ABB to supply traction transformers for most powerful electric passenger locomotives

2018-10-19 ABB ABB Trade press releases

ABB has won an order of about $18 million from Indian Railways to supply traction transformers. These transformers are customized for the WAP-7 type electric locomotive. The 6000 horsepower strong locomotive can haul 24 coaches at speeds of up to 140 kilometers per hour.

The project is part of the 'Mission Electrification' initiative of the Indian Railways, which aims to convert an additional 24,000 kilometers of railways from fossil fuel to electrification. The mission also aims to enhance energy efficiency by adopting high quality equipment and facilitating the increased adoption of renewable energy in railway operations.

"We are proud to extend our long-standing relationship with the Indian Railways and contribute to the electrification of the country’s rail network. These transformers have been specially designed to deliver the highest levels of performance and efficiency," said Laurent Favre, head of ABB’s transformers business, a part of the company’s Power Grids division.

The transformers will be manufactured at ABB’s Vadodara facility in Gujarat.

ABB transformers power about half the world’s electrical locomotives and train sets, and most train manufacturers and rail operators rely on them. ABB’s traction transformers are compact, lightweight and extremely reliable. In addition to traction power solutions, ABB provides a diverse power portfolio for rail and urban transport solutions including static frequency converter stations, power quality systems, ABB AbilityTMnetwork management systems, energy recuperation and energy storage systems, system studies and dynamic traction power supply simulations based on powerful software tools.

ABB (ABBN: SIX Swiss Ex) is a pioneering technology leader in power grids, electrification products, industrial automation and robotics and motion, serving customers in utilities, industry and transport & infrastructure globally. Continuing a history of innovation spanning more than 130 years, ABB today is writing the future of industrial digitalization with two clear value propositions: bringing electricity from any power plant to any plug and automating industries from natural resources to finished products. As title partner in ABB Formula E, the fully electric international FIA motorsport class, ABB is pushing the boundaries of e-mobility to contribute to a sustainable future. ABB operates in more than 100 countries with about 147,000 employees. www.abb.com