- Expanded capacity facility brings innovation, jobs, and economic growth to the region while helping ease transformer supply chain concerns.
- Capability to build new transformers will help improve electrical grids through efficiency, reliability and flexibility.
Shreveport, LA – November 20, 2024 – Energy infrastructure leader, Prolec GE, a joint venture between Xignux, a Mexico-based private company and GE Vernova, ceremoniously announced the completion of a $34 million capacity expansion project at its Caddo Parish facility today. Improvements to the company’s 500,000 square foot manufacturing plant began in early 2023 and recently culminated with the installation and start-up of a third production line. This new line broadens the facility’s capability portfolio to include three-phase pad-mount electrical transformers that improve efficiency, reliability and flexibility of the electrical grids used in wind farms, solar parks and other industrial and renewable energy applications. Facility layout improvements also resulted in the optimization of existing lines for manufacturing network transformers and voltage regulators, resulting in an approximate 15% capacity increase for each of those product lines.
The unveiling event included speeches by company executives and federal and local dignitaries, including Bridget Bartol from U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm’s office and Shreveport Mayor Tom Arceneaux. Also in attendance were representatives from the offices of Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, U.S. Senator John Kennedy, and U.S. Congressman Mike Johnson as well as employees and Louisiana Economic Development, National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), Transformer Manufacturing Association of America (TMAA) and community leadership, marking a major milestone in the company’s growth and commitment to excellence. Prolec GE is a major employer and contributor to the local economy, and this expansion added over 270 new positions.
“We are incredibly proud of this newly expanded facility,” said Ricardo Suarez, CEO of Prolec, who also served as Master of Ceremonies for the event. “Not only does it enhance our ability to meet the growing needs of our customers by adding over 1,500 units per year to our production capacity, it also allows us to continue supporting a reliable and resilient U.S. electrical grid. Our talented team worked tirelessly to bring this vision to life, and we are excited to continue delivering high-quality products while supporting the local economy and creating jobs for the community.”
Prolec GE designs, manufactures, and sells products and solutions for electricity generation, transmission and distribution. As North America’s largest transformer producer, the company serves a variety of industries, including construction, engineering, and conventional and renewable energy. The additional production capacity in Shreveport will help ease transformer supply chain concerns in the U.S. as Prolec GE looks to position itself for future growth.
“It is essential for government, industry, and community leaders to collaborate early and frequently to drive growth in the manufacturing sector,” Xignux CEO Juan Ignacio Garza Herrera said during his speech. “Our collaboration with government agencies, the Shreveport community and our joint venture partner, GE Vernova, was instrumental in making this expansion a reality.”
GE Vernova CEO Scott Strazik continued on the theme of partnerships and progress. “This is an exciting day for the Prolec GE team and an important milestone for serving our customers and advancing the energy transition,” said Strazik. “As energy demand continues to grow, this new manufacturing line and the jobs created will continue to improve our supply chain for critical grid equipment to enable energy security and national security for the United States and beyond.”
The event concluded with guided tours of the facility featuring a variety of new equipment, state-of-the-art test labs, a new training area and evidence of improved process flow. Production employees provided firsthand knowledge at select workstations to complement the narrative.
About Prolec GE
Prolec GE is a joint venture between Xignux and GE Vernova, internationally recognized for quality manufacturing and reliable performance for over 25 years. The company is an electric industry leader in the Americas with eight manufacturing facilities strategically located in Mexico, the United States, and Brazil and an installed product base in over 35 countries. Its broad power transformer services offering in the U.S., as well as its wide variety of high voltage transformer components, complement Prolec GE’s full line of transformer solutions for the generation, transmission, and distribution of electrical energy for utilities, co-ops, municipalities, renewable project developers, data centers and original equipment manufacturers.
As a leading supplier in the industry, Prolec GE embraces its commitment to providing an exceptional customer experience, superior quality products, comprehensive solutions and on-time deliveries while actively developing innovative, responsible, and sustainable solutions to solve the industry’s challenges. To learn more, visit www.prolec.energy/prolecge or follow us on LinkedIn.
About Xignux
Xignux is a leader in the energy and food industries. Based in Monterrey, Mexico, Xignux manages a variety of companies that energize life and society to contribute to a better world, thanks to the hard work and talent of more than 31,000 employees in Mexico, the United States, and Brazil.
In the energy industry, Viakable offers electrical conductors, and Prolec specializes in energy transformation and delivery. In the food sector, Qualtia provides a wide portfolio of cheeses, cold cuts, meats, and food service, while BYDSA produces savory snacks. Through its Social Responsibility model and the Xignux Foundation, the company also contributes to society´s sustainable development with active participation in four priority areas: energy, nutrition, education, and community development.
Xignux was founded 68 years ago and the solutions from its companies reach over 35 countries. Learn more about Xignux at www.xignux.com and LinkedIn Xignux.
About GE Vernova
GE Vernova Inc. (NYSE: GEV) is a purpose-built global energy company that includes Power, Wind, and Electrification segments and is supported by its accelerator businesses. Building on over 130 years of experience tackling the world’s challenges, GE Vernova is uniquely positioned to help lead the energy transition by continuing to electrify the world while simultaneously working to decarbonize it. GE Vernova helps customers power economies and deliver electricity that is vital to health, safety, security, and improved quality of life. GE Vernova is headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts, U.S., with more than 75,000 employees across 100+ countries around the world. Supported by the Company’s purpose, The Energy to Change the World, GE Vernova technology helps deliver a more affordable, reliable, sustainable, and secure energy future. Learn more: GE Vernova and LinkedIn.
