Alstom continues its investment....transformer repair facility

2010-12-19 Power Transmission News Power Transmission News

Alstom Grid, the global expert in electrical grid performance, has been operating in Turkey since 1966 and continues to grow its local presence. Today, Alstom inaugurated its newest and largest power transformer repair facility in Gebze, Turkey, during a ceremony chaired by Taner Yıldız, the Turkish Minister of energy and natural resources, and Patrick Kron, Alstom Chairman and CEO. 

The new service facility expands the capabilities of Alstom Grid’s existing site at Gebze, the location of a 50,000 sqm power transformer factory that has been a leading manufacturer in Turkey for over four decades. It spans an area of 4,500 sqm and is capable of providing repair, maintenance, refurbishment and redesign for all types of power transformers up to 400MVA, 400kV. This includes special purpose transformers for heavy industry, shunt reactors, High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) transformers and traction transformers, and a comprehensive oil testing laboratory providing a full range of diagnostic tests and condition based maintenance.

The facility represents an investment of approximately 10 million euros and is expected to employ around 100 direct staff and foster the creation of several more local indirect jobs via its supply chain.

Today, Alstom’s Gebze factory not only contributes critical infrastructure and services to the Turkish electrical grid, it also exports nearly 85 percent of its production to customers around the world, making it one of the country’s top 50 exporters. Alstom’s customers in the Middle East and the Mediterranean, in particular, will further benefit from a new service facility with advanced test equipment and latest industrial processes.

During his speech at the inauguration ceremony, Patrick Kron commented, “The inauguration of this new facility is the latest example of Alstom’s long term commitment to the Turkish energy industry and to the country’s export efforts. We will continue to provide strong local support to our customers such as the Turkish Electricity Transmission Corporation (TEIAS) in the development of smarter and more efficient electrical grids in Turkey, either by providing highest quality equipment such as transformers, turnkey systems, or through our local service support.”

Over its 50 year history in Turkey, Alstom has participated in several major infrastructure projects. In 2010, it produced the world’s largest special transformer, a 300 MVA electric arc furnace transformer in Gebze. Alstom Grid is a major supplier to TEIAS for a range of products, turnkey systems and automation solutions for electricity transmission.