Altra Industrial Motion
Altra Industrial Motion is an industrial manufacturer of mechanical power-transmission, motion-control, clutch, coupling, and braking systems.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Altra Industrial Motion is a United States-based industrial manufacturer whose products are used to transmit, control, stop, and position mechanical motion in machinery. Its portfolio has historically included brakes, clutches, couplings, gear drives, gearmotors, overrunning clutches, bearings, linear-motion components, and related drivetrain technologies. Although some product names may sound automotive to general consumers, Altra’s principal applications are industrial: elevator and forklift fail-safe brakes, conveyor gearboxes, mining-equipment braking systems, beverage-capping clutches, packaging machinery, material-handling systems, energy equipment, marine machinery, and other engineered systems. The company was formed in 2004 when private-equity firm Genstar Capital assembled the Colfax Power Transmission Group and Kilian Manufacturing. The initial group included established specialist brands such as Ameridrives, Boston Gear, Formsprag, Marland, Nuttall/Delroyd, Stieber, Warner Electric, and Wichita Clutch. Altra’s strategy was to combine well-known industrial power-transmission businesses while allowing individual brands to retain their specialist engineering identities and application expertise. After its formation, Altra expanded through acquisitions. The portfolio grew to include TB Wood’s, the Bibby, Matrix, Twiflex, Huco, and Inertia Dynamics businesses acquired through Hay Hall, Svendborg Brakes, Bauer Gear Motor, Guardian Couplings, Lamiflex Couplings, Bear Linear, Kollmorgen, Thomson Linear, Portescap, and Jacobs Vehicle Systems, among others. These transactions broadened the company from conventional mechanical transmission into electric clutches and brakes, precision motion control, linear motion, miniature motors, automation components, and vehicle-engine braking systems. Altra organized its activities around several product platforms. Electric Clutches & Brakes brought together Warner Electric, Matrix International, Inertia Dynamics, and Warner Linear. Couplings, Clutches & Brakes grouped flexible couplings, heavy-duty clutches and brakes, overrunning clutches, and related belt-drive products. The Gearing platform included Boston Gear, Nuttall Gear, Delroyd Worm Gear, Bauer Gear Motor, and Kilian Manufacturing. Other operating areas were associated with Kollmorgen, Thomson, Jacobs Vehicle Systems, and Portescap. Products served markets including material handling, packaging, food and beverage, elevators and escalators, mining, metals, energy, oil and gas, marine, pulp and paper, wastewater, concrete, aerospace and defense, agriculture, and general automation. Altra became a publicly traded company in December 2006, listing on NASDAQ under the symbol AIMC. It reported approximately US$2 billion in sales for 2019, according to company reference material. In October 2022, Regal Rexnord agreed to acquire Altra in a transaction valued at approximately US$5 billion including assumed debt. The transaction closed on March 27, 2023. Altra therefore ceased to be an independent public company and became part of Regal Rexnord’s industrial portfolio. Its product families and legacy brands continued to support industrial power-transmission and automation applications, although exact organizational and brand arrangements may evolve during integration.
History
Altra Industrial Motion was created in 2004 by Genstar Capital through the combination of the Colfax Power Transmission Group and Kilian Manufacturing. The founding portfolio contained a number of specialist power-transmission businesses, including Ameridrives, Boston Gear, Formsprag, Marland, Nuttall/Delroyd, Stieber, Warner Electric, and Wichita Clutch. These businesses had histories and technical specializations that predated the Altra corporate structure by many years. The new company focused on industrial mechanical power transmission rather than consumer products. Its components were designed to be integrated into machinery and systems where torque must be transmitted, speed must be reduced or increased, shafts must be connected, or rotary movement must be started, stopped, held, or controlled. Typical applications included conveyors, elevators, forklifts, packaging lines, food and beverage equipment, mining machinery, marine systems, energy installations, pulp and paper equipment, wastewater systems, and general industrial automation. Altra expanded its scope through a series of strategic acquisitions. TB Wood’s strengthened its coupling and power-transmission activities. The acquisition of Hay Hall brought together businesses including Bibby, Matrix, Twiflex, Huco, and Inertia Dynamics. Other additions included Svendborg Brakes, Bauer Gear Motor, Guardian Couplings, Lamiflex Couplings, Bear Linear, Kollmorgen, Thomson Linear, Portescap, and Jacobs Vehicle Systems. The resulting portfolio covered conventional gearing and bearings as well as electric clutches and brakes, heavy-duty braking, precision motion control, linear motion, miniature motors, and vehicle-engine braking systems. The company grouped its products into operating platforms. Electric Clutches & Brakes included Warner Electric, Matrix International, Inertia Dynamics, and Warner Linear. Couplings, Clutches & Brakes included brands such as TB Wood’s, Ameridrives, Bibby Turboflex, Lamiflex, Huco, Wichita Clutch, Twiflex, Svendborg Brakes, Industrial Clutch, Formsprag, Marland, and Stieber. Gearing included Boston Gear, Nuttall Gear, Delroyd Worm Gear, Bauer Gear Motor, and Kilian Manufacturing. Additional businesses were associated with Kollmorgen, Thomson, Jacobs Vehicle Systems, and Portescap. Altra operated manufacturing facilities in the United States, Europe, and Asia. Altra went public in December 2006 on NASDAQ under the symbol AIMC. The company’s public-company period was marked by continued portfolio expansion and a broadening of its industrial automation and motion-control capabilities. Reference material reports approximately US$2 billion in sales for 2019. In October 2022, Regal Rexnord agreed to acquire Altra in a transaction valued at approximately US$5 billion including debt. The acquisition closed on March 27, 2023. Altra consequently became part of Regal Rexnord and stopped operating as an independent listed company. Its technologies and legacy brands remained relevant to industrial power transmission, motion control, and automation, while the precise structure of the combined businesses became subject to post-acquisition integration.
