How can we build and retrofit ships to meet the coming emissions regulations and possible future requirements? This is the urgent question facing the marine industry today. As we move to greener fuel solutions, some challenges include the impact of fuel changes on how an engine runs, the availability of truly green options and the…
Category: Blogs
Choosing between tilting pad and active magnetic bearings for direct-drive compressors
Did you know active magnetic bearing (AMB) systems are more energy efficient and have lower lifetime costs than tilting pad bearing systems? We at The Switch regularly evaluate bearing systems when we supply high-speed electric machines. Our customers are looking for a bearing system that will provide the load capacity and stability their high-speed direct-drive…
Key offshore vessel upgrade puts us in the spotlight as a valued long-term partner
In the Nordics, we don’t like to blow our own trumpets too much. But here goes anyway! One great example of our collaborative success with close customers is when vessel lifecycle management provider ACEL Group of Norway recently selected us to supply single drives as part of an extensive midlife upgrade of the multipurpose offshore…
Charting a sustainable course – permanent magnet electric propulsion for vessels
It will soon be 10 years since we delivered the world’s first megawatt-class permanent magnet (PM) shaft generators. Using PM shaft generators instead of auxiliary gensets can significantly reduce fuel consumption. This also leads to lower emissions since less fuel needs to be burned. Due to recently tightened emission regulations with the ultimate goal for…
Our robust electric machines backed by in-depth performance engineering
Looking for high-speed electric or large permanent magnet machines with top performance reliability? You can count on The Switch. Robust performance is our top priority. Our permanent magnet machines weigh up to more than 50 metric tons. Torques in our large shaft generators and propulsion motors can reach more than one million newton-meters, equal to…
The journey of a successful PM shaft generator sea trial
We’re pleased to announce the successful sea trials of our PMM1000M, PMM1500M and PMM2000M designs. These trials validate earlier design simulations and confirm safe cruising and reliable permanent magnet shaft generator operations. We carried out trials on the Grazyna Gesicka LNG carrier in cooperation with Botnia Engineering, our subcontractor. Efficient energy design The Grazyna Gesicka…
New ownership fuels the future for The Switch
On February 20, BEMAC Corporation and Mitsui & Co., Ltd. finalized their purchase of 100% of The Switch shares. The change promotes the business development and growth of The Switch through the extensive experience and network of our new owners. We at The Switch believe our united strengths make a powerful combination. We are excited…
Navigating Green Shipping Corridors
You may have heard about “green corridors” in shipping but be asking yourself, what are they? What is their purpose? Recognizing the need for climate action, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has adapted a new strategy in 2023 to incorporate a net-zero emissions goal for all vessels by or around 2050. With a lifetime of…
The Switch: from just a good idea to today’s company
People always say that you have to look forward in order to succeed. Still, it’s sometimes good to look back as well to see where you’ve come from. Recently, I received a visit request from a group of people who wanted to know how The Switch got where we are today. So, I had to…
Maritime green transition gathers speed in 2023
In July of this year, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) revised its strategy for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from international shipping . The IMO’s new ambitious target is to reach net-zero GHG emissions from international shipping by 2050. This is a big jump up from the initial target of a 50% GHG reduction by…
4 reasons our PM machines are the #1 choice for direct-drive shaft generators
We’re proud to announce that our permanent magnet (PM) machines lead the market for direct-drive shaft generators. Since 2015, more than 100 vessels have gone to sea with our technology and more than 270 shaft generator orders have been placed. Currently, we deliver tens of machines annually to shipyards via our system integrator customers. What…
Ultrafast protection is key to very large marine battery systems
Incat Tasmania’s new Ro-Pax ferry is a big step forward in the development of all-electric vessels! Powered by the largest energy storage system of any vessel to date, the lightweight catamaran ferry also breaks ground with a number of other firsts when delivered in 2025: “The vessel redefines the future of ferry operations worldwide and…