When you visit a contemporary data center, factory, or skyscraper, you will be able to witness various overhead installations – large, metallic tubes that channel a great amount of amperes from an electric transformer to switchboards. These are called busbars or bus duct systems and they are used to distribute electricity without large and risky wiring. Busbar technology originated in Europe, and it is still the most advanced in this continent. The most successful busbar manufacturers of Europe are also located here, especially in Germany, France, and Italy.
The leaders in Europe’s busbar trunking and busway industry are Schneider Electric from France which owns the famous Canalis series. There also are Siemens from Germany with its SIVACON 8PS series, Legrand from France with DLp and the Starline busway aimed at data centers, Eaton from Ireland and the world with its Pow-R-Way product, Socomec from France specializing in modular distribution, and Rittal from Germany (the RiLine product). Italy has its share of the business with companies like BTicino (part of Legrand), Pogliano Busbar, NAXSO, SCAME securing a strong position in LV distribution and industrial segments. In 2025 the global market of busbars trunking will be worth approximately $7 billion which is expected to increase twice to around $14 billion by 2035, with a CAGR of 7.3% due to data centers development and construction process, as well as projects of electrification and renovation of buildings.
What Is Busbar Trunking / Busway?
Busbar trunking (UK/IEC nomenclature) and busway (North American nomenclature) describe the same appliance: prefabricated units of aluminum or durable and light copper bars able to transmit electricity and placed in metallic or insulated casing. Bars are kept fixed with the use of insulators inside the duct. Electric tap-off points are located every several feet, allowing connecting the consumption without cutting the bars run.
Busbar systems have several competitive advantages compared to conventional cable or conduit systems. They have: much higher current density and minimum volume/cross-section, less voltage drop, higher heat dissipation efficiency, tap-off points can be installed easily and moved anywhere across the busbar length, they are fire resistant and can be installed faster (up to 30-50% compared to equivalent cables runs).
Key terms: Busbar trunking = EU/IEC term; Busway/bus duct = North American term; sandwich busbar = popular construction type using insulated bars placed between metallic coverings; air insulated busbar = another type using air spacing between bars performing its function rather poorly; cast resin busbar = relatively new type processed in resin included that gives maximum fire resistance and moisture protection.
The European Busbar Market at a Glance
According to research from the industry, the global busbar trunking market was valued at about $7.04 billion in 2025 and is expected to be around $14.18 billion by 2035, which corresponds to a compounded yearly growth rate of 7.26 percent. Growth factors are: construction of data centers, industrial electrification, renovation of buildings, more severe fire safety regulations, and integration of renewable energy. Europe is still the leader in technology and home to the original busbar developers (in the 1920s Schneider developed the first busbar trunking system) and European companies still dominate high-end specifications worldwide, although Asian manufacturers provide strong competition in respect of volumes and prices now.
The strongest manufacturing in Europe is concentrated in three countries: France (Schneider, Legrand, Socomec, Mersen), Germany (Siemens, Rittal) and Italy (BTicino, Pogliano, NAXSO, SCAME), and critical power suppliers are located in Ireland/UK (Eaton, Anord Mardix).
France: The Busbar Powerhouse
Schneider Electric (Rueil-Malmaison)
The world’s top innovator in the field of busbar trunking. Schneider is credited with the invention of the first busbar trunking concept back in the 1920s, and its Canalis line of products still stays the world’s most widely-used busbar product range, being offered in current capacities from 40A to 5000A, along with options with a fire ratings (Canalis KT), for high-output applications (I-Line Track) and for EV charging.
- Advantages: the most extensive engineering background, support from global projects, integrated monitoring solutions (EcoStruxure), and the widest certification library (IEC 61439, UL, fire ratings).
- Typical applications: data centers, high-rise buildings, manufacturing facilities, hospitals or any other installations where there is a reference to a well-known global brand. Premium pricing.
Legrand (Limoges)
With its DLp line of high power products, Legrand is the leader in the producers of wiring devices and is one of the key players in the busbar industry. Thanks to the Starline acquisition, the company is able to offer Starline Track Busway solutions that are preferred by data centers for their hot-plug tap-off capabilities.
- Key strengths: modularity, IP68 rating options for extreme conditions, strong focus on building and commercial markets, attractive mid-premium price level.
- Common applications: commercial infrastructure, data centers, critical power generation and transmission.
