Vaasa firm deepens CERN partnership with second five-year deal

A small Vaasa company is developing arc-flash protection systems with CERN, the European particle physics research centre, in a second five-year agreement, Yle reports.

Arcteq Relays has supplied products to CERN for more than a decade. The company, founded in 2010, exports to 70 countries. Its chief executive, Juha Arvola, said the relationship began at an electrical protection trade fair in Paris, where a CERN delegation saw the company’s technology. Arcteq later won a competitive tender.

The current agreement includes a pilot project. CERN has received two prototypes, which will be used to develop the final product and installation package. The systems will be installed in low-voltage switchgear in CERN’s electricity distribution network. Several deliveries are planned this year, after detailed inspections and testing.

CERN electrical power system engineers Joni Leppilahti and Jani Vainionpää have travelled to Vaasa to carry out tests. Leppilahti said direct contact with Arcteq helps CERN get faster responses when it requests development work or identifies a problem. Arcteq production director Antti Koksalo said the partners share information about CERN’s needs and the company’s production plans.

Arvola said the continued partnership strengthens the company’s credibility internationally. Koksalo said CERN chose Arcteq for its advanced technology and the usability of its products. He also cited the company’s flexibility and ability to tailor solutions to customer needs.

Arcteq makes protection relays and arc-flash protection systems for uses including power plants, industry, power generation and data centres. It has about 65 employees, including 50 in Vaasa, and reported revenue of 25 million euros in 2025. The company aims to nearly double revenue by 2030.