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This section provides an overview for contactors as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 47 contactor manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked contactor companies as of December, 2024: 1.Sensata Technologies, Inc., 2.c3controls, 3.Yueqing Hean Electrical Co., Ltd..
Table of Contents
Contactors, also called electromagnetic contactors, are a type of control device called a plunger relay.
A plunger relay is a type of control device called a plunger relay, which is cylindrical and has a movable part with a spring mechanism. Inside the cylindrical electromagnetic coil is a movable iron core that acts as a relay, and the movement of the iron core controls electrical on/off.
Plunger-type relays are characterized by the large open/close capacity of their electrical contacts and excellent dielectric strength. Taking advantage of these features, they are often used as control devices to turn on and off equipment that uses large currents.
In addition to electromagnetic contactors, plunger-type relays include electromagnetic switches, which are also called magnet switches. Electromagnetic switches are composed of a contactor and a thermal relay.
Contactors are used in a variety of electrical equipment for the purpose of interrupting or connecting electrical circuits that handle large amounts of power, such as interrupting electric circuits, opening and closing heaters, and turning motor current on and off.
Many of these devices carry relatively large currents, and their uses include electric industrial equipment, various vehicles including EVs, ships, and airplanes. Since the contact points are contacted electromagnetically, they can be driven by a small operating current and can control and operate large currents.
The most significant feature of contactors is that they can be switched on and off by electrical signals, rather than manually on and off via the human hand.
The principle of contactors is they switch the contacts of an electrical circuit in accordance with the mechanical contact of an iron core, which is operated (like an electromagnetic relay) by the force of the magnetic field generated by the current flowing in an electromagnet coil.
In general, a contactor consists of a contact part, an electromagnet part, and an external connection part.
The contact part creates a state of electrical continuity or non-conductivity through mechanical contact.
The electromagnet section generates a magnetic field with an electromagnetic coil and brings the movable iron core into contact with the fixed iron core.
The external connections include terminals that connect to the outside of the contactor.
The principle of opening and closing the contactor is the same as that of an electromagnetic relay, in which the fixed iron core acts as an electromagnet to attract the movable iron core. When the coil does not operate, the spring force causes the movable iron core to return to its original position, returning to an electrically non-conductive state. This action creates an electrically conductive or non-conductive state.
Contactor terminals can be broadly classified into three types: main contacts, auxiliary contacts, and coils.
Breakers, as used in ordinary households, are used for high current (tens of times the rating or more) protection or to protect circuits when overcurrents exceeding the rating continue to flow. It is the on/off operation of the electric circuit for this purpose, and can also be turned on and off manually.
Contactors, on the other hand, do not have a manual on/off function and operate only on electrical signals. In addition, contactors generally do not have a protective function and cannot handle high currents in the event of a short circuit that greatly exceeds their rating.
A magnet switch consists of a contactor and a thermal relay. The major difference between a magnet switch and a contactor is that a magnet switch has an overload protection function via a thermal relay to protect a motor, for example. However, unlike breakers, most of them cannot handle instantaneous high current in the event of a short circuit.
Contactors are also used in the motor control section of EVs and other electric vehicles, but they have features unique to EVs.
First, to ensure high reliability for in-vehicle applications, special gases such as hydrogen gas are sealed in the movable contact points of contactors to prevent deterioration in reliability over time due to oxidation of the contacts.
Some manufacturers are also developing and commercializing robust structural designs that can withstand the shocks and vibrations inherent to EVs, as well as special electromagnets that accommodate the reversed polarity differences unique to EVs during arcing caused by charging and discharging of EVs.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Caterpillar Inc., established in 1925 and headquartered in Irving, Texas, is a manufacturer of construction and mining equipment with a portfolio of about 20 brands. The company also produces engines, turbines, and locomotives, serving several industries, including agriculture, construction, and mining. It operates through its three primary segments — resource, energy, and construction — and has a financial products segment that provides financing and related services. The company operates approximately 150 primary locations worldwide, with its common stock listed on the New York Stock Exchange as well as on the stock exchanges in Switzerland and France.
