The Brand Story
Century: The St. Louis Motor That Keeps Pool Water Moving
In the collection of Ingenium, Canada's national museums of science and technology, sits a single-phase, 2 horsepower electric motor from around 1905. Its nameplate reads Century Electric Company, St. Louis, Missouri. More than a century later the Century name is still stamped on motors, now spinning behind pool equipment pads across the country, quietly turning the impellers that push water through filters, heaters and chlorinators every day.
Chapter 1 · St. Louis to Milwaukee
A name that kept changing hands
Century Electric made electric motors in St. Louis for much of the twentieth century. In October 1986 it was acquired by MagneTek for $76 million as part of that company's push into electric motors. In 1999 A.O. Smith bought MagneTek's worldwide motor operations, headquartered in St. Louis, for about $250 million. Those operations made fractional and integral horsepower motors for pool and spa pumps, air compressors and commercial air conditioners, with more than 5,500 employees across 14 facilities.
For years after, pool professionals knew these motors as A.O. Smith Century motors. Then in August 2011 Regal Beloit closed its purchase of A.O. Smith's Electrical Products business, a deal valued at roughly $875 million. In October 2021 Regal Beloit merged with Rexnord to form Regal Rexnord, the Milwaukee company that owns the Century brand today.
The Next Chapter
The variable-speed era
A pool pump runs for hours at a time, day after day, so the efficiency of its motor adds up on every utility bill. The Department of Energy addressed that with a standard for dedicated-purpose pool pump motors, finalized in September 2023. Replacement motors from 1.15 to 5 total horsepower manufactured since September 29, 2025, must be variable-speed. Smaller motors, from 0.5 to under 1.15 total horsepower, face the same requirement on a later schedule set to begin in September 2027, and in 2026 the DOE said it would not seek penalties on those small motors through March 2029.
Century's answer is the VGreen EVO, the successor to its original VGreen ECM motor. It runs from 600 to 3,450 RPM, offers eight preset schedules and an override mode from a single button, works on 115 or 230 volts, and comes in 1.30, 1.65 and 2.25 total horsepower sizes so the motor can be matched closely to the pump.
The Lineup
What Century builds today
Under Regal Rexnord, Century makes motors for pool and spa pumps along with fan, blower and general-purpose motors. HVAC365 carries Century pool pump motors for replacement work:
- VGreen EVO: variable-speed motors in 48Y and 56J frames with round mounts, including 1.65 horsepower models.
- Centurion and Centurion Pro: single-phase motors from 3/4 to 3 horsepower in square-flange 48Y and 56Y and threaded-shaft 56J styles, for pumps on existing equipment pads.
- Q Series and H Series: three-phase motors such as the 3 horsepower Q Series and 3.45 horsepower H Series for 208 to 230/460 volt commercial pools.
- Commercial replacements: larger motors such as the EQ 5 horsepower three-phase motor in a 182JM frame.
- Two-speed models: such as a 1 horsepower square-flange 48Y motor on 230 volts.
Matching a replacement starts with the old motor's nameplate: frame code, mount style (square flange, round or threaded shaft), horsepower rating, voltage and phase. See the full range of pool pumps.
At a Glance
Century by the numbers
- Brand roots
- Century Electric Company, St. Louis, Missouri
- Acquired by MagneTek
- 1986
- Owned by A.O. Smith
- 1999 to 2011
- Parent company
- Regal Rexnord, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
- Variable-speed line
- VGreen EVO
- VGreen EVO speed range
- 600 to 3,450 RPM
Questions
Frequently asked questions about Century pool pump motors
Who makes Century pool pump motors?
Century motors are made by Regal Rexnord of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Regal Beloit acquired the business from A.O. Smith in 2011 and merged with Rexnord in 2021.
Is Century the same as A.O. Smith?
Century motors were sold under the A.O. Smith name after A.O. Smith bought MagneTek's motor operations in 1999. Since A.O. Smith sold its electrical products business to Regal Beloit in 2011, the motors have been sold as Century.
What does the DOE pool pump motor rule mean for replacement motors?
Dedicated-purpose pool pump motors from 1.15 to 5 total horsepower manufactured since September 29, 2025, must be variable-speed. Smaller motors from 0.5 to under 1.15 total horsepower follow on a later schedule.
What is the Century VGreen EVO?
VGreen EVO is Century's variable-speed pool pump motor. It runs from 600 to 3,450 RPM, has eight preset schedules on a single-button control and comes in 1.30, 1.65 and 2.25 total horsepower sizes.
How do I choose the right replacement motor?
Match the old motor's nameplate: frame code such as 48Y, 56Y or 56J, mount style, horsepower rating, voltage and phase. A mismatched frame or shaft will not fit the pump.
