What Rhona does

Rhona S.A. is a Chilean electrical equipment manufacturer and distributor founded in 1964 through the merger of Neuweiler y Reitz Ltda. and Aspillaga y Hornauer y Cia. Ltda. The company operates what it describes as the largest transformer factory in Latin America, producing power transformers up to 220 kV and 100 MVA, distribution transformers, pad-mounted and dry-type units, mobile substations, and digital transformer solutions. Beyond its own manufacturing, Rhona distributes a broad catalog of electrical materials, power and control components, industrial automation (PLCs, VFDs, soft starters, servo motors, HMIs), sensors, lighting, new-energy products (solar, inverters, EV chargers, portable power stations), and high/medium voltage equipment under representations of global brands including Mitsubishi Electric, Autonics, AuCom, EcoFlow, and OPPLE.

Rhona serves three principal customer segments: industrial and mining enterprises requiring high-capacity transformers and switchgear for power generation, transmission, and mining operations; electrical installers and contractors purchasing materials and components for projects ranging from residential to industrial scale; and residential and commercial end users procuring lighting, solar, and EV-charging products. The company sells through a hybrid model combining a full e-commerce platform (rhona.cl) with eight physical branches across Chile (Viña del Mar headquarters, two in Santiago, Antofagasta, Concepción, Temuco, Puerto Montt, plus an upcoming Rancagua branch), one branch in Lima, Peru, and commercial presence across Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay, and the USA (via Rhona Electric). Pricing is unit-based and publicly listed in Chilean pesos, with options including interest-free installments.

Rhona generates revenue primarily through hardware sales of electrical equipment and materials, both proprietary-manufactured (transformers, switchgear, branded lighting such as GrinSafe explosion-proof LEDs) and distributed third-party products. Its wholly-owned subsidiary Covisa provides complementary electrical conductors. The company has 501–1,000 employees and operates as an independent, privately held Chilean corporation (Sociedad Anónima) with no disclosed parent.

Name

Rhona

Legal name

RHONA S.A.

Website

https://rhona.cl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Rhona is a Chilean electrical equipment manufacturer and multi-brand distributor serving industrial, mining, contractor, and residential customers across Chile, Peru, Argentina, and broader Latin America. It operates the largest transformer factory in Latin America and sells via eight Chilean branches, a Peru branch, and e-commerce.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Electrical Equipment Manufacturing & Distribution

NAICS

Power, Distribution, and Specialty Transformer Manufacturing (335311), Electric Lamp Bulb and Other Lighting Equipment Manufacturing (335139)

SIC

Power, Distribution & Specialty Transformers (3612), Switchgear & Switchboard Apparatus (3613), Wholesale-Electrical Apparatus & Equipment, Wiring Supplies (5063), Electric Lighting & Wiring Equipment (3640)

akta.pro primary industry

Transformers (Power, Distribution, Instrument, Specialty) (IMAGAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Lighting & Electrical Supplies for Home Distribution (CRAOAFAG), Transformer & Reactor Refurbishment / Replacement Programs (EUAEALAE), Grid-Scale Power Conversion & Interconnection (PCS, Grid-Tie Inverters, Converter Stations) (IMAGAAAI)

Keywords

• Electrical equipment distribution
• Transformer manufacturing
• Industrial automation products
• Switchgear and power distribution
• Solar and EV solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Antofagasta

HQ country

Chile

HQ region

Latin America

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Product Sales - Electrical Equipment and Materials: Rhona generates revenue primarily through the sale of electrical equipment, materials, and solutions. This includes proprietary-manufactured transformers and switchgear alongside distributed automation, control, lighting, solar, and electromobility products. Sales occur through e-commerce (rhona.cl), physical branch locations across Chile and Peru, and assisted/enterprise sales. The company also distributes related products under brand representations including Mitsubishi Electric and COVISA conductors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Rhona manufactures electrical transformers (power, distribution, substation, pad-mounted, dry-type, and mobile, up to 220 kV and 100 MVA) at what it describes as the largest transformer factory in Latin America. It also distributes a broad catalog of electrical materials, industrial automation components, lighting, high/medium voltage equipment, switchgear, and new energy solutions (solar, batteries, EV chargers, portable power stations) sourced from brands including Mitsubishi Electric, Autonics, AuCom, EcoFlow, and OPPLE. Sales occur through the rhona.cl e-commerce platform, eight Chilean branches plus a Lima branch, and assisted enterprise sales.

