What TELEMA does

Telema S.p.A. is an Italian privately held industrial group, founded in 1975 in Piacenza and wholly owned by Telema Holding S.r.l., that designs and manufactures power electric resistors and adjacent electrical equipment for railway and industrial customers worldwide. Its product portfolio spans braking resistors, neutral grounding resistors, load banks, harmonic filter resistors, starting/braking resistors, water-cooled resistors, oil-cooled starters, line and pre-charge contactors, disconnectors, axial/centrifugal/mixed-flow cooling fans, ZORC surge suppressors, the RLC500 protection relay, the DigiLoad digital load-bank control system, the BTMS battery thermal management system for lithium-ion rail vehicles, and isolation monitors for hospital isolated power systems. The company also markets ZeroBedBug, a consumer heat-based pest-control product.

Core technology rests on proprietary in-house designs — notably the patented Immagine Termica thermal-image protection device installed on most high-speed train resistors, the patented EV2 water-cooled resistor family (10 kW/kg power density, modular 10 kW–1 MW+), the DigiLoad digital control system, and ZORC surge suppression — supported by unique in-house testing capabilities (2.4 MW heating tests, 400 kV impulse tests, mechanical vibration testing up to 2,000 kg). All products are designed and manufactured internally at facilities in Italy (Milan HQ; Piacenza main production, recently doubled to 4,700 m²), China (SGT subsidiary, 30,200 m²), and India (Tesio India JV in Varanasi), with sales presence across Europe, North America, Australia, Russia, and South Africa.

Telema's business model is enterprise project-based B2B hardware sales with quote-based pricing on custom-engineered designs, multi-year contract cadences, and a long-tail refurbishment/replacement services stream on installed railway assets. Go-to-market is direct enterprise sales with dedicated phone contacts per product line (railway resistors, grounding resistors, load banks, contactors, fans, testing laboratory) supplemented by major industry events such as InnoTrans. Customer segments are split vertically between railway (preferred supplier to 100+ global vehicle manufacturers across high-speed rail, EMU, metro, tram, locomotives) and industrial (oil and gas, mining, marine, cranes, renewables, power generation), with named end-customers including ETR 500, TGV/AGV, AVE, ICE, ACELA, Siemens India, Indian Railways CLW, CERN, ENEA, and CESI. Reported group revenue is approximately €400M with ~2,000 employees worldwide.

Name

TELEMA

Legal name

Telema S.p.A.

Website

https://telemait.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1975

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Telema is an Italian privately held global leader in power electric resistors, contactors, cooling fans, and thermal management systems for railway and industrial customers, with €400M group revenue and 2,000 employees across Italy, China, India, and the Americas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Power Electric Resistors

NAICS

Capacitor, Resistor, Coil, Transformer, and Other Inductor Manufacturing (334416), Electrical Equipment Manufacturing (33531), Wiring Device Manufacturing (33593)

SIC

Electronic Components & Accessories (3670), Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620), Electronic Coils, Transformers & Other Inductors (3677)

akta.pro primary industry

Resistors (Fixed/Variable/Network) (HDAHANAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Passive Components (Resistors, Capacitors, Inductors, Ferrites) (IMAGAJAA), Wiring Devices & Receptacles (switches, sockets, plugs, industrial outlets, pin & sleeve) (IMAGAEAF)

Keywords

• Power electric resistors
• Railway braking resistors
• Industrial load banks
• Surge suppression devices
• Battery thermal management

