A. O. Smith Motors

A.O. Smith offers a broad product line from 1/800 to 800 horsepower motors and this the reason why many companies consider A.O. Smith their One Source for electric motors.

A. O. Smith is committed to the electric motor industry and supports numerous industry associations and organizations. We work closely with these organizations to uphold and elevate the standards by which we manufacture our products.

A.O. Smith Electrical Products Company History

A Tradition of Excellence Since 1940 when A. O. Smith enters the electric motor industry with the purchase of Sawyer Electric Manufacturing Co., a maker of small-diameter and small integral horsepower electric motors for use in oil wells. In 1953 A. O. Smith begins work on developing hermetic motors for the air conditioning and commercial refrigeration industries and after 7 years introduces the square flange mounting, a concept that becomes a popular alternative to the C-Face motor in the pump industry. In 1964 A. O. Smith opens a plant in Mt. Sterling, Kentucky to meet the growing demand for hermetic motors.

Another realization in the company timeline is to apply the enclosed-canopy two-compartment motor concept to pool pump motors. The design improves motor reliability by separating the switching components from the motor windings. In 1975 Century Electric (now A. O. Smith) produces the first UL-approved swimming pool motor.

In 1976 A. O. Smith opens its first motor plant outside the United States in Bray, Ireland, to serve commercial compressor customers in Europe and the U. S. with large-horsepower hermetic motors.

In 1982 MagneTek' s Motor Division (now A. O. Smith) introduces the first triple-voltage, factory-wired "quick connect" fractional horsepower three-phase motors and a year later the company introduces the Centurion switchless, permanent split capacitor motors for the swimming pool, spa, and jetted tub industries.

In 1986 A. O. Smith acquires Westinghouse Electric’s Small Motor Division and five years later, in 1991, A. O. Smith develops the first hermetic motor insulation system compatible with R-134a non-ozone-depleting refrigerant. The Bray plant earns ISO-9002 certification in 1992.

In 1995 A. O. Smith develops the first hermetic motor insulation systems compatible with ammonia. A year later MagneTek discovers the cause of premature failure in inverter-duty motors, leading to the development of the Speed Engineered ® inverter duty line of motors.

In 1997 A. O. Smith becomes world’s largest manufacturer of subfractional horsepower C-frame motors by acquiring UPPCO, Inc. and in 1998 the company acquires General Electric’s domestic hermetic motor operations, becoming North America’s largest manufacturer of hermetic motors. In 1999 A. O. Smith acquires the worldwide electric motor operations of MagneTek Inc.

The company is specialized in offering a complete range and high quality products to ensure that the customers can find anything they want. There are three categories representing the target groups of the products: Residential, Commercial and Industrial.