WEG Industries

WEG, formally WEG S.A. and historically known as Eletromotores WEG, is a Brazilian industrial technology company headquartered in Jaraguá do Sul, Santa Catarina. Its business is centered on electrification: converting, controlling, distributing and applying electrical energy across industrial, infrastructure, utility, renewable-energy and transportation settings. The company is best known internationally for electric motors and related motion-control equipment, but its portfolio extends across generators, alternators, transformers, wind and hydro turbines, steam turbines, variable-frequency drives, industrial automation, switchgear, electrical components, coatings, insulation materials and battery-energy-storage systems. The company was established on 16 September 1961 as Eletromotores Jaraguá by electrician Werner Ricardo Voigt, administrator Eggon João da Silva and mechanic Geraldo Werninghaus. The name WEG was formed from the initials of the founders' first names. The business began with electric motors, an area in which it developed a strong manufacturing and engineering base. During the 1980s, WEG broadened its activities into electrical components, industrial automation, power and distribution transformers, liquid and powder coatings, and electrical insulation varnishes. This diversification moved the company from being primarily a motor producer toward an integrated supplier of electrical systems and industrial equipment. WEG has also invested in technical training and engineering capabilities. In 1968 it created CentroWEG, a training center intended to help address shortages of qualified mechanical and industrial professionals. Its later development combined internal manufacturing, product engineering, international subsidiaries and acquisitions. Manufacturing and commercial operations expanded beyond Brazil into North America, Europe, Asia, Africa and other regions. Reference material describes activity in approximately 140 countries, subsidiaries in 37 countries and manufacturing plants in 15 countries. The company participates in several parts of the energy and industrial value chain. Its generation activities include generators, alternators and turbines for wind, hydroelectric and steam applications. In transmission and distribution, WEG supplies transformers, switchgear, engineering, procurement and construction services, and other equipment used in electrical networks. Its industrial portfolio includes motors, gearboxes, drives, converters, contactors, fuses, circuit breakers and servomotors. Automation offerings combine hardware, software and systems integration, including solutions that can incorporate equipment from multiple manufacturers. Coatings and varnishes serve industrial, automotive and marine applications, while newer activities include battery-energy-storage systems and electrical propulsion research. International expansion and acquisitions have strengthened WEG's position in adjacent technologies. It entered discussions with Ballard Power Systems in 2012 regarding hydrogen proton-exchange-membrane fuel-cell opportunities, acquired the utility-scale turbine business of Northern Power Systems in 2016, and acquired Northern Power Systems' energy-storage business in 2019. In the same year, WEG announced cooperation with Embraer on electrical propulsion systems for aircraft and introduced a 4 MW wind turbine. By 2024, its wind-turbine portfolio included a 7 MW model. In 2024, WEG agreed to acquire Regal Rexnord's industrial electric motors and generators business, including the Marathon, Cemp and Rotor brands, expanding its manufacturing and commercial footprint across several countries. WEG's positioning is that of a vertically capable, engineering-led industrial partner rather than a narrow component brand. It competes through a broad product range, application expertise, global production and the ability to combine motors, drives, controls, power equipment, generation assets and services into i…

WEG began on 16 September 1961 in Jaraguá do Sul, Brazil, under the name Eletromotores Jaraguá. Its founders were Werner Ricardo Voigt, an electrician; Eggon João da Silva, an administrator; and Geraldo Werninghaus, a mechanic. Their first names supplied the initials used in the WEG name. The original business focused on electric motors, establishing the technical and manufacturing base that would remain central to the company. In 1968, WEG created CentroWEG, a training center designed to develop technical personnel and respond to a shortage of qualified mechanical-engineering labor. The initiative reflected an emphasis on internal capabilities and helped support the company's later expansion. During the 1980s, WEG diversified beyond motors into electrical components, industrial automation, power and distribution transformers, liquid and powder paints, and electrical insulation varnishes. This broadened the company from a motor specialist into a supplier covering multiple stages of industrial electrification. WEG subsequently developed products and services for power generation, transmission and distribution. Its generation portfolio came to include generators, alternators and wind, hydroelectric and steam turbines. Its power-systems activities expanded to transformers, switchgear, engineering and EPC services. In industrial applications, the company added drives, converters, gearboxes, contactors, circuit protection, servomotors and automation systems. Coatings and varnishes became another business area, serving industrial, marine and automotive users. Internationalization became a major part of WEG's development. The company established subsidiaries and production operations across the Americas, Europe, Asia and Africa, with reference material describing commercial activity in roughly 140 countries, subsidiaries in 37 countries and manufacturing plants in 15 countries. In 2008, WEG announced a new factory in India, reinforcing its presence in a major industrial market. WEG also used acquisitions and partnerships to enter newer energy technologies. In 2012, it signed an agreement with Ballard Power Systems to assess opportunities for hydrogen PEM fuel-cell products and services. In 2016, WEG acquired Northern Power Systems' utility-scale turbine business, followed in 2019 by the acquisition of that company's energy-storage-system business. In 2019, WEG also announced cooperation with Embraer on electrical propulsion systems for aircraft. The company introduced a 4 MW wind turbine that year, and by 2024 its wind portfolio included a 7 MW model. In 2024, WEG agreed to acquire Regal Rexnord's industrial electric motors and generators business. The transaction included the Marathon, Cemp and Rotor brands and operations involving approximately 2,800 employees, ten factories in seven countries and commercial subsidiaries in eleven countries, according to the cited reference material. The acquired business had reported net operating revenue of approximately US$542 million in 2022; that figure is historical transaction context rather than a current WEG financial measure. Today, WEG operates as a broad industrial electrification company. Its brand combines electric machinery, power equipment, automation, renewable generation, energy storage, coatings and engineering integration. Its central strategic identity remains the supply of equipment and complete solutions that generate, transmit, distribute, control and use electrical energy.

