ABB’s Longmeadow campus in Modderfontein, Johannesburg, spans 43 520 m2 with offices, manufacturing, and logistics centres. As part of the company’s strategic plan to strengthen local manufacturing, ABB has invested over R10 million to complete additional technology transfer that brings the manufacture of UniGear ZS1 medium voltage switchgear to South Africa.
Testing a full board comprising multiple panels at the Distribution Solutions factory.
[Photo credit: Crown Publications]
Previously, the product was fully imported from the Czech Republic, or other countries when needed. As a result of the latest investment, 60% to 70% of the technology will now be locally manufactured and assembled. The company’s customers will benefit from greater design flexibility, faster availability, and decreased costs due to reduced import costs and delivery times.
Commenting on this development, Yunus Hoosen, Head of InvestSA, an agency of the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition, said: “The South African switchgear market is expected to grow, driven by increasing investments in sustainable power generation as well as the growing population. This investment by ABB illustrates the importance of the domestic market to multinationals, and the strategic location of South Africa to serve a rapidly growing African market.”
Hoosen added: “The ABB investment further signifies that South Africa remains an attractive investment destination across all sectors, including the advanced manufacturing sector.”
He said, “InvestSA remains ready and committed to assist foreign and domestic investors in realising their investment in South Africa; localisation is a key part of the country’s economic reconstruction and recovery.”
ABB’s Distribution Solutions factory within the campus now employs around 120 people, ten of whom have been newly employed due to this investment. The company plans to increase these numbers, employing more permanent engineers, contractors, and graduates – through its graduate programme, for example, in which over 70 graduates are currently participating. In this way, ABB South Africa is playing its part in creating jobs – in a country with one of the highest unemployment rates in the world.
In addition to the transfer of UniGear ZS1 production, the company has started the process of increasing the localisation of its Compact Secondary Substations (CSS), due to be completed by October 2023.
Egon Worthmann, Medium Voltage (MV) Primary AIS Switchgear Manager for ABB Electrification’s Distribution Solutions division, says, “Utilities are increasingly looking to implement smart solutions to solve complex energy challenges. ABB is well placed to continue to deliver world class solutions to customers, now through local manufacturing in South Africa.” He emphasises, “The creation of job opportunities for local engineers and contractors reaffirms our commitment to the long-term development of the country.”
Built in 2009, ABB South Africa’s headquarters demonstrates the company’s early adoption of more sustainable manufacturing approaches. The facility has a 760 kWp array of rooftop solar panels that generate enough solar energy to cover around 30% of the site’s annual energy consumption of 2 400 MwH.
The Distribution Solutions factory serves customers in South Africa and other sub-Saharan countries.
For more information visit: www.abb.com