Socomec (Benfeld, Alsace)
Socomec is a French family-owned company that specializes in low- and medium-voltage power distribution. Their busbar and modular distribution products (up to 17.5 kV MV) feature robust designs, excellent ingress protection, and great benefits in the premium to mid-market tier.
- Unique features: MV capabilities, compact designs, and French manufacturing quality at a relatively lower price compared to leading brands.
- Typical applications: industrial plants, data centers, and infrastructures.
Mersen (Paris)
Mersen focuses on manufacturing high-power electrical equipment and busbars used in power electronics, railways, and industrial high current applications — even though the two sectors differ in sectorial positioning, Mersen is one of the leading producers of custom and laminated high current busbars for converters and switchgear applications.
Germany: Engineering Precision
Siemens (Munich)
Siemens offers busbar trunking with the SIVACON 8PS (BD2 series) system that complies with IEC61984, capable of handling low currents of up to 5,000A along with plug & play series taps and energy monitoring using the LData via the PCL to ensure the acquisition of energy data.
Advantages: its compatibility with Siemens switchgear, German quality, and excellent documentation of the system. Sekingen companies set up their operations in an industrial plant, data center, and buildings provided with Siemens switchgear thus making the SIVACON 8PS system the automatic choice in Siemens prescribed projects. The pricing is high.
Rittal (Herborn)
The enclosure manufacturer Rittal presents its RiLine60 busbar systems developed for integration with its PDUs and industrial enclosures.
- The advantages include suitability for Rittal enclosures and cooling, compact modular busbar designed for machine as well as control panels, efficient in industrial automation settings.
- Usual application: machine producers, control panels, industrial automation – very efficient when using Rittal enclosures from start to finish.
Other German players
Apart from the giants, Germany is occupied with dominated resources like Klaus Faber (cable and busbar systems) and manufacturers of busbar parts that deliver the needed components directly to panel manufacturers. For almost all projects, Siemens and Rittal are responsible for the German level of the market.
Italy: Industrial and LV Specialists
BTicino (Varese, part of Legrand Group)
BTicino is one of the top Italian electrical brands and belongs to Legrand. It offers busbar trunking products through its LV distribution portfolio and is well-positioned in Italian and Mediterranean construction projects, including industrial tap-off systems.
- Advantages include being ethically local (CEI standards), quality of design, support of Legrand group.
- Typical sector of operations: housing/residential and commercial buildings in Italy and Mediterranean region, light industry.
Pogliano Busbar (Italy)
Pogliano is a producer of LV busbar trunking systems for industry and commerce. It is an opinion leader in Italy and in Europe and complies with the IEC standard while having a great price-quality ratio. Applications: industrial plants, workshops, commercial premises.
NAXSO (Italy)
NAXSO offers solutions in busbar trunking for industrial and commercial applications, being one of the prominent Italian specialists in the field with reasonable prices and reliable delivery of services to business projects in Europe.
SCAME (Italy)
SCAME is a well-established Italian electrical company (switchboards, distribution, and electric vehicle charging) which provides busbars and distribution systems that are widely utilized in various sectors, especially in Mediterranean and foreign markets.
Other notable European players
Apart from the notable countries, other companies such as Eaton, which operates in Dublin and globally with Pow-R-Way and XAP-J cast-resin busways and is among the largest companies in the globe, ABB, which operates Reliagear and Isobar systems in Switzerland, Anord Mardix and E+I Engineering which are located in Dublin and provides advanced and critical busway systems for data centers, Megabarre operating in France and specializes in systems for high currents, EAE Elektrik in Turkey selling high-capacity systems. They are very significant when discussing supply options in Europe.
