PBE Rutherford

What PBE Rutherford does

PBE Rutherford is an Australian high-voltage electrical infrastructure specialist that designs, manufactures, hires and services HV cable, coupler, substation and microgrid solutions for operators in mining, energy, infrastructure, and data centres. The company is headquartered in Tomago, New South Wales, with additional operations across Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland, Victoria, and New Zealand, and is a subsidiary of PBE Group, which operates from approximately 22 locations worldwide.

The company's product and technology base centres on the proprietary CouplerCo cable coupler range, positioned as the world's first EX-D (explosion-protected) certified couplers and supported by IECEx certification, alongside manufacturing and overhaul of HV equipment. Core operating units span five divisions: Cable & Couplers, Manufacturing & Overhauls, Equipment Hire, Microgrid & Electrical Infrastructure Projects, and Site Services, providing a vertically integrated HV stack from component supply through to multi-year substation, microgrid and battery storage project delivery (notably including 132kV and 330kV substations and the UK-based Pillswood battery storage facility).

Revenue is generated through a mix of one-off product sales (proprietary CouplerCo and exclusive-distribution lines such as Aristoncavi cables and Plymouth Rubber products), recurring equipment hire, project-based EPC revenue from microgrid and HV infrastructure work, and on-site service contracts. Customers include enterprise mining operators (Centennial Coal, MACH Energy Australia, Fitzroy Resources, The Bloomfield Group, Catalyst Metals) and energy/infrastructure counterparties (CPB John Holland JV, AGL, Biosar, Northern Powergrid, Flyers Creek Wind Farm), with strategic co-development executed in conjunction with group affiliate ADE Power for international project reach.

Name

PBE Rutherford

Legal name

PBE Rutherford

Website

https://pberutherford.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PBE Rutherford is an Australian high-voltage electrical infrastructure specialist providing integrated HV cable, coupler, manufacturing, hire, microgrid, and site services to mining, energy, infrastructure, and data centre operators across Australia, the UK, and New Zealand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

High-Voltage Power Infrastructure Services

NAICS

Electric Power Generation, Transmission and Distribution (2211), Power, Distribution, and Specialty Transformer Manufacturing (335311), Electric Power Transmission, Control, and Distribution (22112)

SIC

Power, Distribution & Specialty Transformers (3612), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623), Electronic & Other Electrical Equipment (No Computer Equip) (3600)

akta.pro primary industry

Substations, Transformers & Grid Step-Up Facilities (EHV Substations, GSU Transformers) (EUAMAFAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Grid Interconnection & Collector Substation EPC (Utility-Scale Renewables) (EUAEABAK), HVDC Converter Stations & FACTS Infrastructure Construction (IMAFAHAI), EHV/HVDC converter station & FACTS EPC integration services (EUADAKAL)

Keywords

• High-voltage power solutions
• Mining electrical infrastructure
• Hybrid power stations
• Cable couplers manufacturing
• Microgrid infrastructure projects

Headquarters

HQ city

Tomago, New South Wales

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Equipment Hire: Rental of project equipment components including underground auxiliary fans, substations, switchrooms, load centres, switchboards, section circuit breakers and cables. Provides critical components while customer equipment is serviced or complete turnkey power systems with installation, commissioning and management.
2. Manufacturing & Overhauls: Design, manufacture and overhaul of large-scale high voltage equipment including switchrooms, substations, load centres, switchboards, flameproof enclosures. Complete refurbishment, re-certification and repair services as an approved workshop facility.
3. Turnkey Power Infrastructure Projects: Complete high-voltage power system solutions including design, manufacture, construction, commissioning, operation and maintenance of hybrid power stations, substations and site-wide HV infrastructure.
4. Site Services: Lifecycle service, operation, maintenance and replacement packages including HV maintenance, testing, transformer oil analysis and filtration, borehole cable installation, cable jointing and power station operation and maintenance.
5. Cable Products & Couplers: Sales of cable couplers, adaptors, and related cable products. Exclusive distribution agents for Aristoncavi cables and Plymouth rubber repair tapes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

PBE Rutherford delivers turnkey high-voltage power system solutions for mining, energy, infrastructure and data centre sectors, covering design, manufacture, construction, commissioning, operation and maintenance. The company operates five specialist divisions — Cable & Couplers, Manufacturing & Overhauls, Equipment Hire, Microgrid & Electrical Infrastructure Projects, and Site Services — that can be combined to provide integrated solutions including hybrid power stations with thermal, solar PV and battery energy storage systems (BESS), HV substations up to 330kV, and proprietary CouplerCo EX-D cable couplers.

