Global leader in power generation, power transmission and rail infrastructure Alstom on Thursday unveiled its new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility for producing bearings for medium to large sized hydro power projects in India and abroad.
Union Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde inaugurated the factory at Vadodara in Gujarat in the presence of Alstom Power President Philippe Joubert and company Country President Sunand Sharma. According to an official spokesman of the company here, the factory will manufacture bearings for medium to large size hydro power projects, including large turbine and generator thrust bearings, guide bearings and shaft seals to cater to the hydro power sector in India and abroad.
The company said its bearing technologies are developed as an integrated part of the hydro generator system. Thrust bearings tolerate much higher impact loads, without damage or performance degradation, and significantly reduce friction, enabling higher load/speed combinations, cooler operation, and extended operational life.
Employing around 200 people, it will reach a full production capacity of 40 sets of bearings and shaft seals a year by 2012-13. The Vadodara site is also home to one of Alstom's biggest hydropower manufacturing sites as well as Alstom's Global Technology Centre.
