MAXON MOTORS: Precision with perfection
Q. Maxon motors is one of leading name in the field of small, high-precision electrical motors and drive systems, please brief us more about company’s achievements?
Maxon motor was founded 1961 in Switzerland when it started to develop, produce and sell high-precision coreless DC motors. Since then, the company grew steadily over the years and has today a worldwide coverage. It offers brushed and brushless DC motors together with gearhead, position sensors and controls for all kind of demanding applications such as medical, aerospace, robotics, industrial automation and instrumentation. The motors are produced in different production sites in Europe and Asia. Global turnover are 420 million US$, and the global workforce are 2’200 employees
Q. Please brief us more about Maxon Motor’s global reach & latest initiatives in the field of small, high-precision electrical motors and drive systems ?
Today, maxon motor products are sold in more than 40 countries. In all important countries, maxon motor has its own subsidiaries. In recent times, enormous efforts were made in the field of aerospace and heavy duty applications, such as downhole drilling in the oil and gas industry. These motors have to withstand high vibration, shock and temperatures up o 300°C. – Maxon motor is a specialist for applications with demanding specifications and requirements.
In other words: maxon motor does not leverage economy of scale as low-cost motor manufacturer, but is technology leader and produce high end customer-specific solutions. They are based on a wide range of standard offerings which can be tailored to customer specific requirements. The latest innovation are the state of the art CTO products. The Configure-To-Order products can be modified by the customer himself directly on the internet. Once the choices made, the product can directly be order on the Online Shop, and the products are delivered within 11 working days. This service allows the customers to shorten their development time dramatically with customer specific unique identification number.
Q. What are the applications of the small, high-precision electrical motors and drive systems in various industries? How do you plan to position these products?
The strategic markets of maxon motor products are medical, industrial automation and robotics, instrumentation, aerospace, whereby the medical applications account for almost half of the global business. In the medical technology field there are applications such as insulin pumps, surgical power tools and surgical robots or radiation equipment. All of them are highly demanding requirements. The top priority is quality and maxon motor does everything to achieve top notch quality and high reliability of the product. Furthermore, maxon motor constantly launches new products and is therefore the innovation leader in the field of small electrical drives. A high one-digit percentage of the annual revenue is spent for research & development to say the least.
Q. What is the current scenario of the small, high-precision electrical motors and drive systems ?
There is an ongoing trend to increase the power density of the motors. In other words: by using the best magnets and with continuous improvements in winding technology, maxon motor is trying to reach the physical limits again and again. High efficiency and increased miniaturization is an ongoing goal. Furthermore, progress is made in order to meet the demanding requirements regarding tough, heavy-duty environments. Withstanding high shock, vibrations and accelerations in space applications, or thousands of autoclavable cycles in a medical product are challenges that maxon motor is willing to fulfil.
Q. What is your quality policy for the business?
Continously high level quality is our biggest goal. Maxon motor product are high-end products which go into critical applications. We fulfil various ISO standards such as ISO 9001 for industrial products, ISO 9100 for aerospace products and ISO 13485 for medical applications. Beside this, the environmental standard ISO 14001 is also fulfilled.
ISO 9001: First quality management certificate as 7th company in Switzerland in 1988.
ISO 9001:2008: Recertification in 2015.
ISO 14001 (environmental standard): Recertification in 2015.
ISO 13485 (medical standard): maxon medical: certification in 2008.
Recertification in 2015.
EN 9100 (aerospace industry): Since October 2012.
Q. According to you what are the measures taken by Indian manufacturers in order to compete with global players?
India is one of fastest growing economy at the moment. This provide ample opportunity in all markets and maxon also look forward to it. Opening FDI in segment like defence, aerospace and pharma will help India in meeting global standards. maxon can leverage its technological leadership and breadth of product in these markets. Indians are at par with globe and have an excellent education. Indians speak English and therefore can communicate with the whole world. Furthermore, India is a huge country and therefore offers a huge domestic market. The economy is doing well and the need for small high-electrical motors will certainly increase in future.
These are important fundamentals in order to be successful as an economy. It is important to be focused and to work hard until you have a product that is mature to be launched. Many Indian companies have excellent ideas, develop prototype products but give up too early. The projects are often abandoned too early. Due importance should be given to research & development. If Indian companies can cope up this issue and control and maintain a good quality, they will have a great future.
Q. Could you brief us about your top line product range? What are value added services you provide to your customers?
Our top line product line has been the brushed type DC motors in combination with planetary gearheads and encoder systems. Since ever maxon motors produces so-called coreless motors which differ from conventional DC motors. Coreless motors contain a rotor made out of a self-consisting winding in the shape of a cylinder. This type of motor offers technical advantages against conventional motors: they have an increased power density, high degree of efficiency, linear characteristics, they are highly dynamic and have an extended life time.
The biggest offer for our customers is customization. We try to find the best solution for our customer by taking a standard product out of our many platforms. In discussion with the customer, we then modify and adjust the motor to perfectly meet the customer requirements. – In order to do so, we try to be as close as possible to our customers with a dense sales network. Our sales people all have a deep technical understanding in order to consult and advice our customers in the best way possible. – Customer focus and customer proximity was finally also the reason why maxon decided in 2009 to start with its own subsidiary in India. Since then, Indian business is growing nicely year by year.
Q. What are your future plans to maintain substantial market positioning in the small, high-precision electrical motors and drive systems ?
Maintain the high level of innovation and quality. Identify and develop new demanding niche market where small and mid-sized volumes are required. Understanding customer need and providing solutions as close as possible through innovation, research & development, quality and support. With the above we maintain and further enhance our market leadership.
Geographical expansion into emerging markets such as India.
Q. What factors bestow the success of your company?
Continuity in the management, long-term thinking, customer orientation, high level of innovation (substantial amount of the turnover is invested in R&D every year), no profit thinking, investment into long-term employees, international coverage and global sales & marketing network
