Reuters reports that Swiss engineering group ABB will supply its first batch of traction transformer units for 240 Bombardier electric locomotives, the company said on Wednesday after opening a production plant in SA.  

The 2,450m² plant in Longmeadow, Johannesburg, is expected to employ 60 people by the end of 2017.  In 2014, SA announced a R50bn locomotive supply contract to four companies, including Canada’s Bombardier, in a push to modernise its fleet and support its road-to-rail migration.  "ABB is proud of this new traction transformer facility in SA, reiterating our philosophy of locating manufacturing units close to our customers," ABB CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer said.  ABB has operations in 23 African countries and employs about 5,000 people across the continent.

• Read this report by Nqobile Dludla in full at BusinessLive

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