Schaltbau

What Schaltbau does

Schaltbau is a German industrial manufacturer that designs and produces electromechanical switching components for railway, energy, and e-mobility applications. Founded in 1929 and headquartered in Munich, the company has built its core technology around DC and AC contactors, snap-action switches, cam switches, emergency disconnect switches, high-voltage relays, and rolling-stock electrical subsystems (driver desks, master controllers, power distribution). Its technical differentiator is proprietary arc-quenching technology for high-voltage DC switching—where voltage zero-crossing does not occur—enabling contactors rated up to 4,800V and 3,000A in configurations supporting bidirectional current flow and bistable/latching designs that consume no holding energy. Under the Eddicy sub-brand introduced in 2025, Schaltbau is extending its rail-derived switching expertise into megawatt EV charging, battery energy storage, DC microgrids, and a broad E-mobility portfolio spanning automotive, commercial vehicles, intralogistics, marine, aviation, and specialty vehicles.

The company's go-to-market combines direct field sales for enterprise rail and energy customers with a global distributor network and a Partner Portal for channel management; catalog and small-volume sales are also enabled through DigiKey. Distribution follows a vertical segmentation approach, with primary focus on Rail/Transportation, Energy, and E-mobility, plus secondary focus on industrial applications and material handling/intralogistics. Products are configured via online configurators and quoted via sales, with multi-year contract billing cadences reported for both standard catalog and custom solutions; pricing is not publicly disclosed. Product launches in 2025 (the C330 and C830 megawatt charging contactors, the C305/C805 mid-range contactors, the C303 bidirectional compact contactor, and the R300 high-voltage relay) show a coordinated thrust into higher-power and adjacent-energy markets.

Schaltbau operates as Schaltbau GmbH, a German limited liability company, with the firmographics indicating a public listing (Frankfurt, etr:SLT). Customer evidence is limited in the input—one named reference is Asseco CEIT (intralogistics AGVs using AFS contactors)—but the customer base spans large rail OEMs, energy storage integrators, and industrial truck manufacturers. Certification to railway and industrial safety standards (EN 60077, EN 61373, EN 50124, EN1175-1) underpins the company's positioning in safety-critical switching applications.

Name

Schaltbau

Legal name

Schaltbau GmbH

Website

https://schaltbau.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1929

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Schaltbau is a German industrial manufacturer of electromechanical switching components—contactors, snap-action switches, and high-voltage relays—serving rail, energy, and e-mobility customers globally through direct sales, distributors, and its Eddicy sub-brand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Electromechanical Switching Components

NAICS

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

SIC

Switchgear & Switchboard Apparatus (3613), Electronic Connectors (3678)

akta.pro primary industry

High-Voltage Electrical Systems (Switchgear, Transformers, Protection & Control) (EUAEAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial-Grade / Ruggedized Enterprise Switching (HDAFAAAJ), Protection, Control & Relaying (Settings, Coordination, Anti-Islanding) (EUAMAIAE)

Keywords

• DC contactors
• Snap-action switches
• Rail electrification
• EV charging contactors
• Electromechanical switching components

Headquarters

HQ city

Muenchen

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Electromechanical Components Sales: Sale of electromechanical switching components including contactors, snap-action switches, connectors, and related accessories. Products are sold directly to industrial customers and through distributor networks.
2. Custom/Configured Product Sales: Configurable contactors and switching elements tailored to specific customer applications. Online configurators available for product customization.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Schaltbau GmbH is a German industrial manufacturer that develops and produces electromechanical switching components — primarily DC and AC contactors, snap-action switches, cam switches, emergency disconnect switches, high-voltage relays, and connectors — for railway, energy, e-mobility, and industrial applications. The company also delivers integrated rail vehicle electrics (control & signaling, power supply/distribution, driver desks) under the Eddicy sub-brand for energy and e-mobility solutions.

