What PASCOR does

PASCOR (Pacific Air Switch Corporation) is a privately held US manufacturer of air break disconnect switches and motor operators for electric utility substations and transmission infrastructure, founded in fall 1988 in Forest Grove, Oregon by three former Siemens Energy & Automation Power Switch Division engineers. The company custom-builds each switch to customer specifications, offering a portfolio spanning Vertical Break, Center Break, Side Break, and Hookstick configurations in aluminum or copper variants, with voltage ratings from 7.5kV to 500kV and current ratings from 1200A to 4000A. Complementary products include motor operators with over 300 custom designs (available in 24/48/125VDC), SR-500 surge suppression resistors for high-voltage applications, ground switches, and a range of accessories such as arc horns and auxiliary switch assemblies. All products are engineered to meet ANSI C37.32 and NEMA requirements, and the company operates a 5-acre manufacturing facility with on-premises temperature-rise testing and field-service support.

The company's value proposition rests on mechanical-engineering differentiation including proprietary silver-to-silver self-wiping contacts, 300-series stainless steel hardware, an HPL pry-out paddle contact arrangement, and an MGO motor operator with internal decoupler and asymmetric coupling. PASCOR generates revenue through hardware sales on a custom quote basis (no public pricing) with multi-year project contract cadence. Go-to-market is hybrid: direct sales in specified US territories and independent regional sales agents covering the remainder of the continental US plus Hawaii — including Carlson Sales, Curtis H. Stout, Chas. W. Ashby, Electric Sales Associates, First Line Associates, and others — supplemented by website content (downloadable product bulletins, sales-agent map) and field-service training visits. The customer base is concentrated in the single vertical of electric utilities and power transmission operators; no named end-customer logos or segment mix data are publicly disclosed. The company remains bootstrap-funded with no disclosed institutional investment, no parent company, and no subsidiaries.

Name

PASCOR

Legal name

Pacific Air Switch Corporation

Website

https://pascor.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

PASCOR is a privately held Oregon-based manufacturer of custom-built air break disconnect switches, motor operators, surge suppression resistors, and ground switches — rated 7.5kV to 500kV — sold primarily to US electric utilities and transmission operators through direct sales and a national network of regional independent sales agents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electrical Transmission Equipment

NAICS

Switchgear and Switchboard Apparatus Manufacturing (335313), Relay and Industrial Control Manufacturing (335314)

SIC

Switchgear & Switchboard Apparatus (3613)

akta.pro primary industry

Circuit Breakers, Disconnectors, Earthing Switches & Switchgear Components (EUADACAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Medium-Voltage Distribution Components (MV breakers, disconnects, reclosers, MV terminations & joints) (IMAGAEAL), High-Voltage Electrical Systems (Switchgear, Transformers, Protection & Control) (EUAEAFAA)

Keywords

• Air break switches
• Disconnect switches
• Motor operators
• Surge suppression resistors
• Substation equipment

Headquarters

HQ city

Forest Grove

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Air Break Disconnect Switches: PASCOR manufactures and sells custom air break disconnect switches including Vertical Break Parallel, Vertical Break Slant, Center Break Parallel, Center Break Slant, and Side Break Parallel models. Switches are custom-built to customer specifications with various voltage ratings (15kV through 500kV) and current ratings (1200A through 4000A).
2. Motor Operators (MGO): Motor operators for switch operation available in 24, 48, 125VDC configurations with over 300 custom designs to suit specific switch applications.
3. SR-500 Surge Resistors: Surge suppression resistors for high-voltage applications (138kV through 500kV) designed to limit surge currents and transient voltage when switching transformers.
4. Ground Switches: Custom engineered ground switches meeting ANSI requirements, available in aluminum or copper configurations with various mounting options.
5. Switch Accessories: Accessories including wire guides, SI outriggers, spring-loaded arc horns, position indicators, operator platforms, and external auxiliary switch assemblies (2-stage to 16-stage) in NEMA 4 enclosures.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels15 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

PASCOR (Pacific Air Switch Corporation) manufactures and sells custom-built air break disconnect switches and motor operators for electrical utility substation and transmission applications. Its product line includes vertical break, center break, side break, and hookstick switches in aluminum or copper variants, rated from 7.5kV to 500kV and 1200A to 4000A. Complementary offerings include SR-500 surge suppression resistors for 138kV–500kV systems, ground switches, motor operators with over 300 custom designs, and a range of switch accessories.