Headquarters

HQ city

Milano

HQ country

Italy

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Power Resistor Sales: Custom-designed power resistors sold to railway and industrial customers. Products include braking resistors, neutral grounding resistors, load banks, harmonic filter resistors, and starting/braking resistors. Revenue generated from large project-based orders with major railway manufacturers and industrial clients.
2. Contactors, Disconnectors & Protection Relays: Sale of electrical switching and protection equipment for railway market including line contactors, multi-pole contactors, pre-charge contactors, disconnectors, protection relays (RLC500), and isolation monitors.
3. Cooling Fans & Thermal Management: Axial fans, centrifugal fans, mixed flow fans, centri-axial fans, cooling units, and BTMS (Battery Thermal Management System) for railway applications.
4. Refurbishment & Aftermarket Services: Refurbishment and replacement of old resistors for railway applications, including technical support, design of functionally equivalent resistors, and use of existing enclosures and cooling systems.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Telema S.p.A. designs, manufactures, and sells power electric resistors for railway and industrial applications, along with related contactors, disconnectors, protection relays, cooling fans, and battery thermal management systems. The company produces resistors ranging from kilowatts to megawatts at its facilities in Italy, China, and India, and supplies preferred-supplier-list customers including major global railway vehicle manufacturers.

Product overview

TELEMA is a global leader in power electric resistors and related railway/industrial equipment. The product portfolio is organized around core power resistor technology (braking, grounding, load, filter, starting resistors) expanded through diversification into contactors, disconnectors, cooling fans, protection relays, and thermal management systems. Railway applications include resistors for high-speed trains, EMU, metro, and light rail vehicles, plus railway-specific contactors, fans, and BTMS. Industrial applications span neutral grounding, load banks, harmonic filters, starting/braking resistors, surge suppressors, and oil/water cooled solutions. The company also offers testing laboratory services and resistor refurbishment. A notable side venture is ZeroBedBug, a heat-based pest control product. The company operates globally with manufacturing facilities in Italy, China (SGT), India (Tesio India), and presence across Europe, North America, Australia, Russia, and South Africa.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• ZeroBedBug: Ecological pest control solution using heat to kill bed bugs; product ZBB-13, 100% Made in Italy
• DigiLoad
• ZORC
• BTMS