Product overview

PBE Rutherford is a mining and infrastructure power solutions provider operating through five specialist divisions offering a unified solution approach. The core product portfolio includes Cable & Couplers (featuring proprietary CouplerCo brand couplers, gear mounts, and distributed Aristoncavi cables and Plymouth rubber tapes), Manufacturing & Overhauls (switchrooms, substations, load centres, switchboards, flameproof enclosures), Equipment Hire (portable substations, switchrooms, auxiliary fans, cables), Microgrid & Electrical Infrastructure Projects (turnkey HV power systems including hybrid power stations, solar PV integration, BESS, and substations up to 330kV), and Site Services (HV maintenance, transformer services, cable installation). The company specializes in high-voltage electrical infrastructure for mining, energy, infrastructure and data centre sectors with over 50 years of experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CouplerCo: Innovative, reliable and customisable high-tech insulated electrical cables and couplers for mining, tunnelling and industrial applications.

Products and services

• Microgrid & Electrical Infrastructure Projects Turnkey high-voltage power system solutions covering design, manufacture, construction, commissioning, operation and maintenance of hybrid power stations integrating thermal generation, solar PV and battery energy storage, plus HV substations and site-wide reticulation for mining, energy and infrastructure clients.
• Cable & Couplers Full range of cable services including on-site testing, cable repairs, cable sales and proprietary CouplerCo cable couplers and adaptors, alongside exclusive distribution of Aristoncavi cables and Plymouth rubber repair tapes for power reticulation and trailing cable applications in mining, tunnelling and industrial settings.
• Manufacturing & Overhauls Design, manufacture and overhaul of large-scale high-voltage equipment including switchrooms, substations, load centres (DCBs), switchboards, section circuit breakers, flameproof enclosures and complete machine overhauls at the Tomago manufacturing facility.
• Equipment Hire Rental of critical power components including underground auxiliary fans, substations, switchrooms, load centres, switchboards, section circuit breakers and cables, available as individual components or complete turnkey power systems with installation, commissioning and management.
• Site Services On-site lifecycle services including HV maintenance and testing, transformer oil analysis and filtration, borehole cable installation, cable jointing, and power station operation and maintenance packages for mining and energy customers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Single point of accountability reduces interface risk and simplifies project delivery
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AristoncavicoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive distribution agent for Aristoncavi cables - innovative, reliable and customisable high-tech insulated electrical cables distributed to over 50 countries
• Plymouth RubbercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive distribution agent for Plymouth rubber repair tapes - specialised electrical insulation solutions
• ADE PowercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerADE Power Australia designed and manufactured modular switchroom for Flyers Creek Wind Farm. ADE Power UK designed and manufactured bespoke modular enclosure for Pillswood Battery Storage Facility. PBE Rutherford worked alongside ADE for site installation and commissioning.
• PowerlinkcoreTechnology or IntegrationTransmission network operator for Queensland connection. Ironbark Project substation connects directly to Powerlink's 132 kV transmission network.
• TransgridcoreTechnology or IntegrationTransmission network operator for NSW. Liddell Power Station substation connects directly to Transgrid's 330 kV transmission network.
• JemenacoreTechnology or IntegrationGas and electricity network operator. West Gate Tunnel project includes 66kV connection to the Jemena 66kV network.
• Essential EnergycoreTechnology or IntegrationElectricity distribution network operator. Nevertire Solar Farm Static Var Compensators installed in Essential Energy's Eulomogo Zone Substation.
• AusgridcoreTechnology or IntegrationElectricity distribution network operator. Liddell Power Station decoupling project connects to Ausgrid 33kV network. Mt Pleasant project connects to Ausgrid 66kV network.
• Centennial CoalcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCustomer for Angus Place East mine extension project. Angus Place Mine owned by Centennial Coal in joint venture with SK Kores Australia Pty Ltd.
