Maintenance contract safeguards transformers

Winder Electrical has secured a transformer maintenance contract with AEP Energy, which operates two of the biggest coal-fired power stations in the UK.

Winder Electrical has secured a contract with AEP Energy, which operates two of the biggest coal-fired power stations in the UK - at Fiddlers Ferry near Warrington and at Ferrybridge in Yorkshire.

The contract is for the Fiddlers Ferry site and according to Winder's Contracts and Projects Manager Andy Pinkney, it involves looking after up to 50 transformers.

Pinkney says: "AEP are focused on ensuring that all their equipment is maintained to the highest possible standards and our job is to help them achieve this.

Now we are successfully working with AEP - part of American Electric Power, the US's largest electricity generator - we are confident that this can lead on to other contracts".

Pinkney believes the service offered by Winder is second to none in the UK: "We have our refurbishment section in place but customers can sometimes avoid the need to undertake what can be expensive work.

The cost-effective way is to have a proper maintenance programme in place so that any repairs are kept to a minimum".

Between them, Fiddlers Ferry and Ferrybridge generate 4GW of electricity which accounts for 6% of the UK's generating capacity.

"Even though we are concerned with just one site, it is a big job", said Pinkney.

"We have to go around and visually check each transformer and report on their condition.

These examination and report works alone will require a full Winder team on site for two weeks.

We hope it will lead to other maintenance work".

For Winder the maintenance schemes began with Yorkshire Water, and a contract to look after transformers on 51 of its sites across Yorkshire and Humberside.

"We carry out maintenance work in all their pumping stations and sewage treatment works and ensure everything is running as it should be", said Pinkney.

The decision by Winder to offer a full maintenance service follows its venture into the provision of a refurbishment and renovation programme to complement its sales of new and second hand transformers and switchgear.

The Leeds based experts can offer clients a full maintenance package for both power and distribution transformers and for medium and low voltage switchgear as well as for rectifiers.

And Winder's reputation as a company skilled in maintenance work is paying off.

"We are getting enquiries at the rate of two or three every week for maintenance contract work", said Pinkney.

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