Contract Awarded

ABB Ltd
18 November 1999

ABB wins $35 million order at Australian pulp and paper mill

Fully integrated electrification, automation system key to one of the world's
most modern pulp and paper mills. 

Zurich, Switzerland, November 18, 1999 - ABB, the global technology company, has
won an order to build a fully integrated electrical and industrial automation
system for a greenfield pulp and paper mill located in Turmut, New South Wales,
Australia. The contract, valued at US$35 million, was placed by Visy Paper PTY
LTD, of Melbourne, Australia. The mill, which will have a production capacity of
250,000 tons a year of unbleached pulp and paper, is scheduled to begin
operations in the first half of 2001.

Under the terms of the contract, ABB will supply a complete process automation
system, consisting of electrical motors and drives, sensors and instruments to
measure variables such as paper thickness, and a process automation and control
system that allows the customer to monitor all aspects of the pulp and paper
process on a computer screen in real time.  ABB will also deliver the complete
electrical installation for the plant, and is responsible for installation,
commissioning and project management for the entire delivery. In addition, ABB
will supply a power generation system, including an industrial steam turbine
from its ABB ALSTOM POWER joint venture. 

The order is the largest ever for ABB's SmartPlant(TM) system, which monitors
the mill's performance and automatically recommends changes to improve
performance. The system can also implement the performance improvements
automatically. 

By allowing the customer to easily monitor and control the entire industrial
process, ABB's automation system improves product quality, plant efficiency and
safety. The system will also allow Visy to monitor air and water emissions in
order to meet strict environmental regulations. In addition, ABB's 'open'
automation software platform means Visy can link the new mill with software
systems in other parts of their company - including systems from other suppliers
- as well as with customers and suppliers, to achieve a full-integrated business
system. 

In light of Visy's Australian content policy, Australian manufacturers and
sub-contractors will be given the opportunity to participate wherever
commercially possible. 

ABB is the world's largest supplier of process automation systems for the pulp
and paper industry and delivered products, systems and services to this sector
in 1998 and with a value of some US$ 1 billion. 

ABB  serves customers in power transmission and
distribution; automation; oil, gas, and petrochemicals; industrial products and
contracting; and in financial services.  Power generation customers are served
by the joint venture ABB ALSTOM POWER. The ABB Group employs about 170,000
people in more than 100 countries.