Gavin Johnson has been appointed to the new position of Managing Director of Baldor's European operations. He will provide strategic direction for the continuing integration of Baldor with the Reliance electric motor and Dodge power transmission brands across Europe - now one of the largest and most influential operations worldwide in this automation sector.
Baldor acquired the Reliance and Dodge brands in February 2007, and the new combined operation now has four locations in the UK, Switzerland and two in Germany. A key element of Johnson's role is to build a unified sales team for the group's complementary electric motor, drive, motion control and power transmission products, backed by local support and local stock throughout the region.
Johnson states: "Integrating these world-leading brands gives us an opportunity to add major value for our customers. We now have an unparalleled breadth of product in the power transmission and automation market, and integrating our operations will give our customers better value, as well as simplifying design and system build.
"Competition from low-wage economies has changed part of the marketplace. What is significant for me is that all three of our brands share the most incredible heritage of intellectual property and manufacturing know-how centred on the USA and Europe. Choosing Baldor as your automation partner gives access to a quality chain that I believe delivers unmatched reliability, performance and support advantages - things that low-wage economies will continue to struggle to deliver."
Johnson has a degree in mechanical engineering and has spent his career in industrial automation roles. Most recently he was General Manager of Baldor's motion control design and manufacturing facility in the UK, and jointly managed Baldor's European operations for its industrial motor and drive products. Johnson is based at Baldor UK's headquarters in Bristol, and reports to Michael Cinquemani, Executive Vice President in Greenville, South Carolina, USA.
