Key Points
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Customer focus drives Trafo Power Solutions across Africa.
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Company tailors transformer systems to meet client needs.
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Growth strategy taps Africa’s rising energy demands.
Trafo Power Solutions, a South African company that specializes in transformers, is expanding its reach across Africa by putting customers first. The company has provided power equipment for mining projects, renewable energy plants, and utility networks. It hopes that focusing on service will help it stand out in a market that has long been dominated by global companies like Siemens Energy and ABB.
Trafo Power Solutions was founded in 2017 and is based in Johannesburg. It has worked closely with local partners to deliver dry-type transformers to projects all over Africa, from Zambia’s Copperbelt to Ghana’s growing industrial hubs. David Claassen, the managing director, used to be a senior engineer at Shaw Controls. He said that the company’s growth strategy is based on a promise to listen to customers and create solutions that work in a variety of settings.
Trafo Power Solutions is all about the customer
According to a report by Mining review, Claassen said that clients in Africa often have to deal with problems that are different from those in other parts of the world, such as changing power quality and harsh weather. Trafo makes sure that each transformer is designed for efficiency, reliability, and safety by getting customers involved early in the design and procurement process. “We don’t just sell equipment,” he said. “We solve problems for everyone, from big mining companies like Glencore to renewable energy developers in Nigeria.”
The company has won contracts in mining areas like the Democratic Republic of Congo, where stable electricity is very important for copper and cobalt projects. Trafo’s transformers are used at Mopani Copper Mines in Zambia.
The company has also worked on solar hybrid projects in Nigeria and grid-support infrastructure in Ghana, showing how Africa’s energy mix is becoming more diverse.
Working with local businesses to reach more people
Trafo works with engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) companies like Stefanutti Stocks and Mota-Engil to build its presence. It also builds networks of local service providers. This model makes sure that there is after-sales support in remote areas where downtime can be expensive.
Claassen said that it is also very important to build up local skills because African governments, from Kenya to Mozambique, want to see more local content in infrastructure projects.
Analysts say that this way of doing things is similar to a bigger change in Africa’s power sector: companies that put trust, service, and flexibility first are more likely to do well in markets that are broken up and not well-regulated. As cities and industries grow quickly, the demand for electricity is rising. This gives transformer suppliers both a chance and a need to come up with new ideas.
Growth is all about new ideas and putting the customer first
Trafo’s plan goes beyond just hardware. The company has put in place digital monitoring systems that let workers in places like Gauteng, Lusaka, and Abuja keep an eye on how well transformers are working in real time. The company is making a name for itself against bigger multinationals by using cutting-edge technology and putting the customer first.
Claassen stressed that Africa’s energy future needs more than just money for infrastructure; it also needs long-term trust between suppliers and clients. “Our ability to consistently deliver value is what keeps us going,” he said.
As Nigeria speeds up its renewable energy projects and South Africa deals with rolling blackouts, Trafo Power Solutions is making itself a reliable partner in the region. For the company, putting the customer first is still the key to growth and stability in Africa’s energy market, which is always changing.
