When Alexei Miecznikowski stepped into the role of CEO at Northern Transformer, he inherited a company with deep roots in Ontario’s manufacturing landscape, and a rare opportunity to shape its future.
Founded in 1981, Northern Transformer had long served Ontario’s distribution market, but the sector around it was shifting. Aging grid infrastructure, the rapid rise of electrification, and renewed attention to domestic manufacturing were creating conditions for a major transformation in Canada’s energy economy.
Miecznikowski arrived at a moment when the company was ready to evolve from a reliable regional supplier into something more ambitious: a modern power transformer manufacturer capable of supporting North America’s clean energy transition. With that mandate, Northern Transformer began reshaping its identity, operations and market outlook — work that included joining the Trade Accelerator Program (TAP) to sharpen its export strategy.
That set the stage for the company’s next decade of growth.
Rebuilding an Industry Leader
Northern Transformer’s recent history reflects a commitment to rebuilding domestic transformer manufacturing while strengthening North America’s grid. Following its acquisition in 2012, the company was given a clear mandate.
The goal, as Miecznikowski puts it, was “to fulfil the NA's growing needs to renewal of aging transmission and distribution infrastructure, connect new clean generation and support growing electrification of the economy.” At the same time, the company sought “to restore the power transformer manufacturing industry to prominence in Ontario, a position it had once enjoyed.”
Ontario’s manufacturing ecosystem has been central to that vision. Long-standing relationships across the local supplier and client network have shaped Northern Transformer’s approach to quality and innovation.
“We are focused on long term, mutually beneficial relationships,” Miecznikowski says, noting that these ties help the company stay agile and tightly aligned with industry needs. Operating within Ontario’s clean electricity grid also supports its low-emissions approach to manufacturing.
From Domestic Strength to Export Ambition
A decade of decisive investment has transformed Northern Transformer’s footprint and elevated its capabilities. The company added a cutting-edge production facility in 2016, followed by a 2023 expansion that brought 230 kV manufacturing online; a milestone that significantly broadened its technical range. Now, the company is preparing to break ground in Innisfil on a site capable of producing 500 kV, 750 MVA transformers, marking a major leap into the industry’s top tier and positioning the company for utility-scale projects across the continent.
These advancements pushed the company to a pivotal realization: to fully capitalize on its growing strength and world-class capabilities, Northern Transformer needed to look beyond Canada and pursue international markets with intention and focus.
Strengthening Strategy Through TAP
Miecznikowski joined the Trade Accelerator Program (TAP) early in his tenure. “As a new CEO with a somewhat blank sheet to start with, TAP was an opportunity to carefully construct our go-to-market strategy surrounded by peers and specific expertise that was not readily available to us at the time,” he says.
The program helped the company analyze which markets, partners and pathways would best support expansion. “TAP helped us consider what types of partnerships and strategies would be most effective to open new markets,” he adds.
That strategic clarity paid off. Since completing TAP, Northern Transformer has grown the business by 400% and increased exports to key international clients, with global sales now representing a meaningful share of operations. For a manufacturer preparing to pursue U.S. utility clients, that strategic discipline was crucial. TAP clarified the operational and capacity requirements Northern Transformer would need to meet before moving into more demanding markets.
“Finding the right partners and raising our capacity — in sales, engineering and manufacturing — to serve new clients,” became one of the company’s key takeaways.
Northern Transformer’s success story also arrives at a milestone moment for World Trade Centre Toronto, which is celebrating 10 years of the . Over the past decade, TAP has supported more than 2,000 Canadian companies in building the export strategies that fuel national competitiveness. Northern Transformer stands as a compelling example of how the program helps homegrown manufacturers break into global markets, scale sustainably and compete in high-value sectors shaping the future economy.
Partnering With EDC to Unlock Global Opportunities
New markets often bring new financial and operational challenges — especially in industries where large-scale infrastructure projects require secure payment structures.
Here, Export Development Canada (EDC) played an important role. EDC supported Northern Transformer by providing credit backing for the Letter of Credit requirements requested by an international customer, enabling the company to fulfill major export contracts with confidence.
This support reinforced Northern Transformer’s ability to compete in high-value markets where trust, credit strength and financial security are essential.
Supporting a Low-Carbon Future
Northern Transformer’s evolution aligns with national and global priorities. Power transformers sit at the heart of electrification, grid modernization and renewable integration, areas commanding unprecedented investment. “Any significant improvement to Canada's energy system requires electrification and transformers, so the connection is fundamental and direct,” Miecznikowski notes.
The company has paired that mission with environmental stewardship. Its operations run on Ontario’s low-carbon electricity system, and it recently achieved ISO 14001 certification. On the technical front, Northern Transformer has shipped its first 230 kV units and is developing 500 kV capability to meet rising demand for high-voltage infrastructure.
The People Who Drive It Forward
Despite its engineering complexity, the company is powered by human expertise. With transformers engineered-to-order and built-to-order, every unit reflects the work of skilled teams across the organization.
“Our culture is a critical component of our success,” Miecznikowski says. “We take care of our people, our people take care of the clients, our clients take care of business.”
Prepared for What Comes Next
Looking toward the next decade, Miecznikowski sees a rare moment when long-term planning has returned to the forefront of Canada’s energy strategy. “After a generation of short-term thinking, long-term planning is back,” he says.
As grid investments accelerate, Northern Transformer is expanding ahead of demand; prepared to meet the moment and shape the future of North America’s energy landscape.
Trade Accelerator Program (TAP)
Get ready to expand into new markets through one-of-a-kind sessions and a creation of your own export business plan vetted by top industry experts.
