IEC standards meeting at Bachmann electronic in Feldkirch (Austria) for the first time

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), headquartered in Geneva, is the internationally recognized standardization body in the fields of electrical engineering and electronics.

Originally the IEC was crucially involved in translating units of measurement in electronics such as gauss, hertz and weber into internationally valid standards. The purviews of the IEC today is comprehensive, covering all of electrical engineering – from generation through distribution, all the way to magnetism, electro acoustics, multimedia and telecommunications. An essential mission of the IEC is to protect the requirements and directives in the current standards and specifications and to develop them further. The integration of new technologies in the field of regenerative energies into the guidelines of standardization is an innovative component of these responsibilities.

Global player Bachmann. Host for international IEC meeting participants.

Bachmann electronic, Feldkirch Austria, has developed and implemented ground-breaking automation solutions with integrated safety technology and web-based visualization solutions specifically for the field of renewable energies The company's wide range of applications are now considered standard equipment as controllers for highly complex systems in industry and machine building, in wind power plants on-shore and off-shore, as well as in environmental technology.

With its know-how, Bachmann has been contributing for many years to further development and specific implementation in the standardization committees for the field of IEC 61400.

It was therefore a logical choice for the leaders and representatives of the IEC to hold the meeting for "IEC 61400-26 – Availability of wind turbines and wind turbine plants" at Bachmann in Feldkirch.

Leading international specialists in Feldkirch

The standards committee met from October 26-29, 2010 in the just-opened Bachmann CreativeTop – a space for creativity and communication. Bachmann welcomed guests from Europe, the USA and Japan. The participants were representatives of successful globally active enterprises such as General Electric (GE), RePower, VESTAS, Enercon, RWE, EnBW, Vattenfall, Gamesa, Garrad Hassan, Dong Energy, Vermont Windpower and the IllwerkeVKW group.

Measure of energy security in the future – the IEC 61400 standard

The still rather young collection of standards under IEC 61400 covers relevant specifications for wind turbines in particular, and serves to standardize the rapidly growing wind power industry and equip it with generally valid guidelines. By standardizing the various definitions and interpretations between wind turbine providers, wind farm operators and wind turbine and wind farm owners, the IEC 61400-26 standard defines clear guidelines for compensation and responsibility in case of failure of wind turbines during the contractual operating periods. One component of the standard is also the definition of terms such as availability, the conditions of a wind turbine (e.g., operative or non-operative) as well as the possibilities for transition from one condition to another, to the extent that is technically possible. IEC 614000-26 further includes formulas for calculating availability.

"We are particularly pleased with the decision to hold the IEC meeting in our new creative and communication space "CreativeTop." We consider the consistent expansion of dialog – with institutions, committees, universities and business partners – integral to the expansion of our strategic position. We are convinced, and we strongly confirm it with our new CreativeTop, that we can secure and achieve our opportunities for the future in an intellectual, informal and interdisciplinary exchange of ideas beyond merely professional imperatives. We are also considering new fields of business in this environment."

Factbox: IEC

The IEC is one of the world's leading standards organization. It creates and publishes international standards for all electrical, electronic and associated technologies. More at:

Factbox: Bachmann

For 40 years, Bachmann has impressed the experts with extraordinary complete system solutions in automation technology. Exceptional technology and innovative approaches are hallmarks of Bachmann electronic, an internationally active high-tech company headquartered in Feldkirch (Austria). Founded in 1970, the company today employs more than 400 people worldwide. Bachmann electronic currently has five subsidiaries in Germany, the Czech Republic, China, USA, India and two offices in Denmark and the Netherlands. In the 2009 fiscal year, Bachmann achieved gross sales of 52.3 million Euros. The company is predicting a growth of roughly 20 percent for the 2010 fiscal year.

Picture materials:

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For the first time, an IEC standardization group holds a meeting in Vorarlberg, hosted by Bachmann electronic in Feldkirchen

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Managing Director of Bachmann electronic GmbH in Feldkirch, Austria

Further information:

Frank Spelter

Head of Corporate Communication

Bachmann electronic GmbH

Kreuzäckerweg 33, 6800 Feldkirch, Austria

T: +43 (0) 5522/3497-0

F: +43 (0) 5522/3497-188

E: