September 20 (SeeNews) - Hitachi Energy Bulgaria, part of Switzerland-headquartered group Hitachi Energy, said on Tuesday that it has expanded and upgraded its high-voltage equipment production plant in Sevlievo, northern Bulgaria, to meet rising global demand.
The facility, which was inaugurated on Tuesday, spans an area of 74,000 square metres and employs over 800, Hitachi Energy Bulgaria said in a press release without providing further information about the size of the investment or the plant's capacity.
The plant produces high-voltage components for gas-insulated switchgear generator circuit breakers, control cabinets and capacitor bank systems. The company upgraded production processes to include the latest equipment and process automation technology in order to shorten production times and speed up delivery.
"Our production base in Sevlievo is part of Hitachi Energy's extensive global high-voltage product network. We deliver products that help improve the safety, reliability and efficiency of power grids while reducing environmental impact," Hitachi Energy Bulgaria general manager Andrea Brognara said in the statement.
The Sevlievo plant was built in 1962 and until most recently was owned by Swiss-Swedish ABB Group.
In 2020, Hitachi Energy's parent, Japanese group Hitachi, took over 80.1% of the power grids business separated from ABB, launching Hitachi ABB Power Grids, with the initial owner retaining the balance of the equity. Hitachi ABB Power Grids rebranded to Hitachi Energy in October 2021.
In the same month, the Consortium NPP Modernisations, which included the Sevlievo-based business, was awarded an 8.3 million levs ($4.2 million/4.2 million euro) contract for replacement of electrical equipment at Bulgaria'a Kozloduy nuclear power plant.
(1 euro = 1.95583 levs)