The world’s largest fully electric vessel will soon be plying the waters between Uruguay and Argentina. Its electrical safety is ensured by The Switch. Built by Australian shipbuilder Incat for South American ferry operator Buquebus, the 130-meter catamaran Ro-Pax ferry China Zorrilla arrived in Uruguay in September. The vessel is expected to begin ferrying passengers…
Category: Blogs
Two specialists, one shared ambition: The Switch and SpinDrive take high-speed machinery further
What happens when two Finnish specialists in high-speed machinery bring their expertise together? A cooperation that turns complementary technologies into new possibilities for industrial applications. The Switch and SpinDrive work on different parts of the same engineering challenge. The Switch brings decades of experience in high-speed electric machines, permanent magnet technology and power electronics. SpinDrive…
Hot summer: what today’s order wave tells us about the marine market
This summer, the marine industry has seen exceptionally high activity. At The Switch, we’re seeing strong demand from both existing and new customers. Our order backlog is at an all-time high, with deliveries extending several years into the future. What is driving this activity, and what does it tell us about the future of the…
How to navigate the hidden costs of a permanent magnet shaft generator
Shipowners and shipbuilders – are you looking for a permanent magnet shaft generator (PMSG) for your next ship? Permanent magnet synchronous machine technology is driving the global maritime industry’s decarbonization shift. As a result, today’s market is flooded with budget manufacturers offering lower prices for this big-ticket item. Buying costly items at lower prices is…
Future-proofing isn’t only about fuel choice – it’s about what your power system can survive
Shipowners are being asked to commit to fuel strategies, regulations and operating profiles that remain uncertain. True future-proofing isn’t only about choosing the “right” energy source but about designing power systems that can absorb change, contain faults and remain operable as complexity increases. For today’s shipowners, “future-proofing” has become one of the most overused –…
From power generation to propulsion: expanding the role of permanent magnet technology
Recent geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have driven energy prices sharply upward, further pushing the global transition away from fossil fuels. Across industries, this shift is becoming increasingly urgent – and in the maritime sector, it is reinforcing the business case for electrification. As fuel costs rise and emissions regulations tighten, electrification is reshaping…
LUT–The Switch collaboration pushes boundaries in high-speed electric machine design
High-speed solid rotors are seeing increasing application across industry. At the same time, customers are demanding even greater rotational speeds and power densities – well beyond the traditional operating ranges of 6,000 to 20,000 rpm. Conventional manufacturing methods, however, limit the development of large commercial high-speed solid rotor machines, particularly those exceeding 1,600 kg in…
Scaling up electric ferries: the role of power electronics
Large fully electric ferries are no longer a concept – they are already operating in real-world conditions. The real question is how to make them comparably efficient, safe and reliable. The pace at which electric ferries are moving from niche to scale is remarkable. The market is already worth several billion dollars and is expected…
Why smaller ships need a new generation of compact electric machines
Electrification is steadily reshaping ship power systems across the maritime industry. From battery-powered ferries and hybrid offshore vessels to large container ships using shaft generators and power take-off systems, electrical machines are becoming a central part of modern vessel design. However, the engineering challenges behind electrification can vary significantly depending on vessel size and operating…
Inside the development of high-performing marine electric machines
Imagine that your electric machine no longer meets your needs. Perhaps performance requirements changed, vibrations suddenly appeared during operation or another practical challenge emerged. Situations like these are where innovation often begins. For engineers, solving such problems is part of everyday work – but how they approach them can vary from company to company. At…
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…
Marine customers get top-quality The Switch PM machines from Finland and China
Today, The Switch manufactures and tests high-quality marine PM machines in Nanjing, China, as well as in two locations in Finland. Our first PM marine machines were built and tested in Lappeenranta, Finland, where we established the processes that still form the foundation for our production today. Over the past five years, the number of…