ABB to power new Renault-Nissan manufacturing facility

ABB has announced it will supply energy-efficient, low-voltage power distribution solutions to the new car manufacturing facilities of Renault-Nissan and Daimler in Aguascalientes, Mexico.

The COMPAS (Cooperation Manufacturing Plant Aguascalientes) facility is a strategic joint venture of the car manufacturing companies, which will use ABB low-voltage switchgear, motor-controller, electrical panels and automated lighting systems to power the factory’s entire electrical system.

The project includes the supply of Emax 2, ABB’s first combined circuit breaker and power manager, which uses 25% less copper than traditional circuit breakers and can improve energy efficiency by up to 20%.

“Now more than ever, energy efficiency is a major factor not only in our end product, but also all along our value chain,” said Ryoji Kurosawa, COMPAS chief executive officer. “Working with ABB’s solutions helps us to achieve those goals throughout our production line.”

Renault-Nissan and Daimler have stated that they intend to produce 1.1 million vehicles per year at the new Mexican factory. According to news reports, the Mexican car industry showed a 5.6% increase from 2014 to 2015, with the production of 3.4 million cars and light trucks, in the face of robust demand.

“We at ABB are proud to provide our technological breakthroughs and expertise to Nissan and Daimler as they reduce the factory’s carbon footprint, improve energy efficiency and protect people and equipment,” said Tarak Mehta, president of ABB’s Electrification Products division. “This project supports our Next Level strategy focus on driving industrial productivity improvements and reducing energy consumption.”

The Aguascalientes factory’s electrical system will also include the System Pro E main distribution boards, TVOC-2Arc guard system and ABB’s new automated lighting solution, i-bus KNX system.

The company said the motor-control centres are integrated through System pro E power technology to safeguard personnel against electrical short circuits and to keep the system running with maximum efficiency and minimum maintenance and downtime.

For more information, go to: www.abb.com/lowvoltage.