Product overview

Schaltbau is a German industrial manufacturer specializing in electromechanical switching technology for rail, energy, and e-mobility applications. The company offers a comprehensive portfolio organized around four core product lines: (1) AC & DC Contactors spanning from compact battery contactors (C100, C110B, AFS series) for low-voltage applications up to 80V, through mid-range contactors (C193, C195, C294, C295, CL series) for industrial and railway applications up to 2,200V, to heavy-duty power contactors (CT, CU, CF, CA, CH1130) rated up to 4,800V and 3,000A for megawatt charging and power distribution; (2) Snap-action Switches including the S870 series with positive opening and IP67 ratings; (3) Cam Switch Elements (S005-S310) for 15A to 500A applications; and (4) Emergency Disconnect Switches (S100-S135) meeting EN1175-1 for industrial trucks. Under the Eddicy sub-brand, the company provides integrated solutions for energy storage, EV charging, and e-mobility across automotive, commercial vehicle, intralogistics, marine, and aviation sectors. The product architecture follows a modular design philosophy enabling configuration and replacement kits for legacy GE and Microelettrica contactors, with specialized solutions for railway control, signaling, power supply, driver desks, and HVAC systems.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DC Contactors (C3xx Series) High-performance DC contactors (C300, C303, C305, C310, C320, C330, C360, C800, C801, C803, C805, C830) for applications up to 1,500V and 3,000A, featuring bi-directional switching, magnetic blowout and arc quenching technology for e-mobility, energy storage, and industrial customers.
• AC and DC Power Contactors (CT, CU, CF, CA, CH1130 Series) Heavy-duty power contactors rated up to 4,800V and 1,100A, combining electromagnetic and permanent-magnetic blowout for reliable switching in rail traction, energy distribution, photovoltaic inverters and UPS system applications.
• Battery Contactors (C100, C110B, AFS Series) Specialized low-voltage contactors for battery applications including C100 (up to 80V), C110B (bi-directional up to 48V), AFS series (80A–250A) for industrial trucks and forklifts, and combination contactors such as C130 with integrated emergency stop and fuse protection.
• Snap-action Switches (S870, S840, S826, S800 Series) Precision snap-action microswitches with positive opening operation, self-cleaning contacts and IP67 protection for safety-critical industrial applications, with configurations up to 10A covering DC-13 and AC-15 utilization categories.
• Cam Switch Elements and Cam Contactors (S005–S310 and C152–C159) Cam-operated switching elements for 15A to 500A applications, featuring double-break contacts and optional magnetic blowout for material handling, rail equipment, and industrial machinery; cam contactors offer 2/3/4 pole AC and DC configurations up to 1,000V and 500A with replaceable switching elements.
• Emergency Disconnect Switches (S100/80, S132, S134, S135) Manual emergency stop switches with snap-action mechanism for battery voltages up to 320V DC and 250A, designed for industrial trucks meeting EN1175-1 safety requirements, with optional lockable versions.
• High-Voltage Relays (R300, R400) One- and two-pole high-voltage relays for test benches and railway applications, rated for DC and AC with impulse withstand voltages up to 10kV, suitable for pre-charge and measurement functions.
• Terminal Bolts (EKS127) Single terminal blocks in four sizes (200A–500A) for mounting plates and distributors, designed for low-voltage applications up to 80V nominal voltage with options for rail mounting.
• Fuse Holders (SH Series) Strip fuse holders for battery-electric vehicles up to 80V and 425A, available in 1, 2, or 3 pole configurations complying with DIN 43560 standard for industrial truck applications.
• Connectors Industrial connector portfolio covering charging, industry, and rail connector families for DC and AC power and signal interconnection.
• Electrics for Rolling Stock Complete railway electrification portfolio including control devices and high-voltage equipment for rolling stock applications.
• Eddicy Energy Solutions Integrated energy-sector offerings under the Eddicy sub-brand covering EV charging infrastructure, battery energy storage systems, power conversion, test benches, data center solutions, and DC microgrids.
• E-Mobility Solutions Comprehensive e-mobility electrification solutions covering automotive, commercial vehicles, intralogistics, off-road, agriculture, marine, aviation, and specialty vehicle segments.
• C330 Megawatt Charging Contactor 1 pole DC NO contactor rated up to 1,500V and 3,000A for stationary megawatt charging applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• C195 disconnects currents up to 240A with voltage of 950V (L/R = 1ms)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• DigiKeyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDigiKey serves as an authorized distributor for Schaltbau products, enabling online purchase of sample quantities and small volume orders for standard catalog contactors. Schaltbau contactors including CA series can be purchased directly through DigiKey's platform.
• Asseco CEITcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAsseco CEIT partnered with Schaltbau (under Eddicy brand) to implement AFS contactors in Automated Guided Vehicles for safe and reliable operation. This customer reference demonstrates successful integration of Schaltbau contactors in intralogistics applications.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Schneider Electric: Schneider Electric produces industrial contactors, relays, and EV/DC-microgrid power-conversion solutions. Its portfolio overlaps with Schaltbau's Eddicy-branded energy and e-mobility offerings, particularly in EV charging infrastructure.
• Hubbell: Hubbell manufactures electrical components for industrial, rail, and utility markets. While less focused on high-voltage DC contactors, it competes in adjacent product categories such as switches, connectors, and industrial controls.
• ABB: ABB is a global industrial-electrical incumbent manufacturing contactors, relays, switchgear, and DC switching products across rail, energy, and e-mobility. It directly overlaps with Schaltbau's core product portfolio while serving a much broader customer base.
• Eaton: Eaton manufactures industrial contactors, relays, and switching components for rail, EVs, and energy storage. Its broader catalog and global automotive relationships make it a direct competitive incumbent to Schaltbau's DC contactor business.
• Siemens Mobility: Siemens Mobility covers rail electrification, traction power, and rolling-stock systems. While it operates at the system level above Schaltbau, both compete in rail power distribution and electrification switching components.

Direct peers

• TE Connectivity: TE Connectivity manufactures electrical relays, contactors, and connectors used in rail, EVs, and industrial applications. Its automotive-grade contactors are directly competitive with Schaltbau's C-series and AFS series product families.
• Marquardt: Marquardt produces snap-action switches, automotive switching technology, and industrial contactors. Its switch and relay portfolio competes with Schaltbau's snap-action and battery contactor lines in adjacent mobility applications.
• Phoenix Contact: Phoenix Contact produces industrial electrical connectivity, switching, and protection components for rail, energy, and automotive markets. Its high-voltage relay and connector offerings directly overlap with Schaltbau's product range.
• Pilz: Pilz specializes in safety switching relays, positive-opening contactors, and rail-safety control components. Its product families compete directly with Schaltbau's S870 snap-action switches and safety-certified rail contactors.

Regional players

• Knorr-Bremse: Knorr-Bremse is a leading rail-systems supplier with a focus on braking and on-board electrical systems, often co-located with Schaltbau switching components in rolling-stock architectures. It addresses overlapping rail electrification use cases from a system standpoint.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A1 record

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Schaltbau