Schneider Toshiba Inverter SAS, the drives venture owned jointly by Schneider Electric and Toshiba, is to start selling badged drives for asynchronous motors made by the Finnish drives-maker, Vacon. The two companies have signed a new commercial partnership deal which extends a co-operative relationship started almost ten years ago, under which Vacon sold badged small single- and three-phase Schneider drives beforel it brought out its own low-end products. The new agreement also allows Vacon to continue selling Schneider Toshiba soft-starters.

Under the deal, Schneider Toshiba will sell Vacon variable speed drives in ratings from 2.2-1,500kW, for operation in the range 525-690V. Vacon will market Schneider Toshiba soft-starters in ratings from 4-1,000kW, for use at 230-415V and 208-690V, as part of its own drives packages.

Schneider Toshiba says that the deal will "reinforce its worldwide leadership in variable speed drives" and allow it to meet all of its customers` requirements. It "underlines our determination to set up long-term relationships which will be profitable, both now and in the future," declares Elie Belbel, Schneider Toshiba Inverter`s chief executive.

Vacon`s chief executive, Vesa Laisi, says that the agreement takes the next step in his company`s long partnership with Schneider Toshiba.

The deal follows Vacon`s recent partnership with Rockwell Automation. Vacon also produces drives for other companies including Honeywell, Cutler-Hammer and Trend Controls.