AboutThe Company

Focused on electric motors	Balkancar "G. Kostov" JSC is specialized in the production of electric motors with applications in the electric vehicle and materials handling (traction), hydraulic and pleasure marine industries.
Over 55 years of experience	The company was founded in 1928 while the first electric motor was produced ina 1961. Currently over 90% of our production is exported to Germany, France, Denmark, Norway, Austria, Italy, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, South Africa and the US.
In house R&D design and customization	The DC motors have traditionally been designed for use in bow/stern/retractable/jet thrusters and winches for yachts fork lift trucks, electric and utility cars, golf cars, special driving units with marine application (bow thrusters), pump and hydraulic power pack motors.
Flexible production process	Due to the nature of our production process we are able to produce efficiently relatively small batches starting from one unit of certain motor types and are ready to significantly customize our products for production series as small as 200-300 pieces annually.

HistorySince 1928

1928 Marco Seliktar starts a small metal working factory located at 20 Iskar Street (now in the very center of Sofia, BULGARIA). The production portfolio includes various furniture, cabinets, watches, locks, door handles and other small metal products.
1946 The founder acquires the current land plot of the factory, located in the Voenna Rampa district, just 5 minutes by car from the Sofia Central Train Station.
1947 The plant is nationalized after the end of WW2.
1948 The construction of the new “DIP Metal Industry” plant starts.
1951 Construction finishes; all similar factories in the area are merged into “DIP Metal Industry”.
1960 “DIP Metal Industry” begins specialization into electric motors and is renamed “Plant for DC motors production”. The company becomes part of Balkancar Holding to make motors for electric forklifts.
1961 The first DC electric motor is produced; 10 different models are in production by the end of the year.
1963 The plant is renamed again to “Balkancar ZPDEA Georgi Kostov” after a communist functionary.
1967 “Georgi Kostov” already produces 70 different types of motors.
1974 400 000 motors has been produced in total since 1961.
1975 500 000 motors has been produced in total since 1961.
1978 A major technical modernization and enlargement of the base is completed.
1982 Production of starters for diesel engines commences.
1989 With the fall of communism, Balkancar Holding loses its captive market and production starts gradually to decline.
1990 “Georgi Kostov” starts making motors for clients outside Balkancar Holding. Major market segments targeted are mobile hydraulics and motors for the pleasure marine industry (bow and stern thrusters, winches, etc).
2000 Balkancar Holding has lost most of its market share while the production of “Georgi Kostov” goes almost entirely to the marine and mobile hydraulics industry with a small volume of traction motors being made for the aftermarket.
2002 Balkancar Holding declares bankruptcy.
2003 “Georgi Kostov” is privatized to help cover the debts of the state owned Balkancar Holding.
2009 The now private company successfully navigates through the perils of the global financial crisis.
2014 A major renovation project is started aiming to upgrade old equipment. A new CNC machining workshop is established to produce shafts and flanges for the motors. Modern CNC lathes by DMG Mori have been purchased together with fast vertical machining centers by Fanuc (Robodrill).
2015 The main production building is renovated featuring new thermal and roof insulation.
2016 A new powder paint line is installed reducing electricity consumption 3-fold while simultaneously improving quality.
2017 Hairpin conductor forming machine is purchased to make sections for armatures. Productivity is enhanced by over 300% while a production bottleneck is eliminated.
TODAY “Balkancar ZPDEA Georgi Kostov” is a modern ISO9001 certified company with technologically advanced equipment. Virtually all important motor components are produced in house allowing great flexibility and fast market reaction.

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Details for ourProducts

Balkancar "G. Kostov" JSC manufactures the following products:

Traction DC motors with frame sizes of 81, 125, 150, 171, 191, 220, 248, 268 and 326 mm and voltages from 12 to 400V.
Traction 3-phase AC motors with voltages from 24 to 144V.
The Kostov line of motors are aimed at the EV conversion and OEM market and are developed in frame sizes 191, 220, 268 and 326 mm with voltages from 72 to 400 volts.
DC motors for hydraulic units with frame sizes of 81, 112, 125, 150, 171, 191, 220, 248 and 268 mm and voltages of 12, 24, 36, 48, 72 and 80 volts.
DC motors for special driving units with frame sizes of 81, 112, 125, 150, 171, and 191 mm and voltages of 12, 24 and 48 volts.
The DC motors can be produced with series, SepEx , shunt or compound excitation.

years history

1000+

different designs

Modern

CNC equipment

Passion

for Electric Motors

200+

clients

AboutQuality

Serious about quality	We are very serious about quality - after all it is the only way we can successfully compete with other producers.
High Quality standards	We have expanded significant effort both in the fields of quality checks and in introducing an organizational structure that ensures high quality standards.
Delivery precision	We recognize the fact that quality takes years to build and only months to loose, that quality is not only in the product itself, but also in delivery precision, after sales service and prompt response to customers' needs.
EN ISO 9001:2008certified	The TÜV Nord cerfication is just one element of a complex quality policy encompassing all our activities.
Designed in-house	The quality of the products is further ensured by our R&D department, where all products are designed in-house.