Trench Group affiliate HSP US is on track, with transformer bushing assembly already underway and full production scheduled to begin in July 2026.
The new facility marks Trench Group’s tenth production site worldwide and is dedicated to producing cutting-edge dry-type transformer bushing technology to support the expansion of U.S. power grid infrastructure.
Backed by a $60 million investment, the site is expected to create up to 140 high-tech engineering and manufacturing jobs in Charlotte by 2030.
A grand opening celebration with customers, partners, official representatives and staff is planned for summer 2026.
Charlotte Factory Moves Toward Full Production
Trench Group GmbH, a global leader in high-voltage power transmission components and systems, is fully on track with constructing its transformer bushing production facility in Charlotte, North Carolina. At a festive soft opening ceremony for employees on Monday, the company announced the start of transformer bushing assembly. Full production is scheduled to begin in July 2026.
Operating under HSP US, a Trench Group Company, the Charlotte factory marks the Group’s third North American and first full-scale U.S. production site, reinforcing the company’s commitment to supporting North America’s energy transition with local manufacturing capabilities. In its initial buildout, the facility will produce up to 3,500 dry-type transformer bushings per year, including components for the highest voltage levels up to 800 kilovolts (kV). The processes and product designs are based on worldwide proven, highly innovative HSP standards.
Dr. Basdere further added: “Order intake for North America already accounts for over 40% of total order intake across Trench Group’s product range in Q1 2026. With the new plant-operating in close proximity to our customers – our locally manufactured transformer bushings will play a key role in modernizing the energy grids in the US”.
Creating Jobs for Highly Qualified Workers
25 employees are already working in the factory. Nils von Dietman emphasizes: “We invest heavily in onboarding and training our new employees, and our teams benefit from sharing best practices with established sites within the Trench Group production network. New U.S. colleagues are trained in Germany, while employees from Germany and other locations support the production ramp-up on-site in Charlotte.”
The new facility will manufacture dry-type transformer bushings, which are critical components for high-voltage power transmission. The site, at full development covering a total area of approximately 20,000 m2 , will feature full vertical integration and house one of the most modern high-voltage test laboratories in the country.
Strategic Partnerships Driving Growth in the U.S.
The U.S. is considered one of the fastest-growing markets for bushings. Across the U.S., an estimated $55 billion to $60 billion investment in 765 kV transmission projects is being planned or approved across key corridors through 2032. Trench Group expects HSP to support a meaningful portion of demand for these projects.
The Charlotte facility is being expanded to strengthen U.S. based manufacturing capacity for high voltage bushing products. As such the site plays a key role in Trench Group’s rapid global expansion to meet unprecedented demand for grid infrastructure and high-voltage components worldwide. Trench Group is substantially expanding production capacities in all its factories across the globe.
About Trench Group
Trench Group is a global technology leader for high-voltage grid components and systems, present in nearly every power transmission grid worldwide.
Headquartered in Berlin, with more than 100 years of engineering expertise, Trench Group designs and manufactures high-voltage components that address the core challenges of modern power infrastructure – connecting grids, measuring their performance and ensuring reliability.
As electricity demand rises and power grids transform worldwide, Trench Group is a key enabler of the infrastructure the world needs, with a portfolio that includes bushings, cable terminations, instrument transformers, coils and reactors.
Since its independence in April 2024, Trench Group has doubled its annual revenue to more than $1.1 billion.
The company operates 11 factories across 8 countries on 4 continents, employs more than 3,000 people – with plans to grow to 4,000 by 2030.
