The main developments of OAO All Russian Research and Design Institute of Relay Manufacture with a Pilot Factory in the field of high voltage electric drives and semiconductor converters designed and fabricated at the institute are considered. The key products are different types of thyristor devices for a soft startup based on thyristor frequency converters and thyristor devices for the automated actuation of a reserve in the power industry.Keywords: thyristor device for soft startup, high voltage motor, high voltage frequency converter, variable frequency electric drive.