Westrafo is a leading company in the electromechanical industry founded in 2014, with a direct presence in Europe, Africa and North America. The product portfolio includes a wide range of solutions for the energy industry, such as power transformers and converter transformers, medium voltage stations and battery storage containers.
Over the past three years, the company has been ranked among the best Italian and European companies in terms of growth rate with a CAGR of over 42%, confirming a positive trend and the soundness of their development strategy. In addition to sustained growth, the financial strength and vision of the management make Westrafo a reliable partner for large projects in the energy sector.
Interview with Alberto Cracco, CEO of Westrafo.
Easy Engineering: What are the main areas of activity of the company?
Alberto Cracco: We are specialized in the productions of transformers and energy solutions that can be customized for different applications such as photovoltaic, wind, hydrogen, energy storage and various types of other industrial use.
Our experience, skills and know-how as manufacturers of electrical equipment are made available to our customers: wherever there is a need for integrated, customized energy solutions, we are ready to provide an all-round service, from the initial study phase through to final commissioning.
E.E: What’s the news about new products/services?
A.C: We recently opened a Customer Care & After Sales branch in the US territory to provide support to the US market: the aim is to be closer to customers on site, not only in the after-sales phase, but right from the definition of new projects.
We have also completed the new production plant able to supply conversion transformers for rectifiers up to 48 pulses.
E.E: What are the ranges of products/services?
A.C: The range of products are liquid filled transformers (renewables energy transformers, power transformers, neutral earthing transformers, transformers for hydrogen production, power converter transformers) and energy solutions (skid solutions, medium voltage station, battery storage systems).
E.E: What is the state of the market where you are currently active?
A.C: In recent years, the transformer market has experienced sustained growth, due to the increasing demand for electricity across various industries driven by an expanding population and the increasing industrialization across the globe.
As economies focus on energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions, it is crucial to strengthen energy infrastructure. Investments in power generation and transmission are increasing, further boosting the transformer market.
E.E: What can you tell us about market trends?
A.C: Transformers market is expected to register a significant growth in the coming years, and the CAGR is projected to be more than 6% during the period 2023-2032.
The expected growth is due to various factors, such as the continual rising consumption in electricity, the growing demand for replacing or refurbishing aging transformers, the investments in infrastructural development initiatives, and the increasing prominence of renewable energy sources.
In addition, the rising demand in emerging countries and the widespread use of smart grids, growth opportunities related to the integration of renewable energy sources are the key factors expected to drive the market’s expansion in the upcoming years.
E.E: What are the most innovative products/services marketed?
A.C: Our focus is to develop innovative, renewable solutions that enhance performance, optimize cost structures and processes and have a positive environmental impact.
For this reason, we have designed transformers to be filled by a 100% biodegradable natural ester fluid and made of >95% renewable vegetable oil. Thanks to his properties, natural ester filled transformers outperforms those in mineral oil, resulting more reliable, higher performing, and more sustainable. In addition, it’s possible to overload the natural ester filled transformer up to 55% more than a standard transformer, making it flexible and able to adapt to the needs of the electricity grid.
Our natural ester filled transformers find application in different contest such as solar plants, wind farms, hydrogen sites: more than 80% of our products are dedicated to the renewable energy market.
E.E: What estimations do you have for the beginning of 2024?
A.C: We expect to continue to growth to further consolidate our presence in the renewable energy market. To achieve this goal, we are strengthening our after-sales service with the introduction of new professionals. This will allow us to offer even faster and more efficient support to our customers, thus helping to consolidate their trust and satisfaction.
We therefore aim to position ourselves even more competitively in the renewable energy market, contributing significantly to our long-term growth and success.