Product overview

Rhona is a comprehensive electrical equipment company operating as both a manufacturer and distributor of electrical solutions across Latin America. The company offers a unified portfolio organized into major product categories: Materiales Eléctricos (electrical materials including wiring, conduit, safety equipment, and industrial plugs), Potencia y Control (power and control equipment including circuit breakers, contactors, automation with PLCs and HMIs, sensors, generators, and motors), Iluminación (industrial and commercial lighting including LED solutions), Transformadores Eléctricos (transformers from distribution to power class including digital and mobile substations), Nuevas Energías (new energy solutions including solar panels, inverters, EV chargers, and battery systems), Accionamientos Eléctricos (electric drive systems and distribution centers), and Equipos AT-MT (high and medium voltage equipment). Rhona claims to operate the largest transformer factory in Latin America, complemented by extensive distribution of third-party brands including Mitsubishi Electric, Autonics, AuCom, EcoFlow, and OPPLE. The company serves industrial, commercial, and residential segments through physical branches in Chile, Peru, and Argentina, as well as e-commerce channels.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Covisa: Electrical conductors brand representing COVISA products
• RHONA Chile
• RHONA Perú
• RHONA Electric
• RHONA Argentina

Products and services

• Electrical Materials (Materiales Eléctricos) Comprehensive range of electrical materials covering enclosures and panels (armarios y tableros), conduit and cable management (canalización), conductors (wires and cables, including aluminum), safety equipment and tools, grounding products (malla a tierra), explosion-proof products (a prueba de explosión), industrial plugs (enchufes industriales), and electronic security. Sold to electrical installers, contractors, industrial buyers, and retail customers through branches and e-commerce.
• Power and Control Equipment (Potencia y Control) Power and control equipment including circuit breakers (interruptores), contactors and relays (contactores y relés), electrical control devices, industrial automation (PLCs, VFDs, servo motors, HMIs), sensors and actuators, measurement instruments and controllers, generators, and electric motors. Sold to industrial and mining firms and electrical installers.
• Industrial and Commercial Lighting (Iluminación) Industrial and commercial lighting solutions including fluorescent luminaires, projectors, industrial reflectors, lamps, LED lighting (ampolletas, reflectores, street luminaires), flashlights and batteries, and emergency lighting.
• Electrical Transformers (Transformadores Eléctricos) Custom-manufactured transformers including power transformers up to 220 kV and 100 MVA, substation transformers, pad-mounted units, distribution transformers, dry-type VPI and resin cast transformers, mobile substations, and digital transformer solutions for smart grid applications. Produced at Rhona's transformer facility, described as the largest transformer factory in Latin America.
• New Energy Solutions (Nuevas Energías) New energy solutions including photovoltaic solar panels (módulos fotovoltaicos), on-grid, off-grid and hybrid inverters, batteries, EV chargers (electromobility), battery power generators including portable power stations, and solar support structures. Sold across industrial, commercial, and residential segments.
• Electric Drives and Distribution Centers (Accionamientos Eléctricos) Medium voltage distribution centers (celdas con desconectador, SF6 switchgears, switchboards), low voltage distribution centers, electrical rooms, capacitor banks, and bus ducts for industrial and commercial power distribution.
• High and Medium Voltage Equipment (Equipos AT-MT) High and medium voltage equipment including power circuit breakers (tanque muerto), instrumentation transformers (potential and current), grounding systems (resistencias), and medium voltage reclosers for power transmission and distribution infrastructure.
• Industrial Automation Products (Automatización Industrial) Industrial automation offering including programmable logic controllers (PLCs), variable frequency drives (VFDs), servo motors and amplifiers, human-machine interfaces (HMIs), soft starters (low and medium voltage), stepper motors, power supplies, industrial communication modules, and multi-meter instruments. Includes AuCom soft starters (CSX, CSXI, EMX4 series) and Autonics stepper motors.
• Sensors and Actuators (Sensores y Actuadores) Comprehensive sensor and actuator portfolio: inductive sensors (NPN/PNP/AC), capacitive sensors, photoelectric sensors (diffuse, barrier, retro-reflective), fiber optic sensors and amplifiers, temperature sensors (thermocouples PT100, type J, type K), pressure switches, liquid level sensors, safety light curtains, door sensors, and safety proximity sensors.
• GrinSafe Explosion-Proof LED Lighting Explosion-proof LED luminaires and projectors for hazardous locations classified as C1D2, including Scout, Cannon, and Arrow series, suitable for industrial applications requiring explosion protection.
• AuCom Soft Starters (Partidores Suaves) AuCom-brand soft starters (CSX, CSXI, EMX4 series) ranging from 7.5 kW to 110 kW, with options for relay, bypass, and communication cards (Modbus TCP, Profibus), supporting motor control applications per IEC 60947-4-2 and CE standards.
• Autonics Stepper Motors and Controllers Stepper motors and controllers by Autonics, with torque ratings from 8 KGF/CM to 63 KGF/CM, including micro-step controllers for 5-phase motors.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mitsubishi ElectriccoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRhona carries product representations of Mitsubishi Electric as part of its electrical equipment portfolio, distributing Mitsubishi Electric products alongside its own manufactured offerings to Chilean and Latin American customers.
• COVISA (Conductores Eléctricos)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRhona distributes COVISA electrical conductors as part of its product lineup. COVISA is described as a complementary brand to Rhona's own manufacturing, covering conductor and cable needs.
• Rhona Electric (USA)minorOthersRhona Electric (rhonaelectric.com) is a US-based affiliated entity under the Rhona brand, extending the company's geographic footprint to the United States market.
• Covisa ChileminorOthersCovisa (covisa.cl) is a subsidiary under the Rhona group of companies, operating as a related entity in the Chilean electrical products market.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• WEG: Brazilian manufacturer of transformers, motors, generators, and industrial automation with deep distribution across Latin America. Highly comparable to Rhona given overlapping product categories (transformers, motors, drives, control) and regional focus.

