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This section provides an overview for vacuum circuit breakers as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 85 vacuum circuit breakers manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked vacuum circuit breakers companies as of December, 2024: 1.Electro-Mechanical, LLC, 2.VITZRO EM Co, 3.CBIONE.
Table of Contents
Vacuum circuit breakers (VCBs) are devices used to interrupt circuits during malfunctions in equipment or power systems.
Capable of interrupting all current types, including short-circuit, load, and overcurrent, VCBs excel in performance among circuit breakers. In the event of current surges reaching several thousand to tens of thousands of amperes, VCBs can extinguish the arc discharge and break the circuit. They are commonly used in large-scale, high-voltage power receiving and transforming facilities.
VCBs protect circuits from accidental currents and break circuits during abnormal currents. Preferred in high current scenarios, they are a cost-effective choice for high-voltage substations' switchboards. Typical installations include substations, large factories, and commercial facilities.
As VCBs alone cannot detect abnormal currents, they are typically paired with an overcurrent relay for signal reception and automatic current interruption.
VCBs contain a vacuum valve with high vacuum levels, ranging from 10-3Pa to 10-5Pa. The valve includes two fixed and two movable electrodes forming a contact point, separating upon detection of abnormalities.
Interrupting the current requires separating the circuit contacts, generating an arc flash. To prevent potential fires or damage from arc discharge at high temperatures, VCBs use a vacuum environment to diffuse and extinguish arcs. When the electrodes in the vacuum valve separate, the arc dissipates spontaneously.
Regular maintenance of the vacuum valve mechanism in VCBs is essential to ensure reliability during emergencies. Unlike fuses that require replacement after each use, VCBs are reusable and notably quiet during operation.
VCBs come in two types: fixed and pull-out, with variations including manual and electric spring types.
Fixed VCBs are mounted directly onto the panel with N, R, and P installation directions. Compact yet requiring primary and secondary power shutdown for maintenance or breakdowns, they differ from pull-out VCBs, which are mounted on wheels for easy main circuit connection and disconnection. Pull-out VCBs simplify maintenance by only needing secondary side disconnection and are generally more expensive.
VCBs use springs to physically break contacts. Manual spring VCBs involves energizing a mainspring by turning a handle, while the electric spring type employs a motor for spring loading. The electric variant is typically more costly. In both, the contacts remain open post-activation, requiring spring re-loading for restoration.
There are also tank VCBs, which are partially vacuumed gas circuit breakers used in larger substations.
When selecting VCBs, consider the rated interrupting current and capacity, ensuring they match the equipment's requirements without exceeding the circuit's short-circuit interrupting current. Overestimating this current can lead to accidents. This current can be provided by the power company or calculated considering wiring impedance.
Also, ensure the selected model fits the distribution panel's shape.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Becker/SMC LLC., established in 1971 and based in Bristol, Virginia, is a manufacturer of electrical components and belongs to Becker Mining Systems Group of Companies. Its product portfolio includes power distribution equipment, longwall electrical controls, and motor starts. It also sells vacuum switches, electronic monitoring devices, and transformers. The company designs, manufactures, and commissions electrical systems from start to finish, and its power centers range from 1000kva to 12MVA. Its switch houses comply with MSHA and CSA and are designed up to 27KV and 1200 Amps. It mainly serves the power and electrical industries and has over 1,500 MSHA-certified enclosures.
Electro-Mechanical, LLC is a manufacturer of electrical apparatus and power distribution components headquartered in Bristol, Virginia, USA and was established in 1971. The company is a major American maker of electrical equipment. Line Power, Federal Pacific, and Mirus International are three of the company's partitions that have earned acclaim in the United States and beyond as important providers of power distribution components, creators of pioneering mining infrastructure, and providers of unrivaled manufacturing insight and customer service including five factories and two maintenance and repair businesses.
Cordyne, Inc., established in 1987 and based in Houston, TX, USA, is a manufacturer and supplier of industrial control systems. The company's product range includes motor starters like the ES4\CS4 series, ENS4\CNS4 series, ESX-K\CSX-K series, and ES4XP\CS4XP series. These products are used in enhancing control of various machinery and equipment. The company serves industries such as alternative energy, automation, commercial construction, food & beverage, and industrial machinery. Its services include manufacturing, distribution, field service, engineering, and motor starter setups.
