Wärtsilä has chosen Vacon Plc as its Supplier of the Year 2002. Vacon manufactures frequency converters, which are increasingly used to control and regulate the radiator coolers in Wärtsilä power plants.
Vacon’s latest product, NX Series frequency converters, are especially suitable for Wärtsilä’s global strategy. Vacon’s customer-centred business approach and fast delivery likewise support Wärtsilä’s fast-track philosophy of being better and faster than its competitors. Vacon has also systematically developed its quality and environmental management systems and implemented EFQM self-assessment methods.
Wärtsilä and Vacon began co-operation in 2001 and the companies have signed a long-term supplier agreement. Vacon’s business concept is to be the fastest supplier in its field. Short manufacturing throughput ultimately means good customer service and in this respect the strategies of both companies are highly compatible.
Certificate of honour and model genset
The Wärtsilä diploma in honour of the domestic Supplier of the Year and a model of a Wärtsilä generating set were handed over by CEO Ole Johansson and Sven Bertlin, Senior Vice President, Engine division, and Pekka Ahlqvist, Senior Vice President, Power Plants. Also representing Wärtsilä at the award ceremony were Heikki Miilumäki, Hannu Uusi-Pohjola, Vesa Riihimäki and Tom Karppinen of Wärtsilä Finland Oy.
Accepting the award on behalf of Vacon were Vacon’s President, Vesa Laisi, and Executive Vice President Erkki Raunio, with Production Director Jari Koskinen, Sales Engineer Timo Okkonen and Export Assistant Carola Hudd.
Frequency converters offer power plants the following advantages:
- Lower total power plant costs due to the considerably smaller need for cabling and fewer cable outlets needed by the low-voltage equipment
- Engine cooling is much more uniform than when regulated by mechanical thermostats
- Noise levels of power plant radiators can be minimized (e.g. at night when the cooling need is lower), as the radiator’s automatic rotating speed is reduced
- Frequency converters can also be used in Wärtsilä BioPower plants in certain applications
- Frequency converters are useful for standardization because they offer a larger regulating range for standard solutions.
About Wärtsilä Corporation
Wärtsilä Corporation is the leading global ship power supplier and a major provider of solutions for decentralized power generation and of supporting services. In addition Wärtsilä operates a Nordic engineering steel company Imatra Steel and manages a substantial share holding to support the development of its core business. Wärtsilä’s net sales in 2002 totalled EUR 2.5 billion.
About Vacon
Founded in 1993, Vacon Plc is a group of companies specializing in frequency converters. Vacon Group develops, manufactures, sells and markets Vacon frequency converters worldwide to meet the needs of industry and the public sector.
A frequency converter is a power control unit used to steplessly control the speed of a squirrel cage induction motor. Research and development at Vacon is based on exploiting the latest technologies to meet the needs of its customers. Vacon offers frequency converters in the power range of 0.37 kW–1.5 MW.
