January 8, 2015

Interview with Mr. James Tabbi, President of The Transformer Association

TM: Mr. Tabbi, welcome to Transformers Magazine interview. JT: It’s my pleasure to speak with you. TM: Mr. Tabbi, you are the President of The...

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TM: Mr. Tabbi, welcome to Transformers Magazine interview.

JT: It’s my pleasure to speak with you.

TM: Mr. Tabbi, you are the President of The Transformer Association. But, before you tell us more about the association, please tell us about yourself, and also about your other responsibilities.

JT: Besides holding the position of the President of The Transformer Association (TTA), I am the President and Chief Operating Officer of the U.S.-based advanced transformer manufacturer, RAF Tabtronics LLC. I also sit on the Executive Committee of the Supplier Management Council of the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA). After becoming President of Tabtronics Inc. in 1994, I purchased the company in 1997 and led the acquisition of the Specialty Magnetics Division of CEN Electronics in 2000. Along with CEO Robert Malkani, we led the successful merger of Tabtronics Inc. with RAF Technologies Inc. forming RAF Tabtronics LLC in 2007. Today, the company creates advanced electromagnetic technologies and cost effective solutions for the world’s leading power technology companies. Currently I reside in Rochester, New York and enjoy music, cycling, skiing and yoga.

TM: We see that you have many roles. What is your educational background?

JT: I earned a Masters of Science in Manufacturing Management and Leadership in 1997, and a Bachelors of Science in Computational Mathematics in 1989, both from the Rochester Institute of Technology.

TM: Can you tell us more about The Transformer Association? What are the objectives of the association, who are the members, and how many members does it have at the moment?

JT: The Transformer Association is a manufacturing trade association whose corporate members include transformer and power supply manufacturers, their suppliers, safety agencies and consultants. Its focus is to strengthen the transformer industry in North America. The association currently has 93 member companies (39 manufacturing members, 53 supplier members) and has more than doubled in size in the past 10 years.

TM: How does the association act?

JT: TTA meets twice a year with the goal of educating members on industry and business trends and ideas, and for general networking. The members of TTA have found these meetings to be very beneficial as it allows the manufacturers and suppliers to meet in a casual yet focused setting. Members have recently learned about sales management techniques, compliance issues and technical trends relevant to the industry. There is also a special cohort of magnetic soft ferrite core manufacturers called the IMA Working Group (f.k.a. The International Magnetics Association).

TM: What type of transformer manufacturers are in the association?

JT: Currently, The Transformer Association’s manufacturing members are mostly comprised of producers of small to medium sized electrical and electronic transformers and inductors used in all types of electrical and electronic devices (as opposed to manufacturers of distribution and/or utility type transformers).

TM: What is the main market of TTA members?

JT: Although many of TTA member companies are global players, the main focus of TTA, and the primary markets of its members are the U.S and Canada. TTA member companies supply materials and components to diverse industries including consumer electronics, alternative energy, defence and homeland security, aerospace, space, and industrial controls.

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