126 Years of Protection Technology History – From Electromechanical Relays to Digital Grid Protection
What did selective grid protection look like over 100 years ago? Experience a journey through time from early electromechanical relays to the most modern digital protection and control devices at our stand.
How was electrical energy protected long before digital protection devices, Ethernet communication, or IEC 61850 existed?
As early as the beginning of the 20th century, the first electromechanical protection systems for generators, transformers, and power distribution systems were developed in Switzerland. Massive relays, mechanical release elements, and analog measurement technology formed the basis for the safe operation of electrical networks at that time.
With the expansion of the energy supply, the requirements for protection technology also continuously evolved: from mechanical protection relays and static protection systems to modern digital protection and control devices with distance protection, differential protection, grid automation, and communication interfaces.
At our stand at Powertage 2026, we will be showing original protection devices from various technological eras — from early Brown-Boveri and Sprecher Systems to modern digital NSE protection and control devices.
Technological Evolution
The exhibition shows the technological development of:
- mechanical protection technology
- analog measurement technology
- static relays
- digital grid protection
- IEC 61850 communication
- distance and differential protection
- integrated bay control
- modern grid automation
Today, our devices protect power distributions from 10 kV to 110 kV in industrial, infrastructure, and utility networks. Visit us at Powertage 2026 and experience protection technology not just as a product — but as part of the history of modern energy supply.
📍 NSE AG – Hall 4 / Stand 4.J26
