Cooper Power Systems and Cargill Industrial Oils Form Alliance to Produce Revolutionary Insulating Fluid for Electric Utilities

HOUSTON and MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Cooper Power Systems and Cargill Industrial Oils and Lubricants today announced an alliance that can help electric utilities improve the reliability of the nation’s electrical distribution system.

The agreement involves the production, marketing and distribution of Envirotemp® FR3(TM) fluid, a revolutionary insulating product that is safe for the environment and the public. Envirotemp FR3 fluid recently received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Technologies Verification, which confirmed its environmental attributes. Envirotemp FR3 fluid also enhances the performance and life of a utility’s transformer assets.

Cooper Power Systems, a leading manufacturer of electrical distribution equipment, developed Envirotemp FR3 fluid in 1997. This revolutionary fluid offers many benefits over traditional dielectric fluids (non-conductive fluids used to insulate and cool electrical distribution products such as transformers), including added performance and environmental characteristics. Envirotemp FR3 fluid uses as its base food-grade soybean oil, which is proven to be non-toxic according to guidelines developed by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), a worldwide standard setting body. In addition, Envirotemp FR3 fluid is biodegradable based on testing done by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). Cargill is one of the world’s leading producers of food-grade soybean oil.

This collaboration will allow the two companies to focus on their respective core competencies, according to Steve Benna, vice president of Marketing for Cooper Power Systems. “Because the demand for Envirotemp FR3 fluid is growing both in U.S. and international markets, it is important to ensure ample supply,” Benna said. “We are pleased to collaborate with Cargill to meet this rapidly-increasing demand.”

To take advantage of the larger manufacturing base that Cargill offers, North American production of the fluid will be transferred from a Cooper Power Systems plant located in Waukesha, Wis., to the main Cargill Industrial Oils plant in Chicago in September, 2004.

Kurtis Miller, Cargill’s vice president for the Industrial Oils and Lubricants business, said, “We are very pleased to be collaborating with Cooper. They have pioneered the development and application of vegetable oil- based insulating fluid for new and existing electrical equipment. They already have established a large and growing customer base, including other transformer manufacturers, service companies and end users.”

In addition to its favorable environmental profile, Envirotemp FR3 fluid extends insulation life five to eight times, lowering life cycle costs. Increased insulation life also translates to extended and enhanced transformer life, helping utilities manage their assets more profitably and forestall costly capital expenditures. And Envirotemp FR3 fluid can increase performance during peak usage times when consumers are using more electricity because it allows transformers to increase power loads without leading to premature insulation failure.

The fluid also has excellent fire resistant qualities. Two nationally- recognized testing laboratories, UL® and FM(TM) Global, have listings allowing Envirotemp FR3 transformer installations outdoors and indoors, typically without costly fire protection devices. The U.S. Patent Office has issued five patents for Envirotemp FR3 fluid, with additional patent applications pending for the fluid and its use.

Cooper Power Systems (http://www.cooperpower.com ) is a subsidiary of Cooper Industries (NYSE: CBE – News), a diversified worldwide manufacturer of products for the electrical, commercial, and industrial markets. CPS manufactures distribution transformers, distribution switchgear, reclosers, capacitors, protective relays, voltage regulators, automated switches, cable accessories, surge arresters, transformer components, fuses, tools and engineering services for the electrical and industrial markets.

Cargill Industrial Oils and Lubricants (http://www.techoils.cargill.com ) is a leading supplier of natural fats, oils, and environmentally advantaged products to industrial markets. The business is a part of Cargill, an international provider of food, agricultural and risk management products and services. With 101,000 employees in 59 countries, the company is committed to using its knowledge and experience to collaborate with customers to help them succeed.

Source

Cargill Industrial Lubricants News August 25, 2004.

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