The Company: ABB – a leader in energy- and automation technology – enables its clients in the utility and industrial space to improve their performance while at the same time reducing their environmental footprint. ABB’s over 135,000 employees are active in over 100 countries worldwide.
The Challenge: There is a strong rising demand for medium and high-voltage products for energy distribution such as gas-insulated switchgear (GIS), air-insulated switchgear (AIS), prefabricated stations, performance switches, and circuit breakers. ABB required a solution to enable the company to meet this demand in a flexible and efficient manner, particularly during the product development phase.
How UL Helped: Enter UL’s Data Acceptance Program (DAP). This program provides a means for UL to accept externally generated test data in support of UL Mark certification, as product investigations by UL typically involve testing of product samples. While UL maintains extensive test facilities, customers can also utilize their own or third-party facilities for product testing via the DAP. In light of ABB’s need for flexibility and ease of access to testing, DAP provided the optimal option.
ABB’s Ratingen laboratory, which conducts independent tests to national and international standards and codes, is a key resource for Medium Voltage products, not only for ABB, but also for third parties. Recognizing the Ratingen lab as qualified under UL’s DAP was the ideal solution, enabling ABB’s MV Products testing program to expand its offering’s flexibility. The official certification ceremony for the Ratingen facility took place on January 27, 2016.
“ABB and UL have not only a long-running global alliance, but also a shared laser-like focus on quality,“ states Dr. Stefan Göttlich, Leader of ABB’s Ratingen testing laboratory. “Our participation in UL’s DAP is the next strategic step in the framework of that cooperation. What I find particularly valuable is the fact that UL offers a different and useful perspective on our business. UL’s Data Acceptance Program (DAP) supports ABB in the ongoing development and enhancements of our service offerings.“
Göttlich continued,“I am looking forward to continued successful collaboration with UL as we continue to face the ever-changing challenges of the modern marketplace.“
Outcome: The ABB Laboratory and test fields in Ratingen (near Düsseldorf, Germany) is now able to provide test data for the UL mark for Medium Voltage (MV) products which were type- and development-tested at the site, and has thus expanded its portfolio of service offerings.
To talk to UL about the Data Acceptance Program, find us at Hannover Messe 2016 in Hall 9/ Stand H79 and Hall 6/Stand K01. Or you can always reach us via our contact form .