New Chinese facility and certification for IPS
Invensys Process Systems has opened a new Chinese facility to support its activities in the Asia-Pacific region and to serve as its regional operations and sales HQ. It has also gained certification to supply safety and control systems to the Chinese nuclear industry.
Invensys Process Systems (IPS) has opened a new Chinese facility to support its activities in the Asia-Pacific region and to serve as its regional operations and sales HQ. The company has also been awarded a crucial certification qualifying it to supply safety and control systems to the Chinese nuclear industry.
The new 18,300 square metre facility in Shanghai is the technology, software and consulting firm's largest in the region and features an engineering excellence centre, modernised staging area, technology showcase centre, and a training and customer support service centre.
Leaders from IPS and from its parent company, UK-based Invensys plc, described the facility as demonstrating the company's long-term commitment to China. Ulf Henriksson, CEO of Invensys plc, said the company was pleased to contribute to China's plans to build a healthier and more sustainable future. "Our new Shanghai facility will enable us to leverage our world-class people and 100 years of innovation technology," he said.
Nabil Kasseem, president of IPS Asia Pacific and Middle East, described the new site as a key milestone for Invensys in China. "Invensys aims to be the unquestioned industry leader… we remain committed to accelerating knowledge transfer programs that will contribute to China's development and progress," he said.
IPS recently signed a $250 million contract with China Nuclear Power Engineering Corporation (CNPE) to develop and implement four control rooms equipped with simulation technologies, critical control and safety systems for two new nuclear power stations being built at Fuqing and Fangjiashan. The plants are to use CPR-1000 pressurised water reactors, a Chinese design derived from French technology. Construction work formally started at both sites towards the end of 2008, with the first unit at each site slated to start up in 2013 followed by the second units in 2014.
Crucial certificate
The official opening of the new site comes days after IPS announced that it had received the necessary certification for it to supply critical safety and control systems and technology for civil nuclear equipment in China from the country's National Nuclear Safety Administration.
All overseas companies must obtain the certification - formally known as a Letter of Confirmation on the Registration in the People's Republic of China of Overseas Organisations Associated with Civil Nuclear Safety Equipment, or HAF604 Certification for short - before they can work with civil nuclear safety equipment in China. IPS says it has "effectively become one of the first foreign nuclear power automation companies to receive the Letter of Confirmation."
