S. D. Myers Inc

What S. D. Myers Inc does

S. D. Myers Inc (SDMyers) is a privately held transformer reliability company founded in 1965 in Tallmadge, Ohio, and a subsidiary of Good Place Holdings since 2015–2016. It serves electric utilities, industrial and commercial facilities, and municipalities with a vertically integrated stack comprising laboratory diagnostics, online condition monitoring hardware, web-based fleet management software, engineered maintenance equipment, on-site field services, and training. The company operates what it describes as the world's largest transformer oil testing laboratory, ISO 17025 accredited by ANAB, and has serviced 500,000+ transformers and processed over one billion gallons of dielectric fluid across 20+ countries.

The core technology combines accredited laboratory oil testing (DGA, Karl Fischer moisture, power factor, furanic compounds, dissolved metals, particle count), Guardian Monitoring online DGA hardware (G1 single-gas, G5 five-gas, G9 nine-gas units developed with Camlin Energy), infrared thermography enabled by IR Windows, and partial discharge inspection using ultrasound and TEV sensors. Data from these sources feeds Transformer Dashboard, a web-based platform with a Premium tier offering Health Center four-level ratings, fleet Comparison Tool against 50+ years of proprietary industry data, Data Export, and Fleetview. Proprietary engineered equipment includes InsulMax substation-grade oil purification, DryMax online moisture reduction, SampleSafe external oil samplers (NFPA 70E aligned), CoolMax temperature management, and LTC Filters. The MaxLife Philosophy and the authored industry-standard 'A Guide to Transformer Maintenance' (first published 1981, third edition 2004, Spanish edition 2005) anchor the company's methodology for extending transformer life.

Revenue is generated across professional services (lab testing, field maintenance, training, asset refurbishment), proprietary engineered equipment sales (InsulMax, DryMax, SampleSafe, IR Windows, CoolMax, LTC Filters, Guardian monitors), managed-service subscriptions (Guardian Monitoring), and recurring SaaS (Transformer Dashboard Standard and Premium on multi-year contracts, with Health Center offered in 'All Transformers' and 'Critical Transformers' tiers). Go-to-market combines enterprise field sales through a national network of Field Inspection Technicians (400+ on-site jobs per year), a self-serve Transformer Dashboard customer portal, inside sales support for the West Sacramento, California office opened in 2020, and training delivered through sister company PowerPro 360. Pricing is predominantly quote-based for services and equipment; subscription terms are available upon request.

Name

S. D. Myers Inc

Legal name

SDMyers LLC

Website

https://sdmyers.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1965

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

S. D. Myers Inc provides transformer reliability solutions — including the world's largest oil testing laboratory, online DGA monitoring hardware, web-based fleet management software, engineered field service equipment, and on-site maintenance — to electric utilities, industrial facilities, and municipalities across 20+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tallmadge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Transformer Testing & Diagnostics Services: Oil testing (DGA, Karl Fischer moisture, power factor, furanic compounds, dissolved metals, particle count, etc.), diagnostic services, and inspection & sampling performed in the world's largest transformer oil testing laboratory. Samples are submitted by customers or collected by Mobile Diagnostic Technicians in the field.
2. Transformer Dashboard SaaS Subscriptions: Web-based transformer management platform available by subscription. Standard tier provides access to test results, trend analysis, and recommendations. Premium subscription adds Health Center, Comparison Tool, Data Export, and Fleetview features.
3. Guardian Monitoring (Online Condition Monitors): Online condition monitors (G1, G5, G9 DGA monitors) that stream data to Transformer Dashboard, sold as hardware plus ongoing monitoring subscription. Monitors hydrogen, methane, ethylene, acetylene, CO and other fault gases.
4. Field Maintenance & Repair Services: On-site transformer maintenance and repair services including oil processing, vacuum filling, electrical testing, emergency response, and specialized services like hot oil cleaning, moisture reduction, degassing, and load tap changer maintenance. Completes over 400 jobs per year nationwide.
5. Engineered Equipment Sales: Sale of proprietary maintenance equipment including InsulMax oil purification systems, DryMax online dryers, SampleSafe external samplers, IR Windows, CoolMax temperature management, LTC Filters, and DGA monitors.
6. Training & Education: Transformer maintenance training courses delivered through the company's learning lab, on-site at customer locations, and via sister company PowerPro 360. Courses range from fundamental transformer maintenance to advanced reliability management. Training programs have equipped over 35,000 professionals.
7. Asset Refurbishment & Replacement: Asset refurbishment and partial restoration services for transformers, including having refurbished backup units ready to ensure uninterrupted power supply across transformer fleets. Launched as a holistic fleet reliability offering in 2024.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

