The site houses the latest ABB-certified workshop – one of 17 throughout the world – offering repairs and upgrades to low voltage AC and DC drives and medium voltage AC drives. The centre’s load test facilities ensure VSDs are tested under realistic conditions before being returned to a customer.
The facility upgrades third party medium voltage drives, as well as those of ABB. “Many operators across multiple industries are finding that their VSDs are no longer supported by the original vendor,” says Stuart Melling,business unit manager at ABB Drives UK. “ABB can integrate new VSDs and control platforms to these systems, ensuring operators can continue to benefit from their substantial investment in equipment.”
The new facility also houses ABB’s STR business, for which a new class of test rig for electric vehicles, incorporating battery simulators and electric chargers, is being developed.
In addition, the location boasts a VSD training school, offering customers access to certified courses covering low-, medium- and high-power drives. The site extends the scope of the ABB University campus in the UK and, as such, hosts a range of demonstration equipment to show customers how they maximise the benefit from ABB solutions.
Coalville also sees the introduction of the ABB Ability Remote Support Centre, enabling global customers to maximise uptime and optimise processes by having round-the-clock access to drive and automation experts who use cloud-based technologies for preventive and predictive maintenance.
“Being in the heart of Leicestershire with good access to the M1, M42 and M6 motorways, the Coalville facility is a great location for everything from spares distribution to easy access for customer training,” adds Paul T. Williams, general manager of the facility. “The site is home to some 40 electrical, mechanical, control system and software development engineers, with the team expected to grow in the coming months.”