“This decision supports our in country-for-country approach and our business philosophy to locate production facilities closer to markets,” said Bernhard Jucker, head of ABB’s Power Products division. “By expanding our extensive manufacturing footprint in India, we can provide customers with an extended offering as well as deliver fast and cost-effective solutions suited to local needs.”
The facilities will be located in the western state of Gujarat and produce high-voltage gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) and PASS (plug and switch system) hybrid switchgear as well as dry-type and oil immersed distribution transformers. The facilities are expected to be operational by the end of 2012.
The new transformer factory will manufacture vacuum cast coil dry-type transformers and oil immersed distribution transformers. It will help to bridge a gap in the present product offering in India and extend the distribution transformer range up to 10 megavolt amperes (MVA), 33 kilovolts (kV), said Jucker. It will also enable localization of vacuum cast coil dry-type transformers.
ABB has expertise in the design and manufacture of transformers for special requirements that optimize space and can withstand demanding conditions. Dry-type transformers help reduce environmental impact and can be deployed in environmentally challenging conditions.
As a pioneer in GIS technology, ABB has produced products that can offer space savings of up to 90 percent compared to conventional air-insulated switchgear, said Jucker. Its PASS is a hybrid switchgear solution combines features of air- and gas-insulated technologies, and incorporates the functions of a complete switchgear bay in a single module. Compared to conventional technology, ABB`s factory-assembled solution requires up to 60 percent less space, and is easily integrated into existing substations, Jucker added.