Siemens USA was established in Washington D.C. in 1988, and is the American branch of Siemens AG, the German manufacturer, supplier, and distributor of automation, electrification, and digitalization products established in 1847. The company’s extensive product portfolio includes smart infrastructure products, power generation and transmission products such as gas turbines and transformers, and medical imaging as well as laboratory diagnostics products such as CT scanners and MRI machines. It also offers mobility products and automation management software. The company operates throughout North and South America, and is certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 27001, and OHSAS 18001 standards.
Ross Engineering Corporation, founded in 1964 and based in Campbell, California, is a manufacturer of a wide range of high-voltage electronic and electro-mechanical devices and is ISO 9001 certified. It stocks over 25 lines of high voltage devices such as voltmeters, relays, and probes used in several fields such as industrial plants, communication transmitters, and power supplies with ranges from 0.01mV to 1,200,000 V. The company is ISO/IEC 17025:2017 certified and has a calibration lab for testing and calibrating dividers, relays, and probes up to 450kV.
c3controls, founded in 1976 and based in Pennsylvania, is a leading manufacturer and supplier of electrical control products. Specializing in a wide array of offerings, c3controls delivers an extensive selection of push buttons, pilot lights, circuit breakers, motor starters, and control relays, encompassing crucial components for electrical control systems. Their product portfolio also encompasses switches, sensors, terminal blocks, and power supplies, catering to diverse applications within industrial environments such as machine control, motor control, power distribution, panel building, and industrial automation systems. Notably, c3controls holds certifications from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL).
Sensata Technologies was originally founded in 1916 as General Plate Company and is now headquartered in Attleboro, Massachusetts. The company is a developer, manufacturer, and seller of sensors and sensor-rich solutions, electrical protection components, and other products used in automotive, industrial, energy, telecom, and construction industries. The company has 20 product categories including force sensors, tire management solutions, inverters & charges, and pressure sensors.The company’s next generation of products are designed to improve the efficiency of industrial pumps, fuel efficiency in ICE cars and energy efficiency in TVs, and facilitate usage of IoT devices.
Mar-Cor Purification is based in Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania, USA, and is a manufacturer of water disinfection and purification products that was established in 1971 before being acquired by Evoqua Water Technologies. The company’s product lineup includes ultraviolet disinfection systems, deionization systems, and reverse osmosis systems for water purification. It also offers water quality controllers and monitors for use in processing plants or facilities. The company’s products are mainly used in the water and wastewater and power generation industry.
Founded in 1984, Xiamen Hongfa Electroacoustic Co., Ltd. is a manufacturer specializing in relays, connectors, precision manufacturing parts, and automation equipment. Headquartered in Xiamen, China, the company has established 30 subsidiaries worldwide, serving over 120 countries and regions. HONGFA offers customized solutions utilizing its electrical appliances and complete equipment. Its wide range of products finds applications in various industries such as smart homes, smart grids, industrial control, automotive and railway transportation, and the Internet of Things. The company has received multiple awards, including the 2023 National Enterprise Culture Outstanding Achievement by China Enterprise Confederation and China Entrepreneurs Association.
Vacem Electrical Co. Ltd., founded in 1994 and headquartered in Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China, is a vacuum electrical component and equipment designer and manufacturer. The company's products include vacuum circuit breakers, vacuum contactors, and vacuum isolating switches. These products are used in the control and protection of medium-voltage electrical supply facilities for industries that include industrial processing, manufacturing, and mining, as well as for power supply substations. The company also offers original equipment manufacturing and supply chain management services.
Shihlin Electric and Engineering Corp, founded in 1955 and headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan, is a manufacturer of heavy electrical systems, electrical equipment, machinery, and automation. The company offers a diverse product catalog, including miniature circuit breakers, magnetic contactor switches, molded case circuit breakers, oil-immersed distribution transformers, and Shihlin SDC-A servo - economic pulse type. These products have applications in domestic electrical distribution, factory automation, laboratory power supply, aeronautics and defense, and renewable energy.
