If you’re looking for ABB motors, you’re looking for ABB Baldor-Reliance. ABB acquired Baldor Electric Company in 2011, bringing the Baldor and Reliance names into its motor portfolio, and in 2025 formally combined them under the ABB Baldor-Reliance name. The range covers general purpose, severe duty, food-safe washdown, explosion proof, pump, variable speed and DC motors.
Betech has distributed the range for over 25 years. In 2019 ABB appointed us as its first UK authorised Value Provider for low voltage NEMA motors, and we remain an ABB Value Partner today, supplying both the ABB and ABB Baldor-Reliance NEMA ranges.
We hold one of the largest stocks of NEMA motors outside North America at our West Yorkshire, UK warehouse, with immediate despatch on stock items. Whether you’re specifying motors for machinery bound for North America or replacing a NEMA motor already installed here, our technical team can advise on selection, compatibility and availability.
Baldor-Reliance product range
Up to NEMA 449T Frame / 400HP / 2,4,6,8 Pole
Available as single phase or three phase. The gold standard in trusted reliability and efficient performance.
Up to NEMA 449T Frame / 300HP / 2,4,6 Pole
Inverter duty, NEMA Super Premium efficiency motors, ready for upcoming changes to efficiency regulations.
Up to NEMA 5012L Frame / 1000HP / 2,4,6,8 Pole
Designed for exceptional performance and long life in hard industrial processing applications.
Up to NEMA 449T Frame / 300HP / 2,4,6 Pole
Safety, durability and efficiency in UL/CSA Division I hazardous areas, with robust enclosures to prevent sparks and minimise ignition risks.
Up to NEMA 256T Frame / 20HP / 2,4,6 Pole
Unpainted, painted white washdown or encapsulated food safe stainless steel motors designed for applications involving hygienic cleaning.
Up to NEMA 365T Frame / 75HP / 2,4 Pole
Designed for pump applications, offering consistent performance in water, wastewater and industrial fluid systems.
IEC or NEMA Frames / Up to 10HP
A motor and drive combined in an IE5+ ultra premium efficiency package, delivering unmatched energy savings.
IEC or NEMA Frames / Up to 1000HP
Tailored for extreme, constant torque, variable speed duty — ideal for extruders, winding and heavy machinery.
IEC or NEMA Frames / Up to 500HP
Permanent magnet or shunt wound motors for powerful low speed torque, reliable performance and low maintenance.
NEMA motors vs IEC motors
Most UK motor distributors primarily stock IEC-frame motors, using metric dimensions and kW ratings. NEMA motors follow North American conventions – imperial frame dimensions and horsepower ratings, with NEMA standards defining motor dimensions, performance and application.
The two are not directly interchangeable. A NEMA 145T motor has specific shaft height, mounting, shaft diameter and keyway dimensions that differ from the IEC frame system. Replacing a NEMA motor with an IEC one can require changes to the baseplate, coupling and other mechanical components, as well as a review of the electrical and performance requirements.
That matters when an American-built machine is operating in a UK plant, or when a UK OEM is building machinery for export to North America. The correct NEMA motor avoids unnecessary engineering modifications and the downtime that comes with adapting equipment to a different motor standard.
Understanding NEMA frame sizes
The NEMA frame size is one of the most important specifications when selecting a replacement. It defines key mechanical dimensions, including shaft height and mounting, which determine whether a motor will physically fit the existing installation.
Common designations include 143T, 145T, 182T, 184T, 213T and 215T. Frame size shouldn’t be considered in isolation, though – motor power, speed, voltage, frequency, enclosure, mounting arrangement, shaft dimensions, service factor and application duty all need checking before selecting a replacement.
NEMA motors in UK stock
There’s a perception that NEMA motors are difficult to source in the UK, with limited local stock and long lead times. Betech built its NEMA business specifically to answer that, holding one of the largest stocks of NEMA motors outside North America – ABB and ABB Baldor-Reliance frames across general purpose, severe duty, food-safe washdown and explosion proof, in a wide range of sizes and specifications. Where the motor is in stock, it despatches from Heckmondwike rather than shipping from North America.
Typical applications
ABB Baldor-Reliance motors are often found on critical applications, where downtime is not an option and reliability is paramount.
ABB Baldor-Reliance explosion proof drill rig motors will be found on these ultra tough and hazardous area applications.
