ABB expands its transformer joint venture in Guangdong

Zhongshan, China, November 10, 2006 – ABB, the leading power and automation technology company, celebrated the completion of a major expansion project in its joint venture ABB Zhongshan Transformer Co., Ltd. here today. The expanded workshop, focusing on producing 110kV, lower voltage and tailor-made transformers, will enable the company to further spread its wings in the transformer market.

“ The expansion is a response to the increasing demand for high quality and energy efficient small and special transformers.” said Peter Leupp, chairman and president of ABB China, ”It is also to further our strong commitment to Guangdong, in terms of investment and technology transfer.”

Peter Leupp said, among ABB’s 26 local companies, 6 are transformer companies. They have all been active in supporting China’s key projects from the Three Gorges to the Beijing Olympic Games, and from urbanization to rural electrification. Located in Guangdong, China’s No. 1 contributor in GDP growth, ABB Zhongshan Transformer Co., Ltd. has played an important role in supporting the fast growth of Guangdong and the Pearl River Delta Area.

Established in 1999, ABB Zhongshan Transformer Co., Ltd. has been supplying the South China market with transformers ranging from 110kV to 220kV. Last year, the company was designated by ABB Group as the key factory focusing on the production of small power transformers, serving the whole China market with 110kV, lower voltage and special tailored transformers.

In Sept 2006, ABB Zhongshan Transformer company ranked among China’s too 100 electric equipment enterprises together with 9 other ABB local companies in China. It was also awarded as the “top 10 fastest growing electric companies” with its growth rate surpassing 60%.

In order to ease the increasing market demand driven by China’s continuing fast growth in infrastructure and electrification, ABB implemented a major expansion project in its Zhongshan company.

Fred Samuelsson, President and General Manager of the company said, “At full capacity, the new factory will be able to manufacture one small power transformer of 110kV per working day. The adding of the new workshop will greatly reduce our delivery time as well as increasing production capacity. ”

Starting from 2006, ABB Zhongshan Transformer company has also started exporting products to Singapore and other nearby countries or regions.

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 around 100 countries and employs about 107,000 people worldwide. ABB has a full range of business activities in China, including manufacturing, R&D, sales and service, with 10,000 employees, 26 joint ventures and wholly owned companies, and an extensive sales and service network across 38 cities. To know more about ABB, visit www.abb.com.cn.