ZEZ SILKO Ltd., founded in 1994, is a power capacitor manufacturer based in Zamberk, Czech Republic. The company offers several services, such as electrical device power factor correction (PFC) for low and medium voltage. It also conducts power system evaluation, including measurement of network parameters. The company further provides power electronic capacitors, switchboards, and inducting heating capacitors. These products and services find applications in various industries, including electromobility, railway and public transportation, and power industry.
Meba Electric Co.,Ltd is a Chinese manufacturer of low-voltage electrical equipment that was established in Yueqing City, Zhejiang Province in 2006. The company produces various relays such as electronic and thermal overload relays, circuit breakers, AC contactors, and AC drivers. It also offers human machine interfaces (HMIs) such as MT4000/6000/8000 series touch panels, as well as programmable logic controller (PLC) and expansion modules. The company’s products are used mainly by clients in the construction, aerospace, energy, and petrochemical industries.
Vitzro EM Co is based in Seoul, South Korea, and is a manufacturer of electric power systems and equipment that was established in 1989 as a subsidiary of the Vitzro Group. The company offers vacuum circuit breakers (VCBs) that utilize vacuum pressure to interrupt electric currents, and gas-insulated switchgears (GIS) that utilize pressurized gas to interrupt or insulate electric currents. It also offers power transformers for transmission, generation, or distribution applications. The company chiefly serves client operators of industrial plants, electric utilities, and renewable energy arrays.
Ravioli SPA is an Italian company founded in 1975 by its founder, Umberto Ravioli and it is a manufacturer of electromechanical devices. The company specializes in manufacturing electromechanical devices, including rotating sockets, hanging buttons, industrial safety remote controls, bipolar connectors for electric traction, and DC conductors. These products find applications in agriculture, lifting and construction, energy and environment, automation, electric traction, telecommunications, and the nautical industry. The company obtained its ISO certification in the 1990s and also holds CE marking conformity certifications.
Circutor, established in 1973 and headquartered in Barcelona, Spain, is a manufacturer that develops technology and solutions for the electrical and energy sector. The company's products include measurement and control devices, metering equipment, control systems, and harmonic filtering. It also offers power factor correction and portable power analyzers, such as the MYeBOX-150+3 FLEX-R45. Its products help to reduce CO2 emissions by reducing energy consumption. It serves a range of industries such as generator, tertiary sector, and home use.
Yueqing Hean Electrical Co. Ltd. is a manufacturer of low- and high-voltage electrical equipment and appliances that was established in Zhejiang, China, in 2006. The company’s product lineup includes din-rail modular kilowatt-hour meters for measuring energy consumption, surge protectors for insulating electrical equipment from spikes or surges, and circuit breakers for protecting electrical circuits from shorts or overloads. The company’s products are used mainly by clients in China’s construction, infrastructure, and electrical industries.
Schaltbau is headquartered in Munich, Germany, since 1929 as a manufacturer of electromechanical components The company produces AC and DC contactors for low and high-voltage applications such as car batteries and charging stations along with snap-action switches for microswitches in safety applications such as wind turbines and printers. The connectors manufactured by Schaltbau transmit energy and signals even in rough environmental conditions which makes them suitable for food processing, offshore operations, mining lighting, and transportation, especially for railway technology.
TDK Electronics, established in 1935 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a developer, manufacturer of electronic components and systems. Its product portfolio spans capacitors, ferrites, and inductors, including piezo and protection devices. The company also offers sensors and sensor systems, covering temperature, pressure, magnetic, and MEMS sensors. Furthermore, TDK provides power supplies, energy devices, magnetic heads, and more, all branded under TDK, EPCOS, InvenSense, Micronas, Tronics, and TDK-Lambda, catering to diverse electronic needs. The company operates about 20 development and manufacturing sites, along with a network of design, manufacturing locations, and sales offices situated in Asia, Europe, North America, and South America.