Manufacturer Comparison Table
| Manufacturer | Country | Flagship System | Current Range | Core Strength | Price Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Schneider Electric | France | Canalis / I-Line Track | 40A – 5,000A+ | Global #1, smart monitoring, full certs | Premium |
| Siemens | Germany | SIVACON 8PS (BD2) | up to 5,000A+ | German precision, LData smart metering | Premium |
| Legrand / Starline | France | DLp / Starline Track | 40A – 6,300A | Modularity, data center flexibility, IP68 | Premium-Mid |
| Eaton | Ireland | Pow-R-Way / XAP-J | up to 6,000A | Global reach, cast resin options | Premium-Mid |
| ABB | Switzerland | ReliaGear / Isobar | up to 6,300A | Lightweight modular, digital monitoring | Premium |
| Socomec | France | Modular LV/MV distribution | up to 17.5 kV MV | MV capability, robust, family-owned | Premium-Mid |
| Rittal | Germany | RiLine60 | panel-scale | Enclosure integration, industrial panels | Mid |
| BTicino (Legrand) | Italy | LV distribution ranges | LV | Italian market leader, building focus | Mid |
| Pogliano | Italy | LV busbar trunking | LV | Industrial specialist, good value | Mid |
| NAXSO | Italy | LV busbar trunking | LV | Industrial/commercial, competitive | Mid |
| Anord Mardix / E+I | Ireland | Critical power busway | high current | Data center mission-critical | Premium |
| Mersen | France | High-power busbars | high current | Power electronics and rail | Premium |
Types of Busbar Systems Explained
| Type | Construction | Best For | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sandwich busbar | Insulated bars stacked between metal covers, factory-controlled spacing | Most modern LV distribution — the industry standard | Best all-round: compact, low reactance, safe |
| Air-insulated busbar | Bars spaced by air within the duct | Older systems, very high currents | Bulkier; phase spacing demands maintenance care |
| Cast resin busbar | Bars encapsulated in epoxy resin | Harsh environments, high fire risk, outdoor, marine | Highest protection (IP68, fire), higher cost |
| Plug-in / tap-off busbar | Access points every 0.5-1m for plug-in units | Flexible industrial layouts, frequent reconfiguration | Unmatched flexibility; slightly higher cost per point |
| Feeder (fixed) busbar | No tap-offs, dedicated point-to-point feed | Transformer to main switchboard, risers | Simplest and most economical for fixed paths |
| High-power / laminated busbar | Custom copper/aluminum laminates (Mersen-style) | Converters, power electronics, rail traction | Engineered per project; not a standard product |
In 90% of construction and industrial projects, a sandwich-type plug-in busbar from any of the major manufacturers above is the appropriate solution. Cast resin is specified where fire resistance or environmental protection is of primary concern.
How to Choose the Right Manufacturer
All the European nations are well-acquainted with the matter as they follow five guidelines:
- Match technical specifications and voltage levels. Check that the manufacturer’s range is sufficient for your operation. The busbar must be rated for a full load while also considering derating due to temperature and orientation issues.
- Confirm standards and certificates. All European busbars must meet IEC 61439-6 (LV busbars) or the national alternative; it is necessary to consider fire safety requirements EN 1363 / BS 476, IP ratings, and withstand short-circuit current (Icw). Request certificates of type-testing from manufacturers.
- Define flexibility of tap-offs. If there is a chance that the layout may change, a plug-in solution will come in handy — Starline and Canalis KT can be the best options.
- Think of smart monitoring. Data centers and energy-efficient buildings should get the monitoring systems installed — Siemens LData, Schneider EcoStruxure, and Legrand monitoring could be introduced. In case you need instantaneous data for tap-offs, narrow your scope to the manufacturers offering it.
- Balance brand name, support, and price. Leading brands like Schneider, Siemens, ABB, and Eaton win international bids having all required papers and universal assistance. Local players like BTicino, Pogliano, NAXSO, and SCAME offer first-rate localization and good costs in their countries.
A word of practicality from the field: the installation of the busbar is as vital as the product itself. Regardless of whom you select as the manufacturer, make sure you have qualified people at the installation. Be particular about following the joint preparation and torque details as well — the number one reason for unsuccessful joints is bad installations, and not bad products.For the protection side of your distribution design, understanding how the breakers feeding the busbar are specified matters too — our overview of UL 489 breaker standards and the MCB vs MCCB comparison covers the protection hardware that pairs with busbar systems, while our guide on detecting failing breakers helps maintenance teams keep the whole chain reliable over its life.
Price Ranges and What Drives Them
Busbar pricing is highly project-specific, but typical 2025-2026 figures provide a useful baseline:
| System Type / Rating | Typical Price Range |
|---|---|
| Small plug-in busbar (100-250A) | $60 – $150 per meter (materials) |
| Medium sandwich busbar (400-800A) | $120 – $350 per meter |
| Large feeder busbar (1,250-2,500A) | $250 – $700 per meter |
| High-power busbar (4,000-6,300A) | $600 – $1,500+ per meter |
| Tap-off boxes / plug-in units | $80 – $400 each (depending on rating and breaker) |
| Cast resin busbar (any rating) | +40-80% over sandwich equivalent |
| Engineering, supports, and installation | Typically 30-60% of material cost |
The price determinants include the type of conductor, whether it is made of copper or aluminum (price of copper conductor rises by approximately 60-100% compared to aluminum conductor of the same capacity), the level of IP/fire rating, the presence of smart features for the product, brand level and amount of purchase. Currently aluminum busbars are widely used in most cases in LV distribution due to cost effectiveness. Copper is still being used for heavy duty high voltage applications.
