Georgia Transformer celebrated its reopening with a ribbon cutting at the Rincon transformer plant on Saturday.
The manufacturing plant, formerly known as EFACEC, is now owned by Caravels LLC, a private investment company, with a strategic alliance with Virginia Transformer Corp.
Caravels bought the facility late last year.
The plant specializes in making large, energy-efficient transformers, competing with those made in Korea, China and Japan.
A large group of guests that included State Sen. Jack Hill, U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter, local elected officials, Georgia Transformer employees, Georgia Transformer customers and vendors, were treated to a catered reception and a tour of the 250,000 square foot plant.
The acting general manager of Georgia Transformer, Prabhat Jain, said the quality of workers at the plant is excellent. Jain also is president of Virginia Transformer Corp.
“We have discovered wealth in the people of this plant,” Jain said. “Now our challenge is to bring business to the plant.”
Jain has said the new owners are emphasizing training, increased efficiency and the importance of reliability and quality. He said none of the 200-plus employees have been laid off since the ownership change.
Jain said the goal is to continue to produce a high-quality, efficient product.
Neerja Gursahaney, managing director of Georgia Transformer, said the Rincon plant provides many opportunities.
“We have a bright future,” she said.
Gursahaney said she expects the plant to add 100 jobs over the next few years.
The plant built 34 transformers in 2014 and already has built that many in 2015, officials said.
A recent order is for a 2,000 MVA transformer that can provide power to 400,000 homes, Jain said.
Megavolt amperes (MVA) power is a unit used for measuring apparent power.
Jain also said the company is now producing transformers with a 60-year life.
“We also have the technology to produce the quietest transformer,” Jain said. We produce quality in every step. Our process control is the best in the country.”
The transformers go to customers all over the world, via train, tractor-trailer or barge on the Savannah River, which is four miles away.