SDMyers delivers end-to-end transformer reliability services and products, including transformer oil testing, dissolved gas analysis, condition monitoring via online DGA monitors and a web-based dashboard, on-site field maintenance and repair, engineered equipment (oil purification, drying, sampling, IR windows, cooling), partial discharge inspection, PCB remediation, asset refurbishment, and professional training. Its offerings are sold to electric utilities, industrial facilities, and municipalities seeking to extend transformer life and avoid unplanned failures.

Product overview

SDMyers offers a comprehensive transformer reliability ecosystem combining software platforms, engineered equipment, laboratory services, and field services. The core platform is Transformer Dashboard (with Premium tier) providing web-based fleet management with real-time monitoring and trend analysis. Guardian Monitoring family offers online DGA condition monitors (G1, G5, G9 variants) streaming data to the platform. Testing & Monitoring services include oil testing, analytical lab services (ISO 17025 accredited), diagnostic services, and partial discharge inspection. Engineered Equipment includes InsulMax oil purification, DryMax drying systems, SampleSafe external samplers, IR Windows, LTC Filter, CoolMax cooling, and DGA Monitors. Field Services cover repair, maintenance, retrofilling, and asset refurbishment. Training & Education provides Electric Power IQ courses and certification programs. These offerings work together under the MaxLife Philosophy to maximize transformer lifecycle reliability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Transformer Dashboard: Web-based transformer management tool providing fleet monitoring, trend analysis, and diagnostic data visualization.
• Transformer Dashboard Premium
• Guardian Monitoring
• InsulMax
• DryMax
• SampleSafe
• MaxLife

