Invensys Introduces New Scompi® Robot at ICOLD Trade Show in Montreal
Scompi 330 Models Significantly Help Improve Welding Quality in Assembly and Repair of Hydropower Turbines, Head-Gates and Penstock

MONTREAL, ICOLD Trade Show, June 16, 2003 -- The Vision and Robotics group of Invensys Systems, Inc.’s Invensys Manufacturing Solutions business unit today announced a new Invensys accelerator solution with the release of Scompi® models 330 and 330u. Scompi is a portable, track-based, multi-process metal fabrication robot series, which assists welders in the assembly, refurbishment and repair of turbines, penstock and head-gates used in hydropower production.

The new Scompi robots will be introduced and demonstrated at the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) Trade Show in the Hydro-Québec booth from June 16-19. The show will be held at the Palais des Congrès in Montréal.

Scompi technology was innovated by Hydro-Québec’s research institute. Hydro-Québec is a leading provider of hydroelectricity in North America. Invensys, in partnership with Hydro-Québec, has industrialized Scompi technology for customers operating in this market segment.

“Hydro-Québec has been using the Scompi technology since 1995 to perform in-situ cavitation repair of its hydropower turbines. It is currently applying it to reinforce its turbine runners in-situ for fatigue life enhancement and current development will permit robotic refurbishment of head-gate track guides by 2004,” says Dr. Jean-Luc Fihey, project manager of the Scompi technology development team at Hydro-Québec’s research institute (IREQ).

The Scompi robot is ideal for high-volume process applications, such as turbine assembly and cavitation refurbishment and repair. The equipment is designed for fast installation and configuration and consists of a base system, to which welding and grinding process equipment is interfaced.

“Today’s hydroelectric utilities are faced with maintenance and repair needs such as turbine cavitation damage caused by the passage of water and the need to improve turbine efficiency,” said Jean-François Dupont, operations manager of Invensys’ Vision and Robotics group. “Intervention often requires costly turbine disassembly and downtime. Scompi robots offer a cost-effective and time-efficient solution to turbine maintenance and repair requirements.”

The Scompi robotic system’s light, modular and compact design can be easily transported to the turbine site, eliminating the need for off-site turbine maintenance. The 330 is designed specifically for tight work areas where welders either cannot maintain visual contact with the welding areas or have difficulty performing long welding tasks. The 330u model is an underwater version of the 330 and was developed for nuclear applications.

As productivity and quality improvement tools, the 330 and 330u models are easily installed and configured to work on complex metal surfaces and help welders deposit one to four times more metal with significantly reduced weld rework. Benefits offered by the Scompi technology include:

Productivity improvements of up to 200 percent.
Depending on the difficulty of the application and the proficiency of the operator, significant reduction of welding defects and repairs.
Improved working environments for operators, through reductions in continuous exposure to toxic fumes and burning projections, and worker fatigue.
Operation in environments not conducive to humans, such as tight spaces and underwater and radioactive areas.
Acceleration of on-site fabrication, maintenance and repair time.

“Scompi technology is truly innovative and can benefit all levels of hydroelectric utilities, from field operators to upper management,” Dupont said. “Welder productivity and weld quality are critical in this industry, and Scompi robots enable improvements that can significantly impact the bottom line. In fact, because of the Scompi technology’s accurate remote-control capabilities, we believe that welder productivity can be increased by up to 200 percent.”

For more information about the Invensys Vision & Robotics group, please contact Charles Magnan at (514) 485-8064 or via e-mail at charles.magnan@invensys.com. For more information about Scompi systems, please contact Jean-François Dupont at (514) 485-8271 or via e-mail at j.f.dupont@invensys.com.

About Invensys

Invensys is a global leader in production technology. The group helps customers improve productivity, performance and profitability using innovative services and technologies and a deep understanding of their industries and applications.

Invensys Production Management works closely with customers to increase performance of production assets, maximize return on investment in production and data management technologies and remove cost and cash from the supply chain. The division includes APV, Avantis, Eurotherm, Foxboro, IMServ, SimSci-Esscor, Triconex and Wonderware. These businesses address process and batch industries -- including oil and gas, chemicals, power and utilities, food and beverage, and personal health care -- and the discrete and hybrid manufacturing sectors.

Invensys Rail Systems is a global leader in the design, manufacture, supply, installation, commissioning and maintenance of safety related rail signaling and control systems as well as a complete range of rail signaling and communications products. The business includes Westinghouse Rail Systems Limited (WRSL), Dimetronic Signals, Safetran Systems, Burco Services, Westinghouse Signals Australia and Foxboro Transportation. WRSL was recently awarded two contracts valued at more than £850m (US$1.3 billion) for the renewal of signaling on the London Underground.

Invensys also currently serves other market sectors through its Development Division. The businesses in this division are: Appliance Controls, APV Baker, Climate Controls, Hansen Transmissions, Lambda, Metering Systems, Powerware and Teccor. Invensys is actively seeking to develop these businesses through equity partners or new owners.

Invensys operates in more than 60 countries, with its headquarters in London. For more information, visit www.invensys.com.

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Invensys is a trademark of Invensys plc, its subsidiaries and affiliated companies. Scompi is a registered trademark of the Research Institute of Hydro-Québec. All other brands may be trademarks of their respective owners.