Schaffner

What Schaffner does

Schaffner S.A. is a Chilean privately-held electrical engineering and manufacturing company founded in 1982, headquartered in Estación Central, Santiago. The company designs, manufactures, and services an integrated portfolio of electrical equipment spanning distribution transformers (liquid-cooled up to 20 MVA / 34.5 kV and dry-type up to 2 MVA / 8.7 kV), power transformers (up to 100 MVA / 220 kV), medium voltage switchgear and SF6-encapsulated cells (12–24 kV at 630 A), unitary and mobile substations, and epoxy-resin encapsulated transformers, complemented by metalworking solutions including ladder and basket cable trays, accessories, and metal structures. Supporting its hardware portfolio, Schaffner operates an in-house analysis laboratory providing physical-chemical, chromatographic (dissolved gas, furan, PCB), and corrosive sulfur testing for insulating fluids, alongside on-site testing, corrective/preventive maintenance, and installation supervision services.

The company monetizes primarily through project-based hardware sales to enterprise customers in Chile's mining, heavy industry, and energy distribution sectors, with specifications compliant to ANSI, IEC, and local utility standards (CGE, ENEL). A separate commercial division sources complementary equipment from 14 international suppliers (Turkish and European manufacturers including EMEK, ASTOR, IBERAPA, ELGIN, GBE, SONMEZ TRAFO, FEDERAL ELEKTRIK, DISAS, SOJO ELECTRIC, BATEL, MEGA RESISTORS, KONDAS, ALCE ELEKTRIK, OZDIRENC) to round out its low, medium, and high-voltage portfolio. GTM is direct enterprise field sales supported by an in-house engineering department; pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. Schaffner is ISO 9001 certified, operates from a 6,000+ m² facility with approximately 160 employees, and has no external investment, parent company, or public listing.

Name

Schaffner

Legal name

Schaffner S.A.

Website

https://schaffner.cl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1982

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Schaffner S.A. is a Chilean electrical engineering and manufacturing company founded in 1982 that designs, produces, and services transformers, medium voltage switchgear, substations, and metal cable management systems for enterprise customers in mining, heavy industry, and energy distribution.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Power Distribution Equipment Manufacturing

NAICS

Power, Distribution, and Specialty Transformer Manufacturing (335311), Switchgear and Switchboard Apparatus Manufacturing (335313), Relay and Industrial Control Manufacturing (335314), Electrical Equipment Manufacturing (3353)

SIC

Power, Distribution & Specialty Transformers (3612), Switchgear & Switchboard Apparatus (3613), Electrical Industrial Apparatus (3620)

akta.pro primary industry

Switchgear & Switchboards (HV/MV/LV, GIS/AIS) (IMAGAAAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

High-Voltage Electrical Systems (Switchgear, Transformers, Protection & Control) (EUAEAFAA), Industrial Control Cabinets & Power Distribution (Panels, Switchgear for Automation) (IMAHAHAK)

Keywords

• Distribution transformers
• Medium voltage switchgear
• Metal cable management
• Electrical equipment manufacturing
• Power substations

Headquarters

HQ city

Santiago

HQ country

Chile

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Transformer Manufacturing and Sales: Design, manufacture, and sale of distribution transformers (aerial, underground, surface) and power transformers. Products manufactured to client specifications meeting ANSI, IEC, and local distributor standards (CGE, ENEL). Revenue generated through one-time equipment sales with potential for aftersales service contracts.
2. Medium Voltage Equipment: Manufacturing and sale of medium voltage cells, substations (unitary and mobile), encapsulated transformers in epoxy resin, compact measurement equipment, switchgear, load distribution centers, and motor control centers in MT and BT.
3. Metal Mechanical Products: Fabrication and sale of metal cable management systems (conductor ladder trays, basket trays), support elements, accessories, and metal structures for buildings, warehouses, towers, platforms. Engineering services for structural calculation and detailed engineering.
4. Testing, Certification, and Field Services: On-site testing of insulating fluid and electrical testing of transformers, operation and installation testing, corrective and preventive maintenance, installation supervision, and laboratory analysis services including physical-chemical and chromatographic testing.
5. Commercialization/Trading: International supply partnerships to complement portfolio with specialized equipment (instrumentation transformers, resistors, medium voltage apparatus, circuit breakers, arresters, automatic reclosers, capacitor banks) through international supplier alliances.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

