ABB wins R32 million order for Alpha upgrade to increase kiln throughput

September 2003 News

ABB, a leading power and automation group, has received a R32 million process automation contract from Alpha South Africa for the upgrade of Alpha's kiln 3 at Dudfield near Lichtenburg. The use of the latest technology in this project will increase production of the kiln. The new filters will help reduce stack emissions to well below internationally applied standards.

The order includes the process automation hardware and software design for the entire plant, automation, and field instrumentation, supply of low and medium voltage switchgear, installation and cabling. ABB will replace the existing AC450 DCS system at the site with an AC800M and operator IT system, supply five 525 V a.c. motor control centres (MCC), a 6,6 kV panel switchboard as well as two distribution transformers and one converter transformer. Two water-cooled ACS 1000 as well as five ACS600 variable speed drives will be sourced from ABB in Denmark and a 400 kW a.c. induction motor will come from Finland.

"ABB will use its latest technology to provide Alpha with the most effective system application to benefit their production processes," says Urs Leuenberger, ABB South Africa senior vice president. The new equipment will be installed during Alpha's shutdown period in August to November this year.

ABB ( www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 133 000 people.

ABB in southern Africa ( www.abb.com/za) employs close to 2800 people and has operations in Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. ABB South Africa manufactures and supplies power and automation technology products and specialises in electricity infrastructure and industrial automation projects.

For more information contact ABB, 011 617 2175, www.abb.com/za

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