Alstom Grid expands its local portfolio and inaugurates new production line in Itajubá, Brazil

Plant will produce capacitors for power transmission projects

Alstom Grid opens today a new production line at its plant in Itajubá (MG), Brazil, to manufacture power capacitors for the electrical transmission sector. The company invested around R$ 10 million in the line. Capacitors are widely used in transmission systems to help save energy and improve power quality. When applied in static compensators, they are used for power factor correction, harmonic filtering and voltage control; or, in series compensation, they improve transmission line capacity and system stability.

This latest investment is part of Alstoms strategy to be close to its customers. By adding power capacitor manufacture on the same site as Alstoms existing air-core reactor production line, we are able to provide comprehensive locally manufactured power compensation solutions to customers in Brazil and across Latin America, says Sergio Gomes, Alstom Grids Latin America Region Vice President.

Present in Itajubá since 1976, Alstom Grids plant has over 450 employees and is one of the Companys global centres of excellence for the manufacture of instrument transformers and air core reactors. The Itajuba site also manufactures high and extra high voltage circuit breakers and disconnectors, all of which is needed for the development of Brazils power transmission infrastructure.

Having been present in Brazil for over 55 years, Alstom is committed to supporting its customers by bringing investment in latest technologies and local production. The new line in Itajubá marks another point of advancement in our project of growth in Brazil for the coming years, says Grégoire Poux-Guillaume, President of Alstom Grid.

Alstom Grid is responsible for important projects in progress in Brazil, such as a high voltage direct current (HVDC) bipole that will transmit the power generated by the Madeira River hydro power plants. This bipole will be integrated with the longest transmission line in the world - 2,375 kilometers - taking the power from the North to the Southeast of Brazil.

About Alstom

Alstom is a global leader in the world of power generation, power transmission and rail infrastructure and sets the benchmark for innovative and environmentally friendly technologies. Alstom builds the fastest train and the highest capacity automated metro in the world. It provides turnkey integrated power plant solutions and associated services for a wide variety of energy sources, including hydro, nuclear, gas, coal and wind, and it offers a wide range of solutions for power transmission, with a focus on smart grids. The Group employs 92,000 people in 100 countries and had sales of 20.9 billion in 2010/11.
In Brazil, Alstom has been present for over 55 years contributing to the development of the countrys infrastructure with more than 5,000 employees. The group has particularly played a significant role in the development of hydro and wind power.

Alstom Grid has over 100 years of expertise in electrical grids. Whether for utilities or electro-intensive industries or facilitating the trading of energy, Alstom Grid brings power to its customers projects.  Alstom Grid ranks among the top 3 in electrical transmission sector with an annual sales turnover of more than 4 billion. It has 20,000 employees and over 90 manufacturing and engineering sites worldwide. At the heart of the development of Smart Grid, Alstom Grid offers products, services and integrated energy management solutions across the full energy value chainfrom power generation, through transmission and distribution grids and to the large end user.

Press contacts

Alstom Brazil Corporate Communication:
Mariana Maciel: mariana.maciel@crn.alstom.com / Tel: +55 11 3612-7074

Alstom Grid
Emmanuelle Helleux: emmanuelle.helleux@alstom.com  / Tel: +33 1 49 01 70 87
Aline Besselièvre: aline.besselievre@alstom.com / Tel: + 33 1 49 01 69 04

Press relations: CDN Comunicação Corporativa
Paulo Ricardo Ritta: pauloricardo.ritta@cdn.com.br / Tel: + 55 11 3643-2790
Rodrigo Ferrari: rodrigo.ferrari@cdn.com.br / Tel: + 55 11 3643-2734