A worker engaged in the transformer manufacturing process at Eaton’s Wisconsin facility. (Image courtesy Eaton)
The company is adding a third U.S. manufacturing facility for three-phase transformers in Jonesville.
CLEVELAND—Intelligent power management company Eaton reported it is investing $340 million to increase U.S. production of its three-phase transformers, which the company said are essential to reliable electrical power. By doing so, Eaton is helping to address “the critical shortage of transformers and record demand” for its products across utility, large commercial, industrial, and data center customers, the company said in a release.
Building on more than a century of transformer innovation and manufacturing, Eaton plans to convert an existing facility in Jonesville, South Carolina, into a state-of-the-art manufacturing site for three-phase transformers. Production and hiring at the new Jonesville facility is expected to begin in 2027. Eaton will also continue to manufacture three-phase transformers at two Wisconsin facilities, the release stated.
According to Eaton, its transformers meet the highest efficiency standards in the industry, helping customers save energy and costs.
“Electrical power demand is increasing dramatically, and our solutions are at the heart of energy systems everywhere, from the utility grid to industrials, data centers, buildings, and more,” said Mike Yelton, president of Eaton’s Americas Region, Electrical Sector, in the release. “We’re grateful for the strong collaboration and support in South Carolina, where we have a long history of manufacturing and innovation. Eaton is continuing to increase production and add jobs there and across the U.S. to support affordable, reliable, and clean energy.”
The project is supported by local, state, and federal economic development incentives. The company said it is also working closely with readySC, part of the South Carolina Technical College System, and regional schools to support hiring and industry training.
“Eaton’s new operation in Union County, which will mean 700 new jobs for the local community, represents a major vote of confidence in South Carolina’s highly skilled, world-class workforce,” said South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, in a statement. “This investment is a remarkable milestone for Eaton and Union County, and we celebrate the opportunities it will create throughout the state in the years ahead.”
Eaton said it will continue to manufacture three-phase transformers in Waukesha, Wisconsin. The company will also continue to produce single-phase, pole-mount and pad-mount transformers in Nacogdoches, Texas.
Eaton is planning a new Union County, S.C., manufacturing site for its three-phase transformers. (Image courtesy Eaton)
Eaton describes itself as “an intelligent power management company dedicated to protecting the environment and improving the quality of life for people everywhere.”
“We make products for the data center, utility, industrial, commercial, machine building, residential, aerospace, and mobility markets,” the company stated in the release. “We are guided by our commitment to do business right, to operate sustainably, and to help our customers manage power—today and well into the future. By capitalizing on the global growth trends of electrification and digitalization, we’re accelerating the planet’s transition to renewable energy sources, helping to solve the world’s most urgent power management challenges, and building a more sustainable society for people today and generations to come.”
Since 2023, Eaton is reported to have invested more than $1 billion in its North American manufacturing for electrical products. The company said it is also increasing supplies of power distribution solutions, including transformers and voltage regulators; as well as electrical assemblies: switchgear, switchboards, and circuit breakers; and solutions supporting electric grid infrastructure projects.
“We are pleased to welcome Eaton to Union County and acknowledge their investment and the new jobs opportunities they are introducing,” said Union County Supervisor Phillip Russell, in the release. “Their considerable investment highlights the confidence global companies like Eaton have in Union County’s capability to address their needs. On behalf of the county council, county staff, and our partners, we convey our congratulations and appreciation for Eaton’s commitment to Union County.”