Abdullah Al Tuwaijri and P.S. Deodhar jointly cut the ceremonial ribbon Monday during the opening of APEC factory in Al-Khobar. Mohammed Al Jofaish, Madhu Krishnan and Dr. Siddeek Ahmed, CMD of Eram Group, along with other dignitaries, are present. AL-KHOBAR – Arabian Power Electronics Company (APEC) opened Monday the GCC's first of its kind manufacturing facility here in Al-Khobar. It manufactures power electronics equipment such as uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, battery chargers, inverters, frequency converters and solar power systems. The factory was inaugurated by Dr. Abdulrahman Bin Abdulmohsen Al-Tuwaijri, Kingdom's former Deputy Minister of Industry and Electricity. A number of leading luminaries in the power electronics industry, academic research experts and dignitaries took part in the inaugural rite. APEC is established with the objectives of transferring the technology to Saudi Arabia and localize the highly sophisticated technology of power electronics, thus providing jobs to Saudis, with the targeted Saudization rate of 30 percent in the first year itself. Moreover, APEC will set the stage for many ancillary industries and services like fabrication, transformer winding, battery manufacturing, electronic components manufacturing, cooling fans, among others. 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 committed to provide specialized training to local college and university students and discussions with academia are underway. “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. 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
