GTI Electroproject has been commissioned by the Zuiderzeeland Water Authority to electrify the 'Blocq van Kuffeler' pumping station in Almere. The pumping station is one of the largest in the world, in terms of water level difference and capacity. The project includes overhauling and renovating the drainage pump. This will increase the capacity of the pumping station by 10%. In order to keep down energy consumption, the choice has been made for an energy-efficient, gearbox-free drive system using electric motors which directly power the pumps. A total of 4.6 million euros has been invested in the project.

The Blocq van Kuffeler was inaugurated by Queen Juliana in 1967. Barely seven months later, the pumping station had drained the whole of southern Flevoland. The four pumps in the station have been powered up till now by diesel motors. The water authority has commissioned a radical rebuilding programme whereby the diesel motors will be replaced by electric motors. The electric motors have a capacity of 1250 kW at 90 revolutions per minute. The four pumps will be attached directly to the motors without intervening gearboxes. Not only do these direct drive systems use less energy, but they also require less maintenance.
 
Specialists
The work, which will take 30 months to complete, will be carried out by GTI Electroproject Aandrijftechniek, a business unit of GTI Experts. This specialised branch of the company was also contracted to electrify the 'Buma' pumping station in Lemmer. The Gemaal Katwijk pumping station near Katwijk is also to be fitted with the GTI Electroproject Aandrijftechniek drive system.

Together with the companies Axima, Elyo, ENDEL, INEO, Tractebel Engineering and Fabricom GTI, GTI is part of SUEZ Energy Services.
As the European leader in multitechnical services, SUEZ Energy Services offers global solutions to its customers in the industry, the infrastructure and the tertiary sectors, from the design, realisation and maintenance of installations to energy and utilities management and long-term multitechnical management. SUEZ Energy Services employs 66,000 people and achieved revenues of € 10.7 billion in 2006. SUEZ Energy Services is one of the four business lines of the quoted international industrial group SUEZ.

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