Yaskawa Electric Corporation (Yaskawa) has announced that it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire The Switch. The estimated schedule for closing the deal is within a few weeks.
The Japan-based Yaskawa System Engineering Division has been focusing on growing its market share in renewable, marine and industrial applications over the past few years. In autumn 2013, the two companies entered a strategic collaboration agreement whereby Yaskawa gained access to The Switch’s capability in megawatt-class power generation and The Switch was able to develop its presence in Japan. The product portfolios of The Switch and Yaskawa complement each other well for applications in renewables, marine and industry. Permanent magnet (PM) machines and low-voltage converters from The Switch range from 500 kW to 8.0+ MW, whereas Yaskawa offers medium-voltage converters that extend the offering to large wind turbines and other applications. Yaskawa’s global network will be used to promote The Switch’s products in wind power, marine and industrial applications. The Switch brand will continue as its own entity for selected markets and applications.