The third session ABB cup national thesis contest for automation engineer reveals winners

Beijing, China, December 16, 2008 – ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, announced the close of the third session “ABB Cup National Thesis Contest for Automation Engineer”, organized by the Chinese Association of Automation (CAA) and the leading trade journal Electric Age, and solely sponsored by ABB. Out of the record number of papers submitted, 39 winners were selected, including the two top prize theses submitted by Zheng Song from Beijing Green Coal Power Company and Li Ruifang from Jinchuan Group.

Dai Ruwei, Chairman of the CAA and an academic from the Chinese Academy of Science highly complimented the contest. “As one of key events held by the CAA, The ABB Cup helps drive the adoption and development of automation technology, while promoting local innovation and R&D efforts. We hope more and more companies will join this effort and contribute to the overall advancement of the automation industry in China as well as the development of local talents.”

Tobias Becker, head of ABB Process Automation Division North Asia and China, commented, “We highly appreciate the consistent support of the CAA and the diligent effort of all the participants. As a global leader in the automation field, ABB has endeavored to introduce cutting-edge technology and advanced products to China, while cultivating new talents and promoting knowledge sharing so as to improve technical levels and R&D standards in the automation industry.”

Launched in Sept. 2007, the third session ABB Cup National Thesis Contest received 442 papers over a year long period, covering a wide range of products and technology applications, and theoretical discussions from a variety of industries including mechanical manufacturing, power, utilities, metal, petroleum, chemicals, agriculture, intelligent architecture, transportation, logistics, motion control and environmental protection. In addition, a number of theses were either written by or under the direction of academics from the Chinese Academy of Science and Engineering.

“Following the principles of fairness, impartiality and openness, the jury members selected the 39 winning papers,” said Professor Peng Yu, vice-president of the judging panel and an expert on industrial automation in China. The latest contest has solicited a record number of theses of a much higher academic value compared with previous ones. A major theme of the submitted theses is how automation technologies contribute to energy conservation and production safety, in response to the strategy of energy efficiency improvement advocated by the Chinese government.” The winning papers have been published in a single collection by Electric Age magazine.

ABB has acted as sole sponsor of the National Thesis Contest for Automation Engineer for three consecutive years. Each of the first two contests, held in 2006 and 2007 respectively, collected approximately 300 papers from nationwide enterprises, research and design institutes, secondary vocational schools and universities.

ABB (www.abb.com) is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 120,000 people. ABB has a full range of business activities in China, including R&D, manufacturing, sales, and services, with 13,000 employees, 26 joint ventures and wholly owned companies, and an extensive sales and service network across 60 cities. To find out more about ABB in China, visit www.abb.com.cn.