R&S Group has officially opened a new power‑transformer factory under its ZREW brand in Łódź, Poland. The plant was inaugurated on 3 November 2026 and was attended by customers, partners and local officials. The facility covers 20,000 sq m on a five‑hectare site inside the Łódź Special Economic Zone and is intended to double ZREW’s production output by 2028.
Factory features and scale
The Łódź factory is built to manufacture large power transformers rated up to 160 MVA and 220 kV for electricity networks, renewable generation, industrial and rail applications. It includes high‑voltage test chambers with electromagnetic protection, a dedicated drying room and handling systems capable of moving transformer units weighing more than 200 tonnes. R&S said the site will ultimately employ around 200 people and is designed with energy‑efficiency and BREEAM ‘Excellent’ credentials in mind.
R&S Group reported that the new facility was developed in collaboration with developer Panattoni BTS and that the site was purpose‑built for transformer manufacture, assembly and testing.
Local build and investment
Panattoni reported the project as a PLN 115 million build‑to‑suit development completed for ZREW Transformatory and confirmed the formal opening date as 3 November 2026. The developer said the investment qualifies for support within the Łódź Special Economic Zone and highlighted the factory’s role in meeting growing demand for energy‑market equipment in Central Europe.
What this means for the market
The new plant raises the region’s domestic capacity for high‑voltage transformers at a moment when grid reinforcements, renewable integration and industrial electrification are prominent policy and investment priorities. For Central and Eastern Europe’s automotive industry the factory is relevant because local transformer capacity underpins reliable high‑voltage supply for EV manufacturing sites, battery energy‑storage systems and fast‑charging hubs—all critical infrastructure for vehicle electrification and supply‑chain resilience. By producing units up to 160 MVA and 220 kV locally, R&S/ZREW can shorten lead times for major substation equipment needed by industrial projects and charging‑infrastructure rollouts across the region.
Heinz Kundert, Chairman of R&S Group’s board, said: “We decided to make this investment in Łódź to expand our portfolio and meet the growing market demand. Poland lies at the heart of Europe, is investing dynamically in the energy transition, and we have found a highly educated and committed workforce here.”
Grzegorz Sołtysiak, Managing Director of ZREW Transformatory S.A., noted the factory builds on ZREW’s 70‑year presence in Łódź and its ties to local technical universities, and said the facility will enable supply of higher‑rated transformers “of the highest power ratings and uncompromising quality.”
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Sources: R&S Group, Panattoni BTS
