Northern Industrial hosts Japanese fact-finding mission

Blackburn-based Northern Industrial hosted the Nidec Techno Motor Corporation as the Japanese company looked to learn more about trade between the two countries.

Nidec Corporation is an international conglomerate that employs around 140,000 people around the world.

The company holds the most significant global market share for small precision motors and now manufactures motors from very small sizes to much larger, powering heavy commercial and industrial equipment.

Nidec motors can be found in products that range from mobile phones, computers and home appliances to industrial and mining equipment. The company has more than 300 subsidiary companies spanning the globe.

In 2017, it acquired the Control Techniques brand, of which Northern Industrial is a leading UK distributor.

Northern Industrial managing director David Lenehan and Control Techniques business development manager Steve Lambert showed Nidec delegate Kouji Watanabe around Northern Industrial’s 30,000 sq ft facility on Shadsworth Business Park to provide an insight into UK routes to market for Control Techniques products.

David Lenehan said: “We were very proud to show Mr Watanabe around our Blackburn facilities and also for Control Techniques to hold us up as a benchmark organisation for the distribution of their products.” Steve Lambert said: “Mr Watanabe came to see Control Techniques’ largest distributor in the UK to look at how they combine a strong online presence, high stock profile and excellent technical support, and is hoping to use this model to setup a distribution channel in Japan.”