South Africa’s electricity grid has faced extraordinary pressure over the past decade. From load-shedding crises to the urgent need to modernise ageing infrastructure, the demand for reliable, high-quality transformers has never been more critical.
Transformers — the silent workhorses of every substation, power line, and industrial facility — are at the heart of the country’s efforts to stabilise and expand its electricity network.
This article profiles the leading transformer manufacturers operating in South Africa today, examining what makes each one significant, the types of products they produce, and the role they play in strengthening the nation’s power infrastructure.
Why Transformer Manufacturing Matters for South Africa
South Africa’s national power utility, Eskom, manages one of Africa’s largest electricity grids — a network stretching across thousands of kilometres of transmission lines and hundreds of substations.
According to a 2024 industry report, manufacturing sales and imports of transformers, electric generators and motors increased significantly in 2023, driven by urgent replacement needs and large-scale grid expansion programmes.
The National Transmission Company of South Africa (NTCSA) has announced plans to undertake 25 transformer projects at existing substations over the next five years to unlock 13,000 MW of new generation capacity, with a further 22 expedited projects targeting 24,000 MW of additional connection capacity by 2033.
This unprecedented pipeline makes transformer manufacturing one of the most strategically important industrial sectors in the country.
Challenges remain, however. Energy security is at risk due to ageing power plants, overloading of transformers, theft and vandalism of electricity infrastructure, and weather-related damage.
Local manufacturers are stepping up to fill the gap — and several are doing so with world-class capabilities.
1. SGB-SMIT Power Matla — The Southern Hemisphere Heavyweight
SGB-SMIT Power Matla (SSPM) is arguably South Africa’s most technically sophisticated transformer manufacturer.
Operating factories in both Pretoria West and Cape Town, SSPM’s Pretoria facility is described as one of the biggest and most advanced transformer manufacturing plants in the Southern Hemisphere — and one of only two large power transformer manufacturers in sub-Saharan Africa.
The Pretoria factory manufactures large power transformers ranging from 10 MVA to 800 MVA at primary voltages of up to 420 kV. Its product range also includes arc-furnace transformers, on-board locomotive and grid-connected traction transformers, and shunt reactors up to 100 MVAr.
The Cape Town plant specialises in distribution transformers from 16 kVA to 5 MVA, plus miniature substations. In a landmark achievement, SSPM recently secured a multi-million-dollar export contract to supply hundreds of transformers to the United States market — a first for a South African transformer OEM.
2. ACTOM Power Transformers — Decades of Local Manufacturing
ACTOM Power Transformers (APT) has been a cornerstone of South Africa’s electrical manufacturing sector since its establishment in 1963.
Located in Wadeville, Johannesburg, APT is a leading original equipment manufacturer (OEM) producing transformers from 2.5 MVA to 315 MVA at voltages up to 275 kV.
Its product lineup covers Class 1 power transformers (2.5 MVA to 160 MVA, 11 kV to 132 kV), Class 2 heavy-duty transformers (40 MVA to 315 MVA, 220 kV to 275 kV), and specialist generation and unit transformers for both conventional power stations and renewable energy facilities.
ACTOM also offers real-time online transformer monitoring — an increasingly valuable service as grid operators look for smarter ways to manage assets.
ACTOM’s broader group includes ACTOM Distribution Transformers and ACTOM Current Electric, which manufactures current and voltage transformers up to 33 kV and has been a market leader since 1982.
3. Matlakse — A Rising Force in African and Global Supply Chains
Since its founding in 2015 in Bloemfontein, Free State, Matlakse has grown rapidly into a nationally recognised transformer manufacturer with an impressive global footprint spanning 19 countries across four continents.
Operating from a 10,000 m² facility, the company combines state-of-the-art PLC-driven production lines with an in-house transformer testing laboratory.
Matlakse manufactures a wide range of products including miniature substations, distribution transformers, cast resin dry-type transformers, power transformers, traction transformers, and special application transformers.
Since 2015, the company reports having manufactured over 10,000 distribution transformers, 5,000 dry transformers, and 150 power transformers — a remarkable output for a relatively young business.
Its design team boasts a cumulative experience of more than 238 years, underlining that its growth has been built on deep technical expertise.
4. Hitachi Energy South Africa — Global Precision Meets Local Need
Hitachi Energy South Africa is one of five companies selected by Eskom to supply the first batch of 26 large-scale power transformers under a tender valued at approximately R7 billion.
Its involvement with South Africa’s grid runs deep: in January 2024, Hitachi Energy delivered three 90.8 MVA HVDC (High-Voltage Direct Current) transformers to the critical Apollo Converter Substation in Johannesburg — a key hub connecting the 400 kV and 275 kV networks and interfacing with the Cahora Bassa HVDC power lines from Mozambique.
Hitachi Energy’s global expertise in HVDC technology is particularly relevant as South Africa looks to integrate large-scale renewable energy sources into the national grid.
The company has set world records in HVDC converter transformer testing, having tested units at 1,100 kV — the highest DC voltage level ever achieved.
5. Transfix Transformers SA — BBBEE-Certified Local Manufacturing
Established in 2010 in response to growing market demand, Transfix Transformers SA (TTSA) has built its reputation on pole-mounted and platform-mounted oil distribution transformers.
TTSA is notable for being one of a small number of South African manufacturers with a Level 1 BBBEE rating — an important consideration for public sector procurement.
The company is SABS certified, holds ISO 9001 accreditation, and became an Eskom-approved supplier in 2015. Based in Botshabelo, TTSA specialises in three-phase, medium-voltage/low-voltage oil-immersed transformers up to 1 MVA.
