JFE Shoji Power Canada, a division of Japanese conglomerate JFE Holdings, is making significant investments in clean energy production to meet the growing demand for electrical steel materials and components. The company aims to support the development of a cleaner and more sustainable electrical energy future.
According to Ron Harper, President and CEO of JFE Shoji Power Canada, the company is committed to staying ahead of the market demand through collaboration with strategic partners. Harper announced that JFE Shoji Power Canada will be investing in new machinery and personnel to expand its production of electrical steel components for power and distribution transformers. By the end of 2023, the installation of new equipment is expected to increase the production capacity for distribution transformer core components by at least 40% and more than double the production capacity of large power transformer core components compared to early 2023 rates.
The increasing demand for electrical transformers has garnered attention from industry professionals and government officials in Canada and the United States. This surge is driven by the construction of renewable energy systems, the need to replace aging grid infrastructure, the expansion of electric transportation, zero-emission vehicles, and the growing demand for electric devices in modern society. However, this rise in demand has also strained the supply chain for materials and parts production equipment.
Harper emphasizes the urgency to decarbonize energy systems and improve their efficiency for the sake of the planet and future generations. JFE Shoji Power Canada has launched a planning project with strategic clients to assess the additional investment required in the coming years beyond the current plans. The company is dedicated to serving the market and supporting the growth objectives and plans of its strategic clients.
Residential distribution transformers and large power transformers have experienced the greatest increase in demand at JFE Shoji Power Canada. The company's engineering and production teams are working diligently to accelerate capacity expansion. While prioritizing the safety of their teams, JFE Shoji Power Canada is significantly increasing process automation to enhance supply chain capacity, resilience, and sustainability.
JFE Shoji Power Canada is the largest producer of specialized electrical steel core products in North America. The company sources electrical steel coils from North America and various parts of the world, converting them into high-precision steel components supplied to North American original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
Source: JFE