Harbuch Electronics specialises in high quality locally made transformers, chokes & solenoid coils.

We can wind toroidal transformers up to 5kVA, small E&I transformers, audio transformers, chokes and solenoid coils. All the winding is done in Sydney by our staff and we have a focus on quality to make sure everything is done according to the appropriate specifications.

We have a wide range of audio transformers – input and output.

We can also supply finished transformers in various enclosures – mainly sheet metal or plastic boxes.

We are the sister company of Powerform Controls so between the two businesses we can create a wide range of custom electronic products – get in touch with your ideas and we’ll see if we can help.

Our History

Harbuch Electronics has been around since 1974.

It was established by Peter Buchman providing a contract assembly service for the electronics industry. Wave soldering with vapour phase cleaning was employed to enable relatively high volumes to be achieved with a small staff. A small range of audio modules was also produced which formed the nucleus for later activities. Some of these modules are still produced today, testament to their sound design.

As the company grew the product range produced and the services provided grew also. A range of modules for evacuation systems was produced as well as a number of modules for broadcast use. Around this time the company was incorporated and also formed an alliance with Syntec International who were involved in marketing a range of products to the broadcast industry. This provided the catalyst for the production of a wide range of broadcast audio products ranging from simple modules to complete consoles and studio fitouts. The success of some of these products was due to the performance of a small range of audio transformers designed and manufactured in-house for these applications.

The audio transformer range grew quite rapidly and was soon supplemented by a range of small power transformers as production capacity improved. In only a few years transformer production had taken over from audio products as the major activity. In 1989, following the turmoil in the broadcast industry new business activities were sought and this resulted in an association being formed with Antrim Transformers Ltd, a company manufacturing toroidal transformers in Northern Ireland.

Toroidal transformers had little local market penetration at this time and large quantities of transformers were imported to satisfy demand. As a result of numerous requests for special toroidal transformers, limited production capacity was installed with many of the specialised components imported from Antrim Transformers Ltd who also provided much valuable assistance technically. As demand grew so did production capacity, to the point where we now had nine winding machines and two taping machines. Winding capacity ranged from cores the size of a 5 cent coin up to 10kVA and wire sizes from 0.1mm to 3.5mm. Winding can be by side slider, belt or gear driven shuttle, or by a pneumatically powered hook winder. Taping capacity ranges from 6mm to 17mm with five different sized taping heads being available.

By 1998 approximately 60% of revenue was derived from toroidal transformer sales, some models of which were still imported from Antrim with the bulk being locally manufactured using a mixture of components imported from Antrim and sourced locally. The range now included high quality audio transformers and encased stepup and stepdown transformers for use with foreign equipment and power systems. A further 30% of revenue was derived from audio transformers with the ex-stock range now comprising several hundred models and production of specials to order occuring regularly. Audio product manufacture now accounted for only 10% of revenue.

By 2006 five more toroidal winders had been added and now approximately 95% of revenue was being derived from toroidal transformer production. The move into encased transformers for medical applications had aided in this and value adding became a more prominent part of transformer production.In early 2007 the founding owners and directors retired. The company was was aquired by Peter Terlich, who had been a long standing customer was well aquainted with the company and its products. Harbuch moved from Hornsby to Blacktown 11 July 2016.

In October 2020 Peter Terlich retired due to illness and the business was aquired by Peter McConaghy. He has been running Powerform Controls for a number of years and is looking forward to continue the Harbuch tradition of high quality local manufacturing.

FAQs

Can you wind…?

Probably! As long as it isn’t too big we’re happy to look at anything. There are some things we can’t cost effectively do in which case we’ll be up front about it.

Will you make one transformer for me?

We will and often do. It’s important to understand that it isn’t cheap though – for all transformers the design, material sourcing & machine setup time will greatly exceed the winding time. When you order one that cost is bundled into the one transformer rather than being split across many. Having said that we’re happy to do it and it may not be as expensive as you think.

Can you rewind my old transformer?

We won’t rewind your old transformer – it isn’t worthwhile – but we will wind a new transformer to match as closely as possible the old one.

To rewind an old transformer you have to pull all the old windings off – this is quite slow. It it’s an E&I transformer you have to dissolve the varnish first. The wire itself is likely to get damaged during this process. Once the transformer is apart you then have either a core or stack of laminations that we don’t know the properties of.

It’s just easier and cheaper to start again.

Will you sell me parts so I can wind my own transformer?