Ideal Electric

What Ideal Electric does

Ideal Electric Company (legal entity IDEAL ELECTRIC POWER CO.) is a 100% American-owned, privately held specialty manufacturer of high-power rotating electrical machinery, founded in 1903 in Ohio and currently headquartered in Houston, Texas with manufacturing operations at the Ohio Works facility in Mansfield. The company designs and builds custom electric motors (up to 50,000 HP, 480V–15kV), generators (up to 40 MW for hydro, wind, geothermal, gas/steam applications), synchronous condensers for grid stability, eddy current drives, motor-generator sets, metal-clad switchgear (4.16–13.8 kV), and industrial controls including the 400-APF digital motor synchronizer. Core technical differentiators include a Class F Vacuum Pressure Impregnation (VPI) insulation system, brushless excitation with permanent magnet pilot exciters for black-start capability, and the IDEAL eFrac product line for electrifying hydraulic fracturing pump fleets. The company is the only U.S.-owned full-line manufacturer of specialty rotating machinery rated to 50 MVA, with a vertically integrated 29-acre, 280,000+ sq ft facility, a 10 MVA/13.8 kV test floor, and a 14-ft VPI tank.

The business operates a direct enterprise field sales model with department-specific sales lines for new machines, switchgear, parts, and field service, plus a 24-hour emergency hotline. Revenue is generated primarily through hardware sales of custom-built machines, OEM replacement parts (laminations, coil kits, rotors, stators), fit-and-function replacements for legacy machines from GE, Westinghouse, Allis-Chalmers, and others, and professional services including factory repair, remanufacturing, field service, and VPI services. Pricing is quote-based with multi-year contract cadences and is not publicly disclosed. Customer segments span power generation and utilities, oil & gas, petrochemical, mining, marine, defense, and telecommunications — including the U.S. Navy, U.S. and Canadian Coast Guards, Military Sealift Command, Hoover Dam, Queen Mary II, and Verizon — supported through direct sales, a Fairbanks Morse Defense naval service partnership, and EASA member shop network. The company holds ISO 9001:2015 certification and was returned to American ownership in September 2017 when acquired from Hyundai Heavy Industries by a Gulf Electoquip affiliate led by James E. Petersen Jr.

Name

Ideal Electric

Legal name

IDEAL ELECTRIC POWER CO.

Website

https://theidealelectric.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1903

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Ideal Electric is a 100% American-owned, privately held manufacturer founded in 1903, specializing in custom high-power electric motors (up to 50,000 HP), generators (up to 40 MW), synchronous condensers, switchgear, and controls for power generation, oil & gas, defense, marine, and industrial customers globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Electric Motors and Generators

NAICS

Motor and Generator Manufacturing (335312), Switchgear and Switchboard Apparatus Manufacturing (335313), Turbine and Turbine Generator Set Units Manufacturing (333611), Electrical Equipment Manufacturing (33531)

SIC

Motors & Generators (3621), Switchgear & Switchboard Apparatus (3613), Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620)

akta.pro primary industry

AC Motors (Induction, Synchronous) (IMAGACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

High-Voltage Electrical Systems (Switchgear, Transformers, Protection & Control) (EUAEAFAA), Rotating Equipment Maintenance (Turbines, Generators, Motors, Pumps, Compressors) (EUAEAGAI), Rotating Equipment Start-up & Performance Testing (EUAEAJAE)

Keywords

• Electric motor manufacturing
• Industrial generator manufacturing
• Synchronous condensers
• Industrial switchgear
• Motor-generator sets

Headquarters

HQ city

Houston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Electric Motors and Generators Sales: Sale of new custom-built electric motors, generators, synchronous condensers, eddy current drives, and motor-generator sets to industrial customers. Machines are built to specification for applications in power generation, oil & gas, petrochemical, mining, marine, and defense sectors. Capacities range from standard units to 50 MVA specialty machines.
2. Genuine IDEAL Parts: Sale of replacement parts, components, and major assemblies (laminations, coil kits, rotors, stators, bearings, exciters, rectifiers) specifically manufactured to original IDEAL specifications. Thousands of parts kept in stock for immediate shipment.
3. Service, Repair, and Remanufacturing: Factory repair, remanufacturing, field service, technical support, VPI services, and testing services. Includes scheduled maintenance programs and service agreements. Service provided for IDEAL machines and other OEM equipment.
4. Replacement and Upgrade Machines: Drop-in replacements and fit & function replacements for aging machines from IDEAL or other manufacturers (General Electric, Westinghouse, Allis-Chalmers, etc.). Includes design upgrades and efficiency improvements.
5. Switchgear and Controls: Custom-engineered switchgear and control systems for motor and generator applications. Metal-clad switchgear available in 4.16, 7.2, and 13.8 kV ratings. Complete coordinated electrical packages.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

IDEAL Electric designs, manufactures, and services specialty high-power rotating electric machinery, including electric motors (up to 50,000 HP), generators (up to 40 MW), synchronous condensers, eddy current drives, motor-generator sets, switchgear, and controls. The company sells custom-built equipment to industrial customers in power generation, oil & gas, petrochemical, mining, marine, and defense sectors, and supports installed equipment with genuine OEM parts, field service, and remanufacturing.

