Spanish engineer promotes Obeki motors in UK

Twenty-two-year-old Itziar Manero joined the Wellingborough-based motor, drives and generator specialist in November for a 6-month placement from Obeki and has mainly worked in the sales department. A native of San Sebastian on the north eastern coast of Spain, she recently graduated from the University of the Basque Country, where her final year project on generators was completed with Obeki. The relationship between the two companies started when Lammers Exico was asked by a major pump manufacturer if it could supply a large, IP67-rated brake motor. Sales Director Lucie Hodkova recalls: "Although we have a great capability for supplying unusual and bespoke motors, we realised that to meet the particular requirements of this request would take us some time. So we used our knowledge of European motor manufacturers to see if we could help in another way and found a solution in Obeki.

"In fact we were so impressed that we went over to see them in Spain. This led to a formal audit and an agreement that we would represent them in the UK. When one of their directors was on a reciprocal visit to the UK, he mentioned that the Basque government would sponsor a young engineer to join us for six months, helping to build a firm bond between our two companies."

Based in Ibarra, 30km (20 miles) south of San Sebastian, Obeki is one of Spain's leading motor manufacturers and is probably best known for bespoke and special motors and brake motors. It was founded in 1950 to produce electric motors for dockside cranes and other local industries. It quickly developed a focus on motors for cranes including dockside, marine and overhead cranes. These projects often needed bespoke motors and brake motors, so Obeki developed an advanced engineering capability, which it maintains to this day and which allowed it to develop the expertise to address other industries that have special motor needs.

Special motors manufactured by Obeki now include roller table motors for steel productions, high-performance water-cooled motors for demanding environments, IP67 and IP68 motors and brake motors, two-speed motors and permanent magnet motors and generators.

Lucie again: "Another specialism of Obeki is drop-in replacement slip ring motors. Slip ring motors are quite rare these days, so when one is due for replacement, the users have two realistic choices, switch to a motor and drive combination - which is likely to involve reengineering of the driven machinery - or look for a like-for-like replacement. Most prefer the latter option, so with Obeki we are well placed to meet their needs."

Joining Obeki, Itziar was keen to travel and was delighted by the opportunity to come to the UK to work for her employer's official distributor.

Itziar says: "I have enjoyed visiting the UK previously for holidays and to perfect the language. Since joining Obeki I have come to admire Lammers Exico because they have achieved so much since setting up in 2014.

"The Obeki range of motors and generators fits well into the Lammers Exico portfolio. Whilst here I have been delighted to find that the UK clients have a high regard for both Lammers Exico and Obeki. Many of the clients come to us with quite technical enquiries and we are always happy to help."

After her placement in Wellingborough, Itziar will return to Obeki's head office in Ibarra, where she hopes to specialise in projects involved in renewable energy.

Go to www.exico.co.uk to learn more about the company.