Baldor motor manufacturing *LINK*

did that plant close?

David Weaver

I thought the grinders would fly up in price after the acquisition (whoever the swiss company is), but they're not much more than inflation adjusted vs. when I got mine.

I see they still have some facilities in the US, but AR is mentioned in most of their literature and not GA.

Re: did that plant close?

Steve D, CT

In the video it states that Athens produces cast iron motors 40 - 1500hp. You may not be looking at the right literature unless you have a really big saw.

ABB is a legit industrial company and Baldor is a premium brand. Other than discontinuing some product for the sake of efficiency I wouldn't worry about them offshoring the whole company. Moving an existing foundry, plating operation or other hazardous operation is the most difficult type of relocation. Few places want to issue permits for dirty industries.

Probably a better future for Baldor than if a BDC/private equity company took them over but not necessarily. Benjamin Moore is private equity owned and is doing well.

Re: did that plant close?

David Weaver

No, I figured that looking at it. It's a lot like Norton.

I'm sure a lot of people think they're norton customers when they buy sandpaper or an oilstone.

Norton's real customers are industrial abrasives users and even at the low end would be something like a floor refinisher or a metal grinding shop. We're like a sideshow for them. I figured the money for baldor, etc, would be in motors like elevator motors, custom winding, 300 horsepower motors on mining machines, etc.

Selling a 3.3 amp grinder for $300 seems really expensive to someone used to shopping at home depot, but I have to assume that what's made on that in profit is nil.