DC technology will lead energy transition

fortop is another brand stronger. Since April 1, it has had a partnership with Schaltbau; a name best known in the railroad industry. For years, the German specialist has been marketing products that electrify this world. Knowledge and experience it now brings to the industry with the new Eddicy brand. "DC technology is going to change the world," states Harmen Sikkema, director of fortop convinced. "With a brand like Eddicy in the portfolio, we can help customers achieve their ambition of carbon-neutral production."

Eddicy is more than a brand name that sounds good. It simultaneously refers to the inventor of direct current, Thomas Edison, and the importance of energy efficiency. "The transition to climate neutrality is the most important challenge facing industry today. DC technology will be crucial in that story of electrification. After all, everything related to renewable energy - from storage to charging stations to microgrids to electric vehicles and battery test benches - runs more efficiently with DC voltage."

New sub-brand

A world that may still be evolving from an industrial standpoint, but one in which they are already more advanced in other fields. "In railroad technology, direct current is the standard. It is from that knowledge and experience that Schaltbau has also started to develop products for other sectors. Not newcomers, but products with the necessary maturity. Everything to do with energy, e-mobility and safe intralogistics will now be housed under the new sub-brand Eddicy. For us, this cooperation is an opportunity, because we actually already know many of these customers. Only the applications are new."

More than pushing boxes

Among other things, Eddicy offers switches and connectors in various sizes and capacities. That Schaltbau contacted fortop for distribution in the Netherlands and Belgium is no coincidence. "Interviews revealed that she has been following us for two years. Another supplier recommended us because we can do more than just push boxes. We speak the same language as Schaltbau and all the other brands in our portfolio: that of technology. By sharing your knowledge, you don't sell products, you sell solutions. And that's what customers really need and are looking for. Moreover, we also work through different channels. Anyone who just wants to order online can do so just as easily at fortop through our product portal."

Ready to improve the world

The products Eddicy offers are new to fortop's range. But there is a great deal of confidence that they will develop quickly. "With Eddicy, we have the potential to change the market. The industry now runs on AC voltage for perhaps 99%. With the energy transition underway, that ratio will be profoundly changed within a few years. Especially because of the higher energy efficiency that DC technology has to offer. By the way, Eddicy is already proving this in practice. In 2019, it has built an entirely new plant that operates entirely on DC voltage. This will enable it to produce 35% more energy efficiently," Sikkema concludes.