last 12 months.

A NEW GLOBAL REPORT FROM ABB titled ‘Modernization for Resilience’, developed in partnership with Sapio Research and based on a survey of 3,600 senior decision-makers across multiple sectors, finds that just over half of respondents (55%) have a strategic and proactive plan to modernise facilities and manage out obsolete components like old motors and drives.

ROTARY ENGINEERING HAS announced the latest addition to its in-house manufacturing facilities: a new state-of-the-art CNC milling machine. This investment marks a significant step in the company’s ongoing commitment to enhancing its precision engineering capabilities and reducing reliance on external suppliers.

TEAM REPAIR, THE UK START-UP founded by engineers from Imperial College London, has joined forces with iFixit, the world’s largest online repair community, to help young people around the world gain confidence in repairing technology.

SPECIALIST MECHANICAL engineering company, Mechanica Utilities, has officially partnered with high-performance motors and drives manufacturer Innomotics.

PRIVATE EQUITY AND infrastructure investment management company Foresight Group has announced a £7.0 million investment into Spartan Motor Holdings, known in the UK as TEC Electric Motors, a well-established distributor of low-voltage electric motors, gearboxes and inverters.

The Association of Electrical and Mechanical Trades underlined its commitment to diversity with the launch of its first Women in Engineering Power Hour. Held at the recent AEMT Conference, the session brought together women from across the industry to reflect on findings from a recent survey, share lived experiences, and to identify practical steps to support inclusion and career progression in the electromechanical sector.

REPLACING AN EXPLOSION-PROOF size 1000 motor at short notice is an ambitious task. For the German family run company Menzel Elektromotoren, it was a chance to prove once again its expertise in the design, manufacture and certification of explosion-proof motors.

HAYLEY 247 DEXIS WAS commissioned by a leading supplier in the industrial minerals industry to overhaul a critically worn International Combustion LM12 Double Reduction Bevel/Helical Mill Gearbox. The gearbox was suffering from a suspected input bearing failure due to oil starvation, likely caused by blocked pipework. The project aimed to restore the gearbox’s full mechanical function, enhance operational safety, and significantly extend its service life.

ABB’S NEW LV TITANIUM VARIABLE speed motor platform delivers the benefits of a high-efficiency motor and variable speed drive (VSD) technology in a single, compact, customisable, plug-and-play solution that enables industrial customers to minimise their energy consumption, save money and reduce carbon emissions.

MENZEL ELEKTROMOTOREN HAS manufactured two identical DC motors for a copper rolling mill. The motors replace an older tandem motor setup. The manufacturer had to replicate the mechanical and electrical properties of the existing motors in detail.

TECHNIDRIVE, A SPECIALIST IN electric motor and gearbox solutions, has extended its Drum Drive range to meet growing demand for electrified, energy-efficient conveyors across heavy industries. The latest additions offer greater torque capacities, flexible mounting and reduced maintenance, helping operators meet both operational and sustainability goals.

FLUKE RELIABILITY HAS launched a new shaft alignment solution, featuring rugged professional tablets compatible with its full range of alignment kits, including Pruftechnik’s single-laser alignment tools.

ACORN INDUSTRIAL SERVICES HAS BEEN APPOINTED AS an authorised distributor for Loctite, a global name in sealing and adhesive products.

THE ROTAMEC GROUP HAS announced the acquisition of GEM Integrated Solutions, a mechanical and electrical engineering solutions provider based in Warwick.

CONTROL TECHNIQUES DYNAMICS, a pioneer in brushless servo motor technology, has been fully integrated into Nidec Drives operations in a move designed to unify servo drive and motor offerings under a single strategic framework.

WEG HAS BEEN HONOURED WITH the Global Supplier Award by Alfa Laval, a Swedish heat transfer, separation, and fluid handling technologies company. This award is a significant milestone for WEG, showcasing its ongoing commitment to quality, innovation, and market collaboration.

ONE OF THE COUNTRY’S LEADING precision gear manufacturers has capital investment plans of £1.5M over the next 18 months, creating new jobs by moving to a new, dedicated rotating equipment repair and refurbishment service centre in Scotland. Lamond & Murray DEXIS has opened the new 7,000 square feet facility at Unit 15, Belleknowes Industrial Estate, Inverkeithing, Fife, just half a mile from the company’s headquarters at Burnside, which will continue to manufacture loose gears.