LS Electric America Inc., headquartered in the United States, is a supplier and manufacturer of electrical components and automation solutions founded in 1974. Specializing in a range of products including variable frequency drives (VFDs), industrial automation systems, and electrical control panels, the company caters various industries such as manufacturing, energy, and infrastructure. Its solutions are used for enhancing operational efficiency and system reliability for businesses and facilitate seamless control and power distribution in diverse applications, ensuring a high level of technical performance and system integration.
CBIONE founded in Grand Ave Vista, California, USA, in 1980, is a distributor of molded case circuit breakers and other electric products. Products offered by the company are circuit breakers, plugs, fusible switches, relays, and medium voltage contactors. It has completed 6,352 projects and has 864 returning clients. The company also provides services of AC repair, electronic equipment maintenance, and field support. It is a partner of the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) and QUALCOMM.
Leonardo DRS, founded in 1969 and headquartered in Virginia, United States operates as a supplier of defense and security technology solutions. The company provides a diverse array of products and services, including military electronics, naval power systems, and integrated logistics support. Catering primarily to the defense and security industries, it equips the armed forces with advanced electronic systems, communication solutions, and naval power components. These technologies are used in enhancing national security, ensuring effective communication among military personnel, and supporting the operation of naval vessels.
Circuit Breaker Sales Co., Inc., established in 1981, is headquartered in Gainesville, Texas, USA, and operates as a distributor and refurbisher of electrical equipment. The company specializes in procuring, refurbishing, and distributing electrical equipment, including circuit breakers, transformers, and associated components. It has received awards such as the 2015 Electrical Apparatus Service Association (EASA) accreditation and the 2019 Supplier Excellence Award. Its client base spans industries such as power generation, petrochemicals, and manufacturing. Additionally, the company holds ISO 9001 certification for quality management.
Pomanique Electric Co., Ltd. was founded in 1996 and is located in Wenzhou, China is a manufacturer specializing in power transmission and distribution equipment. The company offers a range of products, including GX auto-recloser with silicone rubber bushing, pomanique ZX-15 series three phase recloser, and VCB-12 series solid sealed indoor vacuum circuit breaker. These products find applications in power distribution companies, electrical engineering research facilities, and domestic electric wiring. These products are certified by KEMA laboratories.
Wetown Electric Group Co. Ltd., established in 1986 and based in Jiangsu Province, China, is a manufacturer of electrical products for power distribution and new energy sectors. The company's product range includes high and low-voltage busway systems, switchgear, and energy storage solutions. It offers everything from copper and aluminum materials to supports and hangers. Its solutions serve various industries, including power grids, commercial real estate, and new energy. Its products have been integral to major projects like the Beijing Olympic Bird's Nest and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge—the company partners with industry giants like ABB, GE, and Schneider.
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.
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.
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.
Orecco is a professional manufacturer of electric power distribution and transmission solutions headquartered in Zhejiang Province, China. The company’s product line includes ring main units, outdoor and indoor vacuum circuit breakers, electrical distribution transformers, prefabricated compact substations, and SF6 gas-insulated substations. It operates with six member factories, advanced equipment, and a qualified team of engineers. The company’s products are developed and manufactured to meet IEC requirements and other international standards and are used in diverse applications, including power plants, substations, industrial facilities, commercial buildings, and residential areas.
Changan Group Co., Ltd., founded in 1987 with headquarters in China, is a manufacturer of industrial electric equipment. The company's low-voltage product line includes miniature circuit breakers, surge protection devices, motor protection circuit breakers, electromagnetic starters, and LED voltage meters. Its high-voltage equipment includes switchgear, transformers, area fittings, cables, and tools. These products are used for power supply and distribution systems by manufacturers, processing plants, and infrastructure projects, as well as components used in residential electrical systems and in the manufacture of electrical products.
Ghorit Electrical Co., Ltd., established in 2000 with headquarters in China, is a manufacturer of high-voltage utility equipment and components. The company's extensive product line includes metal-clad switchgear, gas-insulated switchgear, vacuum circuit breakers, cable accessories, and transformers. These products are used in infrastructure-scale, industrial-scale, and processing and manufacturing plant-scale high-voltage electrical power supply and distribution systems, including regional power supply utilities. The company also offers consulting for integrated systems and installation services.
Wenzhou Rockwill Electric Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of Rockwill T & D Group, headquartered in Wenzhou City, Zhejiang, China, has been a manufacturer of electrical products since 2008. The company's product line includes outdoor switchgears, digital power stations, and EV chargers. Its main products include auto reclosers and load break switches, vacuum circuit breakers, and ring main units. The company specializes in research and development of electrical products and it also serves as a contractor.
