ABB is entering the US market for electric vehicle charging solutions with the launch of its Terra 51 direct current (DC) charger, marking the start of a massive infrastructure rollout that will further drive the mass adoption of electric mobility. The Terra 51 will be manufactured in New Berlin, Wisconsin and is available for delivery in the second half of this year.

The Terra 51 is an DC fast charger that reduces electric vehicle charging times from eight hours, using regular alternating current (AC), to as little as 15 to 30 minutes. The Terra 51 was initially launched in Europe in 2010 as the region’s first commercially available DC charging station and is well established as the leading fast charger in terms of installed base, reliability and functionality. ABB will showcase the Terra 51 and its robust and smart connectivity solutions for operators at the 26th International Electric Vehicle Symposium (EVS26) May 6-9 in Los Angeles.

The growing number of electric vehicles is driving a global market demand for charging solutions that include sophisticated monitoring systems and software to support the electric grid. ABB recently started rolling out the world’s first DC charging infrastructure with full nationwide network coverage of 200 chargers in Estonia.

The Terra 51 comes standard with a full range of cloud-based services that provide connectivity, security, applications and support and enable operators to get the most out of their charging infrastructure. All Terra chargers are connected to a robust IT network providing software upgrades, remote maintenance, servicing and monitoring. Connectivity also puts more analysis and control functions in the hands of grid operators to help them ensure better power quality in the grid. The Terra 51 is CHAdeMO certified and will also be compliant with all the relevant US safety directives before start of deliveries.

The Terra 51 services all DC fast-charge capable cars that are currently on the market. At EVS26, ABB will also showcase the first prototype of a Terra 51 that supports the Combo charging standard, adopted by US and European carmakers.

Future product introductions in the US will include the Terra Smart Connect (SC), which is a more cost-effective “park and charge” solution for locations where people can easily spend one or two hours and do not necessarily require a 15-30 minute fast charge.

The Terra 51 and Terra SC are showcased at ABB’s booth #1137 at EVS26 in the LA Convention Center. For pictures and more information about the Terra 51, please visit http://www.abb.com/abblibrary/DownloadCenter/?showresultstab=true&categoryid=9AAC172658

ABB reported higher orders and revenues in the first quarter of 2012, led by growth in North America. Operational EBITDA declined 7% compared to the same quarter a year earlier while net income was up 5%.

Orders were 2% above the very high levels in the first quarter of 2011, driven mainly by utility investments in power distribution and industrial demand for automation solutions that increase productivity. Order growth mirrored regional economic trends and was weakest in China and southern Europe. Service orders were up 9% and represented 20% of total orders, reflecting progress in implementing the service growth strategy.

Revenues increased in all divisions and were 8% higher than the same quarter a year earlier, led by 21-percent growth in Discrete Automation and Motion (15% organic) and 9% in Power Products. Revenues were also supported by the strong order backlog, which continued to grow in the first quarter and is now at a near-record $29.9 billion. Service revenues grew 12%.

Operational EBITDA was $1.2 billion with an operational EBITDA margin of 13.9%, down 1.8%age points versus Q1 2011 on continuing mix and price pressure that were partly offset by positive volume impacts and cost savings of approximately $260 million.

ABB Signs Licensing Agreement With ECOtality  for EV charging systems in North America

Agreement to Utilize the Blink® EV Charging Network includes additional venture capital investment in ECOtality

ABB has announced it has signed a $5 million non-exclusive licensing agreement with ECOtality, Inc. (NASDAQ: ECTY), a leader in clean electric transportation and storage technologies, to utilize ECOtality’s Blink® Network for ABB’s electric vehicle (EV) charging systems.

The Blink Network is a robust operating platform that enables EV charging providers to integrate with utilities and other third parties to facilitate data exchange, utility services, energy management, media communications, and membership and payment programs. The Blink Network provides EV drivers the freedom to travel as they choose and conveniently charge at Blink enabled commercial locations along the way.

Concurrently, ABB made a follow-on investment in ECOtality of $5 million in the form of convertible debt. This investment follows the $14 million venture capital investment ABB made in the company in 2011. ABB’s EV infrastructure portfolio was strengthened last year following the acquisition of Netherlands-based Epyon, an early leader in electric vehicle charging infrastructure solutions, including DC fast charging systems and associated back-office systems which can be connected to various Business-to-Consumer service platforms such as the Blink Network.

How to reset a tripped ACS550

Today, ABB is reporting solid fourth quarter performance, with 2011 net income up 24%:

• Orders rise 17% (10% organic), revenues up 16% (10% organic)
• Full-year orders hit $40B for first time, record revenues of $38B
• Q4 operational EBITDA up 18%, net income 19% higher
• $1.7B cash from operations in the fourth quarter
• Board of Directors proposes dividend of CHF 0.65 for full year, up 8% versus 2010

Complete details can be found at: http://www.abb.com/cawp/seitp202/9e3b7c54cb3add6ac125799c0032e726.aspx

The five major automation foundations, including the FDT Group, Fieldbus Foundation, HART Communication Foundation, PROFIBUS & PROFINET International, and OPC Foundation have developed a single common solution for Field Device Integration (FDI). These foundations have combined their efforts to form a joint company named FDI Cooperation, LLC. The organizations is headed by a “Board of Managers”, which is composed of the representatives of the involved organizations, as well as managers of global automation suppliers including ABB, Emerson, Endress+Hauser, Honeywell, Invensys, Siemens, and Yokogawa.

FDI’s mandate is to develop a single technology for the management of information that comes from all intelligent devices throughout all areas of the plant. The mission of FDI LLC is to do the following:

• Complete the standardization of FDI under the IEC (International Electrotechnical Commission).
• Manage the FDI Specification.
• Finalize the FDI tool kits for system and device manufacturers.
• Promote and provide high quality technology support for FDI, independent of and common for the respective communication protocols.
• Preserve end users’ and automation manufacturers’ investments by providing state-of-the-art technology that is fully backward compatible.
• Ensure stability, interoperability and compatibility of FDI-based products.

