Replacements are primarily driving growth in electricity transformer market in developed economies.
Expansion and maintenance of electric utility companies is also an important factor affecting the demand for power and distribution transformers. Operating costs or energy loss play an important role in determining transformer sales in mature markets. This is in contrast to developing markets where purchasing price is the chief determinant of transformer sales.
HTS (High Temperature Superconductors) transformers have been gaining much attention. HTS transformers are considered to offer near zero levels of electrical resistance and energy losses. However, HTS transformers currently cost much more than conventional transformers, which might restrain mass scale migrations to this technology at least in the short term.
Although European companies have been dominating the global market for transformers, companies from Japan, Korea, and India have entered the fray during the past few years and have been establishing a formidable presence in global trade. The entry of electrical giants including Kirloskar and BHEL from India and Hyundai from Korea into the international arena is expected to influence international trade in the near future. Further, competition is slated to intensify in the future with the entry of companies from Eastern Europe, China, Mexico and Brazil.
Leading global and regional players operating in the market include Areva SA, Areva T&D, Asea Brown Boveri (ABB), ABB Powertech Transformers, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, Crompton Greaves, EFACEC Group, Ekarat Engineering Public Company, Hammond Power Solutions, IMP Power, Kirloskar Electric Company, Kuhlman Electric, Nissin Electric, Schneider Electric, Siemens AG, Shihlin Electric & Engineering, Smit Transformatoren, Universal Power Transformer, VA Technologie AG and Waukesha Electric Systems.