Alstom Grid celebrates 50 years of HVDC expertise in Stafford and invests in new manufacturing facilities

Alstom continues to demonstrate its commitment to Staffordshire and the wider West Midlands economy, with the opening of new engineering and manufacturing facilities at its Grid global centre of excellence for HVDC (High Voltage Direct Current) technology, part of a £40m building investment, in Stafford.

The MaxSine building, was opened on Wednesday 23 May 2012 at a celebration event, Accolade 50, to mark Alstoms 50 years of design and manufacture of HVDC technology in Stafford.

This 30 000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility will shortly house the manufacture of valve modules for Alstoms new generation of HVDC technology VSC (Voltage Source Converter). This is the technology that enables wind farms to be installed far offshore, and enable efficient DC connection to the onshore grid.

Alstom is investing in highly skilled engineers, support staff and innovative technology to deliver HVDC projects to a worldwide market, valued in excess of 60Bn between now and 2020. The company is recruiting more than 100 additional people at its Stafford site.

The Accolade 50 celebrations were attended by local dignitaries including the Deputy Lord Lieutenants of Staffordshire, Professor Christine King and Robin Manners, Deputy Leader of Staffordshire County Council, Ben Adams, Stafford Borough Council Chief Executive Ian Thompson, and Staffordshire University Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, Professor Michael Gunnas. More than three hundred Alstom HVDC engineers, technicians, graduates, apprentices and support staff were also a key part of the event.

Stephen Burgin, Alstom UK Country President, said: Our Stafford global centre of excellence is just one of three sites in the world to produce this new VSC technology. With planned investment over the next 10 years of over £110 bn to upgrade UK power generation systems and infrastructure, the development of new, highly innovative technologies to meet legislative emission targets, has never been more important. He continued: Alstom Grid in Stafford has a pedigree of 50 years of brain power and expertise and our success is undoubtedly down to our people. They are fundamental to our reputation as a solutions provider and a technical leader in this growing global market.

Jeremy Lefroy, Member of Parliament for Stafford, commented: The Accolade 50 celebrations have provided an opportunity for Alstom to recognise the invaluable role of its workforce in Stafford, to look back at how much it has achieved and to look forward at the huge potential it has, both on a globally competitive scale, and as Staffords largest private sector employer, in the years to come.

Learn more about Alstom's continued investment in HVDC technology.

Watch the Accolade 50 Video