Keeping A Step Ahead With Updated Production, Testing Facilities

ABB Turbo Systems of Baden, Switzerland, has enlarged and centralized its local production facilities and modernized its turbocharger testing equipment to maintain its standards and to keep up with the shorter delivery times and demands of technology. The company designs, develops and manufactures Exhaust Gas- Turbochargers for the diesel and gas engine power range of above 500 kW. The company recently unveiled its new production hall, which is attached to the present manufacturing premises and measures 413.3 x 98.4 x 49.2 ft. (126 x 30 x 15 m). The total investment in this new facility alone was more than $16.5 million, with more than half of that going toward new machinery. The new hall is used for the machining of large turbocharger casings and the assembly of large turbochargers, activities that were previously done in another hall some distance further. By housing all production activities under one roof, communications and logistics are improved immeasurably. New machining centers will enable the company to produce large turbocharger casings with a more flexible schedule.

In all, the new production site allows for a considerable reduction in lead time, lower tolerances in machining, more flexibility in turbocharger types and specs, and optimized stock management. In addition to the production center, ABB introduced its new turbocharger testing facilities for efficient thermodynamic mechanical trials. The new test center includes five independent test halls with seven test beds, to accommodate the entire range of ABB turbochargers. The highly automated center allows for 24-hr. un-manned operation. By concentrating all turbocharger trial in one building, the manufacturer expects to receive more efficient operations and fast successions of tests; faster analysis of results leading to shorter re-design cycles; and a massive reduction in gas and noise emissions.