We’re back with another battle of the brands. This week, we’re looking at two identical motors again. The only difference you’ll find is the brand logo on the motor nameplate. One motor is from Baldor, the other is from Marathon Motors.
Both Baldor and Marathon Motors are reputable brands, with products that are modern and reliable. So, how do you choose between the two? Below, we’ll cover the history of the brands and what environment each brand suits best.
History of Baldor
Baldor has an impressive history of innovation and growth. In their one hundred years, they overcame the odds by surviving the Energy Crisis of the 1960s and continue to grow. Take a look at this article where we cover their history in depth.
History of Marathon Motors
Originally called Marathon Electric, Marathon Motors was founded in 1913 by a group of local businessmen in Wausau, Wisconsin. Their first product was a small washing machine motor, and that first customer is still a customer today. In fact, they even invented a form of coin laundry. Though the product didn’t take off as it was thirty years ahead of its time.
Marathon Motors has always taken its slogan, “Motors for the long run,” seriously. Throughout their 100 years of manufacturing motors, they’ve focused on state-of-the-art engineering and production. The dependability and quality of their products speak for themselves. Marathon motors are used globally and cover 95% of the motors used in the Panama Canal upgrade of the 1960s.
This company is known for their innovation and experimentation, and their inventory of motors and generators covers products that meet both NEMA and IEC specifications. Marathon Motors was eventually purchased by Regal Beloit Corporation in 1997 and is still housed under that umbrella of companies.
Beyond their eye for innovation and design, Marathon Motors is also known for their focus on people and the community. In 2005, they were awarded the State of Wisconsin Large Employee Award as appreciation for their efforts to hire and promote disabled (and other) veterans. They have also donated 3000 ft of property to the city of Wausau to continue the city’s rivers edge walkway.
Best Uses for Baldor
As noted in the previous Battle of the Brands article, Baldor motors are greatly suited for applications where energy efficiency is essential. Their innovation in the area of energy efficiency is often groundbreaking for the industry as they lead electric motor manufacturing into the next generation.
Shop our selection of Baldor products:
- Explosion-proof motors
- Farm duty motors
- Pump motors
- DC motors
- General purpose motors
- Washdown motors
- Furnace motors
- Brake motors
- IEC motors
- 1000:1 turndown motors
- IEEE841 motors
- Definite purpose motors
- Generators
- Grinder motors
- Crusher duty motors
- Permanent magnet AC motors
- Flanges
- Motor accessories
- Grinder accessories
Best Uses for Marathon Motors
Known for their toughness, Marathon motors are best suited for those rugged applications found throughout Canada’s top industries. Their products span a large variety of horsepower and voltage ratings, ensuring a motor for every use across commercial and industrial applications.
Shop our selection of Marathon Motors products:
- Farm duty motors
- General purpose motors
- Furnace motors
- 1000:1 turndown motors
- Brake motors
- Crusher duty motors
- DC motors
- Explosion proof motors
- IEC motors
- IEEE841 motors
- Permanent magnet AC motors
- Pump motors
- Two-speed motors
- Washdown motors
- Motor accessories
Summary
Selecting the right brand of motor for your application can be tough when you’re choosing between a couple of North America’s top brands. At the end of the day, it really comes down to brand preference. When a motor meets all the specifications of the application, the logo on the nameplate has no bearing on the motor’s ability to do the work required.
Make your selection based on your brand preference and based on what brand the other motors in your fleet are. When you standardize your motors by brand, you can keep fewer spares on hand and free up some of those inventory dollars for other projects.
Have questions? Get in touch with our experts.
Connect with our expert team via email or phone.
1-800-890-7593customerservice@emotorsdirect.ca
