Siemens's power transformer plant near Mumbai goes on stream

Siemens Ltd''s new power transformer plant at Kalwa, near Mumabi was inaugurated yesterday by union power minister Sushilkumar Shinde. Spread over 40,000 square meters, the new factory was set up at an investment of Rs200 crore and to cater to the domestic as well as export markets. The company says the manufacturing facility will provide direct employment to about 500 people and indirect employment to twice as many when it goes on full production.

The new transformer plant will be able to address the heightened demand for power transmission equipment in the country by designing and manufacturing large transformers of power rating up to 600 MVA and 800 KV voltage class, which is the maximum voltage established presently in India. The factory will also produce special application transformers such as for HVDC and traction furnace applications.

In the near future, the factory will also be able to strengthen the transmission network through its 1200 KV class transformers, in view of the 1200 KV lines that are envisaged in the near future. To start with, the new facility has a capacity of manufacturing transformers totalling 15,000 MVA annually.

The Kalwa transformer factory employs the same global technology developed by Siemens at its ''centre of competence'' at Nuremberg in Germany. One of the unique features of the factory is that the transformers are manufactured in a dust-free and humidity controlled environment to ensure top class dry windings coming out of a vapour phase oven and tested under tough conditions in fully shielded test-lab. In addition to this high-end technology, the employees are intensively trained at its various plants globally to ensure that the products designed and manufactured in India are identical to anywhere in the world.

"We are very happy that our world-class transformer factory is now operational," said J Schubert, managing director, Siemens Ltd. "This has enhanced our portfolio in the power segment and we can now offer the full spectrum of products covering the transmission and distribution segment. The new factory is on par with other state-of-the-art transformer factories of Siemens worldwide and with this, we have moved one step ahead in achieving our objective of strengthening local production for domestic as well as the global markets. All this was made possible due to the unflinching support from the government of Maharashtra, who provided us the fast-track approvals and all the necessary support for the project."

Siemens''s power transmission and distribution division in India provides products, systems and solutions in the area of medium voltage and high voltage switchgear, high voltage substations up to 800 kV, protection and substation automation system and control and energy management systems."