Video: ABB celebrates 90 years in NZ

ABB has been part of New Zealand’s electricity and manufacturing industries for 90 years.

The founding company for ABB here was ASEA, incorporated as a subsidiary of ASEA Electric NZ Limited on March 3, 1933, although ASEA had been selling products to New Zealand for many years. Prior to 1933 ASEA delivered a transformer to a Wellington customer in 1898 and supplied hydro generators in the 1920s.

In 1925, ASEA supplied a 200kW generator for the Wairere Power Station in the King Country with a second 250kW machine delivered in 1938.

Other early ABB products of note for the hydro industry included the supply of three 18,000kVA generators for the Arapuni Power station in 1930 and a 23,333kVA generator for Atiamuri in 1956.

ASEA’s HVDC technology was an integral part of the ±250kV, 600MW HVDC Interisland Link between Benmore in the South Island and Haywards near Wellington in 1965.

This was not only the third link of its kind in the world, but also unique because the voltage and current were considerably higher than had ever been attempted.

In 1988 ASEA merged with BBC to form the new company, ABB with headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland.

In 1992, Transpower upgraded the HVDC interisland link to 1240MW, ABB building the new converter stations for this and supplying and laying the new submarine cable across Cook Strait.

More recently, ABB has been involved in providing an e-mobility solution to Audi New Zealand, partnering with Shape Energy to disrupt the UPS market, providing an e-mobility solution for Z Energy and helping Watercare tackle a water drought issue in Auckland.

In Wellington, Te Papa utilises ABB’s Tmax T Molded Case circuit-breakers to ensure reliable power and protection of its museum.

ABB also replaced Genesis Energy’s control system for a hydro-electric power network covering five power stations in the North Island and installed a dynamic positioning system for the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research’s (NIWA) RV Tangaroa vessel – making it the first system of its kind in New Zealand.

The company designed, installed and commissioned traction substations to power Wellington’s recent electric rail upgrade and supplied products such as transformers, circuit breakers, low- and high-voltage switchgear and relays for Contact Energy’s new Te Mihi reinjection pump station.

ABB has also helped with active voltage conditioner technology to protect NIWA’s climate modeling supercomputer and the makers of Avatar and other blockbuster movies through Weta Digital’s post-production facility.

It supplied static frequency conversion technology to Meridian Energy for the world’s southernmost wind farm in Antarctica and opened a Centre of Excellence in Napier which specialises in manufacturing power conditioning products.

ABB sold its Power Grids business to Hitachi Energy in 2019 and its motors and generators workshops to ETEL in 2021.

It is the official charger for the latest ABB FIA Formula E electric racing series.

ABB’s New Zealand country holding officer Ken Mulcock thanks everyone involved for their ongoing support.

“Without you, we would not have achieved what we have today.”

ABB employs about 300 people across five locations nationwide. In addition to sales and service locations, it has two manufacturing facilities in New Zealand in Auckland’s Henderson and Napier.

A technology leader in electrification and automation, ABB says it enables a more sustainable and resource-efficient future with 105,000 employees globally.

To celebrate its 90th anniversary, ABB has teamed up with Singer Electric to offer a special discount rate on ABB’s Terra AC EV charger, designed for home and commercial use.

Click here for the special offer.