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Yaskawa forms strategic cooperation with The Switch

15 October, 2013

The Japanese motion control and robotics supplier Yaskawa has entered a strategic cooperation with The Switch, a Finnish-based supplier of megawatt-scale permanent magnet generator and converter packages for wind power and other applications.

By combining forces in areas including high-power motors, generators and converters, the two companies plan to take advantage of each other’s expertise, expand their product ranges, and strengthen their market positions abroad. The cooperation is expected to result in a more complete product offering and, eventually, in bigger and better wind turbines.

“With strong expertise in medium-voltage technology, Yaskawa is an ideal partner for The Switch to complement our present product offering,” says The Switch’s president and CEO, Jukka-Pekka Mäkinen. “This cooperation will provide us with a solid foundation to serve our old and new customers in wind power and other applications, and we look forward to expanding our presence in Japan.”

The Switch was a spin-off from the Finnish drives-maker Vacon, which has a stake in the business and supplies it with converters. So far, The Switch has sold wind turbine generators and converters with a total capacity of around 6.5GW. By adding Yaskawa medium-voltage converters (3kV and higher) to its portfolio, it aims to become the leading supplier to the European offshore wind turbine market.

A permanent magnet generator and power converter from The Switch

Yaskawa hopes to develop the European market by offering its products through The Switch’s sales network, and will also distribute the Finnish company’s products in Japan.




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