At a festive ceremony at the Regensburg plant, Managing Director Michael Rohde handed over no less than three new fresh-from-the-factory VACUTAP® VR 1300s to high-ranking representatives of the MEA (Metropolitan Electricity Authority), the local power supply company in Bangkok, and to local transformer manufacturer Tira Thai.

In his speech, Rohde emphasized that MR was particularly proud to be able to contribute to the safe supply of electricity in one of the biggest cities in the world. At the same time he said he was also delighted that this order included the 2000th VACUTAP® VR to be delivered - a new generation of MR tap-changers which has been sold with great success all over the world since 2006. "As manufacturers we are aware of the particularly high standards that customers expect of our products in terms of quality and reliability. And we do all we can to meet those standards.” The tap-changers for MEA are destined for the Chidlom Terminal Station, a key substation in the centre of the Thai capital, where high-voltage technology from Regensburg has been used for decades. Two transformers (300 MVA, 230 kV) are to be supplied by Tira Thai.

These versions of the VACUTAP® VR can be used for rated through-currents of up to 1,300A. Here the VACUTAP® VR is the optimum alternative to all OILTAP® M and most 'R' versions: the tap-changer head and the oil compartment have the same diameters and only the installation length is just slightly different. Finally, the VR also offers additional possibilities for use for autotransformers and for high-voltage direct current transmission. And what is especially important for most operators is that the VR is maintenance-free for up to 300,000 switching operations. Which in the majority of cases means for the entire service life of the transformer.