behlke power electronics gmbh

What behlke power electronics gmbh does

Behlke Power Electronics GmbH, founded in 1985 by Frank Behlke in Kronberg im Taunus, Germany, designs and manufactures fast high-voltage solid-state switches, pulsers, and related components for pulsed power applications. Its product portfolio centers on the HTS (High Voltage Transistor Switch) family — including MOSFET, Silicon Carbide (SiC), IGBT, and MCT variants — available in single, push-pull, AC, and bridge configurations covering 1 to 200 kV operating voltage, peak currents from 15 to 16,000 amps, rise times down to 0.8 ns, and CW frequencies up to 3 MHz. Supporting product lines include the FSWP fast square wave pulser, FQD Q-switch Pockels cell driver, GHTS laboratory pulser, DSM differential switch mode pulser, FHPP precision pulser, FDA fast diode assemblies, the VC4 universal control unit, and proprietary DLC (Dielectric Liquid Cooling) systems and PU-2 pump units. Differentiated technologies include the LC2 low-coupling-capacitance driver platform for transient-immune operation in plasma, sparkover, and short-circuit conditions, and an in-house SMT production line installed in 2007 to maximize component density.

The company sells direct to enterprise customers in industrial, scientific, medical, and military/defense end-markets — covering applications such as particle accelerators, mass spectrometers, medical shock wave generators, electroporation systems, plasma generators, EMC test instruments, military radar modulators, and Q-switches. Notable customers include CERN, which uses Behlke HTS 901-10-LC2 switches in its LHC accelerator facility. Distribution is via direct factory sales from the German headquarters and a wholly-owned US subsidiary (Behlke Power Electronics LLC, Billerica MA), supplemented by regional sales representatives in Asian markets, with 85% of products exported. Pricing is quote-based and configuration-dependent, not publicly disclosed. The company is privately held by founder Frank Behlke with no external institutional investment, and is currently investing €25 million in a new 6,500 m² production and laboratory facility in Königstein, Germany (groundbreaking September 2026).

Name

behlke power electronics gmbh

Legal name

Behlke Power Electronics GmbH

Website

https://behlke.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Behlke Power Electronics GmbH designs and manufactures fast high-voltage solid-state switches and pulsers (up to 200 kV) for scientific, medical, industrial, and military customers worldwide, exporting approximately 85% of output from its German headquarters and US subsidiary.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

High-Voltage Power Electronics

NAICS

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

SIC

Switchgear & Switchboard Apparatus (3613), Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)

akta.pro primary industry

High-Voltage & High-Power Conversion (HVDC supplies, traction/rail converters, large rectifiers) (IMAGADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Grid-Scale Power Conversion & Interconnection (PCS, Grid-Tie Inverters, Converter Stations) (IMAGAAAI), High-Voltage Electrical Systems (Switchgear, Transformers, Protection & Control) (EUAEAFAA)

Keywords

• High voltage switches
• Solid-state pulsers
• Pulsed power electronics
• SiC MOSFET switches
• High voltage semiconductors

Headquarters

HQ city

Kronberg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. High Voltage Solid-State Switches: Behlke manufactures and sells fast high voltage solid-state switches and pulsers for voltages up to 200 kV. The delivery program consists of more than 700 standard switches and pulsers based on a modular design with numerous customization options. Revenue is generated through direct product sales to industrial, scientific, medical, and military customers.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Behlke Power Electronics GmbH manufactures and sells fast high-voltage solid-state switches and pulsers for voltages up to 200 kV in single-switch or bridge configurations for AC and DC. The delivery program comprises more than 700 standard switches and pulsers built on a modular design with extensive customization options, available in MOSFET, Silicon Carbide (SiC), IGBT, and MCT semiconductor variants. Supporting offerings include dedicated fast Q-switch/Pockels cell drivers, laboratory pulsers, fast recovery diode assemblies, direct liquid cooling (DLC) systems, pump units and cooling boxes.

