Reducing VOCs – transforming industry standards

ABB has almost completed our most extensive program to decrease the emission of hazardous substances: the Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) reduction program, launched in 2011 by the Transformers Business Unit in our Power Products division. This is significant because we are the world’s leading manufacturer of transformer products.

Our Transformers Business Unit uses approximately 3,500 tons of paint per year. As conventional solvent-based paints dry, they emit VOCs as a vapor, which react with other pollutants and sunlight to form harmful ground-level ozone and other oxidants known as smog. These are harmful to health and the environment.

This initiative, involving our factories in 27 countries, involves reducing VOC emissions in the painting processes by replacing solvent-based paint with water-based and high-solid paints. Typical solvent-based paints can contain 50 percent VOCs whereas water-based and high-solid paints contain 8-15 percent VOCs. The overall target is to reduce the company’s emissions by almost 300 tons; this is equivalent to the annual VOC emissions of approximately 25,000 average sized cars.

ABB has been using reduced VOC paints on some of our power and distribution transformers for more than a decade. Building on this experience, we have developed reduced VOC painting systems based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) international standards, setting new industry benchmarks for product performance and low environmental impact.

This new process has multiple advantages. In addition to significantly lessening our impact on the environment, it helps to safeguard the health of our employees, ensures that both ABB and our customers will be prepared for planned, more stringent legislation on emissions, and reduces manufacturing and delivery time of our transformers. The lower VOC paint also decreases the amount of energy needed in the paint application and drying processes.

The transition has been smooth and appreciated by our customers, as well as the participating factories. The implementation phase of this project was substantially concluded in 2013. Some manufacturing sites continue to finalize their transitions due to local factors including customer contracts.