About Us
Introduction
Founded in 1982 in Boksburg, South Africa, Reliable Transformers began as a specialist manufacturer serving the gold, platinum, and coal mining industries. Over the past four decades, we have evolved into a trusted partner across Southern Africa and the SADC region, known for delivering custom-built transformer solutions with reliability at their core.
Our name reflects our promise - to be reliable in every way. We are synonymous with quality, speed, and agility, supported by continuous investment in design capability, advanced technology, and proprietary in-house production software that gives customers real-time visibility into their orders.
Today, our bespoke transformers power a wide range of industries — from mining operations and industrial plants to solar farms, wind projects, and commercial developments — ensuring consistent performance and long-term value. With more than 1,200 MW of inverter-duty transformers installed across South Africa's renewable energy sector, we are proud to play a leading role in the region's energy transition.
Every product we manufacture is built to the highest international standards, ISO 9001:2015 certified, and compliant with SANS and IEC requirements. Each unit is tested with precision using SANAS-accredited calibration to ensure safety, efficiency, and reliability.
At Reliable Transformers, we don’t just manufacture transformers — we engineer peace of mind.
History
Reliable Transformers was founded in 1982 by design engineer H.J. van Zyl, whose deep roots in the transformer industry inspired a simple but powerful vision: to create transformers that could truly be relied upon.
What began as a modest workshop in Boksburg quickly gained traction as his commitment to quality earned the trust of customers across South Africa. The name — Reliable Transformers — soon became more than a brand - it became a promise.
In 1997, leadership passed to his son, Andre van Zyl, who shared his father’s passion and added a new ambition: to build not only reliable transformers, but the best machines possible. With experience as an electrical engineer at Eskom and a natural talent for software development, Andre led the company into a new era of innovation. He developed a suite of in-house software tools that streamlined design, planning, and production — transforming Reliable Transformers into a technology-driven manufacturer.
As demand grew, the company expanded - more than doubling its factory floor space in the past five years - while continuously refining its processes and investing in cutting-edge design technology. Today, with AI-driven design software and a dedicated, skilled team, Reliable Transformers stands at the forefront of specialized transformer manufacturing in Southern Africa.
Much has changed since 1982, but our founder’s vision remains unchanged: to build transformers of the highest quality, trusted by industries across Southern Africa and beyond.
Plant and Equipment
Step inside our factory, and it is immediately clear: we are built for precision, performance, and projects of every scale. With more than 4,000 m² of factory floor space, Reliable Transformers has created a home for innovation - where skilled people and advanced machines work seamlessly together.
Our production floor features five overhead cranes (lifting up to 16 tons), heavy-duty forklifts, and state-of-the art coil and foil winders capable of producing transformers up to 6.5MVA. Every detail matters - from CNC routers that ensures precision in insulation to our CNC plasma cutter, bending brake, and welding stations, which give us full control over steel and radiator fabrication.
In our assembly area, dedicated bays handle everything from small distribution units to large-scale transformers. Each stage is supported by our oil purification system and a fully equipped test bay, where routine IEC/SANS-compliant routine tests up to 6.5MVA are conducted with meticulous accuracy.
Behind this advanced technology is our greatest asset - our team. Designers, draftsmen, welders, technicians, managers, and quality specialists all work together toward one goal: to deliver transformers that meet the highest international standards. Every piece of test equipment is SANAS-calibrated, ensuring that precision and reliability are never compromised.
At Reliable Transformers, our plant is more than just a factory floor — it’s the engine that transforms vision into dependable power.