Product overview

PASCOR (Pacific Air Switch Corporation) offers a comprehensive portfolio of air break disconnect switches and related electrical transmission equipment. The core product line consists of six main switch types: Vertical Break Parallel (VBP), Vertical Break Slant (VBS), Center Break Parallel (CBP), Center Break Slant (CBS), Side Break Parallel (SBP), and Hookstick switches (HPL Vertical and HPL-V Slant). These switches are offered in aluminum or copper variants with voltage ratings from 7.5kV to 500kV and current ratings from 1200A to 4000A. Complementary products include Motor Operators (MGO) with over 300 custom designs, SR-500 Surge Suppression Resistors for surge protection on 138kV-500kV systems, Ground Switches, and various accessories such as wire guides, outriggers, arc horns, position indicators, and auxiliary switch assemblies. All products are custom-built to customer specifications with ANSI compliance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Vertical Break Parallel (VBP) Air break disconnect switch available in aluminum or copper variants, rated from 15kV through 345kV with 1200A through 4000A capacity. Features square tube galvanized steel base construction, self-wiping silver-to-silver contacts, and mounting options including horizontal upright, vertical, and underhung configurations. Designed for substation and transmission applications.
• Vertical Break Slant (VBS) Air break disconnect switch with slanted insulator design available in aluminum or copper variants, rated from 69kV through 230kV and 1200A to 2000A. Features minimum phase spacing, stability under heavy terminal pad loading, and versatility for interrupter accessories. Suitable for substation and transmission applications.
• Center Break Parallel (CBP) Group-operated air break switch with center break configuration, available in aluminum and copper variants. Engineered to meet ANSI requirements with customized controls for each application, intended for substation and transmission applications.
• Center Break Slant (CBS) Center break air break switch with slanted insulator design allowing minimum base mounting. Features brazed silver-to-silver contacts, stainless steel ball bearings for 115kV and above, and galvanized steel base. Supports phase over phase and phase opposite phase configurations for substation and transmission applications.
• Side Break Parallel (SBP) Side break disconnect switch manufactured in copper only, rated 15kV through 69kV with 1200A and 1600A capacity. Requires minimum overhead clearance and features leaf type contact fingers, silver-to-silver exposed contacts, and rigid tubular blades. Suitable for substation and transmission applications.
• HPL Vertical Hookstick Two-insulator vertical break single-phase hook stick design operated via hot-stick. Features the proprietary High-Pressure Line (HPL) contact arrangement with copper components throughout, including hard-drawn high-conductivity copper live components, large silicon bronze hook, and high-pressure current transfer joints. Rated 7.5kV through 69kV with 1200A and 2000A capacity, with silver-plated terminal pads, stainless steel hardware, and porcelain or polymer insulators.
• HPL-V Slant Hookstick Two-insulator V slant break single-phase hook stick design operated via hot-stick. Features the HPL contact arrangement with pry-out paddle operation, copper components throughout, large silicon bronze hook for ease of operation, and robust stainless steel latch. Mounts in vertical or underhung positions.
• Motor Operator (MGO) Motorized operator for group-operated air break switches. Standard features include internal decoupler, asymmetric coupling preventing re-coupling 180 degrees out of position, view window for decoupler position reading, permanent magnet motor for dynamic braking, automatic lockout of motor circuit when hand crank is inserted, and 8-stage auxiliary switch. Rated for 24, 48, and 125VDC configurations with over 300 custom designs available to suit specific switch applications.
• SR-500 Surge Suppression Resistor Surge suppression resistor for vertical break disconnect switches, available for 138kV, 230kV, 345kV, and 500kV applications with one to four modules respectively. Static, oil-less, maintenance-free design pressurized with dry nitrogen at the factory. Limits surge currents and transient voltage when switching transformers, reducing closing inrush current and damping opening overvoltages, and adapts to any manufacturer's vertical break disconnect switch.
• Ground Switches Custom engineered ground switches meeting ANSI requirements, available in aluminum or copper configurations. Features copper-to-copper exposed contacts, rigid tubular blade, stainless steel live parts hardware, and galvanized steel square tube base. Supports multiple operator options including swing handle, worm gear, motor operator, and various mounting configurations.
• Switch Accessories Range of complementary switch accessories including custom wire guides (single/double conductor barrel, open trench), Standoff Insulator (SI) Outriggers, Spring Loaded Arc Horn (SL Horn) for 161kV and 230kV switches, position indicators, External Auxiliary Switch Assemblies (2-stage to 16-stage in NEMA 4 enclosures), and custom operator platforms (fixed or hinged).

