Check out the milestones that have marked WEG's history of success
Timeline
WEG, from the beginning up today. Get to know our history, know more about our evolution and achievements.
1961
In April 1961 the idea of creating a company to make electric motors is conceived. On September 16, Werner Ricardo Voigt, Eggon João da Silva and Geraldo Werninghaus founded WEG. Initial Capital Stock: Cr$ 3,600.00 (three thousand and six hundred cruzeiros).
1964
WEG buys the piece of land and begins building the Manufacturing Plant I. In the same year, it starts making motors in the plant.
1966
1st National Sales Convention and Foundation of WEG Recreational Association (ARWEG).
First Internal Committee on Accident Prevention is created.
1968
Creation of CENTROWEG. Then, the region did not offer technical training, and the founders created CENTROWEG to provide qualifications for the employees. The school takes adolescents to the world of technology, discovering and encouraging great talents.
1970
Creation of WEG quality policy and production of 1st motor according to ABNT and IEC standards. Concern with quality is in WEG's DNA. Since the foundation, the company has been concerned to meet all required standards.
1970
Beginning of exportation to Guatemala, Uruguay, Paraguay, Ecuador and Bolivia.
1971
WEG's shares start to be traded on the Stock Market.
1972
First reforestation park is created.
1973
Purchase of the piece of land for Manufacturing Plant II and beginning of the building of the factory.
Exportation of motors reaches 20 countries.
1975
One million motors produced.
1976
Opening of an office in Germany with a local partnership – Motores Jara
1977
Opening of Manufacturing Plant II.
1980
Implementation of the Technological Center (Manufacturing Plant I)
1981
Creation of WEG Acionamentos
Creation of WEG Transformadores and WEG Energia.
1982
Creation of the QCC.
Launch of the first line of contactors and protection relays.
Launch of the first high power motors – 100 to 200 KW
1983
WEG Química is created
1986
WEG receives the first award: “Exame Magazine - Best and Biggest Ones”.
1988
Creation of WEG Automação
1989
Mr. Eggon João da Silva leaves the presidency and hands it over to Décio da Silva. The founders form the Board of Directors.
Production of the first transformer of 10 thousand kVA, 138 kV, with 35 tons and 5.6m high. The largest produced in Santa Catarina state then.
1991
Opening of a Branch in the USA.
1992
Opening of one of the most modern foundries of Latin America in the city of Guaramirim (State of Santa Catarina).
1993
Distribution of the first profit sharing.
WEG receives, for the first time, the ISO 9001 certification.
1994
Creation of the Industrial Business Centers
1995
Branch in Germany.
The first WEG Community Action is carried out.
1996
Branch in England.
1997
WEG recebe Prêmio Nacional de Qualidade.
1998
Filiais na França, Espanha e Suécia.
1999
WEG alcança 79% de market share no Brasil em motores elétricos e exporta 29% de sua produção para cerca de 55 países.
2000
Aquisição das primeiras fábricas no exterior (Argentina e México).
2001
Faturamento do primeiro bilhão de reais em um só ano.
WEG recebe a certificação ISO 14001
2002
Aquisição de fábrica em Portugal.
Fornecimento do maior transformador WEG até então (200MVA, 550kV).
2003
Inauguração do Museu WEG.
Fabricação do maior gerador do mundo até então (50.000kVA, 13,8kV, 4 polos).
2005
Inauguração da primeira fábrica na China.
2005
Abertura de filial em Singapura.
2005
Compra da fábrica de Manaus.
2006
Produção do motor número 100.000.000.
2007
Aquisição da Trafo, fabricante de transformadores de força de grande porte e de subestações móveis e fixas com unidades em Gravataí (RS) e Hortolândia (SP).
2007
Adquire a fabricante de turbinas hidraúlicas Hidráulica Industrial S/A - HISA. A aquisição reforça a atuação da WEG no segmento de geração, transmissão e distribuição de energia.
2007
Entra no índice Novo Mercado da Bovespa, uma seção destinada à negociação de ações de empresas que adotam, voluntariamente, práticas de governança corporativa adicionais às que são exigidas pela legislação brasileira.
2008
Décio da Silva assume a presidência do Conselho de Administração da WEG e Harry Schmelzer Jr. assume a presidência executiva da WEG
Abertura da filial da Rússia.
2009
Construção da fábrica de Transformadores no México (Huehuetoca)
2010
Início das operações fabris da WEG Índia.
2010
Acquisition of Instrutech, in São Paulo, a Brazilian company manufacturer of safety, commercial and industrial automation products and systems.
2010
Acquisition of share control of Voltran.
2010
Acquisition of Zest Electric, WEG distributor in South Africa.
2010
Acquisition of the coating factory Pulverlux in Argentina.
Acquisition of the distributor FOURNAIS A/S in Denmark.
2011
Acquisition of Watt Drive AntriebstechnikGmbH, Austrian company specialized in the development and manufacture of gearboxes, gearmotors, frequency inverters and drive systems.
2011
Acquisition of the Electric Machinery company in the USA. A company specialized in motors, generators and exciters.
2011
Establishment of the Joint-Venture with CESTARI Industrial e Comercial – a company located in the city of Monte Alto (State of São Paulo) – to develop, manufacture and trade gearboxes and gearmotors.
2011
Beginning of the manufacturing of wind turbines
Publishing of the book WEG 50 years.
Opening of WEG India (WII) in Hosur.
Establishment of the branch in Peru.
Opening of WEG Linhares (State of Espírito Santo).
2012
Acquisition of Injetel Indústria e Comércio de Componentes Plásticos Ltda., a company specialized in manufacturing and trading switches, sockets and plugs for commercial and residential applications.
