Hitachi Energy has invested more than $200m to expand its transformer manufacturing operations in Brazil.
The move is part of a larger $1.5bn global investment plan aimed at increasing the company’s transformer production capacity.
This is the company’s largest investment in Brazil in recent decades and is expected to generate 600 direct jobs.
The funds will be allocated to the enhancement of the existing Guarulhos transformer factory in São Paulo and the establishment of a new greenfield transformer manufacturing facility.
The new site is anticipated to be operational by 2028.
Hitachi Energy is optimising its global presence to better address the increasing global demand for transformers.
Hitachi Energy transformers business managing director Bruno Melles stated: “We are experiencing unprecedented momentum in the energy industry, with the energy transition demanding all the relevant stakeholders to collaborate and take urgent action toward a more sustainable future for all.
“At Hitachi Energy we are leading this change and investing to expand our global footprint, to meet our customers’ long-term needs and positively impact our communities.”
The company’s facilities such as those in Guarulhos and Blumenau, Brazil, serve customers across the Americas, Europe and the Middle East.
They provide power and distribution transformers, shunt reactors, components and services, supported by the expertise and dedication of Hitachi Energy’s teams.
Throughout its seven decades in Brazil, Hitachi Energy has been a key supplier of transformers for major high-voltage direct current transmission systems.
These include projects like Belo Monte II, the Itaipu hydroelectric plant, and the Rio Madeira transmission link, one of the longest and most powerful in the world at 2,375km.
In July 2024, Hitachi Energy announced an €80m investment to upgrade its transformer manufacturing facilities in Spain.