Motors with specific flanges and shafts for pump applications ensure efficient, reliable performance in fluid handling.
US based OEMs are leaders when it comes to food packaging machinery. Stainless steel food safe motors will often be chosen to maintain hygiene standards.
ABB NEMA Motors and ABB Baldor-Reliance are two NEMA motor ranges within ABB’s portfolio. Both are built to North American NEMA standards, and the difference between them is heritage.
ABB Baldor-Reliance grew out of Baldor Electric Company, which ABB acquired in 2011, and is built in ABB’s US manufacturing facilities. The ABB range came from the Siemens low voltage NEMA motor business, which ABB acquired in 2023 and reintroduced under its own name.
For a UK customer sourcing a NEMA frame motor or a replacement, we supply both. Our technical team can advise on the right motor based on the existing motor, frame size, electrical specification, duty, environment and application. If you’re not sure which suits, call us on 01924 411921 and we’ll work it out from the duty and the environment.
Stock in the UK: We hold a large range of NEMA motors at Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, with same day despatch on stock items ordered before the cut off time.
Non-stock lead times: Lead times vary by product. Where its urgent, we can airfreight from US stock – talk to our sales team.
NEMA frame specialists. Our ABB appointment covers the low voltage NEMA range, and we supply both ABB NEMA lines. If your application calls for an IEC-frame motor instead, we stock those too.
Breakdown cover. If a line is down, call us. We quote in minutes, not days.
ISO 9001 certified. Betech 100pt Ltd is UKAS-accredited and ISO 9001 registered.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. ABB acquired Baldor Electric Company in 2011, and in 2025 formally renamed the brand ABB Baldor-Reliance. If you’re searching for ABB motors and finding Baldor-Reliance, or the reverse, they are the same products.
Both are ABB NEMA motors, built to the same North American standards. The difference is heritage: ABB Baldor-Reliance came from Baldor Electric Company, acquired by ABB in 2011 and built in ABB’s US facilities, while the ABB range came from the Siemens low voltage NEMA motor business, acquired in 2023. We supply both.
In September 2025, ABB introduced a new dual-brand strategy for its NEMA Motors Division, formally bringing the ABB name together with the established Baldor-Reliance brand. The new ABB Baldor-Reliance identity is being rolled out through 2026, so customers may still see older Baldor-Reliance branding on existing motors, stock and documentation.
Betech is an established UK distributor and ABB Value Partner for NEMA motors, based in Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire. Betech has supplied Baldor-Reliance motors in the UK for more than 25 years and was appointed by ABB as its first UK authorised Value Provider for low voltage NEMA motors in 2019. Call 01924 411921 or email sales@betech.co.uk.
Yes. Betech holds one of the largest stocks of NEMA motors outside North America, with substantial UK stock of ABB and ABB Baldor-Reliance NEMA frame motors. Stock includes general purpose, severe duty, food-safe washdown and explosion-proof motors, with many motors available for immediate despatch.
From fractional horsepower up to NEMA 5012L frame and 1000HP, in 2, 4, 6 and 8 pole. General purpose runs to NEMA 449T and 400HP; severe duty to 5012L and 1000HP.
NEMA motors are designed to North American standards, using NEMA frame dimensions and horsepower ratings. IEC motors use the European/international IEC system, with metric frame dimensions and kW ratings. Their mounting and shaft dimensions are different, so a NEMA motor and IEC motor cannot generally be treated as direct replacements without checking the mechanical and electrical requirements.
For DC motors, variable speed motors and EC Titanium, yes — all three are available in IEC frames as well as NEMA. The rest of the range is NEMA only. If you need an IEC-frame motor in another format, see our IEC frame motor range.
Our ABB appointment covers the NEMA frame range, under both the ABB and ABB Baldor-Reliance names. We do stock IEC-frame motors — see our IEC frame motor range.
ABB sells its low voltage motor range through authorised distributors rather than direct. For the ABB Baldor-Reliance NEMA range in the UK, that route is Betech.
The nameplate carries the frame size, HP rating, NEMA design letter, service factor and nominal efficiency. We’ve written a full guide: How to Read a NEMA Motor Nameplate.
Downloads
For technical information, brochures and further product details, visit our downloads page.
Contact
Betech 100pt Ltd
Four Square Buildings, Thomas Street
Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, WF16 0LS
Telephone: 01924 411921
Email: sales@betech.co.uk
Opening hours: 8:00 to 17:00
