ABB wins AQTr innovation prize for its ENVILINE(TM) Quebec solution

MONTREAL, April 25, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has won the competition "Dans l'oeil de l'AQTR" (Association Québecoise des Transports) ("In the Eye of the Quebec Transportation Association") in the innovation category for its ENVLINE^TM system. ABB received the award during the 49^th annual congress of the AQTr held in Quebec on April 1, 2014.

The ENVILINE^TM system, is an entirely ABB Quebec solution that captures and reuses regenerative braking energy in electric trains.  The AQTr competition aims to promote innovations (product or technology) and visionary projects demonstrating the transportation of tomorrow.

"The ABB Pointe-Claire team is very proud to win this competition organized by the AQTr," explains Daniel Simounet, Business Development Director for the Transportation Sector for ABB in North America. "It is a wonderful achievement to win a prize in innovation in a field as important as the electrification of transportation. But it is even more rewarding to obtain this recognition in Québec, knowing that ENVILINE^TM is a 100 percent Québec accomplishment from concept to production."

Developed and produced in Montreal by ABB at its Center of Excellence for Transport, ENVILINE^TM is an innovative solution that recuperates energy generated by braking trains and assists in the acceleration of trains. The system can be installed in a substation, on existing networks as well as new train lines, tramways or metros. This innovation enables cost savings of 10-20 percent, with the bonus of reducing peak currents on the network.

The unique modular concept can be easily adapted to a wide range of many applications, while providing a viable solution that responds to the needs of the electrical power grid regulators; a trend that is on the rise in the deployment of smart grids around the world.

This type of configuration, which combines the braking energy recuperation with the demand regulation, has already been in operation for the past two years in Philadelphia. The success of this pilot project enabled ABB to obtain a second contract with the same operator for a second-generation system that will be installed in the summer of 2014.

The members of the jury competition of "Dans l'oeil de l'AQTr", appointed by the Board of Directors of AQTr, clearly understood the innovative features of ENVILINE^TM while appreciating its strong potential for production and marketing prospects.

ABB is a world-leading independent supplier of innovative and reliable technologies to vehicle manufacturers, railway operators and system integrators. Its comprehensive offering includes rolling stock, infrastructure, and energy efficiency systems.

ABB's ENVILINE™ product portfolio offers a full spectrum of solutions and systems for DC wayside infrastructure. The portfolio includes energy management solutions that can reduce the overall power consumption. For additional details, refer to www.abb.com/enviline.

ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 150,000 people. In Canada (www.abb.ca), ABB employs about 4,600 people in more than 45 locations from coast to coast.

For help with any technical terms in this release, please go to: www.abb.com/glossary

SOURCE ABB inc.

Image with caption: "Liguori Hinse, organizing committee President - 49th Annual Congress, AQTr and Manager of the Sustainable Mobility Plan for Québec City; Dominique Lacoste, President and CEO for the AQTr; Daniel Simounet, ABB Director for the Transportation Market Segment in North America; Jean Matropietro, Outgoing President, AQTr and Manager, Transport - Hatch Mott MacDonald (CNW Group/ABB inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140425_C5134_PHOTO_EN_39626.jpg

Image with caption: "The EnvilineTM team from left to right: Doc Long Vu, Daniel Cotton, Labbes Mahieddine and Jose Dos Santos. Second row: Jean Legault, Omar Messas, Jacques Poulin, Jean-Guy Vallée, Christian Chaloux, Brian Innis et Ron O'Brien. (CNW Group/ABB inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20140425_C5134_PHOTO_EN_39628.jpg