ABB wins $16 million traction transformers order in Switzerland

ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has won orders worth $16 million from train manufacturers Bombardier and AnsaldoBreda, to supply traction transformers for their high-speed V300ZEFIRO trains to be operated by TrenItalia the primary train operator in Italy. The orders were booked in the first quarter.

The traction transformers are slim, compact and lightweight, with an integrated cooling system. They have multi-system capability, which allows them to operate at different voltage levels. They will be manufactured at the company’s Sécheron unit in Geneva, Switzerland and the delivery will be completed in 2012.

The transformers will be under-frame mounted and are designed for cross-border service enabling the trains to cover the entire Italian rail network as well as run on high-speed international routes such as France, Switzerland, Germany and Austria. The Zefiro trains have a 600 passenger capacity and can reach speeds of up to 360 kmph (kilometers per hour) – capable of connecting Milan with Rome in just over 150 minutes.

“The reliability, compactness and overall design of these transformers is ideal for such high-speed applications, ensuring high performance and energy efficiency,” said Markus Heimbach, head of ABB’s global Transformers business, a part of the company’s Power Products division.

ABB manufactures and services systems, subsystems and components used in modern urban, conventional and high-speed rail applications. This includes rail infrastructure and rolling stock, as well as FACTS (flexible alternating current transmission systems) and network management solutions like SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition).

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 124,000 people.