In the past, the development of such uniform technology was inhibited by too many different interests from organizations and automation manufacturers, resulting in the creation of disparate technical solutions. The current solutions – EDDL (Electronic Device Description Language) in various formats and FDT (Field Device Technology) – have their strengths and weaknesses, but also overlap to a large extent and thus lead to additional expense for users and manufacturers. Efficient and economically viable device integration requires multiprotocol, standardized technology that makes device information available across systems and applications from different manufacturers.

FDI technology will provide a scalable solution that users can deploy in applications ranging from simple configuration to complex management of the most sophisticated field devices for the various tasks associated with all phases of their lifecycle, from configuration, commissioning, and diagnostics to calibration. This makes different solutions for different devices obsolete. FDI is a unified solution that addresses end user requirements across the spectrum.

FOUNDATION fieldbus, PROFIBUS, and HART all use EDDL as a core technology, but they all use slightly different variations of the technology. The FDI Cooperation has harmonized EDDL across communication protocols. This enables FDI to provide single cross protocol FDI Design and Test Tools including a common EDD Interpreter. EDDL harmonization is now complete, and this facilitates the second step -- harmonization between EDDL and FDT technologies. This is the ultimate goal of FDI.

In November of 2011 at the NAMUR meeting in Germany, FDI device packages were used for the first time to integrate FOUNDATION Fieldbus, HART, and PROFIBUS field devices from various manufacturers within an ABB process control system. Typical applications, such as parameter assignment, configuration, diagnostics, and maintenance, were demonstrated. The purpose of the working prototype was to verify the FDI concepts, apply the standard host components in a system context, and demonstrate FDI functionality. This successful demonstration leads to organizations' next steps:

• First draft of the FDI specifications was published at the end of 2011.
• Completion of Conformance test concepts to occur mid-2012.
• Completion of the validation and release of the FDI specifications for member review within the foundations (mid-2012).
• Completion of the FDI standard host components, such as EDD Engine and User Interface (UI) Engine by the FDI Cooperation (end of 2012).

The primary benefit of FDI is that end users with either an FDT or EDDL-based host will have a single source solution for managing the wealth of functionality and information from intelligent field devices. Users will no longer need to manage disparate device descriptions, which will reduce the costs associated with maintaining assets in the field.  FDI combines the advantages of FDT with those of EDDL in a single, scalable solution. FDI is applicable to a wide range of tasks over the entire lifecycle of the plant for both simple and the most complex devices, including configuration, commissioning, remote diagnostics, calibration, and more.

According to a recent report from IMS Research, pumping applications account for the majority of the global medium voltage motor control centers market. From an industry perspective, this market is heavily concentrated in the oil & gas and mining sectors, which account for more than half of total revenues in 2010. Other notable industries in this market included chemicals, commercial HVAC, power generation, pulp & paper and water & waste-water. Together, these sectors contributed another 26% of market revenues during the year. Highest growth forecasts are projected for the oil & gas and mining segments of this market from 2010 to 2015, largely due to high commodity prices that are expected to persist.

The global market for medium voltage motor control centers was worth more than $140 million in 2010, with more than 5,300 units shipped during the year. It was a recovery year following a dismal 2009, albeit as slow one. The US market comprised more than 60% of the global market during the year, while Canada accounted for nearly 20% of total revenues. The markets in EMEA and in Asia Pacific were much smaller, together comprising only 13% of total market revenues in 2010.

The main reason for the market’s concentration in North America stems from the fact that US end-users have a different approach to systems engineering. In the US, for example, much of the engineering expertise at many OEMs and end-users continues to be downsized, and companies increasingly rely on system engineering services from some of the larger industrial automation suppliers such as ABB, Eaton, Rockwell Automation, Schneider Electric and Siemens, who carry-in their own MCC solutions.

Outside of the US, the most common approach to starting and stopping medium voltage motors is to use vacuum breaker based medium voltage switchgear, normally designed and installed by a systems integrator, not one of the larger automation suppliers.

An electrician explains the basic operation of an ABB VFD.

ABB and Technicon explain the science of energy savings with AC drives.

ABB reported a 24% increase in earnings in the third quarter on double-digit revenue growth compared with the third quarter of last year.

Customer investments to increase operational efficiency translated into higher orders for products such as electrical motors and robots, while capacity expansion and the need for service drove higher orders in the oil and gas sector. The need to strengthen power distribution networks, driven in part by industrial growth in emerging markets, as well as the integration of renewable energy supplies into power grids, lifted orders in the power businesses.

In addition to higher revenues, the increase reflects successful cost reductions that continued to more than offset price pressure. The recent Baldor acquisition also made a significant contribution to both revenues and earnings.

Joe Hogan, ABB’s CEO said, “Growth in our early-cycle businesses slowed this quarter, partly on comparisons to the very strong rates we saw a year ago as well as weaker demand in some industry sectors. Looking ahead, uncertainty around global growth makes it difficult to forecast. Based on recent developments and in line with slowing economic growth, however, we expect order growth in most of our early-cycle businesses to remain near current levels until confidence in the macroeconomic outlook improves. Meanwhile, the longer-term outlook remains positive. The world needs to get more from its power and industrial resources while reducing environmental impacts.”

Highlights:

-        Orders up 12% (6% organic); 11% revenue growth (4% organic)
-        Operational (EBITDA) margin increases to 16.7% from 16.3% in Q3 2010
-        Cost savings in the quarter at approximately $270 million
-        Order backlog rises 8% versus the same quarter in 2010