Fuji Electric Co. Ltd., established in 1923 and headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, is a manufacturer of electric equipment and offers engineering services. Its products include turbine generators, monitoring systems, power MOSFETs, and food vending machines used in energy, industry, semiconductors, and food fields. The company started manufacturing electrical machinery in 1924, transformers in 1925, and electric fans in 1927. In 1930, it launched the first mercury-vapor rectifier production, which was the first in Japan. In 1933, it started producing expansion circuit breakers and finished Asia’s first 230kV expansion circuit breaker in 1938.
CHINT Group Co., Ltd, formed in 1984 and situated in Yueqing, China, is a manufacturer of various types of smart energy solutions. The company strengthens its position in the market by making molded case circuit breakers, air circuit breakers, power transformers, capacitors, and gas meters. It also comes with wall switches, PV modules, grid-tied PV inverters, programmable logic controllers, and distributed control systems. Its molded case circuit breakers are capable of making, breaking, and carrying rated current in the circuit and protecting the circuit in the case of overload and short circuits.
Siemens began in 1847 and is headquartered in Munich, Germany. Siemens focuses in automation and digitalization technology and operates globally. Siemens’s 5 operating segments are digital industries, smart infrastructure, mobility, Siemens Healthineers, and Siemens Financial Services. Siemens Financial Services provides debt and equity investment as well as financing solutions. Siemens Healthineers is a medical devices company that provides products and consulting. Mobility includes passenger and freight transportation. Smart infrastructure includes full solutions for electrification. Digital industries offer both software and hardware for industries and production efficiency.
Hubbell, incorporated in the late 1800's, and based in Shelton, Connecticut, USA, is a manufacturer of electrical and electronic products. Its comprehensive product range covers standard and specialized wiring devices, rough-in electrical products, connectors, grounding solutions, lighting fixtures, and various electrical equipment for use in industrial, commercial, and institutional facilities. These products find application in diverse settings, from controlled data centers to power grids. The company's products address business challenges, improve energy efficiency, enhance safety, withstand harsh environments, and enable easier management of wiring and grounding systems around buildings.
WEG S.A. is an ISO 9001-certified manufacturer of industrial engineering products founded in 1961 and based in Jaraguá do Sul, Brazil. The company produces equipment and products for power generation, control, and coating metal or wood. These include powder coatings for decorative or protective purposes, gas turbines, and dry-type transformers. The company primarily serves clients in the oil and gas, wastewater processing, and mining industries. It also offers maintenance, engineering, and automation services to its customers.
Tianshui 213 Electrical Apparatus Group Co. Ltd., established in 1969 and headquartered in Tianshu, China, is a manufacturer and supplier of electrical appliances and components. The company's products include reverse contact controllers, switch capacitor controllers, and Watt-hour meters. These products are used in the manufacture of various electronic devices, such as personal electronics and home appliances, as well as electrical systems. It has three research and development and manufacturing bases in China, including Xiamen, Tianshu, and Shanghai, and exports to over 36 countries.
Finder Relays, Inc., established in 1954 and headquartered in Almese, Torino, Italy, is a manufacturer of electromechanical and electronic devices for the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. Some of its offerings include relays, energy meters, lighting products, and room thermostats. The company provides solutions for the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors on a global scale through an extensive network of sales subsidiaries spanning 28 countries, and has established over 80 distribution partnerships worldwide. All of its products are manufactured in its European facilities located in Italy, France, and Spain.
TE Connectivity Ltd., started in 2007 and headquartered in Schaffhausen, Switzerland, is a designer and manufacturer of sensor and connectivity solutions for harsh conditions. It operates three primary segments, namely transport, industrial, and communication solutions, and its product portfolio includes automotive connectors, fiber optic connectors, analog power meters, RTD sensors, and circuit breakers. It serves customers in approximately 140 countries and several industries, including aerospace, automotive, rail, IoT connectivity, and E-mobility. The company manufactures 192 billion products annually and has invested over 610 million USD in research development and engineering.
