� In 1995, INMR traveled to Thailand to meet engineers( from left) Banyat Phathramai, Banjerd Janjerdsak and Nat Nilavajara at the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand. At the time, EGAT expressed hesitation in applying composite insulators on transmission lines due to concerns about premature ageing in their tropical service environment. There was also the perception that any such change in technology would mean longer, not shorter, insulators compared to the porcelain cap & pin strings traditionally used. They claimed at the time that their conservatism was supported by reports from power companies in the U. S. who cautioned against applying composite insulators for any entire 500 kV line, but rather suggested they be used only for those sections with high pollution.
“ The fact that giants such as ABB and Siemens jumped into the field of hollow core composite insulators proved we were always on the right track.”
Albert Kräling, Marketing Manager Haefely-Trench-MWB December 1998
Photos: INMR ©
� In 1998, INMR was the only technical journal invited to cover ABB’ s official entry into the hollow core composite insulator business, with the launching of a small-scale factory in Ludvika, Sweden. Under the direction of Johan Engström( third from right), the new business unit consisted of experts drawn from several areas, such as materials expert, Dan Windmar( left) from ABB Corporate Research and testing specialist, Susanne Hörle from STRI. Dan has gone on to occupy several key positions within ABB and is now V. P. at STRI.
� The name Emil Haefely was once synonymous with bushings. Shortly after the firm was merged with Canada’ s Trench Group, forming Haefely- Trench in the mid 1990s, INMR visited the company’ s instrument transformer plant in Toronto. We were welcomed by General Manager, Roger Alberton( center), just recently retired, Dave Caverly of Sales( left) and Mike Stedman, an enthusiastic early supporter and friend of INMR. The plant was in the process of developing prototype CVTs using silicone housings in place of porcelain and also preparing to start up manufacture of ANSI bushings.
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