Sea Japan 2026, one of Asia’s leading maritime exhibitions, is a strategic meeting point for industry professionals seeking the latest solutions in decarbonization, digitalization, autonomous shipping and next-generation vessel design. Held in Tokyo from April 22–24, this year’s event offered a unique platform to explore emerging trends, build valuable partnerships and discover cutting-edge products and services, such as the ones on display from BEMAC and The Switch.
Sunao Sato, Technical Professional of Power Electronics Section, comments on trends noticed at the event. He says it was clear that engine manufacturers are continuing their development efforts toward the adoption of new and alternative fuels. At the same time, shipowners and operators are increasingly driving the development of energy-saving technologies. Examples include solutions such as kites and Wind Challenger sail systems.
Learning more about PM shaft generators
“The main visitors at our BEMAC stand were shipowners, operators, shipyards and competitors,” says Sato. “Many of them showed particular interest in The Switch permanent magnet (PM) shaft generators.”
“Our stand showcased a 1:6-scale rotating model of The Switch PMM1000M. We prepared materials showing the shaft structure, cooling method, installation procedure and performance characteristics to support detailed discussions with visitors. As a result, we believe most visitors were able to gain a good understanding of the product,” he continues.
In addition, the booth featured BEMAC’s new dynamic positioning system (DPS), new fuel control systems, a MaSSA ship support solution and the newly developed medium-voltage switchboard. These technologies attracted significantly more visitors compared to previous exhibitions.
According to Juha Reinilä, Key Account Manager, who participated from The Switch, “BEMAC had one of the most impressive booths, featuring a shaft generator demonstration and engaging animations. There was strong interest from both existing and potential customers.”
Growing reputation of The Switch products in Japan
In the Japanese market, The Switch is still less known than some competing companies. Therefore, many visitors were particularly interested to learn about the significant efficiency improvements of The Switch PM shaft generators compared to conventional excitation-type generators.
“The Switch is still building its track record in the Japanese market. However, the company’s very high system efficiency and compact inverter modules are gradually becoming more widely recognized. We believe that once customers gain hands-on experience with the products, The Switch will build an even stronger reputation,” Sato concludes.
Sea Japan 2026 has provided both The Switch and BEMAC with an unparalleled opportunity to connect with key stakeholders and gain insights into the challenges and opportunities in the region. The companies are now looking forward to helping drive the Asian maritime industry forward.
