Ray Birley started in the transformer industry in 1955 at Parmeko Ltd as a Student
	Apprentice. After the first three years of his apprenticeship, during which time he 
	was trained in the Transformer Test, Electronic Equipment Test,Wiring and Assembly
	Departments, he was moved into the Transformer Design Department and trained in 
	the design of Interservice Standard Hermetically Sealed and Open Type C-core 
	transformers, Open Laminated and Toroidal transformers. 

	He achieved the Higher National qualification in 1959 and continued for a further 
	6 years taking Engineering Physics and Electronics subjects.  

	In 1961 he moved to the Brush Electrical Engineering Company where he was involved
	with Insulation Materials under High Voltage Stress as well as investigating the cause
	of service failures of Rotating Machines and Electrical Switchgear. He was heavily 
	involved with investigating and evaluating wire enamels that were comparitively new at
	that time. 

	He returned to Parmeko in 1964 and worked in a newly formed Magnetics Development
	Laboratory. He was involved in specialist designs and developed the range of transformers
	using waste free laminations that is commonly used today. With the evaluation he did at
	the Brush Company on wire enamels he was able to change the methods of manufacture
	of transformers operating at below 500 volts from interleaving between the layers to
	bobbin wound transformers without layer insulation. Also the relative levels of magnetic
 	induction and current densities in the windings were changed to meet improvements in
	the basic materials used in the manufacture of transformers.These changes form the
	basis of transformer designs throughout the industry today.

	During his years in the laboratory he became Deputy Head and was involved with design
	and development of Saturable Reactors, Current Transformers, Magnetic Amplifiers,
	High Voltage Pulse Transformers for Natural Gas Ignition and many more specialist
	applications. 

	In 1977 he formed his own company to design and manufacture transformers from 


	small ferrites to large 100 kVA Three Phase types. During this time he became a 
	member of BEAMA on the small transformer section, representing them on the BSI
	Technical Committee Panel PEL96 as well as being a UK deligate for the IEC Panel 
	that was preparing the standard that we use today IEC/BS EN 61558. 

	AS RB Designs he was co-opted back onto the PEL96 panel. He now attends PEL96 
	on behalf of the International Coil Winding Association of which he is a Honorary 
	Member. He is also the Chairman of the ICWA Transformer Manufacturers 
	Technical Committee.