Powell Industries, Inc. (Powell) develops, designs, manufactures and services custom-engineered equipment and systems that distribute, control and monitor the flow of electrical energy and provide protection to motors, transformers and other electrically powered equipment.
The company’s major subsidiaries, all of which are wholly owned, include Powell Electrical Systems, Inc.; Powell Canada, Inc.; Powell (UK) Limited; and Powell Industries International, B.V.
The company primarily serves the o...
Powell Industries, Inc. (Powell) develops, designs, manufactures and services custom-engineered equipment and systems that distribute, control and monitor the flow of electrical energy and provide protection to motors, transformers and other electrically powered equipment.
The company’s major subsidiaries, all of which are wholly owned, include Powell Electrical Systems, Inc.; Powell Canada, Inc.; Powell (UK) Limited; and Powell Industries International, B.V.
The company primarily serves the oil and gas and petrochemical markets, the electric utility market, and commercial and other industrial markets. Beyond these major markets, the company also provides products and services to the light rail traction power market and other markets that include universities and government entities. The company is continuously developing new channels to electrical markets through original equipment manufacturers and distribution market channels.
Products and Services
The company’s principal products include integrated power control room substations (PCRs), custom-engineered modules, electrical houses (E-Houses), traditional and arc-resistant distribution switchgear and control gear, medium-voltage circuit breakers, monitoring and control communications systems, motor control centers, switches and bus duct systems. These products are designed for application voltages ranging from 480 volts to 38,000 volts.
The company’s product scope includes designs tested to meet both the United States (U.S.) and international standards, under both the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). The company also provides spare parts, retrofit and retrofill components for existing systems, and replacement circuit breakers for obsolete switchgear no longer produced by the original manufacturer. The company’s principal services include field service inspection, installation, commissioning, modification and repair services.
Products and services are principally sold directly to the end user or to an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) firm on behalf of the end user. Each project is specifically engineered and manufactured to meet the exact specifications and requirements of the individual customer. Powell’s expertise is in the design, engineering, manufacturing, project management and integration of assorted systems into a single, custom-engineered deliverable. The company markets and sells its products and services, which are typically awarded in competitive bid situations, to a wide variety of customers and governmental agencies spanning diverse markets and geographic regions.
Occasionally, the company’s contracts may operate under a consortium or teaming arrangement. Typically, the company enters into these arrangements with reputable companies with whom the company has previously conducted business. These arrangements are generally made to leverage competitive positioning, or where scale or size dictates the use of such arrangement.
The company seeks to establish long-term relationships with the end users of the company’s systems, as well as EPC firms contracted by those end users.
Markets
While the company provides products and services to a wide range of markets where customers need to manage, monitor and control large amounts of electrical energy, demand for the company’s products and services is driven predominantly by the oil and gas, petrochemical, electric utility, and commercial and other industrial markets. The majority of the company’s business is in the support of capital investment projects that are highly complex and competitively bid. The company’s customized systems are designed to meet the specifications of the company’s customers. Each system is designed, engineered and manufactured to the specific requirements of the particular application. The company considers its engineering, project management, systems integration and technical support capabilities vital to the success of the company’s business. The company strives to develop strong and lasting relationships with the company’s customers and are recognized by many as a preferred service provider to solve the company’s customers’ complex electrical distribution needs.
In the oil and gas markets, the company serves the upstream, midstream and downstream end markets, including onshore and offshore production, liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities and terminals, pipelines and refineries. In addition to the traditional crude oil refining and other oil and gas downstream processes, the company has recently expanded its end markets into hydrogen production, carbon capture, as well as alternative fuels, such as biofuels and sustainable aviation fuel, in response to the demand for clean energy.
Within the petrochemical market, the company’s primary customers typically are engaged in leveraging hydrocarbon or natural gas feedstocks for the production of petrochemical, or oil- or gas-to-chemical products, including polyethylene, polypropylene, fertilizer, methanol, and related petrochemical applications.
In the electric utility market, the company serves both the power generation and distribution end markets. Increasing global electricity demand and the focus on reliable and safe electrical distribution are driving substantial investments in global infrastructure. Aligned with the company’s strategy of end-market diversification, the company seeks to continue its focus and growth in electrical distribution substations, while also addressing a resurgence of power generation investment in the market.
In the commercial and other industrial markets, the company’s customers operate in commercial construction, data centers, metals and mining, pulp and paper, as well as other industrial applications.
Beyond these major markets, the company also provides products and services to the light rail traction power market and other markets that include universities and government entities. The company is continuously developing new channels to electrical markets through original equipment manufacturers and distribution market channels.
Competition
The company’s principal competitors include ABB, Eaton, Schneider, and Siemens Industries, Inc.
Research and Development
The company's research and development costs were $9.4 million in the year ended September 30, 2024.
History
Powell Industries, Inc. was founded in 1947. The company was incorporated in the state of Delaware in 2004.