Doble Engineering Company has spent more than a century as a vanguard in protecting the world’s electrical systems. Established in 1920 by Frank C. Doble, the company set new standards of reliability from the outset. Its early breakthroughs, the portable insulation tester and the safety communication telephone for field engineers, redefined how the industry operated. By 1934, when Doble hosted its first client conference, it was already cultivating collaboration decades before it became a management mantra. Soon after, it codified global benchmarks such as the Transformer Oil Purchase Specification. At every stage, Doble has translated innovation into trust, shaping the very lexicon of reliability in energy.
Today, the company’s expertise spans every essential layer of the grid. Its portfolio includes advanced testing instruments, real-time condition monitoring systems, high-power test solutions, forensic laboratory services, specialized consulting, and even cybersecurity to safeguard an increasingly digital utility ecosystem. Backed by more than 400 professionals, Doble supports 5,500 customers across 110 countries. It is not merely a provider of tools but a long-standing partner in resilience. For utilities worldwide, the Doble name continues to signify knowledge, precision, and unwavering dependability.
At ETES 2025, hosted by Electrical Mirror, The Interview World engaged in an exclusive conversation with Nithyananda Ramu, Regional Sales Manager – Systems, Doble. In this exchange, he outlined the breadth of Doble’s solutions in the electrical domain, emphasized the unique value the company brings to the power sector, and offered insights into its expanding portfolio of digital products. He also highlighted the emerging opportunities in electrical equipment management and reflected on the strong market response to Doble’s digital offerings. The following are the key insights from his compelling conversation.
Q: Could you elaborate on the range of solutions and products Doble provides in the electrical power domain, and how they address the critical challenges of testing, diagnostics, and asset reliability?
A: At Doble, we deliver two core categories of solutions: advanced electrical testing equipment and real-time monitoring systems. Both are designed to safeguard critical substation assets such as high-voltage transformers, CTs, PTs, cables, and GIS units.
The first category, testing products, requires planned shutdowns. Engineers perform controlled assessments to verify asset integrity and identify vulnerabilities before they escalate.
The second category, online monitoring, removes the need for downtime. Here, our systems operate under live conditions, continuously capturing and analyzing performance data. From this data, we generate precise diagnostics and determine the corrective measures necessary to extend the life and reliability of each asset.
Q: What distinctive value does Doble bring to the electrical power sector?
A: Over time, the quality of asset manufacturing has declined, which makes rigorous monitoring more critical than ever. Unlike older equipment built with greater durability, modern systems often experience faults soon after installation. These faults must be detected and addressed at the earliest stage through timely testing and precise diagnostics.
Once the system stabilizes, its performance improves significantly. Here lies the true value of our solutions. By enabling early detection and corrective action, we minimize shutdowns and accelerate recovery. As a result, we have substantially reduced downtime while enhancing the long-term reliability of the power system.
Q: With digitization now indispensable in the power sector, what digital solutions and platforms does Doble offer to support smarter testing, monitoring, and decision-making?
A: Yes, these are all online monitoring solutions, exactly what I was describing. The measurements are captured directly at the assets, and all the data is transmitted to the control center. How does this work? One method is through IC67850, which allows data to be sent directly to the control center. Once there, we can visualize it in real time. Moreover, the data can be accessed remotely from anywhere using the asset’s IP address. Essentially, this eliminates the need to be physically present at the asset. You can monitor all assets efficiently from any control room or location with network access, gaining full oversight of asset performance at all times.
Q: What growth opportunities do you foresee in the electrical equipment management segment?
A: Until now, offline testing was widely accepted and highly valued for monitoring purposes. However, monitoring has now advanced significantly. Conducting tests during shutdowns, allocating manpower, and managing logistics were all challenging. Previously, a person had to be physically assigned to perform the testing, which was time-consuming and resource-intensive.
Now, this burden has been greatly reduced. You can assess the performance of your system remotely, from a single location. We have fundamentally transformed this process compared to the routine testing methods we relied on in the past, making monitoring far more efficient and streamlined.
Q: How has the market responded to Doble’s digital products, and what trends do you observe?
A: Our products are performing well. Currently, only about 10% of operations rely on online monitoring, while the remaining 90% still follow offline methods. However, online adoption is gradually increasing. By comparison, in the Middle East and Western countries, the ratio is closer to 60-40 in favour of online monitoring. This shows that we are steadily gaining ground and making significant progress in expanding online monitoring adoption.
