Frequently Asked Questions
Company Capabilites & Services
Jordan Transformer (JT) is the only company in the United States solely dedicated to remanufacturing mobile substations and transmission substation transformers (5 MVA to 100MVA with HV ratings of 230kV to 69kV). It is our core business, and we do it well. We've remanufactured thousands of stepdown transformers as well as furnace and rectifier transformers from more than 50 OEMs in our 50 years of service. We have not reached our annual capacity as of the start of 2025.
Chances are we’ve worked on transmission transformers from the same OEM as yours. This is important because transformer designs have varied by OEM, age, and ratings over the past 50 plus years. A remanufacturing design should not force your transformer solution into a single OEM’s approach. Our extensive experience and subject matter expertise will give you more alternative options.
We do not perform repairs, refurbishments or service of transformers. We have partnered with industry organizations capable of providing such services. We have listed several of our solution partners on our website under RESOURCES.
We have refocused our capacity to meet the industry demand for remanufacturing utilities’ existing transmission transformers and mobile substations. You can trust that we will never claim your transformer is beyond remanufacturing unless the transformer has sustained severe damage.
If you acquire a discarded transformer, we will happily evaluate and quote the ability to remanufacture the transformer based upon the transformer ratings compared to your substation needs. Furthermore, if you are just looking for a transmission transformer or mobile substation let us know. We may have heard from a utility looking to scrap a transformer.
We have remanufactured over 50 different OEMs in our 50-year history. We remanufacture both substation and mobile transformers with base ratings of 5 MVA to 100MVA and HV ratings of 230kV to 69kV. If the transformer can be shipped via truck and clear bridges (with shipping dimensions such as 14’x10’x12’), we can lift 80 tons off a truck and utilize our 22-foot-deep pit to remove even large core and coil assemblies.
In our 55’ high bay we utilize our 80-ton Kona crane as well as our 150-ton air pallet to move transformers between work cells. Thus, we can accommodate the largest medium power transformers (such as HV at 230kV with load ratings of 112 MVA) when using our 22’ un-tanking pit. Overall, in our 70,000 sq ft facility we have 13 cranes and hoists.
Transformer Purchasing & Surplus
We have refocused our capacity to meet the industry demand for remanufacturing utilities’ existing transmission transformers and mobile substations. You can trust that we will never claim your transformer is beyond remanufacturing unless the transformer has sustained severe damage.
If you acquire a discarded transformer, we will happily evaluate and quote the ability to remanufacture the transformer based upon the transformer ratings compared to your substation needs. Furthermore, if you are just looking for a transmission transformer or mobile substation let us know. We may have heard from a utility looking to scrap a transformer.
Remanufacturing vs. New OEM
Reusing the existing steel such as the core, frames, tank, and radiators of an existing transformer offers substantial design, build and test advantages. It is a proven design! The advantages increase when reusing the original LTC, which is often the situation! If, which can be in many cases, your remanufactured transformer is plug and play in form, fit, and function, within the substation (think spare transformer) the advantages are dramatic.
Remanufacturing your transformer is a smart choice! Some clients say it is the best of both worlds. Jordan Transformer’s discovery process, and failure analysis capabilities combined with 50-years of extensive transformer experience allow us to incorporate valuable lessons into your remanufacturing design.
Whether you're dealing with supply chain constraints or planning for long-term reliability and maintainability (uptime), remanufacturing offers a time-efficient and positive ROI alternative to buying new.
For many customers, remanufacturing is the only viable option due to OEM lead times. Even if time isn't your largest constraint, remanufacturing remains an attractive choice because older transformers were built with higher safety margins, thicker steel, and spacious interior designs for better thermal capacity, allowing them to operate cooler and withstand stress better than many modern, cost-optimized designs.
Upgrades and enhancements are another strong case for remanufacturing. Modern insulation materials, like Weidmann Crepe Paper or Nomex® for superior insulting ability. In addition to potentially increasing your transformer’s power rating, we can modernize your existing unit with replacement of older load tap changers (LTCs) with more efficient and robust alternative models. Advanced design rules, such as full-circle clamping and end rings, to withstand short-circuit forces can add to the life of the transformer. Controls can be modernized for capturing and recording transformer performance data.
Remanufacturing does not mean restoring outdated 1960s-era equipment — it means leveraging the best of the original design while updating components to today’s standards. We reuse and improve what works, such as the solid vintage tank and core, and replacing copper wiring, insulation, and oil to meet modern efficiency and reliability expectations. Yet not all remanufacturers have invested in the full testing equipment for IEEE C57.12.00™ requirements to ensure critical workmanship is achieve providing decades of reliable performance. Ensure you require full compliance to IEEE C57.12.00™ design and test standards. It does make a difference!
This is a question that comes up frequently when we help to determine the correct course of action for a customer's failing transformer. We are passionate about remanufacturing is the right solution over reconditioning!
Reconditioning: Reconditioning involves minor repairs or upgrades to the transformer, such as replacing gaskets, pumps, radiators, bushings, breakers, etc. It does not include replacing the windings or insulation, which are the most critical components of the transformer. Reconditioning is a lower cost initial option and faster than remanufacturing in the short term, but it does not extend the transformer’s life significantly.
