CIRCUIT PROTECTION Menlo Micro advances MEMS power switching for high-power circuit breakers

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Menlo Microsystems, Inc., announced the successful completion of Task 4 of the U.S. Navy’s 10 MW Advanced Circuit Breaker Development Program, demonstrating Menlo’s position as a trusted partner for defense, industrial, and commercial applications, including AI data centers.

This achievement represents the robustness and scalability of Menlo Micro’s Ideal Switch technology. By reliably handling 0.5 MW, Task 4 showcases a 1000V, 500A panel system build from four 1000V/125A modules, demonstrating a scalable architecture designed for productization across defense, data center, and industrial power systems.

Menlo addresses longstanding challenges in the power industry: delivering systems that are simultaneously high-density, fast, reliable, and energy efficient. This milestone signals a breakthrough in how next-generation power control and protection systems can be designed, significantly reducing size, weight, complexity while minimizing thermal management requirements eliminating the need for liquid cooling or large heat sinks.

“Completing this phase of the project confirms Menlo Micro’s leadership in high-power MEMS switching and shows that our Ideal Switch technology meets demanding real-world requirements,” said Russ Garcia, CEO of Menlo Micro. “This milestone not only strengthens Menlo’s pipeline for defense and commercial markets but also accelerates adoption of emerging high-performance power control needs across multiple industries including AI data centers.”

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Menlo Micro’s technology is fundamentally different from conventional switching solutions. Unlike semiconductor-based switches, Menlo benefits from metal-to-metal conduction, enabling virtually lossless switching with minimal heat generation. This approach delivers higher power density, simplified thermal management, and reduced system complexity, providing a unique advantage for modern power systems where efficiency, size, and reliability are critical.

For investors, customers and industry stakeholders, the successful completion of this milestone highlights Menlo’s growing credibility, reinforces the company’s authority in power switching, and showcases the success of its broader product portfolio. This milestone is part of Menlo’s ongoing innovation pipeline, providing a foundation for future growth, commercial expansion, and high-value opportunities across defense, industrial automation, AI data centers, and smart infrastructure.

By combining speed, reliability, and efficiency in a compact MEMS platform, Menlo Micro is setting a new standard for advanced circuit breakers and enabling simplified thermal design solutions for power distribution and protection systems.

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