ABB E-mobility provides electric vehicle charging solutions for customers around the globe. ABB E-mobility offers DC fast chargers as well as AC chargers with focus on reliability and uptime. Since 2010, ABB E-mobility has sold over 50,000 DC fast chargers and over 1 million total AC chargers. ABB E-mobility offers home single and multi-charge units, retail, workplace, and hospitality charge units, electric vehicle fleet sales, as well as public transportation. Additionally, numerous digital solutions and software services are available.
Sécheron, with its establishment in 1989, operates as a manufacturer and supplier in the field of railway and transportation electrification. The company has its headquarters located in Geneva, Switzerland and it specializes in providing cutting-edge products and services that cater to the railway industry's needs, including circuit breakers, switchgear, and traction converters. It serves the railway and transportation industries, where its solutions are used in ensuring the efficient electrification of rail systems, helping to enhance the overall performance and safety of these critical modes of transportation.
Druseidt GmbH & Co. KG, established in 1890 and headquartered in Germany, operates as a manufacturer and supplier specializing in electrical and industrial cables, as well as cable accessories. The company offers an extensive range of products, including power cables, control cables, and instrumentation cables for diverse industrial applications as well as cable accessories such as connectors and terminals. These are used for industries spanning electrical engineering, automation, and manufacturing, enabling the transmission of power, control signals, and data. The company's products fnd application in the construction of electrical systems and machinery, ensuring efficient energy distribution and signal transmission.
ELKO EP HOLDING, SE., established in 1993, and located in Holešov, Czech Republic, is a manufacturer, distributor, and supplier of electronic equipment for residential, office, and industrial automation. The company offers a range of products including time relays, time switches, dimmers, controlling & signaling units, and thermostats, which serves in industries such as resindential, commercial, industrial, infrastructure, and transportation. Its products are used for efficient control and management of various electrical functions.
Anxele Co., Ltd., established in 2003 and headquartered in Zhejiang, China, is a manufacturer and distributor of a wide variety of electrical products. The company offers a range of electrical products, including photovoltaic new energy systems, electrical protections, and distribution boxes. It also provides industrial plugs, sockets, and terminal blocks. Its products are designed for high and low-voltage power transmission and distribution, as well as solar energy systems. The company has also won TUV, CE, CB, S-Memko, UKCA, ISO9000, and CQC certifications. It serves industries such as manufacturing, solar energy, industrial control, and power transmission.
TME, established in 1989 and headquartered in Łódź, Poland, is a distributor specializing in electronic and electromechanical components, measurement and instrumentation equipment, tools, accessories, and development kits. Its product range encompasses resistors, capacitors, switches, multimeters, tools, and microcontroller development kits. TME serves diverse clientele, including electronics manufacturers, hobbyists, and educational institutions. The company offers support to an array of businesses and organizations in procuring essential components and equipment for electronic projects and manufacturing needs.
Toshiba has nearly a century-and-a-half-long history of pioneering the development of electrical equipment in Japan, providing customers with products and services such as energy systems and solutions and infrastructure systems and solutions. With a focus on digital technologies, Toshiba boasts cutting-edge products in semiconductors, barcode printers, and rechargeable Lithium-ion battery cells, modules, and industrial pack series. With arms in business, R & D, AI, sustainability, and digital solutions, Toshiba and its people evolve with the times, ensuring its continuing ability to solve ever-changing social issues through constant change. By utilizing the knowledge that Toshiba has amassed across numerous business domains, along with cutting-edge technologies like IoT, AI, and quantum related technologies, they have created digital solutions that provide our customers with new value and services
Greegoo Electric Co. Ltd., established in 1995, is a Chinese manufacturer and supplier based in Wenzhou, Zhejiang, producing motor control units and switch gears. Certified with ISO 9001:2015, the company offers over 1,000 standard models, including bridge rectifiers, diode and thyristor modules, and rectifier diodes. Other product offerings include phase control thyristors (PCT), solid-state relays, and vacuum contractors. The company serves customers in over 50 countries worldwide, including original design manufacturers (ODMs).
