International Trade Center

Turner Electric

Edwardsville

Turner Electric was founded in 1953 and quickly became the leader in transmission switches.  In 1981, Turner's product line was expanded to include substation switches and in 1988, they incorporated distribution switches.  Turner Electric is the only manufacturer of a complete range of air-break switches and accessories, from 15.5kV to 800kV.  For more than 50 years, their products have been 100% factory assembled and tested, reputed as the highest quality switch suppliers to the world's largest utilities.  Equally known for their creative designs for complex switching requirements, Turner has become the "go to" company for utility engineers worldwide when they need unique transmission or substation switch solution.

The International Trade Center at SIUE began working with Turner Electric in 2000, after the company indicated an interest in expanding its overseas presence.  Over the years, the ITC at SIUE has been helping Turner find new markets abroad and increase its export capabilities.  Turner has participated in numerous seminars as well as student projects organized by the ITC in past years.

During the last year and a half, Turner developed special interest in Brazil and turned to the ITC for assistance in identifying prospective distributors that could represent its products.

The ITC worked closely with the US Commercial Service offices in St. Louis, Missouri, as well as Sao Paulo, and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which facilitated Gold Key Services to Turner Electric.

Mike McMahon, Turner's International Sales Leader, traveled to Brazil the first week of December 2011 to participate in a series of meetings with potential distributors--all prescreened by our partners from the Commercial Service.

As a result of this process, Turner Electric was able to  appoint a new representative in Brazil to better develop expertise in the Brazilian market.

According to Mr. McMahon, the meetings in Brazil were very helpful and informative, enabling Turner to build a good starting point for a potential distribution network for their products in South America.

"Our experience working with the International Trade Center at SIUE has been a tremendous success.  We asked them to help us to find an organization to represent our products in Mexico.  We quickly received a list of four solid candidates along with detailed information and an offer to set up interviews via phone or in Mexico.  They have also provided valuable assistance (both financial and logistics) in making contacts with the US government officials for various trade missions to South America.  Every time we have requested help, the ITC at SIUE has been prompt and thorough in their responses."  --Mike McMahon, International Sales Leader

---