By Renewable Energy Focus Staff

dtw elektronica will operate as an independent subsidiary within the SMA Solar Technology group and will act as a global competence centre for electromagnetic components.

SMA’s managing board expects the transaction to make a positive contribution to its operating income for 2011 in the region of €20-25 million (£17-22m).

Pierre-Pascal Urbon, CEO of SMA, says: "SMA and dtw are connected through an extraordinary quality standard and an intensive research and development work. The integration of our new subsidiary allows us to more effectively coordinate development processes, while also significantly reducing development times. This provides a great way to further distinguish ourselves from competitors in the future."

dtw’s management board will play a major role in the continuing development of SMA’s new subsidiary. Company founder Stefan Domagala will continue to drive the research and development efforts of dtw and work in close cooperation with SMA developers.

Development projects will focus on magnetic materials that are based on new types of alloys and high-frequency transformers that are optimised for high performance and low weight.

SMA will continue the complex manufacturing of electromagnetic components in dtw’s production facilities in Zabierzów, Poland. SMA inverter production will stay exclusively at its headquarters in Niestetal/Kassel as well as at its international sites in Denver, Colorado, and Ontario, Canada, for the North American market.