3 Myths About Manufacturing Transformers in America | Bart Gaskey & Todd Davis | 218 - Powerline Podcast | Lyssna här

Why the electrical industry is entering a decades-long boom.

Ryan sits down with Pennsylvania Transformer Technology’s Bart Gaskey and Todd Davis inside one of North America’s largest transformer manufacturing facilities to explore the growing demand for power infrastructure and why the future of the electrical industry has never looked stronger.

Bart is a strategic manufacturing leader with decades of experience across transformer manufacturing, grid infrastructure, and large-scale energy projects. Todd is a longtime manufacturing leader who has worked across multiple transformer manufacturers and now helps lead operations at Pennsylvania Transformer Technology.

Together, they break down the myths surrounding American transformer manufacturing, explain why massive investments are flowing back into domestic production, and reveal how AI, data centers, electrification, renewable energy, and grid expansion are creating one of the biggest opportunities the electrical industry has seen in decades.

The conversation explores why transformers are far more complex than most people realize, what it takes to build equipment that powers millions of homes and businesses, how Pennsylvania Transformer Technology is preparing for the future with major facility expansions, and why hundreds of new careers are opening for the next generation of skilled tradespeople.

Whether you’re an apprentice, journeyman, engineer, contractor, manufacturer, student, or simply curious about the future of North America’s electrical grid, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at one of the most important industries most people never get to see.

Topics covered:

Why the electrical industry is entering a decades-long boom
The truth about manufacturing transformers in America
Why AI, data centers, and electrification are driving unprecedented demand
How large power transformers are designed and built
Why every transformer is custom engineered
The nearly 100-year history of Pennsylvania Transformer Technology
What it takes to manufacture 765 kV transformers
The logistics of transporting equipment weighing hundreds of thousands of pounds
How Quanta is expanding domestic manufacturing capacity
Why skilled trades offer one of the most secure career paths today
Hundreds of career opportunities available in transformer manufacturing
The future of North America’s electrical grid