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Siemens Energy & Automation (former)foundationalOthersPASCOR was founded by three former Siemens Energy & Automation Power Switch Division employees after Siemens relocated the division from Portland, Oregon to Jackson, Mississippi. The founding was funded by personal assets, friends, family, and component suppliers. Many former Siemens Switch Division employees subsequently joined the new company.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• ABB: Global supplier of switchgear, transformers, and substation automation with HV disconnect switch offerings. Competes with PASCOR on large utility tenders and frames the broad-incumbent pricing and scale benchmark.
• Hubbell Power Systems: Manufacturer of transmission, distribution, and substation products including switches, arresters, and connectors. Has direct product overlap with PASCOR's disconnect switches and accessories, alongside a much wider T&D portfolio.
• Siemens Energy: Global incumbent in transmission and distribution equipment, including HV air break switches, gas-insulated switchgear, and grid solutions. PASCOR's founders came directly from Siemens' Power Switch Division, making it a strategic reference point as both a competitor and the source of PASCOR's heritage technology.
• Eaton: Diversified power management company with a Cooper Power Systems portfolio covering switchgear, reclosers, and substation equipment. Comparable in HV switch products and shares utility customers, but competes from a much broader platform.
• GE Vernova: Grid solutions division of GE Vernova offering HV switchgear, disconnects, and integrated substation packages. Comparable at the product level (HV switches) but operates at much larger scale with bundled solutions.

Direct peers

• Southern States LLC: US-based manufacturer of high-voltage air break disconnect switches, group-operated switches, and related substation equipment. Directly comparable to PASCOR across HV switch types, voltage class, and electric utility customer base, with a similar focus on custom switch configurations.
• S&C Electric Company: Specialist in switching and protection products for electric utilities, including load-break switches, disconnect switches, and fuse products. Overlaps with PASCOR in medium- and high-voltage switchgear and shares the same electric utility customer base, though S&C's portfolio is broader.
• Royal Switchgear Manufacturing: US manufacturer of custom switchgear, including disconnect switches and related substation equipment for utility and industrial customers. Comparable in custom-build approach and product mix to PASCOR's switch and motor operator offerings.
• Cleaveland/Price Inc. Specialty manufacturer of high-voltage disconnect and grounding switches for substations and transmission lines. Competes head-to-head with PASCOR in group-operated air break switches, motor operators, and accessories for utility customers.
• Turner Electric: Manufacturer of high-voltage air break disconnect switches, hookstick switches, and group-operated switches. Directly comparable product portfolio, voltage range, and utility customer focus to PASCOR's switch families.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PacAirSwitch
• Facebookfacebook.com/PacificAirSwitch
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pacific-air-switch-corp-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about PASCOR