Schaltbau wins 2025 German Innovation Award for intelligent contactor technology
Company recognized for B2B smart contactor solution to enhance system safety and efficiency in critical DC and AC applications
Schaltbau, a global leader in direct current (DC) technology, has received the German Innovation Award 2025 in the “Excellence in Business to Business” category for electronic technologies. The accolade celebrates the company’s Eddicy SC503 smart contactor which provides maximum circuit protection coupled with intelligent monitoring and communication functionalities to a variety of industrial, energy and automotive applications, including DC microgrids, energy storage systems, test benches and electronic vehicle charging.
This marks the second consecutive year Schaltbau has won this prestigious award. In 2024, the company was recognized for the NExT Factory, the world’s first DC production facility, which represents a major step towards achieving net-zero industrial energy use. Together, these wins reflect Schaltbau’s unique strength in both innovative product development and system-level contributions to a more sustainable, electrified future.
“We are honored to win this award for the second time in a row. This recognition speaks to our commitment to push the boundaries of direct current technology,” said Helmut Pusch, CEO of Schaltbau GmbH Group. “Developing our intelligent devices to equip DC microgrids and energy storage solutions will help industrial customers enjoy greater energy efficiency, resilience and availability in weakening energy grids, more control over their energy consumption and, above all, lower energy costs and grid fees.”
The SC503 marks a new era for contactor technology due to its enhanced functionality, efficiency and adaptability. It features active voltage and current measurement at the switching element, enabling real-time monitoring, localized decision-making, communication of data to higher-level units and response to system conditions. With a voltage range of 600V to 800V DC and nominal current capacity of up to 300A, the SC503 provides an advanced solution for high-performance applications. By leveraging local decision-making based on real-time data, the SC503 provides benefits in terms of increased productivity, reduced wear and tear, and enhanced energy efficiency.
These advances directly support the vision of an All Electric Society—a future powered by renewable energy and enabled by intelligent, DC-based infrastructure. With products like the SC503 and initiatives like the NExT Factory, Schaltbau continues to demonstrate how electrification can drive both innovation and sustainability.
The German Innovation Award recognizes products, projects and pioneering achievements that sustainably improve life through innovation and progress. Each year, nominees are selected for creating added value in society, the environment or the economy through their innovative processes and ideas.
Note: The SC503 was previously referred to as the Smart Circuit Breaker.
Schaltbau is a global leader in DC power solutions, specializing in products and solutions that drive electrification across industries. With a broad portfolio of contactors, connectors, switches, and safety components, Schaltbau has been helping partners and customers solve challenges in rail for generations. Building on this legacy with its new brand Eddicy, they also develop cutting-edge solutions designed to meet the highest standards of safety and reliability for switching and protecting DC applications in energy and e-mobility. Headquartered in Munich, Germany, and supported by a global team of over 1,000 employees, Schaltbau continues to shape the future of electrification with nearly a century of expertise.