Its establishment was partly driven by Eskom’s requirement that suppliers add greater value to the local supply chain through domestic manufacturing — a mandate TTSA has embraced fully.
6. ABB South Africa — Global Technology Leader with Local Manufacturing Roots
ABB South Africa is one of the most recognisable names in the country’s power and electrification landscape, and its transformer credentials are substantial.
Headquartered in Longmeadow, Johannesburg, ABB South Africa has operations spanning electrification, motion, process automation, and robotics — with transformers forming a critical pillar of its energy offering.
In a landmark move that underscored its commitment to local manufacturing, ABB inaugurated a dedicated traction transformer production facility adjacent to its Longmeadow headquarters, in direct response to the South African government’s local procurement requirements.
The facility produces traction transformers that power the country’s electric train fleet — units engineered to transform electricity for trains operating across South Africa’s dual 3 kV DC and 25 kV AC overhead voltage network, handling steep inclines, tight curves, extreme temperatures, and distances exceeding 1,000 kilometres.
ABB’s traction transformer work in South Africa reached a high-profile milestone when the company secured a contract worth approximately $50 million from Bombardier Transportation for traction transformers and related products for 240 freight locomotives — a major part of South Africa’s electric rail fleet expansion.
ABB has supplied traction transformers for Bombardier’s electrical locomotives since 1998, and its units power more than half the world’s electric locomotives and train sets globally.
Beyond rail, ABB South Africa is deeply embedded in the country’s grid modernisation efforts.
At Enlit Africa 2025, ABB showcased its digital substation architectures and sensor-integrated transformer technologies — solutions designed to reduce the operational and standby power losses of current and voltage transformers, with energy savings of up to 181 MWh over the 30-year lifetime of a typical African switchboard.
The company’s SF6-free SafePlus Air switchgear and its broader electrification portfolio reflect its commitment to sustainability alongside resilience.
ABB has annual sales in Africa of around $1.5 billion, employs approximately 5,000 people across the continent, and operates manufacturing facilities in both South Africa and Egypt.
7. Siemens Energy South Africa & Other Notable Suppliers
Siemens Energy South Africa is another of the five Eskom-approved large-power-transformer suppliers, bringing global manufacturing standards to the local market.
Alongside Siemens, Hyosung South Africa and the SPECO & Changzhou Toshiba Joint Venture round out Eskom’s approved panel for major grid-scale transformer procurement.
Other notable players in the broader South African market include Zest WEG Electric (part of the international WEG Group), Trafo Power Solutions, Free State Transformers, and Armcoil Afrika — each serving specific market segments from industrial distribution to utility-scale projects.
8. TMC Transformers & Trafo Power Solutions — Pioneering Dry-Type Technology in Africa
TMC Transformers is not a South African manufacturer — it is TMC Italia S.p.A, a leading European specialist in cast resin dry-type transformers.
However, its presence and impact on South Africa’s power infrastructure is very real, operating through a long-standing and increasingly prominent partnership with Johannesburg-based Trafo Power Solutions.
The collaboration, now in its seventh year, has become one of the most technically distinguished dry-type transformer partnerships on the African continent.
Trafo Power Solutions serves as TMC’s engineering and distribution partner, bringing custom-engineered dry-type solutions to industries across Africa — from mining and manufacturing to renewable energy and infrastructure.
According to Trafo Power Solutions MD David Claassen, the partnership has been central to introducing advanced dry-type transformer technology to markets that previously relied almost exclusively on oil-filled units.
TMC’s hallmark is tackling non-standard, high-complexity applications. Its transformers handle ratings up to 25 MVA, primary windings at 50 kV, extreme harmonic distortion, and secondary currents of up to 30,000 amps — specifications well beyond what conventional off-the-shelf units can manage.
Every design is verified using advanced simulation tools including finite element analysis and thermodynamic modelling before a single unit enters production, ensuring optimal performance and reduced operational risk in the field.
The dry-type advantage is particularly significant for African mining operations, where oil-filled transformers pose fire and environmental risks in confined, dust-laden underground environments.
Dry-type units are air-cooled and present minimal fire risk, making them suitable for installation near operational areas and personnel — a critical safety benefit.
Once largely confined to indoor use, technological advances in protection ratings and cooling options (including forced-air, air-to-water, and direct water cooling) now allow TMC units to operate reliably in outdoor environments across Africa’s most demanding climates.
The Trafo Power Solutions and TMC partnership represents exactly the kind of global expertise localised through a strong South African distribution and engineering presence that the country’s power sector increasingly relies on.
The Road Ahead: Opportunities and Challenges
The outlook for South Africa’s transformer manufacturing sector is broadly positive, shaped by several converging trends.
Eskom’s grid expansion and reinforcement programme, the rollout of independent power producer (IPP) projects, the rise of data centres requiring dedicated substations, and the integration of renewable energy all point to sustained demand for transformers across voltage and capacity ranges.
At the same time, manufacturers face ongoing headwinds: rising production costs, dependence on imported raw materials and components, port and logistics inefficiencies, and the ever-present risk of theft and vandalism targeting infrastructure.
The government’s push for localisation — supported by the Electricity Regulation Amendment Act — is creating opportunities for domestic manufacturers to capture a greater share of procurement spending, provided they can meet the technical and delivery requirements of large-scale projects.
Conclusion
South Africa’s transformer manufacturers range from global technology leaders to innovative local businesses built on indigenous expertise and transformation credentials.
What unites them is a shared mission: keeping the lights on and the grid growing in one of Africa’s most complex electricity environments.
As the country accelerates its energy transition and embarks on one of its most ambitious grid expansion programmes in decades, these manufacturers will be indispensable partners in building a more reliable and sustainable power future.
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