1. 2024Regal Rexnord industrial motors business acquired

   WEG agrees to acquire the industrial electric motors and generators business containing the Marathon, Cemp and Rotor brands.

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2. 2019Energy storage and electric propulsion initiatives expand

   WEG acquires Northern Power Systems' storage business, collaborates with Embraer on aircraft propulsion and launches a 4 MW wind turbine.

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3. 2016Northern Power Systems turbine business acquired

   WEG acquires Northern Power Systems' utility-scale turbine business.

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4. 2008Indian manufacturing expansion announced

   WEG announces a new factory in India as part of its international production expansion.

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5. 1980Diversification into electrical and industrial technologies

   During the 1980s, WEG expands into electrical components, automation, transformers, coatings and insulation varnishes.

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6. 1968CentroWEG training center is created

   WEG creates a technical training center to help develop qualified mechanical and industrial professionals.

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7. 1961WEG is founded in Brazil

   Eletromotores Jaraguá is established by Werner Ricardo Voigt, Eggon João da Silva and Geraldo Werninghaus, initially producing electric motors.

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A global, engineering-led electrification and industrial technology partner offering motors, automation, power equipment, generation systems, coatings and integrated solutions.

• Electric motors and motion-control equipmentMotion control1961

  WEG's foundational product area includes industrial electric motors and associated motion-control equipment. The broader portfolio includes industrial gearboxes, frequency inverters, AC/DC converters, contactors, circuit protection and servomotors. These products are used to drive, regulate and protect machinery in manufacturing, infrastructure and process industries.

• Generators and alternatorsPower generation

  WEG supplies generators and alternators for industrial, utility and renewable-energy applications. They form part of the company's broader generation offering and can be supplied as individual electrical machines or within engineered generation systems.

• Wind, hydro and steam turbinesRenewable and thermal generation2016

  WEG produces turbine technologies for wind, hydroelectric and steam-generation applications. Its wind portfolio progressed from a 4 MW model introduced in 2019 to a 7 MW model reported by 2024. The company also obtained Northern Power Systems' utility-scale turbine business in 2016.

• Transformers and switchgearTransmission and distribution

  WEG's power portfolio includes power and distribution transformers, switchgear and related electrical equipment. Through engineering and EPC capabilities, these products can be combined into transmission, distribution and industrial power systems.

• Industrial automation and drivesAutomation1980

  The automation portfolio combines hardware and software for controlling industrial processes and machinery. Drives, inverters, converters and other control components help customers manage motor speed, torque, energy use and system performance.

• Coatings and electrical insulation materialsIndustrial materials1980

  WEG manufactures liquid and powder coatings for industrial, automotive and marine applications, together with electrical insulation varnishes used in electrical machinery and equipment. These products complement its machinery and electrical-systems businesses.

• Battery-energy-storage systemsEnergy storage2019

  WEG supplies battery-energy-storage solutions for applications requiring the storage and controlled delivery of electrical energy. The business was strengthened by the 2019 acquisition of Northern Power Systems' energy-storage activities.

• 2024Acquisition of Regal Rexnord's industrial motors and generators businessM&A

  WEG sought to broaden its global industrial motor and generator operations.

  What changed. WEG agreed to acquire the business, including the Marathon, Cemp and Rotor brands, factories in seven countries and related commercial subsidiaries.

  Aftermath. The transaction expanded WEG's product brands, personnel base and international manufacturing footprint.

  Net operating revenue of acquired businesses. Approximately US$542 million (2022 historical revenue cited in the 2024 acquisition context)

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• 2019Launch of a 4 MW wind turbineProduct launch

  WEG was expanding its renewable-generation activities and turbine technology.

  What changed. The company introduced a 4 MW wind-turbine model.

  Aftermath. The wind business later reached a reported 7 MW turbine by 2024.

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• 1980Diversify beyond electric motorsStrategy

  WEG's original motor business was expanded during the 1980s as the company pursued a broader role in industrial electrification.

  What changed. The company entered electrical components, industrial automation, transformers, coatings and insulation varnishes.

  Aftermath. Diversification created the foundations for WEG's present multi-business portfolio.

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• 2024WEG agrees to acquire Regal Rexnord industrial motors and generators business

  WEG agreed to acquire Regal Rexnord's industrial electric motors and generators business, including the Marathon, Cemp and Rotor brands, together with factories and commercial operations across multiple countries.

  M&A
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• 2019WEG acquires Northern Power Systems energy-storage business

  WEG acquired the energy-storage-system business of U.S.-based Northern Power Systems.

  M&A
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• 2019WEG collaborates with Embraer on electric aircraft propulsion

  WEG and Embraer announced work on electrical propulsion systems for aircraft.

  Product launch
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• 2019WEG introduces a 4 MW wind turbine

  WEG introduced a 4 MW wind-turbine model as it expanded its renewable-energy equipment range.

  Product launchProduct generation
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• 2016WEG acquires Northern Power Systems turbine business

  WEG acquired Northern Power Systems' utility-scale turbine business, extending its renewable-generation portfolio.

  M&A
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• 2012WEG and Ballard explore hydrogen fuel-cell opportunities

  WEG and Ballard Power Systems signed an agreement to assess market opportunities for hydrogen PEM fuel-cell products and services.

  Other
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• 2008WEG establishes a factory in India

  WEG announced plans for a new Indian factory as part of its international manufacturing expansion.

  Other
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1. WEG S.A.
2. WEG official website