Vacon recently announced it will establish an R&D center and lab for high-power AC drives in the Raleigh-Durham area in North Carolina. Vacon, a global AC drives manufacturer, has been developing energy-saving green technology for almost 20 years. The company's product portfolio includes AC drives for controlling AC motors and their power consumption in the most optimal way. Vacon also offers electrical power converters for producing energy from renewable sources such as wind and sun. Dan Isaksson, vice president, research and development, Vacon, Inc. says, "We believe that focusing 100 percent on AC drives is how we can best grow. Delivering superior products and services requires competence and focus. The global high-power AC drives market is growing, and this is definitely a growth opportunity for Vacon."

Vacon will put more emphasis on research in its U.S. operations and offer job opportunities for competent people. "We want to be closer to research centers, universities and existing power electronic clusters. This is why we will place our R&D center and lab for high-power AC drives in the Raleigh-Durham area. We will start active recruitment immediately," Isaksson says.

Headquartered in Finland, Vacon started its U.S. operations since the company acquired the AC drives business of TB Wood's in 2007. The new Vacon, Inc. manufacturing facility was completed in 2009 in Chambersburg, PA, and in 2010 it received LEED Gold Certification, established by the U.S. Green Building Council.