Quality Switch has been actively involved in the transformer industry since the 1950’s when the founder, Horace Sewell, started making switches inside of his machine shop, Quality Machine, for the Standard Transformer Company in Warren, Ohio. The switches were initially designed for distribution transformer applications. The company continued to grow and in 1974, the switch business was incorporated as a standalone entity and also moved the focus to include power transformers as well. Below is a timeline that highlights some of the company milestones:

• 1974: Quality Switch, Inc. was incorporated as standalone entity and was the sole occupant of a 10,000 square foot facility.

• 1976: Quality Switch introduces 450 and 550 kV BIL DETC’s into the product offering

• 1981: Engineers and other personnel from Westinghouse Sharon and Standard Transformer Company join Quality Switch

• 1985: Quality Switch acquires and moves into present location – 20,000 square foot building in Newton Falls, Ohio.

• 1987: Quality Switch introduces 650 and 750 kV BIL DETC’s into the product offering

• 1997: Quality Switch purchases AutoCAD computer aided drafting system for the drawing system

• 1999: Quality Switch becomes ISO 9001:1994 certified in design and manufacturing of electrical switches.

• 2000: Quality Switch invests in and implements SolidWorks 3D modeling software for Engineering and drafting system. Also rolled out new HV dual voltage design for 138kV X 69kV switch.

• 2001: Quality Switch adds 10,000 square feet onto the building for a total of 30,000 square feet. QS also transitioned to the updated ISO 9001:2000 certification

• 2005: Quality switch won the Mahoning Valley Chamber of Commerce Growth Award for increased export sales.

• 2007: Quality Switch invests in new ERP and data collection system for the shop floor. QS also won the state of Ohio’s Governor’s E-Award for increasing export sales.

• 2009: Quality Switch wins 2nd Mahoning Valley Chamber of Commerce award for increased export sales and also for increased overall sales. QS invested in partial discharge test equipment by purchasing the system from Omicron. QS also upgraded to ISO 9001:2008 certification

• 2010: Quality Switch invests in several upgrades to the manufacturing facility with epoxy coating the floors and HVAC systems to control humidity in manufacturing area.

• 2011: Quality Switch purchased ANSYS finite element analysis (FEA) program to assist engineering in 3D electrostatic and electromagnetic analysis.

• 2012: Quality switch introduced the patented Type QS-GBN™ 3 position HV Network Grounding switches to meet the newly revised IEEE C57.12.40-2011 standard.

• 2013: Quality Switch introduced a new DETC design targeted for 345kV, 1050 kV BIL

• 2014: Quality Switch celebrated 40th Anniversary and also introduced a mechanically linear twin deck type QS-DLS DETC with non-metallic drive mechanism.

• 2015: Quality Switch was awarded the President’s ‘E’ Award for Exports. This award is the highest recognition any U.S. entity can receive for making a significant contribution to the expansion of U.S. exports.

• 2016: Quality Switch opened the new “Horace H. Sewell High Voltage Testing & Research Center” that is equipped with a High Volt 1.2 MV Impulse Generator and Phenix Technologies 700kV Hi-pot test transformer rated for continuous operation at maximum applied voltage.

• 2017: Quality Switch introduced a new 230kV X 115kV dual voltage switch for mobile and substation transformers with dual rated HV connections.

• 2019: Quality Switch was one of only six U.S. Companies to receive the Presidents ‘E’ Star Award for Exports and was presented the award by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Wilber Ross.

• 2022: On March 11th, 2022, Quality Switch, Inc. was awarded Family-Owned business Growth Story Award presented by the Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce. See WKBN News for more about the ceremony.