Product overview

Ideal Electric is a 100% American-owned manufacturer of specialty high-power rotating electrical machinery founded in 1903. The product portfolio centers on electric motors (synchronous, induction, permanent magnet, wound rotor, switched reluctance, PAM, two-speed, DC configurations up to 50,000 HP), electric generators (up to 40 MW for hydro, wind, geothermal, gas/steam turbine applications), synchronous condensers (for grid stability and power factor correction), eddy current drives, motor-generator sets, switchgear, and industrial controls including the 400-APF Motor Synchronizer. The company also offers the Ideal Electric Frac (eFrac) product line for electrifying hydraulic fracturing operations. Supporting the equipment portfolio are Genuine Ideal Parts (OEM components including laminations, coil kits, rotors, stators, bearings) and comprehensive service offerings encompassing field service, technical support, engineering services, VPI treatment, factory repair/remanufacturing, and testing services. The company operates manufacturing facilities in Mansfield, Ohio and Houston, Texas with a vertically integrated approach and capabilities up to 50 MVA.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• IDEAL eFrac: Electric frac technology for hydraulic fracturing fleets that replaces conventional diesel engines with electric motors for pump drive systems.
• 400-APF Motor Synchronizer

Products and services

• Electric Motors

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 800 MW of hydroelectric capacity installed in 250+ projects
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Habitat for HumanityflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 April 2026Three-year partnership with $1 million donation to support affordable housing initiatives globally. Activities planned in Chicago, Toronto, UK, and California involving volunteer hours, materials donation ($100,000), and electrical skills contribution. Partnership launched through IDEAL's engagement platform IDEAL Connections with over 500 volunteer hours planned.
• U.S. NavycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023First new-build generator delivered to U.S. Navy in 2023, marking the return of IDEAL to the domestic defense industrial base. Generators connected to FMD backup power engines on many Navy ship classes.
• Fairbanks Morse Defense (FMD)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 June 2022FMD serves as IDEAL's exclusive naval field service provider globally, providing maintenance and field services for IDEAL motors and generators installed on naval ships worldwide. Reinforces FMD's ability to build, maintain, and service naval power and propulsion systems through six strategically located domestic centers.
• EASA (Electro Mechanical Association)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIDEAL supports EASA member shops with replacement motors, large unit testing, large parts manufacturing, custom motor design, components, engineered parts, heavy fabrication, machining, and test floor access. Test floors in Ohio and Houston open to all EASA members for horizontal and vertical runs up to 10 MVA at 13.8 kV.
• Rebuilding TogetherminorStrategic or Co-development Partner2025 partnership donating $150,000 and impacting approximately 2,500 low-income students through community volunteerism and home repairs.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• TECO-Westinghouse Motor Company: U.S. joint venture that designs and manufactures large AC motors and generators for industrial, oil & gas and power-generation customers with ratings up to 100,000+ HP — the closest direct competitor to IDEAL in specialty high-power rotating machinery.
• Kato Engineering (Enerpac Tool Group): Mankato, MN-based manufacturer of specialty high-power generators, motors and motor-generator sets for marine, oil & gas and defense — directly comparable niche specialty rotating machinery competitor to IDEAL.
• WEG: Brazilian multinational manufacturer of industrial electric motors, generators, drives and switchgear with a growing U.S. footprint through GE Industrial Motors — directly competing with IDEAL across motors, generators and switchgear.
• Power Systems Mfg. (PSM): U.S. specialist in industrial gas turbine-generator packages, generator rewinds and high-voltage coils for power generation, oil & gas and utility markets — direct niche competitor in custom rotating-equipment service and supply.
• Regal Rexnord (Marathon Electric): Through its Marathon Electric and Generac Industrial Power brands Regal Rexnord manufactures industrial motors, generators and gensets — directly comparable mid-voltage motor/generator competitor relevant to IDEAL's replacement-machine business.

Broad incumbents

• ABB: Global incumbent supplying large industrial motors, generators, drives and switchgear with broad portfolio across power generation, oil & gas, marine and metals/mining — directly overlaps IDEAL's portfolio as a far larger diversified competitor.
• Siemens Large Drives Industry: Siemens' high-power motors and drives business (formerly Siemens LD) supplies large AC motors, generators and converters for the same oil & gas, marine and process industries IDEAL serves — a broad incumbent with overlapping specialty large-motor capability.
• Nidec Industrial Solutions: Nidec division providing large industrial motors, generators, power electronics and electrical systems for metals, mining, oil & gas and power generation — broadly competes with IDEAL on large rotating equipment.
• Cummins Power Generation: Cummins division that designs and manufactures generator sets from small to multi-megawatt ratings for utility, mission-critical, marine and oil & gas markets — broader portfolio incumbent overlapping with IDEAL's generator business.

Others

• Fairbanks Morse (parent of Fairbanks Morse Defense): Original OEM whose Large Application Motor and Generator IP IDEAL acquired in 2017 and that operates alongside Fairbanks Morse Defense as IDEAL's exclusive naval service partner — historically a peer and currently both customer, supplier and licensee of IDEAL.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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• Instagraminstagram.com/idealelectricco/?hl=en

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ideal Electric