International power management company, Eaton, has opened a new state-of-the-art campus in Helsinki, Finland, to boost its capacity to manufacture and supply uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, including its latest product, the Eaton 9395X.
Eaton has opened a new UPS manufacturing campus in Helsinki, Finland, to meet demand.
Eaton is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of three-phase UPS systems and the company’s investment in its new Helsinki campus is driven by strong growth in its business. UPS systems are in high demand, particularly in the data centre sector where the heavy processing requirements of AI applications and digital data management make continuous power supply critical, and the need for expansion likely. UPS systems are also used extensively in commercial and industrial facilities and in the healthcare sector to safeguard continuity against supply interruptions or voltage fluctuations.
The new Eaton 9395X has a footprint up to 30% smaller than similar UPS models, which is a particular benefit in data centres – and in data centre expansion – as it is in other installations too. The 9395X, which is based on silicon carbide converters, is also more energy efficient, and equipped with Eaton’s proprietary EnergyAware technology, which prioritises system continuity and supports the provision of demand-response services to national grids.
Dr Karina Rigby, President, Critical Systems, Electrical Sector, EMEA, at Eaton, says, “EnergyAware makes it possible for businesses, especially data centres, to sell flexibility services to the grid – an attractive revenue source which also delivers considerable sustainability benefit. This is because flexibility helps grid operators to bring more renewable energy on to the grid, thus offsetting the carbon impact of the flexibility provider. Supporting the energy transition in this way helps bridge the flexibility gap between the amount of variable renewable energy needed, and the corresponding flexibility required to balance it.”
Philippe Perrot, Business Unit General Manager, Critical Power Solutions, Electrical Sector, EMEA, at Eaton, further explains the rationale for the new campus. “Our business is growing so fast that we had outgrown our existing factory in the Helsinki region. Our new site is much bigger and designed to support a high-level customer experience. It will supply UPS systems primarily for data centres, but also for commercial and other sector applications, and introduce customers to the benefits of our associated low voltage product portfolio. We are already working towards expanding in Helsinki. We will grow the existing 390-strong workforce with the addition of at least 100 new employees.”
Petri Koskinen, Plant Manager at the facility in Helsinki, will oversee much of the continuing growth and is keen to work with professionals in the critical power arena. He says, “We have a rich knowledge base in Helsinki, having manufactured UPS and power conversion technology here since 1962, and we will build on that heritage. The sustainability credentials of our campus are notable, with the energy efficiency features of the building and its operation designed to be leading edge and ISO 50001 compliant.”
Jaco du Plooy, Product Marketing Manager at Eaton Africa, highlights the significance of this development. "This expansion marks a fundamental moment for Eaton in meeting the surging demand for UPS systems," he says. "The introduction of the Eaton 9395X, with its smaller footprint and enhanced energy efficiency, underscores our commitment to delivering innovative solutions tailored to the evolving needs of our customers, particularly in critical sectors like data centres.
For more information visit: www.eaton.com/za/
