Japan-based Mitsubishi Electric Power Products, Inc. opened its $200 million, 350,000 square foot, North American transformer factory at Rivergate Industrial Park in Memphis, Tennessee, with plans to create 275 jobs in the region.

"This facility is our largest single investment in the United States and represents our commitment to provide reliable energy infrastructure as the power grid continues to expand in North America and internationally, " said Kenichiro Yamanishi, president and CEO of Mitsubishi Electric Corporation. "This facility will significantly increase our transformer manufacturing capacity and allow us to stay competitive in the robust global energy market."

The Memphis facility is capable of producing the largest power transformers in the world, with voltage levels exceeding 765 kV - the highest system voltage used in North America for efficiently transmitting electric power. These units contain tons of precisely machined steel and copper windings and can exceed 400 tons in shipping weight. The facility's testing systems, used to verify the quality and integrity of these high voltage transformer applications prior to shipment, are among the largest and most advanced in the world. The Memphis factory has already received orders from Dominion Virginia Power and Southern California Edison for transformers to be delivered in 2013 and early 2014.

"We're pleased to be opening this 21st century transformer factory in Memphis. We chose this city because of its great logistics and its pro-business culture," said Brian Heery, president and CEO of Mitsubishi Electric Power Products. "We're off to a fast start, both training employees and developing local suppliers. We're excited about bringing the electric power industry into the Memphis economy."