Schaffner S.A. designs, manufactures, and services electrical power equipment including distribution and power transformers, dry-type and epoxy-encapsulated transformers, medium voltage switchgear cells, unitary and mobile substations, metal cable management systems (ladder and basket trays), and metal structures. The company also operates an analysis laboratory and provides field testing, certification, and corrective/preventive maintenance services for transformers and electrical installations. Products are custom-built to client specifications meeting ANSI, IEC, and local utility standards (CGE, ENEL).

Product overview

Schaffner is a comprehensive electrical engineering and manufacturing company offering an integrated portfolio of power distribution equipment and metalworking solutions. The core product portfolio includes transformers (distribution, power, dry-type, encapsulated, instrumentation, and special units) and medium voltage switchgear (cells, substations, compact units), complemented by metalworking solutions for cable routing systems (ladder trays and perforated trays in steel/aluminum) and metal structures. The company also provides associated engineering services including field testing and certification, laboratory analysis, corrective/preventive maintenance, and installation supervision. All products are designed and manufactured according to international standards including ANSI and IEC.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Distribution Transformers Distribution transformers for aerial, underground, and surface applications with power ratings up to 20 MVA and voltages up to 34.5 kV using liquid coolant, designed for energy distribution companies and infrastructure projects.
• Power Transformers Power transformers available in standardized ratings up to 100 MVA and voltages up to 220 kV at 50 Hz, supplied for utility and large industrial customers.
• Dry-Type Transformers Dry-type transformers with power ratings up to 2 MVA and voltages up to 8.7 kV, using epoxy resin encapsulation for indoor and industrial applications.
• Epoxy-Resin Encapsulated Transformers Transformers encapsulated in epoxy resin for use in environments requiring enhanced protection and low maintenance.
• Instrumentation Transformers Instrumentation transformers for measurement and protection in medium and high voltage applications, complemented through international supplier partnerships.
• Medium Voltage Switchgear Cells Medium voltage cells including SF6-encapsulated and air-insulated compact cells rated 12 kV to 24 kV at 630A, with disconnectors, fuses, vacuum circuit breakers, and metering cells.
• Unitary and Mobile Substations Unitary and mobile substations for various voltage levels, including compact metering equipment (ECM) with mineral oil insulation.
• Metal Cable Management Systems (EPC and BPC) Ladder-type (EPC) and perforated/solid (BPC) cable trays in steel and aluminum for electrical circuit routing, with curves, reductions, and branching accessories.
• Metal Structures Custom metal structures for buildings, warehouses, towers, platforms, tanks, feeders, heat exchangers, and machined parts, supported by structural and mechanical engineering.
• Field Testing, Certification and Field Services On-site testing of insulating fluid, electrical transformer tests, operation and installation testing, and certification services for transformer installations.
• Transformer Analysis Laboratory Laboratory services including physical-chemical analysis, chromatographic analysis (dissolved gas, furan, PCB), and corrosive sulfur testing for transformers and insulating fluids.
• Preventive and Corrective Maintenance Services Corrective maintenance in-plant (coil replacement, fluid filtering, leakage repair) and field preventive/corrective maintenance with diagnostic inspection and reports.
• Installation Supervision and Mounting Assistance Installation supervision and electrical mounting assistance for low and medium voltage equipment including transformer/cell assembly, capacitor bank mounting, and bus ducts.

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered supporting.

