Houston, November 4, 2026 – W-Industries today made its U.S.-engineered 38kV metal-clad switchgear available to data centers, behind-the-meter power projects and utilities, adding a new source of medium-voltage switchgear as demand from the AI build-out outpaces supply. The Houston-based company designs, manufactures, installs and maintains the power, controls and critical equipment running data centers, power plants, refineries and factories. The new switchgear has passed every UL witness test under IEEE C37.20.2-2025 at 1200A and 2000A, 40kA, covering the switchgear, its potential transformer (PT) truck and its fuse truck. UL is now issuing the certificate.

38kV distribution has moved to the center of the AI build-out. Large data center campuses, and the private power systems being built to serve them, need a significant volume of 38kV capacity. Supply has not kept pace. According to Wood Mackenzie, U.S. demand for switchgear rated 16kV to 75kV, the class that includes 38kV, rose 95 percent between 2019 and 2025, and in 2025 demand ran 36 percent ahead of available supply.
“The current 38kV supply chain is limited, and the supply chain for true UL-certified metal-clad switchgear is even more constrained. It’s no secret that the AI build-out and the push for behind-the-meter power have made it one of the more difficult pieces of equipment to source on a project,” said Todd Simmering, Senior Vice President, Electrification, at W-Industries. “This is a W-Industries product. Our team designed it with the support of ABB, we manufacture it in Houston, and we have the capacity to deliver it at volume. The mission now is to shave weeks off 38kV lead times. To accomplish that mission, we need to understand customers’ volumes, pace and designs.”

W-Industries 38kV switchgear at a glance

• Type: Metal-clad, air-insulated, medium-voltage switchgear, tested to IEEE C37.20.2-2025
• Ratings: 38kV maximum, 50/60Hz; 1200A and 2000A continuous; 40kA short-time withstand for 2s; 104kA peak for 10 power frequency cycles; 150kV BIL; 80kV, 60s power frequency withstand
• Origin: Engineered in the USA; designed and assembled at W-Industries’ facilities in Houston, Texas
• Circuit breaker: ABB ADVAC 38kV draw out circuit breaker and breaker cell
• Testing: Every test witnessed by UL at W-Industries and at KEMA Labs; passed dielectric testing on the first attempt without a single flashover; UL certificate being issued
• Design features: Ground-up 38kV PT and fuse-truck designs with hard-bussed line-side PTs, automatic discharge during rack-out, insulated rectangular bus bars engineered for enhanced tracking resistance; custom configurations available within one footprint.
• In development: 3000A and 4000A versions and an outdoor NEMA 3R enclosure

The switchgear utilizes ABB ADVAC 38kV circuit breakers. ABB was selected for its technical support and dependable component deliveries. Every test was witnessed by UL, at W-Industries’ own lab and at KEMA Labs in Chalfont, Pennsylvania, and the Netherlands. The design works with any relay platform, so customers can specify the protection and control equipment they already use, with digital monitoring and protection to suit the application. W-Industries engineers also support the electrical design around the switchgear, from power system and arc flash studies to protective device coordination, relay settings and IEC 61850 configuration.

“W-Industries brings deep engineering experience and a clear focus on what data center and utility customers need at 38kV,” said Matteo Rota, Product Marketing Director, Electrification Distribution Solutions, ABB.

“We’re pleased to support the W-Industries team with the ADVAC 38kV circuit breaker and other core ABB technologies and the service behind it as they bring this switchgear to market,” said Konstantinos Papapaschalis, Product Marketing Manager, Grid Components, Electrification Distribution Solutions, ABB.

“We engineered this 38kV metal-clad switchgear to meet the demanding requirements of critical-power applications, with extensive UL-witnessed testing validating performance and personnel safety, and a Kanban-based assembly model supporting dependable delivery for customers,” said Ashok Ayyaswamy, Director of R&D and Major Programs at W-Industries.

The switchgear is designed and assembled at W-Industries’ Houston facilities, which are sized for high section counts and repeat orders. The company is developing standard configurations and an inventory model to shorten 38kV lead times. Engineering, sourcing and procurement teams planning 38kV projects can reach the W-Industries Power & Electrification sales team directly at azam_jahangir@w-industries.com or 713.466.9463, and can download the spec sheet at w-industries.com/service/power.

The switchgear joins the W-Industries Power & Electrification line of switchgear, distribution equipment, VFDs, modular substations, PDCs and e-houses, built in the company’s own U.S. equipment centers and installed, integrated and serviced by W-Industries teams.

About W-Industries
Founded in 1984, W-Industries is a leading engineering, automation, and fabrication company specializing in providing integrated solutions for the energy and industrial sectors. With expertise in automation and controls, power distribution, modular fabrication, and field services, W-Industries is dedicated to delivering innovative, turnkey solutions for complex offshore and onshore projects. Headquartered in Spring, Texas, with a global presence, W-Industries supports major energy companies and contractors worldwide with a commitment to safety, quality, and operational excellence. For more information, follow W-Industries on LinkedIn or visit www.w-industries.com.

Sales inquiries
W-Industries Power & Electrification
Azam Jahangir, VP Growth & Strategy
azam_jahangir@w-industries.com | 713.466.9463
w-industries.com/service/power

Media contact
Dan Mahoney
Dmahoney@piercom.com
970-405-8060