Areva signs agreement with National Grid UK

Areva's transmission and distribution (T&D) division has signed a strategic partnership with the UK division of National Grid, one of the world's largest investor-owned energy companies, to develop 3D training modules to familiarise employees with products.

In May 2008, National Grid ordered a high voltage gas-insulated substation from Areva T&D and subsequently required an efficient method of providing new employees with essential product knowledge, as well as maintaining the level of current employees.

The Areva T&D Technical Institute demonstrated the training benefits that 3D development can provide, owing to techniques used in the manufacture of certain Areva T&D product lines.

Signed on December 10 2009, this partnership marks what will be the first 3D training module in the transmission and distribution industry. The module will be developed and implemented at the National Grid training centre in Eakring, United Kingdom.

"This collaboration between National Grid & Areva T&D demonstrates the ambition of both companies to providing cutting-edge learning solutions for our employees," said John Tyler, training delivery manager at Eakring. "3D modeling of Areva T&D equipment will help our employees better understand the new equipment currently being installed on our site."

"Through this new agreement, we provide National Grid with our most advanced technology and thus further reinforce the long-standing cooperation between our two companies." Said Gerhard Seyrling vice president innovation and performance improvement at Areva T&D.