• CPB John Holland Joint VenturecoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPrincipal contractor appointment for West Gate Tunnel Northern Portal 66/22kV Intake Substation construction, testing, commissioning and handover.
• MACH Energy AustraliacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPrincipal contractor appointment for complete High Voltage Electrical Infrastructure at Mt Pleasant Open Cut Coal Mine.
• AGLcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerPrincipal contractor appointment for 330/33kV Substation and associated connections for Liddell Power Station decoupling project.
• The Bloomfield GroupcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCustomer for Rix's Creek North Mine 66/6.6kV substation upgrade. Project executed as complete turnkey solution.
• BiosarcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEPC Contractor for Nevertire Solar Farm. PBE Group appointed by Biosar for installation of Static Var Compensators.
• Catalyst MetalscoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerOwner of Plutonic Gold Mine. PBE delivered power station upgrade and continues to provide ongoing operations and maintenance services.
• Northern PowergridminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerUK electricity network operator. Customer for Pillswood Battery Storage Facility modular enclosure connected via Creyke Beck Substation to Dogger Bank Wind Farm.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• ABB: Global leader in HV equipment, substations, and grid integration solutions serving utilities, mining, and renewables. Overlaps PBE Rutherford across the HV substation and FACTS product lines but operates at vastly larger scale and with broader portfolio scope.
• Schneider Electric: Global specialist in energy management and automation including HV switchgear, substation solutions, and grid software. Competes with PBE Rutherford in MV/HV equipment supply and increasingly in renewable and data centre infrastructure.
• GE Vernova: Global power generation, transmission, and grid solutions business including HV substations, FACTS, and renewable integration. Directly comparable on HV substation EPC and grid step-up capabilities, though at materially larger scale.
• Eaton: Global power management company manufacturing electrical components including HV switchgear, transformers, and substation solutions. Overlaps with PBE Rutherford's product portfolio at the equipment level, serving mining and utility customers globally.
• Worley: Australian-headquartered global engineering, procurement, and construction services firm with strong energy transition and mining sector exposure. Comparable on HV infrastructure project delivery in Australia though with much broader services portfolio.
• Downer EDI: Australian-listed integrated infrastructure services provider delivering HV electrical, telecommunications, and rail infrastructure. Comparable on Australian infrastructure and mining electrical services delivery, with broader portfolio and larger headcount.
• Siemens Energy: Global HV transmission equipment, grid technologies, and EPC services provider with strong renewable and grid interconnection exposure. Directly competes for large-scale substation and HV infrastructure contracts in Australia and globally.

Direct peers

• Ampcontrol: Australian-headquartered provider of electrical and electronic solutions for mining, energy, and infrastructure with deep coal mining sector relationships. Highly comparable to PBE Rutherford in target customer (mining), product category (HV power systems, switchgear), and integrated delivery model.
• Wilson Transformer Company: Australian power and distribution transformer manufacturer serving mining, utilities, and renewables. Comparable to PBE Rutherford's manufacturing capability and Australian mining customer base, though focused on the transformer component rather than full HV EPC.
• ADE Power: UK/Australia-based designer and manufacturer of modular HV switchrooms and enclosures; sister company within PBE Group with overlapping customer base (Flyers Creek Wind Farm, Pillswood Battery Storage). Comparable because it delivers complementary HV modular solutions for renewable and grid projects.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/RutherfordPBE
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@pberutherford
• Facebookfacebook.com/pberutherford
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pberutherford
• Instagraminstagram.com/pberutherford_com
• Pinterestpinterest.com.au/PBERutherford

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

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 PBE Rutherford