Innovative technology to help client improve productivity
Shanghai, China, February 21, 2006 - ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, said today it has won an RMB 14 million contract to supply rectifiers to an equipment upgrading project for Alcan Ningxia Aluminum Company Limited.
"This is the first order awarded to ABB Xi'an High Power Rectifier Co., Ltd. since its establishment in June last year and we regard it as a stepping-stone into China's rectifier market," noted Remo Luetolf, Group Vice President, Head of Power Electronics and Medium Voltage worldwide and Head of Automation Products North Asia.
Located in West China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Alcan Ningxia Aluminum Company Limited is a joint venture between Montreal-based aluminum multinational Alcan Aluminum Limited, Qingtongxia Aluminum Company and Ningxia Electric Power Development and Investment Co. with total investment of RMB 2.388 billion.
"We are very pleased to have ABB on board as allied equipment supplier. ABB's innovative and well-proven rectifier technology will help to lift our productivity by 17%," said Ivan Bauret, Alcan's chief technical officer.
Under the terms of the contract, ABB will supply eight units of high power rectifiers with each powered at 40kA/1300Vdc. These products are going to be delivered in April 2006. The rectifiers will be used to supply DC power needed in aluminum electrolysis for production.
Except that the semiconductors and the voltage protection are to be imported from Switzerland, the contracted rectifiers are fully designed and produced by ABB Xi'an High Power Rectifier Co., Ltd. Established in 2005, the joint venture is the only manufacturer of the ABB Group in China for high power rectifier systems, who is committed to and specialized in designing and manufacturing of such equipment and the related on-site installation, commissioning and training services. Its products are widely used in the industries of aluminum electrolysis, zinc electrolysis, copper, chlorine, etc. The total potline current of this project is 350kA, and the current for a single unit is up to 70kA.
ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impacts. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 104,000 people worldwide. ABB has a full range of business activities in China, including manufacturing, R&D, sales and service, with 8,000 employees, 25 joint ventures and wholly owned companies, and an extensive sales and service network across 30 cities. To know more about ABB, visit www.abb.com.cn.