Zhejiang Volcano Electrical Technology Co., Ltd., established in 2000 with headquarters in China, is a manufacturer of high-voltage disconnectors and switches. The company's extensive product line includes vacuum circuit breakers, auto-reclosers, disconnectors, load break switches, and switchgear. These products are used in infrastructure-scale, industrial-scale, and processing and manufacturing plant-scale high-voltage electrical power supply and distribution systems. The company also offers consulting for integrated power supply and distribution systems as well as installation services.
Liyond, established in 2011 with headquarters in China, is a manufacturer of electrical power grid system switchgear components. The company's extensive product line includes circuit breakers, circuit breaker parts, gas-insulated switchgear, earthing switches, and insulation accessories. These products are used in various electrical and power supply and distribution systems used by local governments, manufacturers, and processing plants. Its services include consultation for integrated systems, customization of its products, logistics management, and 24/7 after-sales support.
Zhejiang Zhegui Electric Co. Ltd. is a Chinese electrical products manufacturer that was established in 2013 in Zhejiang. The company’s product lineup includes load break switches, indoor dry type transformers, vacuum circuit breakers, and prefabricated power distribution units for installation in different environments. It also offers OEM and ODM capabilities, as well as after-sales services such as technical support and product maintenance. The company chiefly serves clients in power generation and transmission, as well as in the renewable energy, infrastructure, and commercial sectors.
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.
Fuji Electric FA Components & Systems Co., Ltd., established in 2008, the company is a result of a merger between Fuji Electric FA Components & Systems and the Japanese arm of Schneider Electric S.A., the second largest manufacturer in the same field, is a manufacturer of control instruments, such as electromagnetic switches that use electromagnets to open and close the contact points of electrical circuits. The company have a global presence, offering many power-receiving and distributing devices that can be used in cross-border markets through its wide range of products that conform to major standards in the world.
Mitsubishi Electric was established in Japan in 1921 and headquartered in Tokyo. The company’s Semiconductors & Devices division is a manufacturer of products serving several industries ranging from home appliances and automotive to renewable energy and optical fiber communication. The company’s products are divided into 4 product segments: power devices, high-frequency devices, optical devices, and infrared sensors. Power devices encompass motion controls, most home appliances, and SiC applications. High-frequency devices include satellite communications systems, radios, and base transceiver stations. Optical devices include projector light sources and optical fiber communication. Infrared sensing systems include MeIDIR thermal sensors.
Meiden Europe is a German manufacturer of electrical equipment and systems established in 1996 as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Japan’s Meidensha Corporation, which has been in operation since 1897. Headquartered in Unterschleissheim, Bavaria, the company produces various electrical equipment including surge arresters, inverters, and motors, as well as electrical systems for railway power supply and substation automation. These are utilized in a wide range of industrial processes, such as in power transmission or distribution, water treatment and robotics. Meiden Europe has sales offices and facilities across the European Union, including in France, Switzerland, Slovakia, Austria, and the United Kingdom.
BRUSH Group, founded in 1876 and headquartered in Ashby De La Zouch, Leicestershire, United Kingdom, is a manufacturer and provider of equipment, services, and solutions for electrical power generation and distribution. The company manufactures switchgear products and transformer products, including power subs, legacy tapchangers, and application-specific AC and DC switchgear units. With extensive experience in electrical substation commissioning and know-how across a wide range of electrical installation disciplines, the company's engineered solutions include rail infrastructure, renewable energy projects, and infrastructure upgrades. Its services include 24/7 emergency breakdown support, switchgear training, and the supply of spare parts.
Tavrida Electric North America, Inc. (TENA) is a Canadian manufacturer of electrical distribution and automation devices, established in 2007 as a division of the Tavrida Electric global group of companies. Located in Delta, British Columbia, the company produces various medium-voltage switchgear models and 15kV single and three-phase reclosers, as well as vacuum interrupters and magnetic actuators for circuit breakers or contactors. TENA products are used by clients in the power generation and distribution sectors, as well as in residential, commercial, and industrial infrastructure.
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.
Mitsubishi Electric Power Products, Inc., founded in 1985 and headquartered in Warrendale, Pennsylvania, USA, is a manufacturer of electrical and electronic products. The company specializes in producing power circuit breakers, gas circuit breakers, transformers, and uninterruptible power supplies (UPS). These products are equipped with advanced technology, stability, and efficiency. It serves a wide array of industries, including power generation, distribution, and transmission, as well as industrial and commercial sectors. The unique products result in the stable and efficient supply of electricity, ensuring uninterrupted power flow and safeguarding critical infrastructure.
