30 April 2026
There’s a company in East Tamaki that most New Zealanders have never heard of, yet its technology powers approximately six million new appliances each year, worldwide.
Fisher & Paykel Technologies has spent more than three decades designing and manufacturing advanced motors and drive systems that power some of the world’s biggest appliance brands within the Haier Group. It developed the world’s first direct drive motor for washing machines, and it’s done this from Auckland, New Zealand.
Now, under a bold new brand – Torqos, this team is stepping into the spotlight and opening its technology to the global market for the first time.
Why the change?
Until now, Fisher & Paykel Technologies operated exclusively within the Haier Group, the world’s largest home appliance company, whose brands include Fisher & Paykel, Casarte, Haier, Leader, GE Appliances, Aqua and Candy. The strategic decision has been made to offer Torqos’ capabilities to the broader global appliance industry and beyond.
The independent Torqos brand establishes a clear, dedicated identity for the business, giving it the freedom to partner with any manufacturer, at any tier, in any market, without constraint.
Not just motors
What sets Torqos apart from conventional motor suppliers is the breadth of its offering. The company doesn’t just design motors, it provides complete, integrated drive systems:
- Custom-designed motors engineered for quiet operation, energy efficiency, and reliability at scale
- Proprietary motor control algorithms that enable entirely new product capabilities – from advanced wash patterns that reduce water and energy consumption to precision digital resistance in fitness equipment
- Motor-as-sensor technology that turns the motor into a precision sensor for real-time load detection and adaptive system optimisation
- Purpose-designed inverter electronics that maximise performance
This integrated approach – hardware, software, and power electronics designed as a unified system – is what enables Torqos’ partners to differentiate their products via break-through performance improvements and the creation of highly valued product features.
A significant growth opportunity
Torqos is headquartered in Auckland with core R&D and business functions in New Zealand. The company continues as a business within the Fisher & Paykel Appliances Group, part of the Haier Group. Ownership, leadership, and the engineering teams are unchanged.
What has changed is the scale of opportunity. With approximately 6 million motors delivered annually and a brand that opens the door to the broader global market, Torqos is positioned for significant growth – growth that strengthens the New Zealand operation and creates opportunities for the engineering and technology talent that drives it.
The company is also expanding beyond home appliances, with active programmes in fitness, where its drive systems power digital strength training products, and commercial food preparation equipment.
Torqos CEO, Mike Ullrich, says the rebrand signals a decisive step forward: “This transition gives us the clarity, focus, and freedom to chart our future. For decades we’ve quietly mastered drive system technology within one of the world’s largest appliance groups. Now, we’re ready to bring that expertise to the wider world. From appliances to fitness, and far beyond, Torqos is redefining what motion can do. Whether it’s a quieter washing machine, a more intelligent fitness experience, or a highly efficient commercial system, Torqos delivers the world’s best drive system technology — powering performance, precision, and possibility.”