Remanufacturing involves complete replacement of the windings and insulation of the transformer, as well as the replacement of components covered in reconditioning. Remanufacturing restores the transformer to a like-new condition. Remanufacturing is more expensive and time-consuming than reconditioning, but it can extend the transformer’s life by decades and provide long-term value instead of short-term fix.
Factors to consider with the choice between reconditioning and remanufacturing depends on the condition of the transformer, its load history, its usage frequency, and its availability. A thorough inspection, discovery and testing of the transformer is needed to determine the best option. Remanufacturing is recommended for transformers that have degraded windings and insulation, or that operate at high loads or in harsh environments. Reconditioning may suffice for transformers that have low loads or intermittent use, or that have minor issues with other components, where “getting by” for the short term is the only solution.
This is a great question that we receive frequently. Because, under the right conditions and using improved materials and design practices, the answer is often: YES!
To achieve increased load ratings, older transformers with more generous design margin can achieve typically a power rating increase of ± 10% by redesigning and reinforcing the core and coil assembly, while remanufacturing the transformer. Some transformer designs can achieve more; however, it will vary depending on the OEM. With the reuse of the existing core and frames we are unable to increase the height of the windings. Therefore, when changing the cross section of the solid copper conductor the windings will increase in diameter, thus decreasing the window dimension which then becomes the second constraint.
Cost, Lead Time & Supply Chain Considerations
The cost difference between remanufacturing and purchasing a new transformer depends on factors like load ratings, voltage class, physical size and upgrades you choose to maximize your fleet reliability and maintainability. Remanufacturing reduce material costs and provides “go green” by reuse of steel components: core, frame, tank, and radiators.
Cost benefits of remanufacturing are achieved with shorter delivery time, potentially lowering your out-of-pocket costs for alternative energy options. Lower installation costs if transformer dimensions match the existing site avoiding substation modifications. Avoidance of disposal costs, which are more than typically expected.
For utilities needing a cost-effective and time-sensitive solution, we believe remanufacturing is typically the better operational and financial ROI choice, especially for medium to large power transformers.
The lead times for remanufactured transformers are typically shorter than for new OEM transformers. In today’s environment, we hear consistently from our utility clients, remanufacturing at 15 months or less is half the time of a new OEM transmission transformer, contributed in part from using a well-known and proven design.
Remanufactured transformers lead time ultimately depends upon the extent of refurbishment, required upgrades, modification and testing.
If you need a transformer urgently or even just a spare, remanufacturing is a great option, especially for older units where a direct substation replacement with form, fit, and function might take long to source or build. Remember, they don’t make ’em like they used to, so we remanufacture them like they used to make them.
Remanufacturing is not impacted by high-grade, grain-oriented electrical steel (GOES) global supply fluctuations due to restricted production capacity as well as geopolitical factors.
Technical Aspects of Remanufacturing & Rewinding
Remanufacturing a transformer can extend its life by decades, depending on several factors such as the original design and the operating conditions when placed back into service after remanufacturing.
Factors that influence the extended lifespan include the quality of remanufacturing are critical internal components such as copper conductor, insulation, and new oil that are designed and tested to the IEEE C57.12.00™ standards. We use the same suppliers as OEMs for these internal components. With the design verified by testing to the full IEEE C57.12.00™ standard the transformer can perform like a new unit.
External factors such as load conditions in the substation will impact the life of a transformer. If the transformer operates under the same or lower stress after remanufacturing, its life extension can be maximized.
In most cases, remanufactured transformers reusing the known and proven design can achieve performance reliability and life similar to original performance of transformers with significantly shorter lead times than a new OEM.
The transformer remanufacturing process for substation transformers and mobile transformers follows similar fundamental principles but has complexity in the winding design, switch locations due to the tank’s smaller design limitations for a mobile, multiple voltages applications and thermal restrictions.
Both substation and mobile transformers benefit from remanufacturing, but mobile units require extra engineering consideration to maintain durability and portability.
Yes, under the right conditions. The age, profile, and size must be considered for this special application. This requires specific and detailed information regarding the transformer in question to make that determination.
If a transformer passes core integrity checks and does not have excessive contamination, it can often be remanufactured with new windings, insulation, and minor structural repairs. However, when a transformer experiences multiple major failures at the same time with the winding, core, and tank the opportunity to perform remanufacturing is very limited and replacement is the only viable option. Thes events can be severe short circuits or internal arc faults that have damaged the core. Or when specified parameters such as loss evaluation and sound levels cannot be met using the existing core steel (e.g., poor energy performance). Also, if the transformer has high contamination such as PCB oil, corrosive deposits, carbon tracking.
In rare cases, Jordan Transformer can “convert” some transformers from rectangular to a circular core and coil design with all new core steel and new disc windings. Several constraints to be considered are (a) the space required to achieve the same inductance as the rectangular winding and (b) will the inductance change be significant due to the altered geometry. As a rule, we only remanufacture circular core transformers.
The lead times for remanufactured transformers are typically shorter than for new OEM transformers. In today’s environment, we hear consistently from our utility clients, remanufacturing at 15 months or less is half the time of a new OEM transmission transformer, contributed in part from using a well-known and proven design.
Remanufactured transformers lead time ultimately depends upon the extent of refurbishment, required upgrades, modification and testing.