SPX Announces a 50 Percent Expansion of Waukesha Electric Systems’ Manufacturing Facility

CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SPX Corporation (NYSE: SPW) today announced plans to expand its Waukesha Electric Systems’ manufacturing facility in Waukesha, Wisconsin with an investment of approximately $70 million. The resulting building and infrastructure enhancements will increase the size of the facility by approximately 50 percent and extend the company’s ability to manufacture large, high-voltage power transformers that are utilized by electric utilities, independent power producers and independent transmission operators.

“For four decades, Waukesha Electric Systems has specialized in building high-quality medium power transformers utilized by utilities and independent power producers throughout North America.  We are now taking steps to strategically expand Waukesha’s manufacturing capacity and increase its ability to produce large power units for the North American power grid,” said SPX Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Christopher J. Kearney.

“In addition to better positioning Waukesha Electric Systems to address America’s aging energy infrastructure, this expansion effort will help support America’s economic recovery by investing in U.S. jobs. The project is expected to create as many as 250 construction, engineering and skilled manufacturing jobs in Waukesha, Wisconsin and the surrounding community over time,” Kearney added.

Large power transformers are used to connect electricity generators to the power grid and transmit this electricity to consumers.  Strong demand is expected for these transformers due to their advantages in facilitating the transmission of renewable energy from wind farms and solar power generation facilities to distant load centers, and their high efficiency, which makes them a favored choice for replacing aging, less efficient transformers.

“The expansion of our Waukesha, Wisconsin facility will enable us to offer the broadest array of power transformers of any domestic manufacturer in business today,” said Tom Brockley, President, Waukesha Electric Systems.  “Once completed, Waukesha Electric Systems will be one of a very limited group of domestic-based transformer companies able to produce units with these types of ratings (above 150 MVA), and the only one with 40 years of proven experience in the U.S. transformer market.”

Approximately $70 million is expected to be invested in the Waukesha Electric Systems facility expansion.  SPX’s investment is expected to be offset by government funding totaling approximately $25 million. This support includes a federal tax credit of $12 million awarded to SPX as part of the $2.3 billion Recovery Act Advanced Energy Manufacturing Tax Credits announced in January by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Obama Administration.  The city of Waukesha is also expected to provide $9 million of tax increment financing to support this project. “This government support is critical for the project,” Brockley added.

The Waukesha Electric Systems’ facility in Waukesha, Wisconsin is 292,000 square feet and this expansion will add 140,000 square feet. Work on the facility is expected to commence in the second quarter of 2010 and be completed by the fourth quarter of 2011.  Waukesha Electric Systems currently employs more than 500 people at that location and over 800 nationwide.

Contributing to a Modernized U.S. Electrical Smart Grid

In late 2009, Waukesha Electric Systems was awarded a $10.7 million grant by the U.S. Department of Energy to help enhance the flexibility and reliability of the nation's power grid by developing and manufacturing a smaller, more efficient superconducting transformer for electric utilities. “Waukesha Electric Systems has been involved in the development of High Temperature Superconducting (HTS) transformer technology for over a decade under the auspices of various DOE programs,” said Lee Powell, SPX segment president.

This DOE grant is part of a larger program to demonstrate advanced Smart Grid technologies and integrated systems to help build a smarter, more efficient, more resilient electrical grid.  Working with fellow grant participants including the University of Houston, SuperPower and Oak Ridge National Laboratories, Waukesha Electric Systems plans to develop, build, test and install a new superconducting transformer in Southern California Edison’s Smart Grid by the end of 2013.

Waukesha Electric Systems, Inc., a business unit of SPX’s Industrial Products and Services segment, is one of the largest manufacturers of power transformers in the United States. Waukesha Electric Systems is also a valued supplier of complete transformer service solutions, comprehensive maintenance training, and transformer, load tap changer and oil circuit breaker components.

About SPX

SPX Corporation (NYSE: SPW) is a Fortune 500 multi-industry manufacturing leader that provides its customers with highly-specialized, engineered solutions to solve critical business issues.

SPX products and technologies play an important role in the expansion of global infrastructure to help meet increased demand for power and energy and support many different sources of power generation, including coal and natural gas, nuclear, solar and geothermal. The company's innovative product portfolio, containing many energy efficient products, includes cooling systems for power plants throughout the world; highly advanced food processing components and turnkey, scalable systems serving the global food and beverage industry; process equipment that assists a variety of flow processes including oil and gas exploration, distribution and refinement and power generation; handheld diagnostic tools that aid in vehicle maintenance and repair; and power transformers that allow utility companies to regulate electric voltage, transmission and distribution.

With headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina, SPX has 15,000 employees in more than 35 countries worldwide. Visit www.spx.com.

Certain statements in this press release including any statements relating to completion of or benefits expected to be realized by the referenced expansion, may be forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and are subject to the safe harbor created thereby. Please refer to our public filings for a discussion of certain important factors that relate to forward-looking statements contained in this press release.  The word "expected," "anticipated" and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements. Although the company believes that the expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Statements in the press release speak only as of the date of this press release, and SPX disclaims any responsibility to update or revise such statements.

SOURCE SPX Corporation

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