Arun Enterprises, incorporated in 2000 and headquartered in Kolkata, India, is a manufacturer and supplier of power-efficient electrical equipment. The company fabricates automatic step voltage transformers, distribution transformers, dry-type transformers, furnace transformers, and oil-cooled transformers. It also makes power transformers, vacuum circuit breakers, special-purpose transformers, and ring main unit panels. Its automatic step voltage transformer has three phases with a capacity of 750 kVA and a primary voltage of 11,000 V.
Ningbo Jecsany Electrical Equipment Co., Ltd. is a manufacturer and supplier of high-voltage power products for the industrial sector established in 2009 and located in Ningbo, Zhejiang, China. The company’s products include polymer insulators for insulating high-voltage lines, surge arresters for protecting equipment from voltage spikes, and disconnecting switches for isolating electrical circuits. It also offers transformers for converting electrical energy to different voltages, and circuit breakers for protecting circuits from damage, and reclosers for automatically restoring power following a fault event. The company chiefly serves clients in the energy, electrical utilities, and industrial manufacturing sectors.
JIANGSU AISIKAI ELECTRIC CO., LTD. is a researcher and manufacturer of electrical switches in Yizheng City, Jiangsu Province, China, founded in 2007. The company produces automatic transfer or load isolation switches, intelligent controllers, under-voltage protectors, battery chargers, and circuit breakers for high-voltage, universal, miniature, and molded cases used in smart electric appliances. The company has obtained IKAS ISO 9001 quality management system certification and SGS Global Qualified Supplier Authentication, and all products have Chinese Compulsory Certification (CCC) and European Certification (CE).
AISO Electric, established in 2012 and based in Zhejiang, China, is a manufacturer and supplier of electrical equipment. The company offers electrical equipment in low voltage, high voltage and ultra high voltage series along with transformers and complete set devices. Its main business is exporting and has supplied its products to more than 50 countries in 10 years. The company has 3 factories and produces its products in accordance with ISO9001 and CE standards.
Taixi Electric Co., Ltd., founded in 1996, is a manufacturer and supplier of low-voltage electric components in Yueqing City, Zhejiang Province, China. The company’s product categories include circuit breakers, distribution electricals, control equipment, and energy electronics, including active filters, transformers, voltage regulators, power supplies, and voltage stabilizers used in hydropower, thermal power, and transportation sectors. The company passed the international ISO 9001 quality system certification, and dome products have passed the national CCC certification.
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.
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
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.
Driescher is a manufacturer of low- and medium-voltage switchgear and related devices established in 1995 and headquartered in Moosburg an der Isar, Germany. The company primarily produces switchgear rated for voltage ranges between 0.4 kV to 52 kV. It also offers outdoor switchgear DRI-MOS for railway applications, indoor switches for railway lines, and UM/UH outdoor actuators for motordrive or remote control applications. The company’s products are mainly used in Europe’s energy utilities, rail, and industrial sectors.
Zhejiang Tengen Electric Co., Ltd. was founded in 1999 and is headquartered in Shanghai, China, as a supplier of low-voltage distribution and industrial control electrical appliances. The company primarily manufactures a range of electrical appliances, including low-voltage distribution and industrial control devices, intelligent instruments, power supply appliances, frequency converters, high-voltage devices, and building electrical appliances. It offers quality low-voltage electrical products and solutions for various sectors, such as power, communication, new energy, industrial applications, civil construction, and metallurgy. The organization possesses a sophisticated, intelligent production system capable of efficiently addressing consumer demands.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Electro-Mechanical, LLC |
7.4%
|
| 2 | VITZRO EM Co |
3.7%
|
| 3 | CBIONE |
3.7%
|
| 4 | Sécheron |
3.7%
|
| 5 | DRS Consolidated Controls |
3.7%
|
| 6 | Orecco |
3.7%
|
| 7 | Tavrida Electric North America, Inc. |
3.7%
|
| 8 | Sarel Srl |
2.5%
|
| 9 | Vacem Electrical Co, Ltd |
2.5%
|
| 10 | Beijing BeiKai Electric Co., Ltd. |
2.5%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the vacuum circuit breakers 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 (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
China
|
38 | 51.4% |
|
India
|
14 | 18.9% |
|
United States of America
|
9 | 12.2% |
|
Germany
|
5 | 6.8% |
|
Japan
|
3 | 4.1% |
|
Switzerland
|
2 | 2.7% |
|
Republic of Korea
|
1 | 1.4% |
Sweden
|
1 | 1.4% |
Turkey
|
1 | 1.4% |
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