IDS fit very well in WOODWARD’S business segment Electrical Power Systems

Conversation with Emil ILIEV - Manager of IDS Solar

Dear Mr. ILIEV, could you please tell ENERGIA magazine readers more about the merge between Woodward and IDS Group, that was agreed in March this year?
Integral Drive Systems AG is Swiss company based in Zurich with dougther companies in Bulgaria and China. Woodward is USA company based in Fort Collins, Colorado and has business activities worldwide. In fact Woodward made acquisition of IDS. Woodward decided for the acquisition in second half of 2010. The deal was signed in March 2011 and closed in April 2011 after approval of appropriate authorities in Europe and China. IDS is very innovative and creative company with competitive products on power conversion market. This is enough attractive to get in focus of Woodward.

What are the products and services provided by both companies and how they will complement each other?
IDS AG has many years of experience in developing, manufacturing and supply of powerful converters and systems for wind generators and solar installations.

As manufacturer of high quality converters and drives, IDS provide system solutions for a wide range of applications:
- Wind turbines
- Photovoltaic installations
- Oil &gas industry
- Linear motion drives
- High voltage systems used for energy transfer and drives
- Traction incl. mining
- Water treatment (ozonizing)

For photovoltaic projects IDS offers complex solutions in the range 100 – 500 kW with optimized system solutions for maximum energy efficiency.

Woodward is founded in 1870 and has over 140 years of history, over 6 000 employees acting on all continents. The company is structured in 4 business segments – turbine systems, airframe systems, electrical power systems and engine systems.

With its competitive power converters for renewable energy – wind and solar IDS fit very well in Woodward’s business segment Electrical Power Systems. In parallel Woodward will introduce to IDS business practices and policies that are typical for big and globally acting company.

How, according to you, Bulgarian customers from renewable energy sector will benefit from this new structure?
As global key player on power conversion and renewable energy market, Woodward will provide to IDS every advantage available for the company – supply chain and sales resources worldwide, experience and achievements in engineering, production and service activities. Exchange of engineering solutions, manufacturing technologies and customer oriented service approach between big number of high level engineers and experts is bringing positive results to products and services provided by IDS to Bulgarian customers. Our approach is to drive on a best way the whole product life cycle and this is what customers ask – competitive and reliable products with fast service reaction.

Finally, will you share with ENERGIA readers your opinion and expectations about development of the new organization after the merge?
The philosophy of the acquisition is based on at least following milestones - shared values, technology driven organization, strong synergies – products, markets, customers, significant growth opportunities by leveraging the best of both- Woodward and IDS. IDS will contribute by bringing to Woodward product portfolio its competitive solar products and they will stay further as core business of IDS. The plans are to increase the capacity and capability of our company in Bulgaria. Customers are expecting from us more stronger and powerful conversion systems. Our new solar inverter will come soon to the market. Realization of our plans will need more resources – experienced engineers and assemblers for power electronics. We strongly believe Bulgaria is the right place to do this.