1. How did the company's history begin and how has its activity evolved?
Our journey began in 1961 in Jaraguá do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil. Founded by Werner Ricardo Voigt, Eggon João da Silva, and Geraldo Werninghaus, we formed WEG, a global benchmark in industrial solutions.
With a focus on the production of electric motors, we combined
the technical knowledge, management, and production skills of our founders to build a successful company. Our reputation for quality led us to expand rapidly, starting with exports in the 1970s to various Latin American countries.
In the 1980s, we significantly expanded our international sales and diversified our portfolio, creating Business Units for Industrial Automation, Transmission & Distribution, Energy,
and Paints.
In the 1990s, we took an important step in our global expansion with the opening of our first commercial branches outside Brazil and subsequently acquired our first international factories. In the 2010s, we entered the market for Industry 4.0 solutions and expanded into new areas, including wind and solar energy.
The early 2020s were marked
by significant strategic expansion, with the acquisition of 15 factories in five continents, consolidating us as one of the largest global players in electric motors and generators. We currently have a portfolio of more than 1,500 product lines.
Our annual production includes more than 19 million motors, 76,000 MVA in transformers, and 132,000 MVA in generators. We maintain
a strong commitment to sustainability, with 12,100 hectares of reforestation areas, and we use renewable resources in a large part of our operations.
2. What led the company to invest in Portugal in 2002, with the purchase of Efacec Universal Motors? What was the selection process like and what were the most important decisions?
Read the full article in DPA's November 2024 issue