| Company spotlight
Powering hydro’s future together
Under the leadership of CEO James Stevens, Preformed Windings is helping keep the world’s hydropower infrastructure running – through engineered quality, long-term partnerships, and a service model built for urgency
AS THE ENERGY TRANSITION accelerates, hydropower continues to play a critical role in global energy security and sustainability. Behind the scenes, companies like Preformed Windings are enabling this momentum – not just by supplying high-voltage bars and coils to refurbish essential rotating equipment, but by reshaping the way the industry thinks about quality, partnerships, and service.
At the helm of this effort is James Stevens, CEO of
Preformed Windings and recently nominated for the board of the International Hydropower Association (IHA). With deep manufacturing expertise and a customer-first mindset, James is leading the company through a period of strategic growth and innovation particularly in the hydro and nuclear industries.
Quality – built into every coil At the core of Preformed Windings’ reputation is an
obsession with quality. Specialising in the design and manufacture of high-voltage coils for the rewind of motors and generators, the company supplies critical components to OEMs, service centres, and utilities operating across more than 40 countries. “Our customers expect reliability, traceability, and
zero margin for error,” explains Stevens. “So we’ve built a process where quality isn’t inspected in – it’s engineered in from day one.” Operating from a fully integrated, purpose-built manufacturing facility in the UK, Preformed Windings utilises advanced insulation systems, custom tooling, cutting-edge technology and rigorous test procedures to ensure every coil is manufactured to exacting standards. As captains of industry, the company goes beyond manufacturing – partnering with leading institutions like the US Army Corps of Engineers to drive innovation, co-author technical papers, and help shape the future of hydro standards. A recent collaboration resulted in the publication of “Comparison of New and Old High Voltage Diamond Coil Electrical Insulation Performance for Hydro Electric Generators”, a benchmark study now influencing industry best practices. The outcome? Windings that last longer, perform
better, and reliably support even the most demanding hydropower applications—especially within plants operating with decades-old infrastructure.
Partnerships – growing together Preformed Windings takes pride in being more than
a supplier – they’re a true technical partner. Under Stevens’ leadership, the company has expanded its footprint in North America and Canada, working
closely with service providers and asset owners to respond to real-world needs. “We’re not in the business of transactional sales,”
says Stevens. “We’re in the business of building relationships based on trust, responsiveness, multi-tier partnerships and shared success.” This approach has resonated especially well in
hydropower, where planned outages and emergency repair schedules leave little room for delay or ambiguity. From rapid design iterations to on-site support and training, Preformed Windings adapts quickly to the demands of each customer – no matter the size or complexity of the project. The company’s collaborative approach is also evident in its support for industry development. Stevens’ nomination to the IHA board reflects both his leadership in advancing global best practices and his desire to play a more active role in supporting the modernisation of hydropower infrastructure worldwide.
Service – responsive by design While quality and partnerships set the foundation, it’s
Preformed Windings’ service model that truly sets it apart. In a sector where machine downtime can cost thousands per hour, responsiveness is everything. Preformed Windings prides itself on being reachable 24/7 and providing meaningful service and action to support itspartners. “We operate on the principle that when a machine goes down, time is money – and our job is to minimise that time and enhance productivity ,” Stevens explains. This ethos is reflected in the company’s streamlined quoting and production process, including: Emergency turnaround capabilities Express delivery to global locations
In-house engineering support and design validation Live customer interaction through digital platforms For many of their North American customers, this speed and flexibility has become a game-changer – especially when local supply chains are constrained or lead times from traditional vendors stretch into months.
Looking Ahead With a team that spans continents and a customer
base that includes some of the most trusted names in energy and industry, Preformed Windings is continuing to invest in the future – exploring everything from advanced diagnostics and digital documentation to sustainability-led design enhancements.
www.waterpowermagazine.com | August 2025 | 31 Meet the team
James will be a speaker at the IHA International Pump Storage Forum in Paris 9-10 September 2025, and the Preformed Windings wider team will be exhibiting at Clean Current 2025,14-17 Oct 2025 in Pittsburgh, US.
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