Certifications and Standards
- IEC 61439-6 is the worldwide standard for low-voltage busbar trunking systems (the most recent version took the place of the previous version IEC 60439-2).
- EN 61439 / national adoptions represent the European standard (DIN EN in Germany, NF EN in France, CEI EN in Italy).
- Fire resistance is determined according to such standards as EN 1363-1 / BS 476-20 for fire-resisting busbar installed in tall buildings.
- IP ratings are being governed by IEC 60529: IP54 (dust/splash) standard indoor and up to IP68 for cast resin and very tough conditions.
- Short-circuit withstand (Icw) describes the rms current which can be supported by the busbar within one second of the failure; this is very important safety parameter for validation.
- UL 857 / UL 1065 are the busway standards for North America in case of the export projects.
When purchasing goods from any manufacturer — especially any non-European company — request the type test certificates in IEC 61439-6, the fire rating report, and the short circuit test information. Busbar mistaken for a bargain deal is a bad risk against the verification certificates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is busway the same as busbar?
Indeed, busway and busbar trunking are different terms for an identical product that is called differently in different regions of the world. The expression “busway” refers to the North American terminology (UL 857), while “busbar trunking” represents the European/IEC terminology (IEC 61439-6). Both of them refer to a finished enclosed system whose construction consists of copper and aluminum bars used to deliver electric energy with the help of tapping points. The two definitions are used instead of one another in international ventures.
What is a busway trunking system?
A busway system is a prefabricated duct form for the distribution of electricity; it consists of copper or aluminum busbars suspended from insulators in a metallic duct. The tap off points are spaced in such a way that it is possible to connect a load anywhere along the busway route without having to cut any cables. It serves to distribute electricity from the transformers to the switchboards and to the loads in commercial and industrial establishments, and telecommunications centers.
What is busbar trunking used for?
Busbar trunking ensures efficient and safe distribution of high power as seen in vertical riser installations within buildings, horizontal installations in industrial systems, power distribution in data centers, supply line between substations and switchboards or whenever different distribution might be required (e.g., plug-in takeoffs). In addition to this, busbar trunking is used in situations where limited space is an issue, voltage is high, reconfiguration is needed, and fire safety regulations are many.
What is the difference between bus duct and busbar trunking?
There are no important differences — “bus duct” and “busbar trunking” refer to one system. The term “bus duct” tends to be more common in the North American context (while being commonly used in reference to feeder sections without any taps), whereas “busbar trunking” is the term used in IEC/European context for both feeder and plug-in (tapping) systems. All things being equal, international tenders often take them to mean the same thing; however, there are some major differences with regard to plug-in vs feeder, sandwich vs air insulated, and also the standard (UL 857 vs IEC 61439–6).
References
- SNS Insider — Busbar trunking market size, key players and forecast
- Schneider Electric — Canalis and I-Line busbar systems
- Siemens — SIVACON 8PS busbar trunking systems
- Legrand — DLp busbar and Starline busway
- Eaton — Pow-R-Way busway systems
- Socomec — power distribution and busbar products
- Rittal — RiLine60 busbar systems
- IEC 61439-6 — LV switchgear and controlgear assemblies (busbar trunking)
Conclusion
The manufacturers of busbar trunking and busway in Europe are globally recognized when it comes to the power distribution technology. France, leads with brands such as Schneider (Canalis), Legrand (DLp/Starline) and Socomec; Germany on the other hand utilizes Siemens (SIVACON 8PS) and Rittal (RiLine); and Italy is represented by BTicino, Pogliano, NAXSO and SCAME — and there’s also a number of international brands, with Eaton, ABB and the Irish critical-power brands included.
The criteria for selection are simple: determine the right rating, check for compliance with IEC 61439-6 and fire certificates, analyze the options for tap-off, check for smart monitoring feature and balance brand support and price. When doing an international project, it is advisable to work with the international brands; while for local projects there is no better choice than the local brands; and when budget is what is driving the decision it is worth checking experiences and certified high volume producers with countries outside of the Western Europe. Whichever way you go, do ensure verified testing certificates and professional installation — as the busbar system is meant to last longer than the building and must therefore be treated with the same technical precision as the transformers and other distribution devices.
