The Switch expands Vaasa manufacturing for vessel electrification systems

Marine power electronics (PE) specialist The Switch is realigning its Vaasa operations in Finland to strengthen production output amid accelerating vessel electrification.

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.

Paul Atherton, General Manager for Norway and newly appointed Product Line Director, Power Electronics, is leading the transition and acting as the operational bridge between the two sites.

“The industry is moving rapidly towards electrification,” Atherton says. “We’re seeing batteries implemented on larger and more complex vessels, often alongside other energy sources. That creates strong demand for DC-based switchboard solutions with the right protection philosophy.”

Avoiding production bottlenecks

Until now, manufacturing and testing of The Switch’s PE portfolio – including DC-Hubs, single drives and power modules – has been concentrated in Stord. While that site remains a core centre of competence, Atherton says it has effectively reached full capacity.

“With our current footprint in Stord, we’re already at the limit of what we can deliver. Without expanding capacity elsewhere, PE would have become a bottleneck for growth,” Atherton says.

Testing is a key constraint. Factory acceptance testing (FAT) for DC-Hubs is resource-intensive and can take weeks. Establishing testing capability at a second site allows work to be shared and will eventually shorten delivery times, improving our competitiveness.

Why Vaasa makes sense

Vaasa was selected for both operational and strategic reasons. The city is one of the Nordic region’s strongest energy and electrification clusters, with established competence in power electronics and a strong local supplier base.

“There’s a lot of relevant experience in the Vaasa area,” Atherton says. “That makes it much easier to scale up production.”

Equally important, the expansion can be achieved within The Switch’s existing Vaasa footprint. Space has been freed up as parts of the company’s electrical machine production – large marine permanent magnet motors – have been relocated to Lappeenranta and China.

“To do the same expansion in Stord would have required significant new construction,” Atherton says. “In Vaasa, we can adapt existing space instead.”

Replicating proven production model

Rather than developing a parallel way of working, Vaasa will replicate the production model refined in Stord over more than two decades.

“We’ve been putting together these products since the early 2000s,” Atherton says. “Over time, we’ve developed a modular approach, using standardised building blocks that can be combined into highly tailored systems.”

The ramp-up is being handled in stages. Vaasa has already started with smaller single drives and simpler projects and will gradually move into higher-complexity work. A key milestone in 2026 will see a larger DC-Hub assembled in Stord and shipped to Vaasa for FAT, before Vaasa takes on full production and testing of larger systems.

“You have to build competence step by step,” Atherton notes.

Building resilience for customers

Beyond increasing capacity, the expansion improves resilience by establishing two equivalent PE production sites.

“We’re building one PE organisation across several locations. Many customers prefer suppliers with dual production,” Atherton says.

The expansion will create new roles in Vaasa while easing pressure on Stord. Atherton’s dual role is intended to ensure close alignment between the two sites.

With Vaasa and Stord developing into complementary hubs, The Switch is strengthening its ability to deliver complex, safety-critical power electronics systems at scale. Importantly, this will further support the industry’s electrification push while maintaining European manufacturing, rigorous testing and predictable delivery performance.