Nidec Imperial Electric (Nidec-ISE)

What Nidec Imperial Electric (Nidec-ISE) does

Imperial Electric is a U.S.-based manufacturer of elevator motors and machines, founded in 1889 in Akron, Ohio and operating today as a brand under Nidec Elevator within the Japanese conglomerate Nidec Corp. (acquired via Nidec's 2012 purchase of Kinetek Co.). The company has produced elevator-related electromechanical equipment since its dedicated Elevator Division was created in 1910, giving it more than a century of continuous presence in the industry. Imperial Electric self-describes as one of the world's largest suppliers of elevator motors and machine supplies, with stated annual production of approximately 50,000 motors and machines.

The product portfolio centers on traction and propulsion hardware for vertical-transport systems. Core offerings include gearless AC permanent magnet (ACPM) machines, gearless DC machines, geared traction machines, hydraulic submersible and dry motors, door operator motors, and elevator traction motors, complemented by structural components such as custom and universal machine bases, car slings, and platforms, plus a broad elevator parts and accessories line. The technology stack is electromechanical rather than software-defined, with product differentiation framed around durability, longevity, and configurability for varied capacity and installation requirements.

Imperial Electric generates revenue through direct B2B hardware sales to two principal customer segments: elevator original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) for new elevator manufacturing, and independent elevator contractors for replacement parts, maintenance, modernization, and new installations. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with sales conducted through direct OEM and contractor channels supported by technical specification resources on the company website. Geographic reach extends globally via Nidec Corp.'s broader distribution network of 240 companies across 45 countries, while no AI, software platform, or subscription pricing model is evident in the current offering.

Name

Nidec Imperial Electric (Nidec-ISE)

Legal name

Nidec Motor Corporation

Website

https://imperialelectric.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1889

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Imperial Electric, a brand under Nidec Elevator (part of Japanese conglomerate Nidec Corp.), manufactures elevator motors and traction machines for elevator OEMs and independent elevator contractors globally, producing approximately 50,000 motors and machines per year.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

North Canton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Elevator Motors and Machines Sales: Sale of elevator motors, machines, and components to OEMs and independent elevator contractors. Products include gearless machines, geared machines, AC/DC motors, hydraulic motors, and accessories. Revenue is generated through one-time hardware sales for new installations, replacements, and maintenance.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Nidec Imperial Electric manufactures elevator motors and machines, including gearless ACPM machines, gearless DC machines, geared machines, door operator motors, elevator traction motors, hydraulic elevator motors, elevator parts and accessories, machine bases, and car slings and platforms. Founded in 1889 in Akron, Ohio, the company produces approximately 50,000 motors and machines per year and supplies OEMs as well as independent elevator contractors globally as part of Nidec Corporation.

Product overview

Imperial Electric, part of Nidec Elevator, operates as one of the world's largest suppliers of elevator motors and machines, producing approximately 50,000 motors and machines per year for OEMs and independent elevator contractors. The product portfolio centers on traction machines (Gearless ACPM Machines, Gearless DC Machines, Geared Machines) and elevator motors (Elevator Traction Motors, Hydraulic Elevator Motors, Door Operator Motors), complemented by Elevator Parts and Accessories and structural components (Custom and Universal Machine Bases, Car Slings and Platforms). The company serves the elevator industry with a comprehensive range of electromechanical products rather than a unified software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Gearless ACPM Machines

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 50,000 motors and machines produced annually

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Fujitec: Mid-sized global elevator OEM with proprietary motor and machinery offerings. Comparable as a customer and competitor in traction machines, particularly for mid- and high-rise applications.
• Mitsubishi Electric: Japanese conglomerate with elevator and motor divisions that manufacture traction machines in-house. Direct overlap with Imperial's gearless ACPM and geared traction machine offerings, and similar parent-conglomerate structure to Nidec.
• Schindler Group: Major global elevator OEM with motor manufacturing capabilities. Comparable as both an elevator system customer of traction motors and a vertically integrated competitor in the elevator machinery space.
• Hitachi Elevator: Asian elevator OEM with in-house motor and drive manufacturing. Comparable as an elevator system competitor with vertically integrated motor production and a strong Asia footprint.
• ABB: Global industrial motor and drives manufacturer supplying the elevator industry with traction motors and motor controllers. Comparable in industrial motor technology breadth and OEM/aftermarket go-to-market.
• TK Elevator (ThyssenKrupp): Global elevator OEM with internal motor manufacturing capability. Comparable as a customer and competitor in traction machine supply for new installations and modernization.
• KONE: Top-tier elevator OEM focused on flow and service models. Comparable as a customer of elevator motors and a competitor shaping modernization demand that drives Imperial's aftermarket volumes.
• Otis Worldwide: World's largest elevator OEM with significant in-house motor manufacturing capability. Directly comparable as a customer of elevator traction motors and as an integrated competitor that could capture motor production internally.

Regional players

• Hyundai Elevator: Asian elevator OEM with internal motor and machinery capabilities focused on Korea and broader Asia. Comparable as a regional competitor with vertically integrated motor production and a similar target customer base in Asia.

Direct peers

• WEG Industries: Brazilian industrial electric motor manufacturer with a broad portfolio that includes motors for elevator applications. Direct peer in industrial motor manufacturing, with comparable scale and a similar OEM-channel sales motion.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nidec-imperial-electic

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Nidec Imperial Electric (Nidec-ISE)