• ALCE ELEKTRIKsupportingTechnology or IntegrationInternational supplier partnership providing instrumentation transformers for measurement and protection in low and medium voltage applications. Products complement Schaffner's transformer portfolio for complete electrical solutions.
• OZDIRENCsupportingTechnology or IntegrationInternational supplier providing resistors for electrical applications. Complements Schaffner's product range for specialized electrical equipment needs.
• IBERAPAsupportingTechnology or IntegrationSupplier of medium voltage cells and switchgear apparatus. Extends Schaffner's medium voltage product capabilities.
• FEDERAL ELEKTRIKsupportingTechnology or IntegrationSupplier of automatic circuit breakers for electrical protection systems. Complements Schaffner's switchgear and protection equipment offerings.
• EMEKsupportingTechnology or IntegrationProvider of measurement and protection transformers for high voltage applications along with high voltage disconnectors. Expands Schaffner's high voltage product capabilities.
• ASTORsupportingTechnology or IntegrationSupplier of power and distribution transformers along with medium voltage cells. Provides additional manufacturing capacity for Schaffner's transformer business.
• DISASsupportingTechnology or IntegrationSupplier of lightning arresters for medium and high voltage applications. Provides surge protection equipment for complete electrical system solutions.
• SOJO ELECTRICsupportingTechnology or IntegrationProvider of outdoor automatic reclosers and medium voltage cells for distribution automation and protection in outdoor installations.
• SONMEZ TRAFOsupportingTechnology or IntegrationSupplier of special transformers for custom applications. Complements Schaffner's special transformer capabilities.
• MEGA RESISTORSsupportingTechnology or IntegrationInternational resistor manufacturer. Products used for grounding systems and specialized electrical applications.
• KONDASsupportingTechnology or IntegrationSupplier of capacitor banks for power factor correction and reactive power compensation in electrical installations.
• ELGIN POWER SOLUTIONSsupportingTechnology or IntegrationSupplier of medium voltage cells and compact substations/cabinets for distribution applications.
• GBEsupportingTechnology or IntegrationProvider of low, medium, and high voltage transformers. Extends Schaffner's product range across all voltage levels.
• BATELsupportingTechnology or IntegrationSupplier of medium voltage circuit breakers and disconnectors for protection and switching applications.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• SGB-SMIT: European transformer manufacturing group producing distribution, power, cast-resin, and special transformers. Comparable to Schaffner's distribution and special transformer product line, including encapsulated resin units and HV power transformers.
• Eaton Corporation: US-headquartered power management company with significant MV switchgear, transformers, and motor control center offerings. Comparable to Schaffner in switchgear, CDC, and CCM product categories for industrial and utility customers.
• Trench Group: Specialized manufacturer of instrument transformers, coils, and power quality equipment (Siemens Energy subsidiary). Comparable to Schaffner's instrumentation transformer line and complementary to its power transformer portfolio.
• Hubbell Incorporated: US electrical products manufacturer with transformer, switchgear, and electrical enclosure lines. Comparable to Schaffner in distribution transformers, MV equipment, and cable management systems sold to utility and industrial customers.
• Prolec (Xignux / GE Vernova JV): Mexico-based transformer manufacturer (GE Vernova / Xignux joint venture) producing distribution and power transformers across a wide range of voltages. Direct comparable on transformer manufacturing capabilities and serves similar utility/industrial customers across the Americas.
• WEG S.A. Brazilian-headquartered global manufacturer of transformers, generators, motors, and electrical distribution equipment with strong Latin American footprint. Closest direct comparable to Schaffner in product mix (distribution and power transformers, MV switchgear, substations) and target customer profile (utilities, mining, heavy industry).

Broad incumbents

• ABB: Global broad-line electrification and automation major with extensive transformer, switchgear, and substation portfolios. Operates in Chile and competes with Schaffner in utility and mining projects, but at much larger scale and with broader digital/automation offerings.
• Schneider Electric: Global electrical distribution, MV switchgear, and industrial automation major with deep presence in Chile and LatAm. Overlaps with Schaffner in MV cells, motor control centers, and power distribution packages, though Schneider's portfolio is much broader and more digital-focused.
• Siemens Energy: Global energy technology OEM including transformers (including via Trench), grid technologies, and substations. Competes with Schaffner on larger HV transformer and substation projects in Chile, particularly for utility-scale renewable interconnections.

Emerging players

• Elsewedy Electric: Egypt-headquartered integrated electrical solutions provider manufacturing transformers, MV/HV switchgear, cables, and substations with growing presence in Africa, Middle East, and Latin America. Comparable to Schaffner as an integrated mid-market electrical equipment manufacturer targeting utilities and infrastructure projects.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/schaffner-s.a.

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 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 Schaffner