Introduction
Electric Motor Power (EMP) began with a simple idea: that Australia could design and build better electric motors locally, and configure them to suit the specific requirements of each project to support efficiency and reduce operating costs.
Charles Matheou, an electrical engineer, and Uwe Dressel, a mechanical engineer, originally worked together at Preslite designing small electric motors for vehicles. They each saw the limitations of imported motors firsthand and recognised a gap in the market for larger DC motors across industrial, transport, and HVAC applications. After starting as a garage workshop built to solve problems, today EMP ranks among the country’s few manufacturers that design and produce brushed and brushless DC motors locally.
EMP’s earliest success came from custom DC motor designs for pump systems and HVAC units in bus and rail fleets, applications that demanded reliability in tough Australian conditions.
For more than three decades, EMP has helped industrial, marine, and defence customers solve real engineering challenges. The team builds motors that perform reliably, last longer, and can be serviced locally. This story shows how persistence and engineering skill turned a practical need into a sovereign Australian capability.
The beginning: engineering through necessity
In the late 1980s, few DC motors were made locally. Most industrial systems relied on imported units unsuited to Australia’s environment. Many proved difficult to maintain or replace once in service.
Seeing this gap, Charles and Uwe began prototyping larger DC motors from Uwe’s home garage. They hand-wound armatures, machined their own housings, and developed their own tooling to produce larger motors that no one was building locally.
As demand grew, the team moved from the garage into a small factory in Bayswater in the early 1990s. By 1996, the team had outgrown that space and shifted to the larger, purpose-built facility in Victoria, where they still operate today with the same core focus on designing motors for performance and longevity in Australian conditions.
Innovation built by hand
EMP’s early growth came from a practical, hands-on approach to engineering. The team designed its own winding machines, wire counters, magnetising systems, and epoxy impregnation tools, with each innovation improving quality and streamlining processes.
Partnerships with the CSIRO helped EMP establish advanced magnetising and testing systems. EMP refined each product through testing and continuous improvement, building a foundation for consistent reliability.
This same engineering mindset continues today. Each stage of production, from coil winding to final testing, supports long-lasting performance in harsh, high-vibration, and high-duty environments.
From brushed to brushless: evolving with technology
For its first decade, EMP produced brushed DC motors for industrial and transport applications across Australia. As demand grew for greater efficiency and precision control, the team began developing brushless DC (BLDC) motor systems. This shift expanded the product range beyond the original 750 W brushed models to multi-kilowatt BLDC platforms, a progression that has continued to today’s 15 kW-plus systems.
By the mid-2000s, EMP expanded most of its research and development to BLDC systems. These newer designs integrated:
- electronic commutation and feedback systems
- temperature sensors for thermal protection
- electronic commutation and feedback systems
- protective shutdown logic for critical operations.
The move from brushed to brushless reinforced EMP’s commitment to engineering progress. Each generation of EMP motors delivered measurable gains in efficiency, longer service life, and tighter control.
EMP established a wholly owned international subsidiary in 2007 to support global clients and better service export programs. Today, EMP brushless systems are used across marine electrification, robotics, defence platforms, and advanced industrial systems where reliability and local service support are essential.
Building a sovereign manufacturing capability
EMP is one of Australia’s only DC motor manufacturers that designs, winds, and assembles motors in-house. This level of control delivers precision, repeatability, and full traceability from stator to rotor, and across all associated components including bearings, machined housings, encoders, controllers, etc.
Sovereign capability means more than local production; it includes owning the design, processes, and intellectual property (IP) that underpin reliability. By keeping manufacturing and engineering onshore, EMP provides customers with certainty over supply, quality, and compliance.
Both the Australian facility and the international subsidiary achieved ISO9001 and ISO45001 accreditation in 2021, formalising the quality and safety systems already underpinning EMP’s manufacturing processes. Today, EMP supports more than 200 unique customers each year across Australia and international markets.
EMP supports sectors where dependable power matters, including:
- industrial automation and manufacturing: high-torque, robust motion systems
- marine propulsion and auxiliary systems: quiet and efficient brushless drives
- defence and aerospace: long-life motors with low electromagnetic interference (EMI)
- mining and heavy industry: durable brushed designs for harsh conditions.
EMP delivers what imported products often cannot: local support; customised engineering; and consistent performance in Australian environments.
The next generation of engineering
EMP is expanding its investment in research, development and advanced manufacturing. The next generation of leadership expands capability through automation, R&D, and sustainable design. Focus areas include:
- axial-flux motor development for compact, high-efficiency systems
- electric propulsion for marine and defence platforms
- advanced battery-integrated systems
- sovereign development of next-generation drone and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) motors.
Ongoing investment keeps EMP central to Australia’s transition to cleaner and more energy-efficient technologies, without losing the craftsmanship behind its reputation.
Why EMP exists: a culture of engineering integrity
EMP’s purpose is to engineer smarter, cleaner, and more reliable power for Australian conditions. The company doesn’t aim for scale or volume; it builds motors that meet real-world requirements where quality, lifespan, and serviceability come first.
This culture of engineering integrity shapes every project. It’s visible in the materials EMP chooses, which are always high-grade, never compromised. Each design is tested extensively, and the team keeps communication with clients clear and open from start to finish. Even as the business evolves, that mindset remains unchanged.
“We build motors that last, not just through better materials but through a commitment to quality at every stage.” - Charles Matheou, founder and director, Electric Motor Power (EMP)
Summary and key takeaways
- Founded by electrical engineer Charles Matheou and mechanical engineer Uwe Dressel, EMP grew from a home garage to an advanced manufacturing facility operating since 1989.
- The company grew from hand-built units to advanced brushless systems through innovation and craftsmanship.
- EMP maintains full design and production control in Australia, providing true sovereign manufacturing capability.
- Every EMP motor is built for reliability, engineering precision, and long-term value.
Talk to EMP about your next project
Whether you are replacing existing systems or developing new equipment, EMP can help design and build a DC motor that meets your performance and operational requirements.
Book a consultation or speak with an engineer to discuss your next project.
Related links:
- Australian brushed and brushless motors
- Custom solutions
- Contact EMP Engineering Support