Industrial facilities face various factors that stress electrical infrastructure, including sustained motor loads, continuous production cycles and high-draw equipment. Installing the right medium voltage transformer is critical to keeping those systems running without interruption. ELSCO Transformers provides dry type and padmount transformer solutions that meet the operational requirements of your facility, with custom-built units, in-stock options and retrofits available to fit your timeline and budget.
Why Industrial Facilities Need Reliable Transformers
Industrial facilities need reliable transformers because a single failure can bring operations to a complete halt, costing hundreds of thousands of dollars per hour, depending on the scale of your operation. The continuous electrical demands of an industrial environment place significant stress on your transformer systems over time, accelerating wear and increasing the risk of unexpected failure.
Aging infrastructure compounds those risks further. Standard replacement lead times can stretch beyond 12 months, leaving facilities without a reliable supplier and facing weeks of costly downtime. Evolving DOE efficiency standards continue to raise the bar for transformer performance across the board, adding another layer of urgency to an already critical decision. Understanding these challenges and choosing a reliable transformer supplier like ELSCO are the first steps toward protecting your operation.
Our Medium Voltage Transformer Solutions for Industrial Facilities
ELSCO provides dry type and padmount transformers in the 500 to 3,750 kVA range, all engineered to meet and exceed IEEE, ANSI, NEMA and DOE efficiency standards. Whether you are replacing an aging unit, responding to an emergency failure or upgrading your existing infrastructure, ELSCO has the capabilities to meet your timeline and specifications.
Padmount Systems
Our oil-filled padmount transformers step up the primary voltage to the levels your facility requires and are best suited for outdoor power distribution. Built to handle the high electrical loads of industrial applications, our padmount units feature tamper-proof doors and are available in customized options to meet your power requirements.
Primary features include:
- Flexible system integration: ELSCO padmount transformers support dead-front or live-front connections and radial or loop-feed configurations, allowing your team to match your existing or planned electrical infrastructure.
- Easier maintenance access: An external drain valve and sampler allow technicians to perform fluid analysis without opening the main compartment, reducing downtime and improving safety during maintenance.
- Fluid options: Choose between industry-standard mineral oil or natural ester fluid, which offers higher temperature stability and a more environmentally friendly profile for facilities with sustainability requirements.
Dry Type Units
ELSCO dry type transformers are designed for indoor industrial environments, running cool and quiet with a reduced fire risk that makes them well-suited for areas where people are present or where fire hazards need to be minimized. Dry type transformers can be installed close to the load they serve, reducing voltage drop across your facility. Outdoor installation is possible inside a NEMA type 3 enclosure, though our team strongly recommends indoor use.
Features of our dry type units include:
- Quiet operation: Step-lap mitered cores and precision hand-wound coils minimize sound and vibration, keeping noise levels low even under continuous industrial loads.
- Superior construction: ELSCO dry type transformers feature round coil copper primary windings and sheet-wound copper secondary windings with Nomex insulation, delivering dependable short-circuit strength and long-term performance.
- Industry-best warranty: New indoor dry type units carry a five-year warranty, compared to the one-year industry standard.
Transformer Solutions for Industrial Facilities
ELSCO supports industrial facilities with a range of transformer services, including:
- Custom-built transformers
- Transformer retrofits
- Custom bus work
- GE VaporTran retrofits and replacements
- Transformer repairs
- Emergency replacement services
Why Industrial Facilities Throughout North America Select ELSCO
Industrial facilities partner with ELSCO Transformers because our medium voltage transformer systems are engineered to minimize energy costs, reduce maintenance expenses and deliver a service life that protects your long-term investment. Customers enjoy additional benefits like:
- Zero product failures: We have recorded no failures on new dry type transformers from materials, design or craftsmanship since we started building them in 1988.
- Extensive warranties: Our new indoor dry type systems come with a five-year warranty, providing peace of mind for your investment.
- Lower total cost of ownership: ELSCO dry type transformers are built to deliver a service life of 35 years or more, reducing the frequency of replacements and keeping long-term maintenance costs low.
- Quick-ship capabilities: In-stock dry type and padmount systems can leave our facility within days of an order, depending on the modifications required.
Transformer FAQs
Explore the FAQs below for answers to the most common questions we receive about our products and services.
How Can a Transformer Retrofit Benefit My Industrial Facility?
A transformer retrofit benefits your industrial facility by delivering a replacement or upgraded unit engineered to fit your existing electrical system without the need for costly infrastructure upgrades. ELSCO modifies in-stock units with a fast turnaround to match your existing setup, including custom bus work for a direct plug-and-play installation.
What Information Does ELSCO Need to Build a Custom Transformer for My Facility?
To build a custom transformer, ELSCO needs your key electrical specifications, including voltage requirements, kVA rating and physical dimensions. For retrofit projects, we also request photos of your existing unit from multiple angles to confirm the right solution for your setup.
What Is the Difference Between a Dry Type and a Padmount Transformer?
The main difference between a dry type and padmount transformer is their cooling method and intended installation environment. Dry type transformers are air-cooled units designed for indoor industrial environments, while padmount transformers are oil-filled units with tamper-proof doors designed primarily for outdoor installations.
Discover More With ELSCO Transformers
ELSCO has been a trusted name in transformers for over a century, with the engineering expertise and custom capabilities to support a wide range of industrial applications. Our engineers are available to review your specifications and recommend the right solution for your facility. Contact us online for a quote or call 800-232-9002 to speak with a member of our team.