Products and services

• Transformer Dashboard Web-based transformer fleet management platform that consolidates test results, trend analysis, color-coded health scores, and expert recommendations for monitoring transformer health across an entire equipment fleet.
• Guardian Monitoring Family of online condition monitors (G1 single-gas hydrogen, G5 five-gas, G9 nine-gas DGA) that stream transformer health data directly to Transformer Dashboard for expert review and actionable fault alerts.
• Oil Testing & Diagnostics Comprehensive transformer oil testing and diagnostics services using industry-standard ASTM methods to identify fault conditions, moisture levels, and insulation degradation, supported by the world's largest transformer oil testing lab.
• Analytical Testing ISO 17025 accredited (ANAB certified) laboratory services offering dissolved gas analysis, moisture testing, power factor, furanic compounds, dissolved metals, particle count, and full test package library for mineral oil, natural esters, and specialty fluids.
• Partial Discharge Testing Failure mode detection service using ultrasound (parabolic dishes, contact probes) and Transient Earth Voltage (TEV) sensors to identify insulation deterioration, arcing, and breakdown conditions on energized transformers.
• IR Windows Infrared inspection windows installed on switchgear, breaker panels, and cabinet transformer doors to enable safe thermographic inspection of energized equipment without arc flash exposure, with optional ultrasound ports.
• IR Thermography Infrared scanning service for detecting hotspots and thermal anomalies in electrical equipment, available as a standalone inspection or integrated with IR Windows for energized equipment safety.
• InsulMax Substation-grade oil purification system that continuously removes moisture, gas, acids, and sludge from transformer oil while the transformer remains energized, extending insulation life.
• DryMax Online dryer system for continuous transformer moisture removal and dehydration to protect insulation and extend transformer life.
• SampleSafe External oil-sampling device that mounts on the outside of cabinet transformers, allowing technicians to pull samples without opening doors or de-energizing equipment, reducing arc flash exposure and supporting NFPA 70E compliance.
• CoolMax Transformer cooling system equipment for thermal management and heat dissipation to control transformer operating temperature.
• LTC Filter Load tap changer filtering system providing safe, unattended LTC fluid processing to extend reliable life of load tap changers.
• Field Service On-site transformer maintenance and repair services including repair, degassing/vacuum processing, reinhibiting, moisture reduction, hot oil cleaning, load tap changer maintenance, and emergency response performed by trained field technicians.
• Asset Refurbishment & Replacement Fleet reliability service offering refurbished transformer units and replacement options to ensure stable and uninterrupted power supply across transformer fleets.
• Training & Education Professional training programs including Electric Power IQ courses, Transformer Maintenance Institute curriculum, custom on-site training, and certification preparation for reliability engineers, technicians, facility managers, and asset managers.
• Natural Esters RetroFill Retrofilling service using FR3 natural ester (vegetable-based) dielectric fluids as an alternative to mineral oil, offering higher flash points, improved grid resiliency, and sustainability benefits.
• PCB Remediation (PCB-Gone Process) Proprietary chemical treatment and processing workflow for removing PCBs from transformer insulating liquids and reclassifying units as Non-PCB for regulatory compliance.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 500,000 transformers serviced and over 1 billion gallons of dielectric fluid processed since 1965
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• American Red Cross (with Tallmadge Chamber of Commerce)minorOthers · 1 September 2025SDMyers co-sponsored a community blood drive with the Tallmadge Chamber of Commerce and the American Red Cross on September 4, 2025, at the Tallmadge Community Center. This reflects the company's community engagement and values-driven approach to corporate citizenship.
• Cargill (FR3 Natural Ester Fluids)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020SDMyers became an Authorized Service Partner of FR3 fluids with Cargill in the 2020s, enabling SDMyers to perform retrofilling with natural ester fluids (vegetable-based dielectric fluid) as an alternative to mineral oil. Natural ester liquids offer higher flash points, improved grid resiliency, and sustainability benefits. SDMyers' field service division performs the retrofilling operations using FR3 fluid products.
• University of Texas at Austin (Center for Electromechanics)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 March 2019SDMyers co-sponsored and participated in the Electric Power Reliability Summit (EPRS) 2019, hosted at UT Austin's Center for Electromechanics (the largest university-based electromechanics R&D facility in the country). SDMyers executives presented at the event and attended facility tours.
• Camlin EnergycoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2019Strategic partnership formed in 2019 between SDMyers and Camlin Energy to enhance dissolved gas analysis capabilities through online condition monitoring. The Guardian Monitoring systems (G1, G5, G9 monitors) integrate with Camlin Energy technology to stream transformer health data directly to SDMyers' Transformer Dashboard platform, enabling continuous DGA monitoring and early fault detection beyond standard oil sampling intervals.
• Society for Maintenance & Reliability Professionals (SMRP)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2018SDMyers is an active member and participant in SMRP, presenting at annual conferences (SMRP 2018 in Orlando, IndyCon 2019 in Indianapolis), hosting learning sessions, and participating in government relations fly-ins to discuss grid reliability with policymakers. Alan Ross, VP of Reliability, serves as Chair of SMRP's Smart Grid Working Group.
• National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)minorOthers · 1 January 2018SDMyers' safety policy is informed by NFPA standards, particularly NFPA 70E (Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace). The 2018 edition of NFPA 70E introduced new standards on arc flash safety affecting oil sampling procedures for cabinet transformers, which SDMyers had already developed solutions to address.
• On Now Digital (Sister Company)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2015On Now Digital (OND), a sister company under Good Place Holdings, is an Ohio-based software provider offering custom and SaaS solutions for gathering, analyzing, and presenting inspection and testing data. OND has developed data management solutions for SDMyers including the Transformer Dashboard platform, having empowered 25,000+ users with data-driven decision-making. The companies collaborate on software development and data integration for transformer reliability management.
• PowerPro 360 (Sister Company)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2015PowerPro 360, a sister company under Good Place Holdings, provides electric power training courses with flexible formats and pricing. SDMyers' training division transitioned its training course catalog to PowerPro 360 (courses.sdmyers.com/learn), with PowerPro 360 serving as the delivery channel for transformer maintenance training programs. PowerPro 360 has been instrumental in expanding training reach through its dedicated team of engineers, specialists, and reliability professionals.
• Good Place HoldingscoreOthers · 1 January 2015Good Place Holdings (GPH) is the holding company for SDMyers and five other portfolio companies. Founded in 2015, GPH is structured uniquely with no owners, corporate investors, or shareholders requiring profit payouts, allowing reinvestment in its organizations. GPH applies biblical principles and values to how it operates, aligning SDMyers with a deeper organizational purpose beyond financial success.
• Summit County Developmental Disabilities Board (Summit DD)minorOthersSDMyers partners with Summit DD to hire individuals with developmental disabilities, welcoming new employees through the collaborative program. SDMyers also works with Community Connections on job shadowing, facility tours, and mock interviews.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Doble Engineering Company: Doble is the most direct comparable — a private equity-backed provider of diagnostic testing instruments, software, and services for electric power transformers and other high-voltage assets. Like SDMyers, Doble offers dissolved gas analysis, insulation testing, and condition-monitoring platforms used by utilities and industrial customers worldwide.
• OMICRON Electronics Corp. OMICRON is a closely held Austrian manufacturer of electrical test and diagnostic equipment for power systems, including transformer testing, partial discharge diagnostics, and monitoring solutions. It is highly comparable to SDMyers' diagnostic services and engineered equipment lines (e.g., SampleSafe, partial discharge inspection).
• Megger Group: Megger manufactures electrical test and measurement instruments used for transformer and insulation diagnostics, including oil testing and power factor instruments. It is a direct competitor in transformer testing instruments and diagnostic services globally.
• Qualitrol Company LLC: Qualitrol (a Fortive/Fluke portfolio company) provides transformer condition monitoring, dissolved gas analysis monitors, and asset intelligence software for electric utilities — overlapping directly with SDMyers' Guardian Monitoring and Transformer Dashboard offerings.
• Weidmann Electrical Technology: Weidmann is a global provider of transformer insulation materials, diagnostic services, and condition-monitoring solutions used by transformer manufacturers and utilities. Comparable to SDMyers in providing transformer-condition expertise and lab-based diagnostics.

