Magnetek
Magnetek is a U.S. industrial technology brand specializing in digital power and motion-control systems for material handling, elevators, and mining.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Magnetek is an American industrial technology company and brand whose products control, convert, and manage electrical power and mechanical motion in specialized industrial applications. The business was established in 1984 through a leveraged buyout of Litton Industries’ Magnetics Group, including Louis Allis Drives & Systems. From its early base in motor drives and power-control equipment, Magnetek expanded through acquisitions and business transfers into a supplier focused on selected sectors in which reliable, digitally managed power is essential. The company’s principal business areas are material handling, people-moving systems, and mining. In material handling, Magnetek supplies systems used in industrial cranes, hoists, and related lifting equipment. Its portfolio has included motor controls, radio remote controls, automation systems, drives, and other electrical subsystems that help operators regulate speed, torque, braking, positioning, and safety functions. Magnetek became particularly prominent in the North American crane and hoist market and was described as the country’s largest supplier of motor-control, radio-control, and automation systems for industrial cranes and hoists. In the people-moving market, Magnetek develops elevator motion-control subsystems. Rather than generally supplying complete elevators, the business concentrates on the drive and control technologies that govern elevator motor operation, acceleration, deceleration, leveling, and energy management. The company was described as the world’s largest independent builder of digital motion-control systems for elevators, reflecting its role as a specialist component and subsystem provider to elevator manufacturers, integrators, and modernization contractors. Magnetek’s mining activities have included hydraulic drive technology for coal-mining equipment. These systems were intended to support the recovery and handling of coal for subsequent refinement. The mining business illustrates the company’s broader emphasis on application-specific power systems rather than mass-market electrical products. The company’s history is marked by a series of acquisitions and divestitures. It acquired Power Controls Corporation in 1985, Century Electric in 1986, Plessey Valdarno in Italy in 1991, Electromotive Systems and Mondel Engineering in 1999, J-Tec in 2000, ADS in 2001, LAB Communications in 2002, Telemotive Industrial Controls in 2003, and Enrange in 2008. During the same period, it sold or exited several activities, including Century Electric, drives distribution, lighting, power electronics, and telecom power. These changes progressively concentrated the company on industrial power and motion-control applications. Magnetek moved important operations and corporate functions to Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, including its elevator products activity and later its power-conversion, alternative-energy, and Telemotive operations. The company also operated ISO 9001:2008-certified research and manufacturing facilities in North America. In 2015, Columbus McKinnon Corporation acquired Magnetek. Following that transaction, Magnetek became part of Columbus McKinnon’s broader lifting and motion-control portfolio while continuing to operate as a specialized brand serving industrial customers.
History
Magnetek was created in 1984 through a leveraged buyout of Litton Industries’ Magnetics Group. The transaction included Louis Allis Drives & Systems and gave the new company a foundation in industrial drives and electrical power-control equipment. Its early development followed an acquisition-led model. In 1985, Magnetek purchased Power Controls Corporation of Pittsburgh. The following year it acquired Century Electric, together with a U.S. distribution franchise for Yaskawa drives. The company continued to broaden its industrial footprint during the 1990s. In 1991 it acquired Plessey Valdarno in Italy. In 1999, Magnetek sold Century Electric while acquiring Electromotive Systems and Mondel Engineering. These transactions reflected a continuing effort to reshape the business around industrial controls and application-specific systems. Magnetek added J-Tec in 2000 and ADS in 2001. In 2001 it also sold its drives-distribution and lighting businesses, while transferring its Elevator Products business to Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. During the early 2000s, Magnetek added LAB Communications in 2002 and Telemotive Industrial Controls in 2003. Its Power Conversion and Alternative Energy businesses were moved to Menomonee Falls, and the Telemotive operation was relocated there in 2004. In 2006, the company announced the divestiture of its Power Electronics Group, which was headquartered in Italy, and moved its worldwide headquarters to Menomonee Falls. By this stage, Magnetek was increasingly organized around three industrial application areas: material handling, people moving, and mining. The material-handling business supplied motor drives, radio controls, and automation systems for cranes, hoists, and related equipment. The people-moving business, marketed through Magnetek Elevator, focused on digital motion-control subsystems for elevators. The mining business developed hydraulic drive systems for mining machinery, particularly equipment used in coal recovery. In 2008, Magnetek acquired Enrange, adding to its industrial radio-control and material-handling capabilities. In 2009, it announced the divestiture of its telecom power business, another move away from activities outside its core industrial focus. The company operated research and manufacturing facilities in North America certified to the ISO 9001:2008 quality standard and served specialized commercial markets that increasingly relied on digitally controlled electrical power. In 2015, Columbus McKinnon Corporation acquired Magnetek. The acquisition ended Magnetek’s status as an independent publicly traded company and placed the brand within a larger lifting and motion-control group. Magnetek’s products and expertise remained associated with crane and hoist controls, elevator motion systems, and other specialized industrial applications.
- 2015
Acquisition by Columbus McKinnon
[1]Columbus McKinnon Corporation acquires Magnetek.