Broad incumbents

• Eaton: Global manufacturer of electrical power management products including transformers, switchgear, and industrial control components distributed through channel partners. Comparable to Rhona's switchgear, power distribution, and control portfolio.
• ABB: Global leader in power and distribution transformers, switchgear, and industrial automation with direct sales and manufacturing presence in Chile and across Latin America. Competes with Rhona in utility, mining, and industrial transformer tenders.
• Siemens Energy: Manufactures power and distribution transformers, grid technology, and switchgear used by utilities and mining operators in Latin America. Competes with Rhona's high-voltage transformer and grid equipment offering for utility-scale tenders.
• Prysmian Group: World's largest cable and conductor manufacturer with manufacturing plants and distribution across South America. Overlaps with Rhona's COVISA conductor offering and wires/cables category for utilities, mining, and construction customers.
• Legrand: Global specialist in electrical and digital building infrastructures (wiring devices, distribution panels, lighting control). Overlaps with Rhona's materiales eléctricos distribution and lighting categories sold to installers via retail and project channels.
• Schneider Electric: Global electrical equipment, distribution, and automation major with strong brand and channel presence across Latin America. Overlaps with Rhona in switchgear, automation (PLCs/VFDs), and electrical installation materials distributed to installers and industrials.

Emerging players

• CHINT: Chinese electrical equipment manufacturer aggressively expanding distribution of low-voltage components, breakers, and solar inverters across Latin America. Competes with Rhona's distributed catalog and represents the Asia-sourced pricing threat to LatAm distributors.

Others

• TMEIC (Toshiba Mitsubishi-Eric Industrial Systems): Global manufacturer of industrial automation, variable frequency drives, and power conversion systems with mining and metals focus in Latin America. Comparable to Rhona's automation and motor control categories serving mining customers.

Regional players

• Sicelec / Cifunsa (Mexican electrical distributors): Regional electrical equipment and lighting distributors serving Mexico and parts of Latin America with similar manufacturer-plus-distributor and installer channel models. Comparable as a regional multi-brand electrical distributor to Rhona's Latin American peer set.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries4 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 Rhona