- 2023
Acquisition completed
[3]Regal Rexnord completes the acquisition on March 27, 2023, making Altra part of Regal Rexnord and ending its status as an independent listed company.
- 2022
Agreement to be acquired by Regal Rexnord
[2]Regal Rexnord agrees to acquire Altra in a transaction valued at approximately US$5 billion including debt.
- 2006
Initial public offering
[1]Altra becomes publicly traded on NASDAQ under the ticker AIMC.
- 2004
Altra Industrial Motion is established
[1]Genstar Capital forms Altra through the acquisition and combination of the Colfax Power Transmission Group and Kilian Manufacturing.
Products and positioning
A specialist supplier of engineered power-transmission, braking, clutch, coupling, gearing, and motion-control systems for industrial equipment manufacturers and end users.
Industrial motion control
Electric clutches and brakes
This platform covered electromagnetic clutches, brakes, positioning systems, and related controls used to start, stop, hold, or regulate rotary motion. Warner Electric, Matrix International, Inertia Dynamics, and Warner Linear were associated with the platform. Applications included material handling, packaging, food and beverage machinery, elevators and escalators, medical equipment, forklifts, marine systems, agriculture, and off-highway equipment.
Mechanical power transmission
Couplings, clutches, and brakes
The portfolio included flexible and engineered couplings, heavy-duty clutches and brakes, overrunning and backstopping clutches, and belted-drive components. Associated brands included TB Wood’s, Ameridrives, Bibby Turboflex, Lamiflex, Huco, Wichita Clutch, Twiflex, Svendborg Brakes, Industrial Clutch, Formsprag, Marland, and Stieber. These products served energy, mining, metals, marine, oil and gas, food processing, pulp and paper, packaging, aerospace, wastewater, concrete, and material-handling equipment.
Gearing
Industrial gearing and gearmotors
Altra’s gearing portfolio included gear drives, worm gears, gearmotors, and engineered bearing products. Boston Gear, Nuttall Gear, Delroyd Worm Gear, Bauer Gear Motor, and Kilian Manufacturing were associated with this area. The products were designed to transmit torque, reduce speed, and support reliable operation in conveyors, material-handling equipment, food and beverage machinery, wastewater systems, metals processing, textiles, concrete, energy, and other industrial applications.
Automation and motion control
Kollmorgen motion-control products
Kollmorgen contributed precision motion-control technologies to Altra’s broader portfolio. The business was associated with motors, drives, controls, and automation components used where machinery requires accurate positioning and coordinated movement. Its products complemented Altra’s mechanical transmission, braking, and coupling businesses.
Linear motion
Thomson linear-motion products
Thomson provided linear-motion and automation components, extending Altra beyond rotary power transmission. The product area included technologies used to move, guide, position, and control machine elements in industrial automation and equipment-building applications.
Precision motors
Portescap miniature motors
Portescap was associated with compact, high-performance motor technologies for applications requiring controlled motion in a small package. Its capabilities broadened Altra’s motion portfolio toward precision and miniature motor applications.
Vehicle-engine systems
Jacobs Vehicle Systems products
Jacobs Vehicle Systems supplied engine-braking and related valvetrain technologies for commercial vehicles. This business represented an application-specific extension of Altra’s braking and motion expertise into vehicle systems.
Brand decisions
2023
Complete integration into Regal Rexnord ownershipM&ABackground
The previously announced acquisition received the required approvals and proceeded to closing.
Action taken
Regal Rexnord completed the acquisition of Altra Industrial Motion on March 27, 2023.
Aftermath
Altra ceased to be an independent listed company and its businesses became part of Regal Rexnord’s operating portfolio.
2022
Agree to sell Altra to Regal RexnordM&ABackground
Regal Rexnord sought to expand its industrial power-transmission and motion portfolio through the combination with Altra.
Action taken
Altra agreed to be acquired by Regal Rexnord in a transaction valued at approximately US$5 billion including debt.
Aftermath
The transaction closed in March 2023 and Altra became part of Regal Rexnord.
Transaction value including debt. Approximately US$5 billion (Announcement in October 2022)
2006
Public listing on NASDAQOtherBackground
After establishing and expanding its industrial brand portfolio, Altra entered the public markets.
Action taken
The company listed on NASDAQ under the symbol AIMC.
Aftermath
Altra operated as an independent listed company until its acquisition by Regal Rexnord in 2023.
2004
Create a multi-brand industrial transmission platformStrategyBackground
Genstar Capital combined the Colfax Power Transmission Group and Kilian Manufacturing to create a company with a broad base of specialist power-transmission brands.
Action taken
Altra was established as a platform covering gearing, clutches, brakes, couplings, and related industrial drivetrain technologies.
Aftermath
The structure enabled subsequent expansion through acquisitions across mechanical transmission, motion control, linear motion, and braking.
Recent events
- 2023
Regal Rexnord completes acquisition of Altra Industrial Motion[3]
M&A · Leadership change
Regal Rexnord completed its acquisition of Altra on March 27, 2023, taking Altra out of independent public-company ownership.
- 2022
Regal Rexnord agrees to acquire Altra Industrial Motion[2]
M&A
Regal Rexnord announced an agreement to acquire Altra in a transaction described as worth approximately US$5 billion including debt.
- 2019
Altra reports approximately US$2 billion in sales for 2019[1]
Other
Reference material identifies approximately US$2 billion in sales for 2019. The figure is included only with its stated year context.
- 2006
Altra Industrial Motion goes public on NASDAQ[1]
Other
Altra Industrial Motion became a publicly traded company in December 2006 under the ticker AIMC.
Sources4 sources
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