Advanced power equipment to help metros improve reliability
Beijing, China, January 16, 2008– ABB, the leading power and automation technology company, has announced a series of orders worth RMB 240 million to supply switchgear and power transformers to the Shanghai, Tianjin and Shenzhen metro projects.
As the Chinese economy has grown, the population has become increasingly urbanized and transport services have come under pressure. This has led many major cities to embark on the construction or improvement of underground and light rail networks. The new line for the Shenzhen metro, costing RMB 7 billion, is just one example. The new line will be completed in 2010 and offer safe and convenient transport for more than 3 million local residents.
“Rail networks, especially metro systems, impose particular demands on high quality power equipment,” said Bernd Muehe, Head of Power Products Division of ABB China and North Asia. “ABB products are reliable and have optimized routine maintenance. This means they can be trusted to maintain stable power supplies for the metro projects in China’s fast-developing cities.”
Among the orders are more than 800 units of ABB’s 35-kilovolt (kV) ZX2 gas-insulated switchgear units, and the first batch of inspection-free power transmission products in China. The compact, tailor-made units incorporate a new generation of intelligent protection and control units, making them more reliable than conventional switchgear. They can be operated manually or by remote control.
The new switchgear will be provided by the ABB Xiamen Switchgear Co., Ltd, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of medium voltage switchgear and circuit breakers. The company has provided equipment orders to many of the key rail transport projects in China, including the Guangzhou, Beijing, Shenzhen and Shanghai metros and the Tianjin light rail system, all of which have exemplary safety records. Delivery of the new orders will begin in October 2008.
ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in about 100 countries and employs more than 110,000 people. ABB has a full range of business activities in China, including R&D, manufacturing, sales and service, with 12,000 employees, 25 joint ventures and wholly owned companies, and an extensive sales and service network across 38 cities. To know more about ABB, visit www.abb.com.cn.