Beijing, December 23, 2010 -ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, recently inaugurated the ABB Low Voltage apparatus Laboratory in Xinhui, Guangdong. The new facility, located at ABB Xinhui Low Voltage Switchgear Company, has already obtained various accreditations from a number of authoritative institutes including the TÜV Rheinland Group (TÜV RH ) of Germany, the China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS), and the China Energy Label Center (CELC), proving its testing capacity has reached international standards.
Claudio Facchin, Chairman and President of ABB China, said, "Apart from enhancing our ability to test our current products, the lab will also allow us to cut our product development time to meet new market requirements and will enhance our technology leadership in the market."
An adequate testing capacity is critical to ensure product quality and enhance the R&D strength of electrical equipment manufacturing companies. ABB began preparations for the laboratory in 2008 so as to meet the increasing requirements of product development, production, and quality control. The laboratory testing services focus on low voltage switchgear and controlgear, including IP, material, performance and durability tests. The laboratory meets most standards for low voltage switchgear testing and can verify the energy efficiency grades of AC contactors.
In August 2010, the laboratory was recognized as Witnessed Manufacturers' Testing （ WMT）laboratory of TUV RH, an authoritative international accreditation body, meaning ABB does not need to send its products to TÜV RH. TÜV RH will accept the test results of ABB's Xinhui laboratory and issue reports and certifications accordingly. The test reports and certifications of TÜV RH are widely accepted by a number of countries, allowing products from ABB Xinhui Low Voltage Switchgear Company to quickly pass international trade barriers and enter the global market.
The laboratory also passed a series of stringent evaluations by CELC to qualify as an energy efficiency testing laboratory for AC contactors in 2010. With the accreditation, the facility can directly verify the energy efficiency grades of contactors made by the company.
At the end of 2009, CNAS experts carried out an on-site audit of the laboratory and inspected the testing environment, operations, and documentation, before certifying that the laboratory met the Accreditation Criteria for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories.
Established in 1995, ABB Xinhui Low Voltage Switchgear Company mainly produces low voltage moulded case circuit breakers, automatic transfer switches, pilot devices, OT switches, electronic overload relays, and contactors. The company advocates a local development strategy as one of the best global suppliers through consistent innovation in product design, process optimization, and business operations. The company has ranked among "China's Top 100 Electric Companies" since 2005, listed in Top Ten Electric Innovation Companies in 2006 and Top Ten Electric Growth in 2010. The company was also recognized among the top tier of China's High and New Technology Enterprises in 2008.
ABB (www.abb.com) 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 117,000 people. ABB has a full range of business activities in China, including R&D, manufacturing, sales and services, with 15,300 employees, 30 joint ventures and wholly owned companies, and an extensive sales and service network across 60 cities.
