Dear friends,
With the first quarter behind us, it is a good time to share an important milestone in our marine business.
We have now exceeded 600 permanent magnet (PM) marine machines ordered, with more than 300 already delivered and operating at sea. Even more importantly, this growing installed base has accumulated over 5 million operating hours without any major failure affecting vessel operations.
For vessel owners, this track record is not just a number. Reliability at sea directly translates into predictable operation, protected revenue and peace of mind. Avoiding unplanned downtime caused by failures is critical, and our proven performance clearly demonstrates that The Switch PM machines are built for exactly this purpose.
In this newsletter, you can read more about our PM machine quality and the manufacturing principles behind these results. High efficiency is important, but robustness and consistent performance over time are what truly matter when equipment is installed deep inside a vessel.
Another article highlights our unique Power Electronics (PE) protection concepts. These are designed to safeguard both the machines and the vessel’s electrical system under demanding marine conditions.
Our PE team is actively supporting system integrators during commissioning and sea trials, while also delivering training and sharing know-how. This approach helps our partners become more self-sufficient, with expert support always available when needed.
None of our achievements would be possible without close cooperation and trust.
I would like to sincerely thank our customers for selecting our technology and working with us over many years. I also thank our team for their commitment, competence and continuous focus on quality and reliability.
Wishing you all a successful and energizing spring!
President and CEO
Our highlights
The Switch launches compact PMM850M permanent magnet machine with water-jacket cooling for marine
The Switch has launched the PMM850M permanent magnet machine, a compact, high-efficiency solution designed to help shipowners lower fuel consumption, reduce emissions and decrease operating costs. Designed for shaft generator and propulsion applications, the PMM850M targets vessels operating in the 500 kW to 1.5 MW power range, filling a gap at the lower end of The Switch’s PM machine portfolio.
The most expensive moment on a ship is the first 10 microseconds after a fault
When we talk with shipowners about power systems, the conversation often starts around efficiency, fuel savings or emissions. These are certainly very important topics, but when you work closely with DC systems, you learn very quickly that the real cost of a power system isn’t decided during normal operation.
It’s decided the moment something goes wrong.
Marine customers get top-quality The Switch PM machines from Finland and China
The foundation for our production was laid in Lappeenranta, where our first PM marine machines were built and the core processes that guide us today were created. As orders surged in recent years and our position at the top of the market was recognized, we expanded production to Vaasa and later to Nanjing to increase capacity and better serve our customer base in Asia.
Why smaller ships need a new generation of compact electric machines
Engineering challenges behind electrification can vary significantly depending on vessel size and operating profile. In many smaller commercial vessels, the main constraint is simply the amount of space available in the engine room. Read more about our new compact machine in this month’s blog.
The Switch reconfigures Vaasa factory as demand for DC systems accelerates
This restructuring will create new jobs in Vaasa and establish the site as a second hub for PE production and testing alongside The Switch’s long-standing base in Stord on the west coast of Norway. As part of the reorganisation, proven production methods developed in Stord are being transferred to Finland to ensure consistent quality, processes and delivery performance across both locations.
Inside the development of high-performing marine electric machines
At The Switch, tackling complex challenges is at the core of what we do. With a strong emphasis on innovation and deep analytics, we design electric machines we can be genuinely proud of. In this article, I’ll share what goes into innovation at The Switch.
The Switch at WattsUp 2026: Batteries, DC systems and industry insights
At the beginning of March, The Switch participated in the three-day WattsUp 2026 conference in Mallorca, hosted by the Maritime Battery Forum. The event brought together battery suppliers, system integrators, shipyards and classification societies to discuss the latest developments in maritime battery technology and related equipment.
A day at Energy House: where ideas become energy solutions
On April 9th, the Energy House in Stord, Norway, opened its doors to innovators, engineers, investors, and industry leaders working toward one shared goal: a cleaner, more resilient energy future. This annual Energy House Day took place for the 4th time this year.
Among the participants were The Switch and partners such as Sustainable Energy, Alltec, Maritime Cleantech and Wärtsilä – together representing a broad cross-section of the maritime and energy ecosystem.