Products and services

• Resistors for High Speed Trains Power resistors for high-speed trains including ETR 500, TGV, AGV, AVE, ICE 350, TALGO-TAV, and ACELA. Feature patented thermal image devices for direct temperature measurement and are available in forced-air cooled versions.
• Resistors for EMU (Electric Multiple Units) Power resistors for electric multiple unit trains with traction motors distributed across carriages. Available for under-frame or roof installation, natural or forced air cooling, with patented overtemperature protection.
• Resistors for Metro Power resistors designed for metropolitan railway vehicles emphasizing reliability, efficiency, and flexibility. Feature low air output temperature, under-frame installation, and patented overtemperature protection systems.
• Resistors for Light Rail Vehicles (Tram and Trolleybus) Lightweight power resistors for urban tram and trolleybus applications with roof installation, natural cooling, and cost-effective solutions.
• Resistors Refurbishment Service Refurbishment and reconstruction services for obsolete rail traction resistors, including design of functionally equivalent replacements when original documentation is unavailable.
• Auxiliary Resistors Specialized resistors for modern rail vehicles including short-circuit, discharge, crowbar, snubber, and noise current filter resistors with compact designs for limited spaces.
• Neutral Grounding Resistors Resistors for medium and low voltage distribution networks protecting transformers and generators from earth fault currents. Rated up to 10 kA with insulation levels from 1 kV to 132 kV.
• Load Banks Resistive load banks for testing diesel generators, standby generators, UPS systems, batteries, and gas turbines. Available for voltages up to 36 kV in fixed, portable, containerized, or silenced configurations.
• Harmonic Filter Resistors Resistors for filtering harmful harmonic distortions in power networks caused by electronic power converters. Feature precision resistance values and voltage impulse testing up to 400 kV.
• Starting and Braking Resistors Stainless steel resistors for controlled starting and braking of electric motors in cranes, pumps, presses, large fans, and compressors. Includes rotor, stator, and dynamic braking variants.
• Medium Voltage Load Banks Load banks for testing large generators and gas turbines operating at voltages from 3.3 kV to 33 kV. Modular forced-air cooled configurations dissipate multi-megawatt power with extractable resistance units for easy maintenance.
• Water Cooled Resistors (EV2 Series) Patented water-cooled power resistors for marine and industrial applications in low and medium voltage. Feature encapsulated resistive elements, high power density (10 kW/kg), modular construction from 10 kW to 1 MW, and IP56 protection rating.
• Oil-Cooled Starters Stepped resistors with contactors immersed in oil for high-performance but infrequent starting applications. IP54 protection rating suitable for harsh environments like cement plants.
• Line Contactors (CGC Series) Railway-grade contactors rated up to 4 kV with 400 A or 1000 A nominal current. Feature self-powered magnetic blow-out technology for AC and DC versions, bipolar or tripolar configurations.
• Multi-Pole Contactors Multi-pole contactors designed for easy installation in multiple configurations with independent electromechanical actuation. Includes three-phase AC motor control versions.
• Pre-Charge Contactors (CPD Series) Contactors designed for pre-charging converter filters using permanent magnet technology with multiple interrupting contacts. Compact, maintenance-free design without arc chambers.
• Disconnectors (SMC, SGS, SGH Series) Disconnectors featuring modern micro-contact lamella technology with linear actuators. SMC series offers smart diagnostics; SGS/SGH series are traditional traction contactors available in pneumatic or motorized versions for AC and DC applications.
• Pre-Assembled Units (LRU) Custom pre-assembled units combining contactors, resistors, relays, and sensors on a single base plate. Reduce installation time and simplify maintenance as single-unit replacements.
• Axial Fans Axial fans for railway applications delivering air flow up to 25 m³/s with static pressure up to 3000 Pa. Feature sealed impellers from monobloc casting and efficiency up to 90%.
• Centrifugal Fans Centrifugal fans with static pressure up to 10,000 Pa and optimized efficiency at operating points. Robust construction with cast impellers and scroll casings.
• Mixed Flow Fans Mixed flow fans providing balance between static pressure and air flow capacity with cast or fabricated monobloc impellers.
• Inline Centrifugal / Centri Axial Fans Centri-axial fans with significantly lower noise than standard axial fans at equivalent performance. Suitable for wide operating range without stall or overload.
• RLC500 Protection Relay Protection relay for capacitor banks, reactors, and resistors in high voltage lines. Programmable via front panel HMI or software with USB connection, supporting RS485, TCP/IP, and IEC 61850 communication modules.
• Insulation Monitor Isolated power supply monitoring systems designed to protect patients and staff from electric shock in critical care areas. Maintains power continuity during first ground fault and monitors cumulative hazard current.
• Load Banks for Standby Generator Sets Resistive load banks for periodic testing of emergency standby generators. Essential for maintenance programs ensuring generators function correctly during power outages in critical facilities.
• Stage V Load Resistors Load resistors for meeting European Stage V emissions regulation on mobile machinery (NRMM). Provides minimum load to maintain diesel particulate filter temperature during reduced operational loads.
• ZORC Low Voltage Surge Suppressors Surge suppression devices for managing high-frequency transient overvoltages. Protects motors and transformers from switching surges, transient recovery voltages, and ferroresonance. Available in 400V to 1100V three-phase configurations.
• ZORC Medium Voltage Surge Suppressors Medium voltage surge suppression devices protecting motors and transformers. Available in standard (3-13.8 kV), compact (3-6.6 kV), and single-phase RC versions (22-40 kV).
• Cooling Units Complete plug-and-play cooling systems including fans, radiators, filters, and accessories. Integrated thermal, acoustic, aerodynamic, and filtration performance for railway applications.
• BTMS (Battery Thermal Management System) Battery thermal management system for lithium-ion batteries in rail vehicles. Maintains optimal temperature (15°C-35°C) with active cooling/heating, compliant with EN 50155, EN 45545, EN 61373 standards. Supports CANOpen and EthernetCIP protocols.
• DigiLoad Digital Control System Digital control system for load banks that manages ventilation, power dissipation, dampers, and alarms. Measures real-time voltage, current, frequency, and power. Supports local and remote operation via RS-485 or WiFi, with programmable load cycles and automatic power optimization (±3%).

