EXHIBIT 23.1
    
 
   
                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
    
 
   
    We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Amendment No. 2 to the
Registration Statement on Form S-4 dated January 30, 1998 of our report dated
January 27, 1997 on our audits of the consolidated financial statements of
Kollmorgen Corporation as of December 31, 1996 and 1995 and for each of the
three years in the period ended December 31, 1996, which report is included in
Kollmorgen Corporation's 1996 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
    
 
   
                                             /s/ Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
    
 
   
Boston, Massachusetts
January 30, 1998