Products Overview
Power Transformers (≤550MVA)
Distribution Transformers (≤5,000kVA)
Compact MV Substations
Special Transformers
Fault Current Limiters
Special Applications
Monitoring & Control Solutions
Service And Support Overview
Site Installation and Testing
Transformer Assessment
Upgrade, Repair and Refurbishment
Storage & Consignment
Spare Parts
Oil Sampling, Analysis & Diagnostics
World Class Capabilities Overview
Design
Manufacturing and Test
Services and Support
Standards & Compliance
Supply Chain Management
Generation
Transmission
Distribution
Infrastructure
Industrial
Oil & Gas
Mining
Our story began more than nine decades ago when Jack Wilson arrived in Australia from the UK to work as a transformer electrical design engineer at a small factory in South Melbourne. A few years later, in July 1933, Jack started his own business under the name of Wilson Electrical Products with a simple vision: to establish a high performing business that invests in its people, technology, assets and processes. The “Chief”, as he was known to most of his early employees, had the ability to turn ideas into reality - a difficult task in those days, when technical experience, equipment and capital were limited. But Jack was ahead of his time - an exceptional engineer, businessman and leader who left an impressive legacy in Australian manufacturing.
Today, the Company, known as Wilson Transformer Company Pty Ltd (WTC), is Australia’s largest manufacturer of distribution and power transformer solutions operating two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities in regional Victoria and metropolitan Melbourne with service facilities across Australia and in the UK. WTC has also established and invested in joint ventures and subsidiaries in South East Asia, the Middle East and the United States.
We offer end-to-end transformer solutions, including product specification review, design, manufacture, factory acceptance test, installation, site testing, condition monitoring, maintenance and repair services, spare parts and asset disposal.
Our remarkable enduring 90 years in the transformer industry has been achieved through our Built Smart for Life philosophy to deliver high-quality and reliable transformer solutions that meet our customers’ standard or complex requirements. This genuine commitment is supported by our team of experts we call ‘The Transformer People’.
WTC is a proud Australian based and owned business spanning three generations of the Wilson family. Looking into the future, we are committed to further building our engineering, manufacturing and service capabilities to support critical energy infrastructure and heavy electricity users across Australia and in targeted overseas markets.
Our Journey from 1933
1933 |
Wilson Transformer Company (WTC) was founded by Jack Wilson in Sturt Street, South Melbourne under the initial Company name of Wilson Electric Products. During the first four years, the Company moved to Dorcas Street and then Wells Street, South Melbourne. During this time, the Company also changed its name to Wilson Electric Transformer Company. Much later, in 1987, the Company name was changed to Wilson Transformer Company. |
1938 |
WTC moved its operation to a 17,000 square feet site in Crockford Street, Port Melbourne, the site of the old Port Melbourne market. |
1952 |
WTC moved its operations to Glen Waverley, Australia, the present site of its Head Office and Power Transformer manufacturing operations. The Glen Waverley site was continuously upgraded with major expansions in 1959, 1963, 1969 and then in 2009. |
1959 |
A Technical Design and Manufacturing Information Agreement was entered into with Ferranti Ltd of the UK for transformers 132kV and above. At the same time, Ferranti acquired a 23% equity in the Company. |
1960 |
The first two 10MVA 132kV transformers were produced for the Woomera rocket range. |
1963 |
A small distribution transformer factory was established in South Australia to serve the local market. |
1970 |
Robert Wilson joined WTC after completing his engineering degree at Monash University. |
1972 |
Jack Wilson, the Company founder, died on 30 March 1972 following a short illness. 1973 Order received for two 30MVA 220kV transformers for the SECV Newport Power Station. These were to be the second 220kV units produced by the Company, the first being for Tasmania. |
1979 |
Robert Wilson appointed Managing Director. Later the same year Jim Murray rejoined the Company. |
1981 |
WTC moved part of its existing distribution transformer manufacturing to a new plant in the Albury/Wodonga. This site enabled the Company to utilise modern manufacturing techniques and production flow to produce its newly developed range of distribution transformers. |
1983 |
The 23% Ferranti equity in WTC which had been transferred to NEI was acquired by the Wilson Family and senior employees. |
1984 |
The first of many 150MVA 220 kV transformers was produced for the SECV for the Victorian transmission grid. |
1989 |
The Wilson Family acquired the remaining equity in WTC they did not own. |
1990 |
WTC was certified to AS/NZS ISO 9001: Quality Management Systems. Internal and external audits, performance assessment and reviews have become a regular part of the Company’s Quality Management System. |
