16. Januar 2020

Weidmann Transformerboard Production

Procuring the highest quality softwood electrical grade pulp from leading FSC approved suppliers around the world is the starting point to ensuring Transformerboard performs reliably for decades in transformers supplying the world’s electrical energy. But equally important is the quality of the water that circulates in the board machine. Fresh process water is taken from local sources (lakes, reservoirs etc.)  and passed through a unique, in-house developed filtration system that guarantees minimal potential for any contamination.

Before entering the board machine, the pulp is further cleaned in a multi-stage advanced filtration system. This cleaning regime completely separates contaminants from the fibers before they enter the board machine production process.

More than 500 parameters are defined per type and thickness of board to be produced. These are controlled during the production process from the machine control center. From here the machine begins the process of producing our famous Transformerboard. Once the material meets the programmed criteria, sheets are cut automatically ready for the drying process. Our advanced hot press drying system is fully automated, from loading to un-loading, and parameters for drying the material are based on the specifics of the material being produced.

But having the correct parameters and latest technology are not the only key criteria. A clean, controlled production and handling environment is essential to ensuring no contaminants can enter the production process at any stage. Scheduled maintenance and cleaning requirements guarantee the Weidmann production environment minimizes the potential for any contamination.

After drying, the final stage involves a highly sensitive x-ray and scanning process that looks for any imperfections in the individual sheets. The system provides an immediate irregularity report to the machine operator, including the exact location and depth of any detected problem for further human inspection. The operator investigates the report to determine the issue detected, if it can be removed, and whether the material is rejected or can proceed into storage.

The above process has been developed over decades by Weidmann and ensures that more than 99% of Transformerboard is transferred directly to stores and can be relied upon to provide strong insulation properties and values throughout the long life of transformers when deployed in the field.

Often at the end of a transformers life (25+ years), a postmortem analysis is conducted by the operator to determine its final condition, specifically the ‘remaining life of the insulation’ inside. As a company and individuals, we are always proud to receive feedback that after many years in service our insulation product has stood the test of time. It is often acknowledged that the insulation within the transformer had many years of potential service life remaining.

For an overview of all our Transformerboard materials please click here.