JEDDAH – Arabian Power Electronics Company (APEC) opens a world-class manufacturing facility in Al-Khobar today (Feb. 25) – the first and the only one of its kind in the Kingdom as well as in the entire GCC region. Kingdom's former deputy minister of Industry and Electricity Dr. Abdulrahman Bin Abdulmohsen Al-Tuwaijri inaugurates the plant. The factory manufactures power electronics equipment such as uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, battery chargers, inverters, frequency converters and solar power systems. APEC provides several other advantages to the renewable energy sector thereby directly helping the Saudi economy and society. One of APEC's products, the photovoltaic solar power system, aims at developing solutions to preserve the nonrenewable fossil fuel resources for future generations. APEC is also committed to provide specialized training to local college and university students and discussions with academia are well underway toward this. Hence, APEC will, over the next few years, create a pool of highly skilled Saudi manpower in the field of power electronics. APEC is certain to boost the national pride and stimulate the sense of patriotism. Along with the full-fledged plant and sophisticated testing facility, APEC proposes to maintain a massive R&D facility comprising of competent and experienced team of engineers and researchers. Consequently, APEC will be capable of developing highly customized products and solutions to meet the customer's needs. “APEC's vision is to be the pioneers of power electronics in the Middle East. Through applying innovative solutions and maintaining close relationship with the customers, APEC aims to achieve its vision to be the leading and most reliable manufacturer in power electronics and solar power systems. APEC's mission is to secure critical processes with highly reliable and highly efficient power solutions,” CMD of Eram Group Dr. Siddeek Ahmed said in a statement. APEC will produce products that can last and withstand the unique environmental conditions of the region. APEC's quality management system will conform to the highest international standards meeting clients' requirements. APEC will cater to customers ranging from utility power, oil and gas plants to all industries that require industrial grade power supply products where reliability is significant and efficiency has a great deal of importance. The plant's current installed capacity is to produce 200 units of UPS systems, 500 battery chargers, 100 inverters, 100 frequency converters and 100 solar power systems. Currently, APEC's testing facility is designed to handle up to 200 kVA UPS and battery chargers up to 800A. The existing facility will be expanded within 3 years when the production volume increases. — SG