- 2008
Enrange acquisition
[1]Magnetek acquires Enrange, strengthening its industrial control portfolio.
- 2006
Power electronics divestiture and headquarters move
[1]The company announces the divestiture of its Italian Power Electronics Group and moves its worldwide headquarters to Menomonee Falls.
- 2003
Telemotive acquisition
[1]Magnetek acquires Telemotive Industrial Controls.
- 2001
Elevator business moved to Wisconsin
[1]The Elevator Products business is moved to Menomonee Falls, while Magnetek also acquires ADS and sells its drives-distribution and lighting businesses.
- 1999
Portfolio reshaping
[1]Magnetek sells Century Electric and acquires Electromotive Systems and Mondel Engineering.
- 1991
European expansion
[1]Magnetek acquires Plessey Valdarno in Italy.
- 1986
Acquisition of Century Electric
[1]The company acquires Century Electric and a U.S. Yaskawa drives distribution franchise.
- 1985
Acquisition of Power Controls Corporation
[1]Magnetek acquires the Pittsburgh-based Power Controls Corporation.
- 1984
Magnetek is established
[1]The company is formed through a leveraged buyout of Litton Industries’ Magnetics Group, including Louis Allis Drives & Systems.
Products and positioning
A specialist industrial power and motion-control provider focused on demanding, application-specific markets rather than broad consumer or general-purpose electrical equipment.
Industrial crane and hoist controls
Material Handling
Magnetek’s material-handling portfolio includes motor-control systems, variable-speed drives, radio remote controls, and automation equipment for industrial cranes, hoists, and lifting machinery. These products are designed to manage motor speed, torque, braking, positioning, and operator commands in demanding industrial environments. The offering is aimed at equipment manufacturers, systems integrators, and end users that require coordinated electrical and motion control for lifting operations.
Elevator motion-control systems
Magnetek Elevator
Magnetek Elevator develops digital motion-control subsystems for elevator equipment. Its systems control the operation of elevator motors and support functions such as acceleration, deceleration, leveling, and ride management. The business is positioned as an independent specialist supplier of elevator drive and control technology rather than primarily as a complete-elevator manufacturer.
Mining drive systems
Magnetek Mining
The mining business focuses on power and hydraulic drive technology for mining equipment, with particular emphasis on coal-mining applications. The systems are intended to support machinery used in coal recovery and handling. This line reflects Magnetek’s broader focus on specialized drive solutions for equipment operating under demanding industrial conditions.
Industrial radio and automation controls
Telemotive and Enrange industrial controls
Through acquisitions including Telemotive Industrial Controls and Enrange, Magnetek developed capabilities in wireless industrial control, remote operation, and automation. These technologies are particularly relevant to cranes, hoists, and other machinery where operators need to control equipment from a safe or convenient distance.
Brand decisions
2015
Acquisition by Columbus McKinnon CorporationM&ABackground
Magnetek had developed a portfolio of industrial control and motion technologies serving lifting, elevator, and mining applications.
Action taken
Columbus McKinnon Corporation acquired Magnetek.
Aftermath
Magnetek became part of Columbus McKinnon and ceased to operate as an independent publicly traded company.
2009
Divestiture of the telecom power businessStrategyBackground
Magnetek announced the sale or divestiture of its telecom power business as part of its portfolio restructuring.
Action taken
The company exited telecom power and emphasized its industrial application businesses.
Aftermath
Magnetek’s stated business profile became more closely associated with material handling, elevator controls, and mining systems.
2006
Divestiture of the Power Electronics GroupStrategyBackground
Magnetek announced the divestiture of its Power Electronics Group, which was headquartered in Italy.
Action taken
The company exited the group and moved its worldwide headquarters to Menomonee Falls.
Aftermath
The decision further concentrated the organization around selected North American industrial power and motion-control markets.
2001
Concentration on industrial control activitiesStrategyBackground
Magnetek sold its drives-distribution and lighting businesses while moving its Elevator Products business to Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin.
Action taken
The company redirected resources toward elevator products and other specialized power and motion-control activities.
Aftermath
The move contributed to Magnetek’s later focus on material handling, people-moving systems, and mining.
Recent events
- 2015
Columbus McKinnon acquired Magnetek[1]
M&A · Leadership change
Columbus McKinnon Corporation acquired Magnetek, bringing its material-handling, elevator, and mining control businesses into the Columbus McKinnon group.
- 2009
Magnetek announced divestiture of its telecom power business[1]
M&A
Magnetek announced the divestiture of its telecom power business as it continued concentrating on selected industrial power and motion-control markets.
- 2008
Magnetek acquired Enrange[1]
M&A
The company acquired Enrange, expanding its industrial control and radio-control capabilities for material-handling applications.
- 1984
Magnetek formed through leveraged buyout of Litton's Magnetics Group[1]
Other
Magnetek was established through the leveraged buyout of Litton Industries' Magnetics Group, including Louis Allis Drives & Systems.
Sources1 sources
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