2012
Acquisition of Stardur Tintas Especiais Ltda., a company of industrial and automotive refinish coatings located in the city of Indaiatuba (State of São Paulo).
2012
First supply in wind power generation. Equipment with capacity of 90 MW was installed on a wind farm located in the Northeast of Brazil.
International sales reached 51% (NOI) of WEG's revenue.
Acquisition of Indústria de Tintas e Vernizes Paumar S.A., a company specialized in manufacturing and trading coatings, varnishes, enamels and lacquers.
2013
Opening of the branch in Ecuador.
Acquisition of the transformer and substation manufacturing business from Hawker Siddeley Electric Africa (Pty) Ltd. located in South Africa. Manufacturer of miniature substations and distribution transformers.
2014
Acquisition of Antriebstechnik KATT Hessen GmbH, a company that manufactures special high speed motors. Headquartered in Homberg with a branch in Dresden, Germany.
2014
Acquisition of the FTC Energy Group, a company that manufactures and assembles electrical panels for process automation based in Bogota, Colombia.
2014
Acquisition of the manufacturing plant of motors and gearmotors from Württembergische Elektromotoren GmbH located in Germany.
Acquisition of the manufacturing plants of electric motors for appliances Changzhou Sinya Electromotor Co. and of the manufacturing plant of component parts Changzhou Machine Master Co. located in China.
Acquisition of a service unit from Efacec Energy Service in the city of Jaboatão dos Guararapes (State of Pernambuco).
2015
Acquisition of the manufacturing plant of high voltage transformers, miniature substations, molded-case circuit breakers and related services from TSS Transformers (Pty) Ltd (“TSS”), manufacturer headquartered in Heidelberg (Gauteng), South Africa.
Acquisition of Transformadores Suntec, headquartered in Medelin, Colombia
WEG is chosen Company of the Year by Exame magazine.
WEG has manufacturing plants in eleven countries and commercial offices in 29 countries. It has over 31,000 employees.
Acquisition of Autrial S.L., manufacturer of electrical panels for industrial installations and equipment headquartered in Valencia, Spain.
2016
WEG acquires Bluffton Motor Works, LCC., an electric motor factory in the USA.
WEG greenfield manufacturing site in Rugao, China.
2017
Acquires the Brazilian turbines manufacturer TGM. Acquires the US transformers business of CG Power.
2019
Enters in the business of solutions for industry 4.0 with the creation of a specific department for digital businesses and the acquisition of 51% of the share capital of PPI-Multitask and V2COM.
2020
Acquires the control of two startups: BirminD, a technology company active in the Artificial Intelligence market applied to Industrial Analytics and MVISIA, which is specialized in artificial intelligence solutions applied to computer vision for the industry.
2020
- WEG acquires the factory of Transformers and Energy Services of the Americas S.A. (“TSEA”) in Betim/MG.
- WEG structures itself to manufacture artificial respirators for COVID-19 patients during the Pandemic
2021
- WEG acquires Balteau Produtos Elétricos Ltda, a transformer company for instruments and measurement sets in Itajubá/MG.
- WEG inaugurates its 5th Transformer factory in North America. Located in the city of Washington, State of Missouri, where the company already has two other units operating since 2017.
2021
- Establishment of a WEG manufacturing unit in Turkey. The new operation will be established in 7,000 square meters of manufacturing facilities, including warehouses, engineering, and service support areas. The scope of activities includes: Manufacturing of General Proposal Low Voltage Motors and Gearboxes, as well as marketing all WEG products and solutions for the following countries: Turkey, Albania, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Kosovo, Montenegro, Romania, and Serbia.
- WEG opens a Commercial Branch in Poland that will cover Poland, Czech Republic, and Slovakia.
2022
Announcement of the construction of a new factory in Santo Tirso, Portugal. The company intends to invest 23.5 million euros to build 22,600 m² on the same land where WEG already has a 16,300 m² operation dedicated to the manufacture of low-voltage industrial motors. It will expand the production of large electric motors and transfer its factory located in Maia to Santo Tirso, centralizing all operations in the same place. The new factory in Santo Tirso is expected to start operating in the first quarter of 2024 and generate about 100 new jobs.
2022
- WEG supplies the largest electric generators ever produced by the company.
- WEG announces the establishment of a Joint Venture with the Cevital Group. The company will operate in the production and sale of electric motors for washing machines, initially focusing on the market in Algeria and North Africa.
- WEG acquires the Motion Control business of the Italian Company Gefran. A company manufacturing sensors, components, and industrial automation equipment, with factories in Italy, Germany, China, and India. The acquisition value is estimated at € 23.0 million.
2022
• Launch of the WEG Carbon Neutral Program with the following overall goals:
1. Reduce 52%* of emissions** by 2030
2. Achieve Net-Zero (neutral net emissions) by 2050
*Global average of WEG operations. Targets by operation and country follow the country's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) or 52%, whichever is higher.
**WEG Global Emissions of Scope 1 (fossil fuels) and 2 (non-renewable energy), base year 2021. Purpose: Develop technologies and solutions to contribute to building a more efficient and sustainable world.
• Inauguration of the WEG motor factory in Algeria.
2023
- WEG acquires all shares of BirminD.
- WEG announces a $40 million investment to acquire new land in Mexico.
- WEG acquires industrial electric motor and generator businesses from Regal Rexnord.
- WEG announces investments of R$ 1.2 billion for the expansion of Transformer production capacity.
2024
Alberto Yoshikazu Kuba is the new executive president of WEG, taking over the position previously held by Harry Schmelzer Jr. for 16 years.
Photo:Exame/Leandro Fonseca