Kyte powers up in Cavan with €10 million growth investment

Kyte Powertech, a company that designs and manufactures finished distribution transformers, has delivered significant investment in its power plant in Cavan with the goal of making a positive impact on society and the environment.

The company began manufacturing in Cavan in 1977 under the name of Belgian company Pauwels Trafo, but in 2005 the company was acquired by Indian-owned corporation CG Power Systems.

Its units have travelled globally to power the COP26 conference in Glasgow, the London Olympics and the Fifa World Cup in South Africa.

Stephanie Leonard, who became chief executive of the company in June 2020, told the Business Post about the company’s transition into a wholly Irish business.

“In 2020 an opportunity arose for the management team to complete an MBO [management buyout] alongside MML Private Equity to create a wholly Irish-owned organisation for the first time in the 40+ year history of the plant, with nine members of the management team involved in the MBO,” she said.

The company employs more than 470 people and, according to Leonard, contributes approximately €30 million to the local economy and is the largest private employer in the Cavan area.

The company specialises in volume manufacturing of single-phase and three-phase distribution transformers to all Irish, UK, Belgian and Dutch utilities and bespoke industrial solutions to a wide variety of markets, including EV charging, battery storage, wind farms, solar parks and carbon-neutral solutions.

Leonard said that one of the greatest strengths of the company is the quality of its employees as well as the quality of its product.

“Our people are one of our biggest advantages in the market – customers always comment on the openness and dedication of our employees when they visit the plant,” she said.

“Kyte Powertech is well recognised throughout the industry for having a quality product, produced by quality personnel in close collaboration with and proximity to its customers. We have the ability to react quickly to our customers’ needs and challenges through very strong partnerships with our customers and supplier networks.”

Leonard told the Business Post that Enterprise Ireland (EI) was crucial in the company’s move to becoming a wholly Irish company.

“EI were there to support the Kyte management team through the transition from a global corporation supported by the IDA to a wholly Irish-owned organisation – moving us over very smoothly,” she said.

“Our development adviser, Anna-Marie Turley, has been a key supporter of the plant from the beginning and has been an immense support to me personally.”

Leonard said Enterprise Ireland have been helpful in the development of its people and its R&D endeavours, providing a unique solution and significant upskilling and education as well as offering opportunities for all levels within the organisation

Leonard said the market demand has never been higher. The company recently delivered significant investment of just under €10 million in the growth of its plant through both its people and processes, in which the company intends to further significantly invest over the coming years.