Transformer manufacturer LH Marthinusen (LHM) has manufactured and supplied seven traction transformers for the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa’s (PRASA's) key line restoration project.

Six of the traction transformers were supplied to a key project to restore several rail corridors in Gauteng by upgrading their overhead traction equipment, while the last unit was supplied to the Western Cape.

The 6.1 MVA traction transformers had to be constructed in six months to meet the terms of the contract, which is a record time, said LHM Transformer Engineering Services division GM Shuveer Maharaj.

The transformers were manufactured to the company's high standards of quality, material and design in under six months, which underscores its manufacturing capacity.

“Our process at LHM is designed for short lead times and special transformers, such as these traction transformers. Our environment is set up to tackle these types of highly competitive projects that require lower lead time,” he says.

However, the tight deadline was not without challenges and required that the company's entire workforce was aware of the levels of urgency involved.

For a project of this nature, LHM had to take special measures, which included making sure that there was enough material on hand and that the right amount of work shifts had been put in place so that it could meet the timelines alongside its existing workloads, says Maharaj.

Further, LHM is glad to be playing a part in key infrastructure projects, such as the upgrade of the country’s rail corridors. Such projects present an opportunity for local manufacturers to showcase their abilities and capacity.

“It is important to support local and make sure that South African businesses are part of and can benefit from these types of infrastructure projects, instead of sourcing internationally. We show that everything can be done in-house,” he says.

“Feedback received from the client indicates that our product has outperformed the international brands that PRASA had looked at,” he notes.

Meanwhile, LHM now has a track record of success in this area and plans to do more research on the different variants of traction transformers and finalise designs upfront to be ready when tender opportunities arise.

“We want customers to know that we are ready to ‘press the button’ to manufacture these transformers because we have already completed the backbone of the work,” says Maharaj.

In anticipation of a growing demand for specialised transformers, LHM has bought a new facility in Driehoek, in Germiston. It is currently also upgrading its factory in Cape Town to increase manufacturing capacity.

“We must use projects such as the railway upgrade as the springboard for local and successful manufacturers,” he says.