ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, today inaugurated two new facilities producing power products in India to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the company’s extensive Vadodara manufacturing hub in the western state of Gujarat.
The new units covering an area of about 15,000 square meters were built in 18 months at an investment of approximately $50 million and are located in Savli, close to the Vadodara facility. The new manufacturing units will produce high-voltage switchgear and distribution transformers.
“This expansion supports our ‘in country for country’ approach and is in line with ABB’s strategy of establishing manufacturing and marketing units close to customers,” said Bernhard Jucker, head of ABB’s Power Products division. “By expanding our footprint in India, we can provide customers with an extended offering and deliver solutions suited to local needs, faster and more efficiently.”
The high-voltage unit will produce gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) and PASS (plug and switch system) hybrid switchgear to serve growing demand in India and will also serve as an export hub. The new transformer factory will focus on the production of dry-type and oil immersed distribution transformers.
A pioneer in GIS technology, ABB’s latest generation GIS has a compact and modular design, enabling reductions in product volume, footprint and weight, while enhancing eco-efficiency. The PASS hybrid switchgear solution combines features of air- and gas-insulated technologies. It incorporates the functions of a complete switchgear bay in a single module, and can be installed quickly with the help of pre-assembled modules.
The new transformer factory will enhance the company’s offering in India and extend the distribution transformer range up to 10 megavolt amperes (MVA), 36 kilovolts (kV). ABB has global expertise in the design and manufacture of transformers for special requirements that optimize space and can withstand the most demanding conditions. Dry-type transformers help reduce environmental impact and can be deployed in environmentally challenging conditions. They enhance safety and are also well suited for indoor applications.
ABB is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 150,000 people.