Robust newbuilding activity, combined with a growing emphasis on energy efficiency and optimisation in newbuild specifications, has produced one of the strongest-ever order runs for the electric machines (EM) business of The Switch. The Finnish power electronics specialist has secured 13 orders since the beginning of June, covering almost 50 oceangoing vessels and 59 permanent magnet (PM) machines. July marked the company's strongest month to date for marine EM orders.

The surge reflects the greater weight shipowners are placing on efficiency across the whole vessel, with optimisation extending from ship design down to individual equipment and power-system configurations. Tightening decarbonisation requirements and fuel costs are strengthening the case for technologies that reduce energy consumption, including PM shaft generator and hybrid-electric solutions. These requirements include the International Maritime Organization's 2023 greenhouse gas strategy, which targets net-zero emissions from international shipping around 2050, as well as the IMO's Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII), which grades vessels annually on their carbon intensity and tightens over time. Because PM technology delivers higher efficiency than conventional alternatives, it translates directly into lower fuel consumption — making these products increasingly attractive to owners weighing machinery options for new vessels that must remain compliant across decades of service.

"This is one of the strongest order runs we've ever had, but I think it also says something about where the market is going," says Jussi Puranen, Product Line Director, Electric Machines at The Switch. "Owners are looking much more closely at efficiency. When you're specifying a newbuild today, every percentage point matters, and that's putting greater focus on the efficiency of individual components and the overall power configuration."

"It also comes down to confidence in the technology," he adds. "We have a product range that can meet the requirements of very different vessels, plus a proven operational track record. We now have more than 400 machines in service, with over seven million operating hours since 2015 and zero critical faults. That builds trust with new customers and keeps existing customers coming back."

Broad-based demand

The orders include some of the largest vessels served by The Switch, among them VLCC-class tankers of up to 320,000 DWT and large gas carriers of up to 174,000 cbm, as well as container ships and car carriers.

The balance between new and repeat business is also notable. Five new end customers placed orders through The Switch's existing system integrator partners, while several established customers returned with further projects. In one case, the same owner placed two separate orders within weeks of each other, totalling 10 machines for two different vessel types.

The Switch supplies PM generators and motors for shaft generator and propulsion applications, with a marine portfolio ranging from below 1 MW to more than 10 MW. This breadth allows owners to apply the same proven PM technology across very different vessel requirements and power configurations.

Strong newbuilding market

The order intake also reflects solid activity across several important newbuilding segments, even at a time of geopolitical uncertainty. Gas carrier construction remains strong as LNG and LPG trades expand, while fleet renewal is beginning to drive new tanker ordering. Container lines have continued to add capacity in response to longer average voyage distances.

Shipyard capacity for the coming years is also steadily filling up, prompting owners to move earlier to secure newbuilding slots and to decide on the machinery and power configurations those vessels will require. That scheduling pressure adds to the significance of the current order run, since machinery decisions made now will shape the efficiency profile of vessels delivered several years out.

For The Switch, the latest orders build on more than a decade of experience in the marine market. Since entering the sector in 2014, the company has sold approximately 700 megawatt-class PM machines for almost 600 deep-sea vessels, working with close to 100 different shipowners.

The Switch describes itself as an agile product supplier providing custom electric machines and power electronics to system integrators (SIs) and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The company says it aims to grow together with its marine, renewables and industry customers, who find its technologies and optimised products key to their success. Its products currently deliver tens of gigawatts of electricity worldwide. The Switch is part of the BEMAC Group, whose products are unified under the BEMAC brand.

Source: The Switch