ABB opens transformer design center in Chongqing

Chongqing, China, March 27, 2008 – ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, officially launched its transformer design center in celebrating the 10-year anniversary of its largest transformer company ABB Chongqing Transformer Co Ltd., also one of the largest transformer companies in China.

The design center, sharing ABB’s global transformer design platform and standards, will focus on tailoring designs for Chinese customers of ABB Chongqing Transformer Co. Ltd., and also support the design needs of ABB organizations in other countries.

Brice Koch, chairman and president of ABB China, and Huang Qifan, executive vice mayor of Chongqing on the ceremony

“The design center is turning ABB Chongqing Transformer Co. into a full fledged global transformer base combining design, manufacturing, engineering service and insulation material supply,” said Brice Koch, president of ABB North Asia, and chairman and president of ABB China.

Mr. Koch said, the new design center will enable ABB to become more efficient in shortening the information loops from customers to designers, manufacturing to quality performance in handling complicated products like transformers. “It will bring ABB’s expertise closer to our customers,” he said.

ABB Chongqing Transformer company's products cover AC transformers, HVDC transformers and shunt reactors, etc. With an annual production capacity in excess of 45,000 megavolt amperes, it's one of the largest transformer companies among China's top 100 electric enterprises in 2007, and has been a strong contributor to “made in ABB” and “design and made in China” in 10 country markets.

ABB is the largest transformer supplier in the world and has 5 joint venture transformer companies in China, providing the most complete transformer product portfolio. The new design center in Chongqing will reinforce ABB’s leading role in China’s transformer industry, particularly in the field of 500-kV supervoltage and high-capacity products.

The design center has gone through many years' initial growth period. During this time, many designers received trainings in ABB's global transformers design centers and R&D centers in Germany, Sweden and other countries. ABB global experts also come here frequently to work together with them. Recently, the design center has also started to send design experts to support other countries.

“We have about 55 designers in the transformer design center at this stage. But this figure grows together with customers’ design needs. I am glad to see that being able to access to ABB’s global technology pool, the design team grow up fast, making the design center one of ABB’s internal talent base its transformer business worldwide,” said Matti Stoor, ABB Chongqing Transformer Co. Ltd. General Manager.

Mr Stoor said, in fact, the design team already proved their strong capabilities in many projects including the Three Gorges Right Bank power plant and the Beijing Chengbei Substation which is to strengthen power supply for Beijing Olympics. Besides, they had also designed transformers for customers of ABB Sweden, ABB Germany, ABB USA, etc.

Mr. Koch added, ABB has kept increasing investment in China. Like in 2007, this year ABB would add another 100 million USD investment to be used for expanding and refining it’s 25 existing facilities, speeding up technology innovation and operational excellence in China.

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 12,800 employees, 25 joint ventures and wholly owned companies, and an extensive sales and service network across 50 cities. To find out more about ABB in China, visit www.abb.com.cn.