Doepke Schaltgeräte GmbH was founded in 1956 and is a manufacturer, distributor, and supplier of residual current protection and electricity products based in Norden, Germany. The company's product portofolio includes fire protection switches, modular residual current devices, residual current operated circuit-breakers with integral overcurrent protection, undervoltage measuring relay, and doorbell transformers. The company has obtained the ISO 9001:2015 certificate for the quality management system. The products manufactured by the company are conformed to the standards of RoHS, REACH, and DLS.
Rockwell Automation, Inc. was founded in 1903 and is headquartered in Milwakee, WI. Rockwell Automation provides industrial automation and digital transformation solutions around the world. Rockwell Automation operates through their intelligent devices, software & control, and lifecycle services segments with both hardware and software products and services. The Intelligent Devices segment offers drives, motion, safety, sensing, industrial components, and configured-to-order products. The Software & Control segment provides control and visualization software and hardware, information software, and network and security infrastructure solutions. The Lifecycle Services segment provides consulting, professional services and solutions, and connected and maintenance services through independent distributors.
Fuji Electric Equipment Control was established in 2008 in Saitama-ken, Japan is a manufacturer of power distribution and control equipment. The company boasts an extensive and diversified product portfolio including motor controls, MV distributors, energy control equipment, LV distributors, and industrial control relays. These products find applications in construction as magnetic contactors, automotive as manual motor starters, home appliances as air circuit breakers, health care devices as sensors and switches, and in environmental management for quality assurance and protection of high-voltage electric power and management of low-voltage consumption rate.
ISKRA, d.o.o., founded in 1946 and headquartered in Ljubljana, Slovenia, is a manufacturer and supplier of intelligent industrial solutions and electrotechnical products. Its extensive product line includes energy sector solutions, electrotechnical components, efficient installations, traffic solutions, and telecommunications solutions. These items are deployed across multiple sectors, utlized in process automation, communications, and security systems for power distribution, transmission, and railway and road traffic. Its products are instrumental in software solutions within the energy sector and logistics.
Altech Corporation, founded in 1984 and headquartered in Flemington, New Jersey, is a supplier and distributor of electronic and control components and is ISO 9001 certified. The company provides a broad line of products, including programmable controllers, monitoring relays, and terminal blocks, used in instrumentation, industrial control, and automation applications. The company’s enclosed disconnect switches are available in different materials like stainless steel, plastic, and aluminum and have a use rating of 16A to 150A/600V AC. The products are all RoHS and REACH compliant and meet diverse national and international standards like IEC, CSA, and UL.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sensata Technologies, Inc. |
7.2%
|
| 2 | c3controls |
5.0%
|
| 3 | Yueqing Hean Electrical Co., Ltd. |
4.0%
|
| 4 | Finder Relays,Inc. |
4.0%
|
| 5 | Tianshui 213 Electrical Apparatus Group Co., Ltd. |
3.4%
|
| 6 | Vacem Electrical Co, Ltd |
3.3%
|
| 7 | Meba Electric Co.,Ltd |
3.2%
|
| 8 | Schaltbau GmbH |
3.0%
|
| 9 | Ravioli S.p.A |
2.9%
|
| 10 | Xiamen Hongfa Electroacoustic Co.,Ltd. |
2.9%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the contactor page as of December 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
United States of America
|
8 | 25.0% |
|
China
|
7 | 21.9% |
|
Japan
|
4 | 12.5% |
|
Czech Republic
|
3 | 9.4% |
|
Germany
|
3 | 9.4% |
|
Taiwan
|
1 | 3.1% |
|
Republic of Korea
|
1 | 3.1% |
|
Italy
|
1 | 3.1% |
|
Spain
|
1 | 3.1% |
|
Switzerland
|
1 | 3.1% |
|
Poland
|
1 | 3.1% |
United Kingdom
|
1 | 3.1% |
