Weidmüller and Iskra: a successful connection for reliable surge protection

The German expert for electrical connectivity and electronics, Weidmüller, and the Slovenian specialist for surge protection, Iskra Zaščite, have signed a joint venture agreement in Ljubljana. The agreement includes the building of a new production site in Brežice (Slovenia), as well as the development cooperation with Iskra Zaščite and production of innovative solutions for surge protection. The joint venture will in future trade under the name Weidmüller & IZ Surge Protection Products.

"We are proud to have found a competent partner for surge protection in Iskra Zaščite, together with whom we can meet the requirements of our customers even better and develop new markets," Dr. Peter Köhler, CEO of the Weidmüller Group, was pleased to report.

During the festive signing of the agreement, Köhler praised the promising cooperation between the two companies: "Within the scope of the partnership Iskra will focus on developing and producing the components, while Weidmüller will provide a tight-meshed sales and marketing network and a detailed understanding of the market requirements". Iskra has a similar picture of the cooperation: "This joint venture makes sense and will serve the customers as it leverages the core areas of expertise of the two companies to create a relationship with a promising future." Weidmüller will define the technical specifications and requirements of the surge protection products, Iskra will be responsible for the development and production of the products and their components.

To optimally satisfy the technical and normative requirements for the products, a new production site will be built in Brežice (Slovenia): "Brežice is located in a region that has strong ties with energy engineering and its development," explains Dr. Otmar Zorn, the owner of Iskra Zaščite. "In addition to the outstanding university infrastructure in the region, there are various conventional power plants and hydroelectric power stations in the surrounding area." Around 30 new jobs will thus be created by Weidmüller and Iskra in the east part of Slovenia.

Dr. Köhler is certain that: "We will be able to make an impact with new technologies in the surge protection segment within the scope of the joint venture. We have therefore decided to not only enter into a technology partnership but, more bindingly still, to also ensure a long-term delivery capability with a contractually binding joint venture. "