Drive train technology specialist The Switch has seen a sharp jump in growth over the last year. Two thirds of the the company’s production got into the wind power market. New growth opportunities are seen in the marine markets.
The Switch increased its net sales by 80% from EU[ds_preview]R 40 million to more than EUR 72 million. Moreover, profitability also returned after a few previous years of losses.
»The Switch financials finally started to improve briskly in the right direction. We are no longer dependent on just one big client, but we have more clients in different parts of the world, from Asia to Europe. This growth was driven organically, thanks to our new products and customers,« says Dag Sandås, The Switch CFO.
The company’s designed and manufactured permanent magnet generators and power converters are used in wind power generation, marine and other industrial applications, such as in papermaking machinery. Nearly all of The Switch production is exported.
»Most our products – about 75% – go to wind power production. For example, the Chinese wind power market as well as the European offshore business are driving significant growth for us. Just recently, we started to deliver the world’s largest offshore wind power generators to the UK,” Sandås says.
High expectations for marine drives and generators
The Switch has high growth expectations for marine applications. Last year, backed by its Japanese parent company Yaskawa, the company acquired Wärtsilä’s marine power drives business for megawatt-class applications to help strengthen the company‘s marine permanent magnet shaft generator business. With this acquisition, the company is now able to benefit from a range of benefits, including a stronger machine and drive package offering, a broader product range and a wider market access.
»Our sales of products for marine applications have increased notably, especially considering the fact that the shipbuilding industry has been fairly quiet in general lately. Nevertheless, we see growth opportunities in this sector in the coming years. Therefore, our acquisition of the Norway-based business is clearly a good investment in the future,« Sandås confirms.
The Switch currently employs about 200 people in its factories in Vaasa and Lappeenranta in Finland and Stord in Norway.
»With our ambitious growth goals, we plan to hire more people in the future. The aim is to grow both organically and through possible acquisitions backed by our parent company Yaskawa. The competition in the sector is tough, but we are sustainably building up our brand all the while. We are known for being innovative and have the ability to apply new technology that brings true benefits to our customers,« Sandås concludes.
