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 recibe el primer premio: “Revista Exame - Melhores y Maiores”.
1988
Creación de WEG Automatización
1989
El Sr. Eggon João de la Silva deja la presidencia y cede el cargo a Décio de la Silva. Los fundadores forman el Consejo de Administración.
Producido el primer Trafo de 10 mil kVA, 138 kV, con 35 toneladas y 5,6m de altura. El mayor producido hasta entonces en SC.
1991
Inauguración de la Filial en EE.UU.
1992
Se inaugura una de las fundiciones más modernas de América Latina en Guaramirim/SC.
1993
Es distribuida la primera participación de ganancias.
WEG recibe por la primera vez la certificación ISO 9001.
1994
Creación de los Centros de Negocios Industriales
1995
Filial na Alemanha.
Realização da primeira Ação Comunitária WEG.
1996
Filial na Inglaterra.
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
Acquisition of the first factory abroad (Argentina and Mexico).
2001
Revenue reaches the first billion reais in a single year.
WEG receives ISO 14001 certification.
2002
Acquisition of manufacturing plant in Portugal.
Supply of the largest WEG transformer until then (200MVA, 550kV).
2003
Opening of WEG museum.
Manufacture of the largest generator of the world (50,000kVA, 13.8kV, 4 poles).
2005
Opening of the first manufacturing plant in China.
2005
Opening of a branch in Singapore.
2005
Acquisition of the manufacturing plant in Manaus.
2006
Production of the motor number 100,000,000.
2007
Acquisition of Trafo, manufacturer of large power transformers, and conventional and mobile substations, with units in the city of Gravataí (State of Rio Grande do Sul) and Hortolândia (State of São Paulo).
2007
WEG acquire the hydraulic turbines manufacturer Hidráulica Industrial S/A - HISA. The acquisition reinforces WEG's position on the energy generation, transmission and distribution segment.
2007
It is listed in Bovespa Novo Mercado, a segment of the stock market that trades stocks of companies that voluntarily adopt corporate governance practices in addition to those required by the Brazilian legislation.
2008
Décio da Silva takes over the presidency of the WEG Board of Directors and Harry Schmelzer Jr. takes over as WEG's CEO
Opening of a branch in Russia.
2009
Building of the Transformer Manufacturing Plant in Mexico (Huehuetoca)
2010
Beginning of the manufacturing operations of WEG India.
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
Aquisição da Injetel Indústria e Comércio de Componentes Plásticos Ltda., empresa especializada na fabricação e comercialização de interruptores, tomadas e plugues para aplicações comerciais e prediais.
2012
Aquisição da empresa de tintas industriais e de repintura automotiva Stardur Tintas Especiais Ltda. de Indaiatuba/SP.
2012
Primeiro fornecimento em geração de energia eólica. Equipamentos com capacidade de 90 MW foram instalados em parque eólico localizado no Nordeste do Brasil.
Vendas no mercado externo alcançaram 51% (ROL) do faturamento da WEG.
Aquisição da Indústria de Tintas e Vernizes Paumar S.A., empresa especializada na fabricação e comercialização de tintas, vernizes, esmaltes e lacas.
2013
Criação da filial WEG no Equador.
Aquisição de fábrica de transformadores e subestações pertencentes à Hawker Siddeley Electric Africa, na África do Sul. Fabricante de mini-subestações e transformadores de distribuição.
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