Recently, The Switch participated for the second time at WindEnergy Hamburg 2016 – the world’s leading trade fair for onshore and offshore wind power. Four successful days at the fair, from September 27–30, brought together 1,400 exhibitors from 34 different countries and 35,000 visitors from all parts of the world.
The Switch stand was a celebration of the company’s 10 years of advances in permanent performance. All graphical elements clearly displayed The Switch’s main achievements of the past decade and featured a decade of milestones in the company’s wind energy business.
10 major milestones for The Switch’s first decade
- 2006 – First 100% dedicated PM technology champion for wind power
- 2007 – First-generation prototype delivered to ScanWind
- 2008 – Beginning of mass-production of PMGs under license in China
- 2010 – Moventas and The Switch launch FusionDrive™ combined gear and generator
- 2011 – First 6 MW class products delivered
- 2012 – New full-power converter (FPC) series with world-class fault ride-through capability
- 2013 – First high-speed 5 MW drive trains operating successfully offshore for Chongqing Haizhuang Windpower Equipment
- 2014 – First 8 MW medium-speed flagship PMGs installed for offshore turbines
- 2015 – Over 6,000 liquid-cooled full-power converters delivered
- 2016 – Over 11 GW of capacity installed worldwide; largest PMG portfolio available
In these 10 years, The Switch became the undisputed champion of PMG – and will keep it up by challenging others to join the movement for lowering the cost of energy for the next decade ahead with bigger and better solutions, both onshore and offshore.
President and CEO of The Switch Jukka-Pekka Mäkinen characterized this year’s WindEnergy Hamburg as a “New Spring.” He recaps: “There was more movement in the industry than there has been for some time. Many of The Switch clients and partners from the past – now taking new roles at some of the world’s largest wind power companies – also attended the event. And we were pleased to see that they still value our reputation and are eager to stay in touch with us as they develop their own next-generation offerings in permanent performance.”
The tradition that The Switch created at EWEA Paris 2015 with a daily party and inspiring Permanent Performance hip-hop music continued. The local HipHop Academy Hamburg had a daily performance with specially choreographed robotic movements. After the show, birthday cake and orange Bellini drinks were served to the visitors in celebration of the company’s anniversary.
Check out our hip-hop performance: The Switch WindEnergy Hamburg / HipHop Academy Hamburg