Emerging players

• Camlin Energy: Camlin Energy is SDMyers' technology partner for the Guardian DGA monitor family and competes in the online transformer monitoring market. It is partially comparable as both collaborator and adjacent competitor in online dissolved gas analysis.

Broad incumbents

• GE Vernova (Grid Solutions): GE Vernova is a broad incumbent offering transformer manufacturing, monitoring solutions, and grid services to utilities globally. Its transformer monitoring and services portfolio overlaps with SDMyers' offerings, but as part of a much wider grid equipment portfolio rather than a niche focus.
• Siemens Energy: Siemens Energy provides transformers, grid services, and asset monitoring solutions (e.g., Sensformer, Siemens Transformers Service). Overlaps with SDMyers in transformer condition monitoring, field service, and refurbishment as part of a much broader energy portfolio.
• Hitachi Energy: Hitachi Energy is a major transformer OEM and service provider with transformer lifecycle services including condition monitoring, diagnostics, and refurbishment. Comparable to SDMyers in field service and monitoring capability, but bundled within a global transformer OEM portfolio.
• Eaton Corporation: Eaton is a broad power management incumbent offering transformers, switchgear, and power quality / monitoring services to utilities and industrial customers. Its asset monitoring and field service capabilities partially overlap with SDMyers' offerings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/SDMyersTV
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sdmyers

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about S. D. Myers Inc