Emirates Transformer & Switchgear Limited began producing for the first time higher-power transformers of 30MVA last October. The company has for some time been building power transformers including those of 10 MVA and 15 MVA along with ones outside the power category.

ETS has as its technical collaborator IEO Transformatoren BV, Breda, of the Netherlands, who has been supplying transformers to the European market for more than 50 years and to the Middle East and African markets for the past 25 years.

The ETS product range includes, besides distribution and power transformers, such products as switchgear panels, package substations and step-lap cut laminations. Annual installed capacity is 3000 MVA for transformers, 1,500 panels for switchgear and 6,000 tonnes for step-lap cut laminations.

Sales touched Dh100.3 million in 2000 against Dh 60 million in 1998. "We have not provided any sales figures for the period thereafter since we have changed the financial year and, therefore, giving any numbers would misrepresent the trend or the comparison," said operations manager Ajoy B. Patel in the last fortnight of January 2002.

"We wish to mention, however, that our industry has been affected since the last quarter of 2001 in the shadow of the terrorist attacks on September 11 and the looming global recession.

"Therefore, in terms of a trend, one can say that there has been a slight drop which hopefully will pick up again within the next year."

The company, a business of the Patel family, has PD Patel at the helm with his son Rohit assisting him. The Patels, originally from India, have been in Dubai for more than 35 years and have entrenched themselves in the industrial and social network of the emirate. "With two generations having led this company to high levels of success, the infrastructure and training is already in place for the third generation, who have already begun to institute dynamism into the company's systems," says general manager NI Shah.

"ETS...is the pioneer manufacturer of transformers and switchgear in the UAE," says Shah." In addition to having extended its product line, it has developed a technological, administrative and marketing infrastructure that is comparable with some of the finest manufacturers of similar products worldwide. The company is uniquely focused on becoming the most valued global provider of power and distribution products for utilities and industry." The company was established in 1987 and has its production facilities in Jebel Ali.

"ETS is arguably the only one of its kind amongst manufacturers in the GCC countries, in terms of testing facilities installed at its plant," Shah states proudly. "Its capability to test transformers and substations ranges from conducting routine tests, as per international standards, to certain 'type and special tests' such as impulse, partial discharge and pressure cycling. Periodically, type and special tests are also conducted at independent laboratories for various ratings of transformers and switchgear.

"The company has a dedicated team of electrical engineers, designers, field service technicians and other professionals who bring together more than a hundred years of valued experience in the power and distribution industry. Backed by annual research and development expenditures, ETS is uniquely positioned to help its customers accomplish their goals in a quick, simple and economical manner."

ETI was the first transformer and switchgear manufacturing company in the Gulf region to receive the ISO 9001: 1994 certification, reminds Shah. It is now augmenting its quality systems to meet the requirements of ISO 9001: 2000.

ETS products are designed and tested to comply with international standards including IEC 60076, BS 171, IEC 61330, NEN 2761, Ansi C57 series, IEC 60439 and BS 5486. The organisation's quality management systems meet the requirements of ISO 9001. Periodically these are audited by Kema of the Netherlands, an authorised certifying body of the ISO, to ensure that the systems conform to established norms.

ETS was one of the finalists nominated for the Dubai Quality Award 2000.

Recently, ETS installed an additional core-cutting machine supplied by GEORG, Germany, which has resulted in a substantial increase in productivity of step-lap cut and stacked cores.

"Primarily the scope of ETS' short term expansion plans include the addition of a new shed particularly designed for the manufacture of power transformers and the consequent enhancement of its testing facilities," said Ajoy Patel.