1993 |
A Joint Venture EPE Wilson Transformers Sdn Bhd (EWT) was established in Malaysia where distribution transformers in the range of 50kVA to 2500kVA and up to 33kV are manufactured along the same principles as those in Wodonga. The JV plant is a major supplier in the Malaysian market. |
1993 |
From 1993 to 1998 around 150 power transformers ranging in size from 12.5MVA 33kV to 240MVA 275kV supplied to Malaysia. |
1994 |
A strategic decision was made to create separate Power and Distribution Transformer Business Units to generate focus within the businesses. Following this decision, the remaining distribution transformer manufacture was transferred from Glen Waverley to Wodonga. |
1998 |
WTC opened a United Kingdom sales and support office to service the customers in the UK, the Middle East and Africa. |
2000 |
A Joint Venture United Transformers Electric Company (Utec) was formed in Saudi Arabia. By 2006 an expansion program to manufacture 15,000 distribution transformers and compact substations commenced enabling Utec to service the Middle East and North African markets. By 2013 a further expansion program was implemented to manufacture 23,000 units. |
2002 |
Dynamic Ratings Inc formed, headed by Tony Pink, to develop the North American monitoring and control business of Dynamic Ratings. |
2002 |
TJ|H2b Analytical Services Pty Ltd JV Laboratory commenced operations. TJ|H2b is a NATA certified independent laboratory specialising in the diagnostic testing of oil and SF6 gas used in transformers, tap-changers and circuit breakers. At the same time, the power transformer facility introduced vapour phase drying technology into the production of power transformers. |
2006 |
Dynamic Ratings, a wholly owned subsidiary of WTC, become a world leader in providing the monitoring, control, and communication solutions for electrical power apparatus. |
2008 |
TJ|H2b Analytical Services Pty Ltd JV opened a laboratory in Malaysia. The Philippines laboratory was opened in 2010. |
2009 |
The first of six grid connection 120MVA 275/33kV transformers delivered to Scottish Power for the Clyde North and South wind farm, at the time the largest land-based wind farm in Europe. |
2009 |
A$65M upgrade to the Glen Waverley Power Transformer manufacturing facility and A$15M upgrade to the Wodonga Distribution Transformer manufacturing facility commenced. |
2010 |
Partnership with GridON Systems formed to develop Fault Current Limiters (FCLs). FCLs were delivered to UK Power Networks (as part of an ETI project) in 2013 and Western Power Distribution (UK) in 2014. |
2012 |
WTC became the first Australian company to be recognized as a certified global supplier to Chevron. |
2013 |
Two 225MVA 20/220kV generator transformers delivered to True Energy (now EnergyAustralia). |
2013 |
A 30MVA Quad Booster delivered to UK Power Networks for their distribution system. |
2013 |
The first of four 93MVA rectifier transformers delivered to Tomago Aluminium. |
2014 |
A 360MVA regulating transformer was delivered to Portland Aluminium. |
2014 |
The first of three 135MVA 220/13.8kV generator transformers delivered to the Manapouri Power Station in New Zealand in 14 weeks from date of order. |
2014 |
A 550MVA 330/132kV auto transformer was delivered to Western Power Corporation, the largest unit made by the Company. |
2015 |
WTC was awarded a contract to supply 2 x 170MVA power transformers for the 240MW Ararat Wind Farm. |
2016 |
WTC (SEA) Pte Ltd was established in Singapore to provide closer on-the-ground support to our customer and contractor network in the South East Asia region. |
2017 |
Launch of the inaugural TechCon® SE Asia Conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - a unique forum dedicated to sharing local industry issues, emerging trends and best practices. |
2018 |
WTC together with the SMA Group, German-based global leader for solar inverters, launched Power Skid Australia to respond to the booming solar market. |
2019 |
WTC delivered a 240MVA 220/33kV power transformer to the Dundonnell wind farm, located 23 kilometres north-east of Mortlake in Western Victoria. |
2020 |
WTC delivered a 185MVA 220/33kV power transformer to the ACCIONA’s Mortlake South wind farm, located in South West Victoria. The wind farm is one of six new renewable energy generation projects that have been successful in the Victorian Renewable Energy Target (VRET) Reverse Auction, securing a 15-year support agreement with the State. |
2021 |
WTC supplied two 180MVA 220/33kV power transformers for Neoen's Victorian Big Battery in Moorabool, near Geelong - the largest battery in the southern hemisphere, built at the direction of the Victorian Government to boost the state’s energy reliability and support Victoria’s transition to renewable energy. |
2022 |
Establishment of the new Service Business Unit (SBU).The newly formed Service Business Unit is fully responsible and accountable for its strategy, growth and profit delivery. |
2023 |
WTC celebrates 90 years of excellence. |
2024 |
WTC is supplying 3 x 350MVA 330/33/33kV and 145 x 7.3MVA 33/0.77/0.77kV transformers (all made in Australia) for Waratah super battery project. |
