ABB
ABB SOUTH AFRICA
Power and Automation
Pioneers PRODUCTION: William Denstone
We all know ABB as a global leader in industrial technology, with a history of innovation spanning more than 130 years. Present in South Africa since 1992, the group has a strong local manufacturing capability with three sites around the country, and continues to be behind some of the landmark projects on the continent today.
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ABB is a pioneering technology leader in power grids, electrification products, industrial automation and robotics and motion. One of the world’s foremost power and automation engineering companies, it develops solutions for the secure and energyefficient transmission and distribution of electricity.
TECHNOLOGICAL GIANTS With a portfolio ranging from robots that can print cars and huge electrical transformers to control systems that manage entire power networks, ABB seeks to increase productivity in utilities, industry and transport and infrastructure settings globally. The group’s complete solutions for utilities include electrical power
infrastructure for transmission and distribution networks and power plant automation, while on the industries side, ABB takes care of systems, products and services in mining, metals and minerals. Innovation is at the forefront of everything that ABB does, with a long history and a rich heritage of technological innovation having
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INDUSTRY FOCUS: TECHNOLOGY
// ABB PROVIDES A WIDE RANGE OF INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS FOR THE RAIL SECTOR AND REMAINS THE PARTNER OF CHOICE FOR ENABLING A STRONGER, SMARTER AND GREENER GRID // seen it pioneer many of the power and automation technologies that drive modern society: ABB delivered the world’s first power-from-shore solution for an offshore rig, and introduced the first high voltage direct current (HVDC) technology more than 60 years ago. Today, it is responsible for around half the world’s current HVDC installed base. ABB scientists and technologists are endlessly innovating an exhaustive range of products, systems and services that increase energy efficiency, reliability and productivity. With more than four decades at the forefront of digital technologies, ABB is a leader in digitally connected and enabled industrial equipment and systems, and has amassed an installed base of more than 70,000 control systems connecting 70 million devices.
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ABB IN AFRICA ABB has been present across Africa since 1926, and had its first office in Cairo, Egypt where it continues to manufacture a range of power and automation products to serve the rising local demand for increased electrical infrastructure. Now more than 80 years later it also holds major offices in key countries throughout the territory, including in Algeria, Morocco, and Kenya. In South Africa, ABB’s head office, logistics and manufacturing centre is located at Longmeadow, Johannesburg, a new R500 million premises boasting 17,800m2 of office space and 22,000m2 of warehousing and factory. Here is the hub of several important manufacturing operations, including medium voltage switchgear, high voltage protection and a robotics programming and servicing centre.
“Longmeadow was designed with an impressive depth of research and focus on design, construction and facilities management automation, resource efficiency, recycling and ongoing minimal environmental impact,” says ABB of its headquarters, “to ensure that the site is a shining example of ABB environmental best practice.” Energy efficiency was at the forefront of the facility’s design, and key green elements have been incorporated, including solar panels, a grey-water recycling system and energy-efficient lighting. According to ABB, “the building has enabled a major reduction in energy use, unprecedented in South Africa, and sets a new benchmark for energy efficiency in green buildings in the country.” ABB’s projects not only in South Africa, but also further
ABB SOUTH AFRICA
afield in Africa, have long garnered attention for their creativity and attention to detail, no matter the job. Take for example the major 2004 work undertaken to upgrade Algeria’s power grid, through supplying turnkey substations and control systems. Or, more recently still, completion of the biggest rehabilitation project in the history of Egypt’s hydroelectric power industry, modernising the Aswan hydroelectric power plant. In South Africa itself, ABB hit the headlines for installing the control system, software and instrumentation solution for all six of the 800-MW generating units at Kusile. The supercritical plant is set to be the world’s fourth-largest coal-fired power station. Along with the Venetia mine expansion, ABB is having great success in ongoing large-scale South African projects. ON THE RAILS Next in a long line of landmark operations for ABB is the supply of substation equipment and engineering solutions for a 530-kilometre long high-speed electric line, to connect Dar es Salaam and Makutupora. It is by no means ABB’s first foray into rail territory, having already manufactured traction transformers and associated products for some 240 freight locomotives to boost South Africa’s expanding electric rail fleet. This new project is part of a larger plan to provide a crucial link between Tanzania’s most important port of Dar es Salaam and the country’s interior hub, which also serves as a vital crossroads for northsouth railway linkages. Tanzania, home to well-known game parks and destinations like Mount Kilimanjaro remains largely rural but aspires to become a regional transport hub between its port cities and hinterland areas
and neighbouring land-locked countries. When complete will create a development corridor to sustain future growth. ABB’s equipment will help power two separate but adjoining eastwest rail lines – the Dar es Salaam – Morogoro railway line (DSM), and the Morogoro – Makutupora railway line (MDM). The new high-speed electric rail line will replace a slow, narrow-gauge line built more than 100 years ago and no longer suitable for the high-speed transport of cargo and passengers. ABB will deliver a complete engineering solution and most of the key products, such as the substation automation control and protection system and ABB AbilityTM OCC (Operational Control Centre). “ABB is pleased to be part of
Tanzania’s pioneering effort to build the first modern electric rail infrastructure in East Africa and encourage sustainable mobility in Africa,” said Patrick Fragman, head of the Grid Integration business unit, a part of ABB’s Power Grids division. “ABB provides a wide range of innovative solutions for the rail sector and remains the partner of choice for enabling a stronger, smarter and greener grid.”
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ENTERPRISE AFRICA
MAR CH 2019