In 1963 ABB (erstwhile Hindustan Brown Boveri) established its Maneja production facility in the city of Vadodara in the western Indian state of Gujarat. One of the first products produced at this factory was a 25 kV (kilovolt) circuit breaker for the railways. 50 years later, ABB rolled out a 1200 kV circuit breaker and power transformer from the very same location - aptly even the voltage level was 50 times higher! The 1,200 kV products are for an ultrahigh-voltage test substation established by Powergrid, the country's central transmission utility in Bina, Madhya Pradesh.
To commemorate the historic occasion, ABB inaugurated two new manufacturing facilities for power products in Savli, on the outskirts of Vadodara. These new units are another example of ABB's 'in country for country' approach to host manufacturing close to customers.
ABB's manufacturing facilities in Vadodara already encompass power and distribution transformers, high-voltage air-insulated switchgear, instrument transformers, high-voltage machines, wind power generators, turbochargers and distribution automation equipment. The facility also hosts R&D facilities as well as advanced product and engineering training centers for customers. The new units in Savli will further expand the company's footprint, facilitate customer service and domestic growth and provide export opportunities.
The manufacturing units in Savli will produce high-voltage gas-insulated switchgear (GIS), PASS (plug and switch system) hybrid switchgear, and dry-type and oil-immersed distribution transformers. The units were built in 18 months at an investment of approximately $50 million and cover an area of about 15,000 square meters. They are equipped with the latest production and testing technologies and will serve both the growing domestic and export demand.
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 preassembled 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 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 also enhance safety and are well suited to indoor applications.
The average age of the more than 1.2 billion Indian population is around 25 years, which means there are a lot of young people with aspirations that will continue to drive economic growth. But despite growth in the country's GDP of 6 to 7 percent in the last few years, the average per capita consumption of electricity (usually linked to growth) is still only 917 kilowatt-hours (kWh) - only 32 percent of the world average of 2,892 kWh. Economic and industrial growth, high transmission and distribution losses, the integration of renewables, and the potential for improvements in energy efficiency and grid reliability are all key drivers that suggest significant prospects for greater demand for power products in India.
By drawing inspiration from the past and acting in the present, ABB can look forward to strengthening its presence in India and taking its operations from strength to strength.
