12 December 2025
Kia ora,
It’s a privilege to lead ETEL and partner alongside our customers at such a pivotal time for our industry. My focus is on strengthening ETEL’s position as the industry’s leading manufacturer of transformers and ensuring we remain the trusted partners and advisors our customers can rely on to enable their success and impact.
ETEL is proud to be part of the Unison Group of companies—a group specialising in world-class electricity products, services, and solutions. This connection gives us access to expertise across a wide spectrum of innovation and resources, helping us deliver even greater value to our customers.
We also have an international footprint, with manufacturing facilities in Auckland and Indonesia, customer servicing centres in Victoria and Western Australia, and we supply into the Pacific Islands and Singapore. This enables us to support customers across New Zealand, Australia, the Pacific and beyond, with local knowledge and global capability.
As the energy sector evolves towards decarbonisation, transformers are more important than ever in supporting the transition of electricity systems. ETEL is committed to being a trusted advisor and a genuine partner—working alongside our customers to help you achieve your goals and deliver for your own customers.
Since joining ETEL, I’ve set in motion transformation initiatives to ensure we evolve with the changing needs of our customers and the energy industry. This journey is about positioning ETEL for the future while building on the strong foundations of our past. Some of this work is already complete or nearing completion, and it reflects our commitment to innovation, efficiency, and partnership. For example:
- We have physically streamlined our manufacturing processes for greater efficiency and reliability. Customers will start to notice the impact of these changes over the coming weeks and into early next year. As part of our commitment to continuous improvement, we’ll keep looking for opportunities to refine and enhance our processes—production will only get better.
- We are continuing to build technical capability and expertise, embedding innovation across design, manufacturing, delivery, customer focus, and business effectiveness. This ensures ETEL is positioned to meet future industry demands and support our customers’ ambitions.
Sustainability is a core part of our journey. Initiatives like our oil regeneration scheme reflect our commitment to reducing environmental impact and supporting a cleaner energy future.
Thank you to all of ETEL’s customers for your loyalty, support, and partnership through the ups and downs of what have been challenging times for the economy, our country, and our industry. As we ramp up to meet demand, we look forward to the future we will create together.
Wishing you and your teams a restful break over the holiday period. We look forward to reconnecting in the new year and continuing our journey together.
Ngā mihi nui,
Brian Ropitini
Chief Executive, ETEL
