Zurich, March 11, 2016 – ABB, the leading power and automation group, has installed a smart low-voltage network in a cutting-edge shopping mall in Bangkok, the EmQuartier. The project is the first retail development to use ABB’s Emax 2 circuit breakers and Ekip control and connectivity features for remote management of its power grid.
ABB’s complete low-voltage solution improved the project’s delivery time by 35% and reduced engineering costs by around 60%, due to its integrated SCADA functionality.
Giampiero Frisio, managing director of ABB’s Protection and Connection business, said: “The solution developed for EmQuartier demonstrates why ABB is the technology leader in low-voltage energy. Building operators need solutions that make energy management easier and that help reduce total operating costs – ABB’s complete solutions simplify the whole process for everybody: panel builders and system integrators save time and money while making the end-user’s operations simpler to manage, safer, more reliable and energy efficient. By pioneering the introduction of more integrated, intuitive and connected low-voltage solutions, ABB is taking power and productivity to the next level.”
The EmQuartier is a 250,000 m2 luxury shopping and entertainment venue and a key part of the Mall Group’s multibillion Baht transformation of Bangkok’s business district. ABB developed the center’s low-voltage network in partnership with local panel builder PMK Group. Emax 2 circuit breakers’ built-in sensors and connectivity, configured with Ekip View supervision software enable remote monitoring, management and control of the low-voltage network at the shopping mall.
With each node in the electrical distribution network connected, everything from energy consumption to trend analysis and testing can be managed remotely. The air circuit breakers’ intuitive touchscreen user interface supports ten different languages, including Thai, helping make the network simpler to manage.
Chanapatt Pattaramaetakul, chief marketing officer of PMK Group, said: “The EmQuartier is a landmark in Bangkok’s economic development – and the development of its low-voltage network demanded a different level of innovation and quality. Working closely with ABB from the outset enabled PMK to offer a smarter solution in considerably less time.”
The solution for EmQuartier uses Emax2 circuit breakers, which can monitor, manage and even limit power consumption. Emax 2’s connectivity features enable it to integrate into a wide array of automated systems so that facility managers can receive alerts and communicate remotely via a tablet. ABB’s Ekip View supervision software connects more than 100+ Emax2 air circuit breakers with all the molded case circuit breakers (MCCBs) and other devices, like miniature circuit breakers (MCBs) and multimeters, as well as the mall’s central monitoring system.
ABB is partnering with panel builders and system integrators worldwide to support the introduction of smarter low-voltage power grids that make site management more effective and cost-efficient. Such systems can be deployed at a single site or multiple sites and supervised at a central location. Collecting detailed data from each device at a site enables operators to compare different time windows, or similar time windows at different plants. Monitoring the status of assets for issues such as contact wear, life expectancy, alarms or circuit breaker position, with notifications sent to mobile devices, can ensure more timely interventions.
ABB (www.abb.com) is a leading global technology company in power and automation that enables utility, industry, and transport & infrastructure customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in roughly 100 countries and employs about 135,000 people.
Download press release in PDF version.