A reliable power transmission line starts not with the conductors, but with the tower. The tower bears the weight of the conductors, wind and ice loads, span tension, and forces at line direction changes. A mistake in calculating or selecting the tower type can cost more than the structure itself — resulting in emergency outages, unplanned repairs, and risks to personnel.
Metalinvest specializes in manufacturing power transmission line towers for overhead power lines with voltage classes from 0.4 kV to 110 kV and above. Our products include steel lattice towers, angle towers, and anchor towers, manufactured according to standard designs or individual customer drawings, with hot-dip galvanizing for long-term corrosion protection. We supply towers to energy companies, contractors, construction and industrial enterprises throughout Ukraine.
Manufacturing Power Transmission Towers: How It Works
Manufacturing a power transmission tower is not simply a matter of mass production. It is an engineering process in which every stage affects how long the tower will operate without repairs.
Technical specifications and load calculation. At the initial stage, the line voltage class, terrain type (open, forested, mountainous), regional wind and ice loads, line turning angle (for angle towers), and span length are determined. These parameters define the required steel section, tower height, and foundation connection method.
Design. For standard transmission lines, proven tower designs that comply with applicable standards are used. For non-standard conditions — complex routes, increased loads, or limited space for tower installation — an individual design is developed.
Steel structure manufacturing. Depending on the design, the tower is assembled from steel angle sections or tubular sections using welded and bolted connections. Lattice towers are manufactured in sections for easier transportation and on-site assembly.
Hot-dip galvanizing. The finished steel structure is immersed in molten zinc, creating a protective coating designed to provide long-term corrosion protection. This is particularly important for structures that remain exposed to weather conditions for decades.
Delivery and installation support. Towers are delivered to the site either disassembled or partially assembled. Technical support for installation can also be provided if required.
Power transmission towers can be manufactured according to a standard design (faster and more cost-effective) or according to an individual customer drawing when standard solutions do not meet the requirements of a specific route or load.
Steel Lattice Power Transmission Towers
A lattice tower is a three-dimensional truss structure made of steel angle sections connected into triangular sections. This design provides high structural strength with a relatively low steel weight compared with solid-wall towers.
Applications:
- long-distance transmission lines where reducing the amount of steel per kilometer of route is important;
- regions with increased wind and ice loads, where the lattice structure provides effective load distribution;
- high- and extra-high-voltage lines (35 kV, 110 kV and above), where considerable tower height is required.
Advantages over reinforced concrete towers:
- Lower weight during transportation and installation — heavy lifting equipment may not always be required;
- Repairability — a damaged section can be replaced without dismantling the entire tower;
- Resistance to mechanical loads with potentially smaller foundation dimensions;
- Long service life with high-quality galvanizing — unlike reinforced concrete, steel structures do not suffer from internal reinforcement corrosion.
Angle Power Transmission Towers
Where a power transmission line changes direction, a standard straight tower may not withstand the lateral load — the conductors pull the structure sideways with a force proportional to the turning angle. This is why angle power transmission towers are used: reinforced structures specifically designed to withstand this lateral force.
Key features:
- reinforced foundations and additional bracing to compensate for the lateral pull of the conductors;
- calculation of the angle load depends on the turning angle, number of conductors, and climatic loads in the region;
- installed at points where the transmission route changes direction and often combined with the function of an anchor tower when the turning angle is significant.
Choosing the wrong tower type — for example, using an intermediate tower instead of an angle tower at a line turn — is one of the common causes of conductor failures during the early years of operation.
Anchor Power Transmission Towers
An anchor tower is a “fixing point” of a power transmission line. Unlike an intermediate tower, which primarily supports the conductors between spans, an anchor tower is designed to withstand the conductor tension from both sides and securely fix the position of the line.
Where anchor towers are typically installed:
- at the beginning and end of each line section;
- at crossings with roads, other power transmission lines, and utility infrastructure, where required by applicable standards;
- at intervals along long transmission lines to limit the potential area of cascading conductor failure in the event of an accident;
- at locations with significant changes in terrain or line direction.
Anchor power transmission towers have a reinforced structure compared with intermediate towers — thicker steel sections, a more robust base connection, and a reinforced foundation. This is intentional: in the event of a conductor failure, the anchor tower helps limit the extent of damage to a single section rather than allowing it to propagate along the entire line.
Why Metalinvest
- Manufacturing power transmission towers according to standard designs and individual customer drawings
- Full production cycle: load calculation → manufacturing → hot-dip galvanizing → delivery
- Steel lattice, angle, and anchor towers for 0.4–110 kV and higher-voltage lines
- Supply to energy companies, contractors, industrial and private facilities throughout Ukraine