Rsearch efforts focus on the aging of transformers
Beijing, China, November 28, 2005 - ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, announced that it has signed a cooperation agreement with Chongqing University to conduct research on the aging of transformers.
"This is the latest in a series of cooperation projects between ABB and the prestigious educational and research institutions in China," said Dr. Christian Rehtanz, head of ABB's new corporate research center in China. "For ABB as a technology-based company, innovation is our lifeblood, the key to our success. The collaboration will help to improve ABB's competitive edge and allow the academic experts to transform their inventions into competitive products in the most effective way."
Rehtanz added that ABB spends around 5 percent of its revenues on R&D each year - about $1 billion in 2004. Much of that investment is now pouring into China, to help ABB nurture local talent and build from the strong research base China has in institutions like Chongqing University.
Established in1978, Chongqing University's high voltage engineering and electrical new technology laboratory is listed among the key laboratories of the Ministry of Education in China. Renowned for its advanced research facilities, the laboratory enjoys an international reputation in the fields of high voltage and insulation technology, electrical intelligent fault diagnosis technique and new electrical technologies.
Initial discussions on the cooperation project started in 2003. After a number of in-depth discussions, ABB and the laboratory have agreed to focus their research efforts on the aging of transformers. The project also gets strong support from ABB's transformer factory at Chongqing, ABB's single largest investment in China. This will reinforce the link between the research center and the local factory.
On March 30 the ABB Group officially opened its new research center in Beijing to develop new technologies and products in the fields of power transmission and distribution applications, manufacturing technologies, and mechatronics and robotics. As part of ABB's global R&D network, the new research center underlines ABB's long-term commitment to China. It will drive innovation to a higher level and enable ABB to better meet the needs of customers in China and around the world.
The new corporate research center has set up several cooperation projects with the top universities in China, including Tsinghua University, North China Electric Power University and Tianjin University to name just a few.
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 103,000 people worldwide. ABB has a full range of business activities in China, including manufacturing, R&D, sales and service, with 8,000 employees, 24 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.