A transformer skid is a pre-assembled, portable electrical unit featuring a transformer mounted on a sturdy metal frame, or skid, for easy transport, rapid deployment, and immediate installation. They are ideal for temporary or remote projects, including mining, oil fields, and construction, eliminating the need for permanent concrete foundations.
This system design integrates the transformer itself, along with switchgear for load control, disconnects for safety, control panels for system management, and all necessary wiring and connections. Unlike traditional installations where these components are sourced separately and assembled in the field, a transformer skid arrives as a cohesive, ready-to-operate unit.
At RDI Enclosures we design, assemble, and thoroughly tested all our power skids in our in-house factory-controlled environment before delivery, eliminating the field variables that plague traditional installations. RDI is not just a manufacturer but your engineering-driven partner. We are your skid provider and prefabricated buildings solution provider for all your critical infrastructure needs.Â
At RDI, every transformer skid is engineered from the ground up based on the specific transformer size, voltage class, and load requirements of the project, ensuring the final system precisely matches your operational needs. RDI works directly with customer engineers and project stakeholders early in the design phase to gather comprehensive requirements. This collaborative approach captures not just technical specifications, but also operational constraints, maintenance preferences, and long-term strategic goals.
Our design engineers carefully plan the physical arrangement of components to ensure safe spacing between electrical equipment, accessible maintenance points, and full compliance with electrical codes and safety standards. We ensure our skids are engineered for the environmental conditions they will encounter, including temperature ranges, corrosion exposure, and structural loads from wind and snow.
RDI’s in-house controlled environment design and engineering services enables faster revisions and tighter coordination between design and fabrication teams. When a design change is needed, it flows seamlessly from engineering to the shop floor, reducing the delays that occur when design and manufacturing are separated.
RDI’s in-house factory-controlled environment provides consistent build standards from modular buildings to prefabricated transformer skid systems. Our approach uses repeatable processes and comprehensive pre-installation testing, eliminating the quality variability inherent in field construction. Our skids arrive ready to operate, with all components pre-verified to work together.
Transformer skids serve critical roles across multiple industries, each with distinct demands and environmental challenges.
Uses transformer skids in substations and for grid distribution. This modular approach enables utilities to expand grid capacity without lengthy construction projects.
Uses skids in remote drilling and processing sites where infrastructure is sparse for reliable power distribution.
Uses skids for flexible and scalable grid expansion and temporary power needs.Â
Uses transformer skids in rugged, remote environments to support equipment and processing.
Uses skids for stable, controlled power to avoid downtime and data loss.
Manufacturing plants and industrial operations use transformer skids to match specific production requirements and scale power needs as industries grow.
RDI has the experience and expertise to serve these diverse industries. This demonstrates the flexibility and adaptability of our engineering and manufacturing capabilities, ensuring that each sector receives solutions tailored to its unique operational demands.
Modern transformer skids go far beyond basic power transformation, incorporating advanced monitoring, control, and protection systems that enhance operational visibility and safety. Skids integrate transformers, switchgear, disconnects, and control panels as standard components. Advanced systems add Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC) for intelligent control, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) systems for remote monitoring and command, and real-time data visibility for off-site operational oversight.
RDI can offer clients all these advanced features in weatherproof enclosures with corrosion-resistant materials to extend the service life of transformer skids in harsh environments. We also offer optional sound attenuation, ventilation systems, cooling, and temperature control to maintain optimal operating conditions. All skid components are installed, wired, and tested in RDI’s in-house factory-controlled environment before delivery. This reduces field installation time dramatically and eliminates the compatibility and commissioning issues that plague field-assembled systems. We also offer onsite services to ensure a seamless process from the factory to the installation site.
RDI provides our clients a single-source partner responsible for engineering, fabrication, integration, and delivery. We eliminate the coordination overhead and miscommunication that occurs when multiple vendors are involved. Our in-house manufacturing capability delivers tighter quality control and consistent build standards across every project. All of our systems are tested before delivery, reducing commissioning issues and ensuring reliable startup. Our designs comply with MBMA, ASCE, and UL 508A standards, providing assurance of safety and quality.
At RDI we take a systems-engineering approach to all our engineering projects, combining multiple capabilities into cohesive, end-to-end offerings. You can trust RDI for high-quality engineering, fabrication, and testing of every product we produce. We are part of The RDI Group, which has been using advanced engineering, design, and industrial expertise to solve problems for more than 120 years.
RDI brings more than fabrication capabilities to transformer skid projects. As part of The RDI Group, an organization with more than 100 years of industrial engineering and manufacturing experience, RDI provides the technical resources, manufacturing capabilities, and project support required for demanding power infrastructure applications.
Customers benefit from a highly integrated approach that brings design, engineering, fabrication, equipment integration, testing, delivery, and installation support together under one team. RDI operates a 180,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Itasca, Illinois, with in-house capabilities that include engineering, welding, painting, controls programming, UL panel builds, equipment integration, and inspection. Keeping these critical functions closely coordinated gives RDI greater control over quality, scheduling, and project execution.
Whether you are upgrading existing infrastructure, or coordinating a complex, multi-phase deployment, RDI works collaboratively with your engineering and project teams from the earliest stages. Each skid can be engineered around the equipment, loads, site conditions, access requirements, and installation constraints of the application.
This combination of more than a century of industrial experience, extensive in-house capabilities, documented engineering practices, and long-term customer support gives organizations a proven partner for critical transformer skid projects. Contact RDI to discuss your project requirements and develop a solution built for dependable installation and long-term operation.
A transformer skid is a prefabricated, skid-mounted system that integrates a transformer along with supporting electrical components such as switchgear, control panels, and wiring onto a single structural base. These systems are designed to handle voltage transformation and power distribution in industrial and utility applications.
Prefabricated transformer skids provide faster installation timelines by allowing systems to be fully assembled and tested before arriving on-site. This reduces the need for field labor and coordination between multiple contractors, helping minimize delays and installation complexity.
Yes. Transformer skids are fully customizable to meet the specific requirements of each project. Designs are based on factors such as transformer size, voltage levels, load demands, and site conditions.
Transformer skid systems are used across a wide range of industries that require reliable and efficient power distribution. Common applications include electric utilities, oil and gas operations, mining sites, industrial manufacturing facilities, and data centers.
RDI ensures quality and performance by designing, fabricating, and testing transformer skid systems entirely in-house within a controlled manufacturing environment. This allows for precise assembly, consistent quality control, and full system integration before delivery.