Product overview

Behlke Power Electronics GmbH is the world market leader in high-voltage power semiconductor stacks, offering more than 700 standard switches and pulsers based on a highly flexible modular design. The product portfolio centers on the HTS (High Voltage Transistor Switch) series available in multiple semiconductor technologies: MOSFET, Silicon Carbide (SiC), IGBT, and Thyristor/MCT. Supporting products include the FSWP Fast Square Wave Pulser series, FQD Q-Switch Pockels Cell Driver series, GHTS Laboratory Pulser, DSM Differential Switch Mode Pulser, and FHPP Fast High-Voltage Precision Pulser. The company also offers comprehensive cooling solutions including DLC (Direct Liquid Cooling) systems, PU-2 pump units, and DLC Cooling Boxes. A key technology differentiator is the proprietary LC2 (Low Coupling 2) technology providing highest transient immunity for harsh operating conditions. The VC4 universal control unit serves as the intelligent control and driver platform across switch families. Fast Diode Assemblies (FDA series) provide free-wheeling diode solutions for inductive load applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HTS Series: High Voltage Transistor Switches - core product line of fast high voltage solid-state switches
• FSWP Series
• FQD Series
• FDA Series
• VC4 Control Unit
• PU-2 Pump Unit

Products and services

• HTS Series — High Voltage Transistor Switches

Quantifiable outcome

• 5-year worldwide warranty demonstrates product reliability

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• ABB: Global leader in power and automation technologies with extensive HV switchgear, power conversion, and semiconductor product portfolios. Broad incumbent serving the same end customers as Behlke (utilities, industrial, rail, scientific) but with much broader product scope.
• Eaton Corporation: Global power management company with HV switchgear, solid-state circuit protection, and power electronics product lines. Broad incumbent providing HV switching solutions to industrial, data center, and utility customers that overlap with portions of Behlke's served market.
• Fuji Electric: Major Japanese power electronics manufacturer producing HV IGBT modules, SiC semiconductors, and industrial power conversion equipment at scale. Broad incumbent offering semiconductor switches that compete at the device level with Behlke's stack-level products in industrial power applications.
• GE Vernova: GE's power and energy business with HV transmission, switchgear, and power electronics offerings. Broad incumbent operating at grid scale with products that overlap Behlke's HV switching capability but focus on transmission rather than pulsed-power applications.
• Siemens AG: Global industrial conglomerate with significant HV power electronics, switchgear, and electrical equipment operations. Broad incumbent that competes with Behlke in industrial, scientific, and rail power-conversion applications through much larger product portfolios.

Direct peers

• Excelitas Technologies: Global photonics and pulsed-power technology company producing HV capacitors, pulse discharge systems, and solid-state switching modules. Overlaps with Behlke in HV pulsed power, Pockels cell drivers, and Q-switch applications for laser and scientific instrumentation markets.
• Stangenes Industries: US-based manufacturer of high-voltage pulsed power components including solid-state switches, thyratrons, and pulse transformers. Directly comparable as a specialty HV pulsed-power component supplier serving accelerator, medical, defense, and industrial customers with overlapping voltage/current specifications to Behlke.
• Diversified Technologies, Inc. US designer and manufacturer of high-voltage pulsed power systems and solid-state modulators for radar, accelerator, and defense applications. Direct competitor in the HV solid-state switching space with comparable customer base and overlapping technical specifications.
• Megaimpulse Limited: Latvian manufacturer of high-voltage solid-state switches, pulsers, and Marx generators for research and industrial pulsed-power applications. Direct peer offering semiconductor-based HV switches with overlapping specifications to Behlke's HTS series.

Emerging players

• Solid State Plc: UK-based designer of solid-state pulsed power modulators and switches for defense, scientific, and industrial applications. Emerging peer with narrower product focus but directly overlapping technology category with Behlke's HV solid-state switches.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 behlke power electronics gmbh