Quantifiable outcome

• Power density of 10kW/kg for water-cooled EV2 resistors
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Green Future ProjectcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Partnership with Green Future Project (Benefit Corporation and B Corp) to support Telema's sustainability journey through advanced software solutions. Includes monitoring of energy consumption and calculation of CO₂ emissions following GHG Protocol standards.
• Tesio / Saaswad (Agarwal Family)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint Venture in India - Tesio India, strategically located in Varanasi on the banks of the Ganges. Combines Tesio and Telema Group expertise with the Agarwal family's local knowledge (operating as Saaswad). Focus on railway cooling units and air coolers for the Indian market.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Eaton: Eaton is a US-listed industrial power management major producing electrical components, contactors, relays, and power quality equipment. Overlaps with Telema's industrial portfolio (resistors, contactors, surge protection) across data centers, utilities and industrial facilities but across a much broader catalog.
• Schneider Electric: Schneider Electric is a global specialist in energy management and automation with deep offerings in contactors, circuit breakers, protection relays and industrial controls. Comparable to Telema through adjacent switchgear, protection relay and industrial electrical components, while serving a much wider audience.
• Siemens Mobility: Siemens Mobility is a global railway systems integrator and OEM (Vectron, Mireo, Velaro HS trains) and a major buyer of Telema's resistor and cooling products. Directly comparable via its rail traction systems and contactor / power electronics portfolio, though it operates as a system-level incumbent rather than a resistor specialist.
• GE Transportation / Wabtec: Wabtec (post GE Transportation merger) is a global rail equipment and services major serving locomotives, freight and transit with traction electronics, braking systems and thermal management. Comparable to Telema as a customer and competitor in resistor, contactor and thermal subsystems embedded in rail platforms.
• Knorr-Bremse: Knorr-Bremse is the global leader in rail braking systems and a major supplier of HVAC and electrical subsystems for rail vehicles. Comparable to Telema through overlap in friction / regenerative braking resistor interfaces, contactors, cooling fans and BTMS adjacencies in rail vehicle architectures.
• ABB (ABB Ltd): ABB is a global electrification, motion and process automation major with broad product portfolios spanning contactors, relays, drives and railway traction systems. It overlaps with Telema in industrial resistors, contactors, and protection relays through its electrification business but addresses far wider applications.

Direct peers

• Mersen: Mersen is a French-listed global specialist in electrical components including carbon brushes, resistors, fuses, and thermal management for industrial and railway markets. Highly comparable to Telema because both supply power resistors, fuses and electrical protection devices into railway OEMs and industrial customers as engineered, project-designed solutions.
• Cressall (now part of VYBO Electric / Crescita): Cressall is a UK-based long-established manufacturer of power resistors, neutral grounding resistors, and load banks for rail, marine and industrial use. Direct competitor to Telema in braking resistors, neutral grounding and load bank categories with overlap in rail and industrial verticals.
• Schunk Group (Heinz Schunk / Schunk Carbon Technology): Schunk is a German specialty materials and components group producing carbon brushes, electrical contacts, power resistors and railway electrical equipment. Comparable to Telema as a European-headquartered, multi-decade specialist in resistor and contactor components for railway traction and industrial drives.

Emerging players

• ARCOL Resistors: Arcol (part of the Ohmite / Disipal family) manufactures precision and power resistors including wirewound, braking and neutral grounding resistors for rail and industrial. Smaller and more US/UK-centric than Telema, but directly comparable in resistor categories including harmonic filter resistors and braking resistors for industrial drives.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries10 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 TELEMA