A quarter of a century for Lafert in the UK
Founded in 2001 with the goal of establishing a direct presence in the United Kingdom, Lafert UK is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
Since its founding, a major milestone came in 2014 with the opening of the Crewe warehouse and offices: a central hub with local stock and the capacity to make rapid modifications to stock motors. The company says that customisation remains a key differentiator: from special shafts and flanges to dedicated windings.
“The evolution from a family-run business into part of a global organisation, first through progressive alignment with the Lafert Group and subsequently with the Sumitomo Group, has significantly strengthened our capabilities while consolidating our identity,” said Brian Bannister, Country Sales Manager of Lafert UK.
Integration with strategic partners such as Invertek Drives over recent years has enabled the company to evolve from the sale of single motors to the provision of integrated solutions and complete packages.
In twenty-five years, the UK market has changed radically, highlighting a clear diversification. While a portion of the market remains focused on cost and availability, Lafert UK’s focus is on customers who prioritise total cost of ownership (TCO), energy efficiency, and lifecycle support. While energy costs rise and companies reduce technical resources for products’ commissioning, Lafert has anticipated the demand for “plug and play” solutions, technical reassurance and regulatory compliance.
Looking to the future, the challenge is expected to further shift toward decarbonisation and advanced digitalisation. “IE4, IE5, and higher-efficiency motors, along with integrated solutions and digitally enabled products, will increasingly dominate the global landscape,” predicted Brian. The company says it is already positioned to lead this transition, focusing on synchronous technologies, smart monitoring, and predictive maintenance .
Despite increasing automation and digitalisation, Lafert UK’s vision for the coming years remains focused on the human factor. The goal is to maintain the design and engineering integrity and the local approach that has characterised the first quarter of a century.
The commitment for the future is to continue simplifying complexity, ensuring that the customer’s voice remains central to new product development. “Even in an increasingly digital world, there will always be a need for skilled people working closely with customers to understand applications and deliver the most suitable solution,” concluded Brian.
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