Models
ABB UniGear Medium-Voltage Switchgear Financing
ABB UniGear orders require a deposit that lands on the factory calendar months before the gear ships. That deposit creates a capital decision early in the project schedule, and companies that wait for the finance review before placing the order risk losing the delivery window they need. UniGear financing through our program processes in 24 to 48 hours on application-only transactions up to $400,000. The deposit goes out on the day the spec is confirmed, not a month later.
ABB UniGear is ABB's primary medium-voltage metal-clad switchgear family for North American and global industrial and utility applications, covering voltage classes from 12kV through 40.5kV. The UniGear ZS1 and ZS2 configurations are air-insulated drawout designs meeting IEC 62271-200 and IEEE C37.20.2 standards. UniGear is specified in industrial substations, utility distribution systems, renewable energy collection points, and large campus distribution. It is a globally recognized design with a broad base of installed equipment and strong secondary market activity.
UniGear Configurations And Project Scope
A UniGear lineup for an industrial facility incoming substation typically includes an incoming feeder section, main breaker, bus tie, transformer feeder sections, and motor feeder sections. Bus ratings at 15kV class cover 1200A and 2000A bus configurations with interrupting ratings up to 40kA. A lineup of eight to twelve cubicles at current pricing runs $300,000 to $700,000 depending on bus rating, relay specification, and any special configurations.
Data center campuses use UniGear in medium-voltage distribution substations feeding multiple buildings. A data center operator taking utility power at 13.8kV and distributing to building-level transformers needs a reliable, maintainable switching and protection system at each distribution node. Data center operators building new capacity have fixed commissioning dates and need switchgear delivery that supports, not constrains, that timeline.
Renewable energy projects use UniGear at the collection substation and at the point of interconnection with the transmission system. A utility-scale solar or wind project might specify multiple UniGear cubicles at the main substation and auxiliary protection panels throughout the collection system. Renewable energy and solar project developers and EPCs are an active segment for UniGear financing.
UniGear installations often include medium-voltage motor control center equipment on the load side. Financing the UniGear switchgear and the MCC in a single transaction reduces the documentation burden and often improves aggregate terms.
UniGear Buyer Profiles
Industrial plant engineers managing substation upgrades are the core group. A plant that took utility power at 13.8kV in 1985 and has run the same switchgear for 40 years is overdue for a replacement. A UniGear upgrade reduces maintenance burden, restores full interrupting capability, and modernizes the protection scheme. Financing over 60 months keeps the plant's capital budget intact for production equipment. Industrial and manufacturing operators managing multi-year capital programs are well-qualified borrowers on transactions of this scale.
Electrical contractors on industrial and utility projects take delivery of UniGear and need working capital while billing on a progress schedule. A $500,000 UniGear order sitting on a contractor's payable is a significant cash strain. Financing the equipment under the contracting entity converts that exposure to a predictable monthly payment. Electrical contractors with an active project backlog and solid banking history are efficient approvals.
Terms And Structure For UniGear Financing
Terms for new UniGear switchgear run 48 to 72 months. Larger transactions and new equipment support the longer end of that range. Fixed monthly payments make budgeting predictable across the project and the asset's service life.
For the deposit requirement on long-lead UniGear orders, our progress and deposit financing funds the deposit now and the delivery balance when the gear ships. This is the most common structure for custom-configured UniGear with 20 to 30 week factory lead times.
Buyers comparing an equipment lease versus loan for a permanent installation should generally favor the loan or dollar buyout lease structure. UniGear in a permanent substation is held for the equipment's full service life. A fair market value lease with an end-of-term return option does not fit that situation. We walk buyers through the options clearly before any commitment.
UniGear In The ABB Product Line
ABB UniGear sits in ABB's secondary distribution product family alongside the SafeGear arc-resistant lineup and the PremSet ring main unit series. For buyers working across ABB's switchgear portfolio, the UniGear is the primary choice for main and feeder duty at 15kV and 24kV class where a full metal-clad drawout construction is required. It is a well-supported platform with active parts and service support through ABB's US service organization. Buyers who have used ABB equipment elsewhere in their facility often specify UniGear for the consistent maintenance and service network.
Projects requiring arc-resistant construction can use ABB SafeGear in arc-resistant Type 2B configuration alongside or instead of UniGear where personnel access requirements drive the specification. Financing both products through the same transaction structure is straightforward since they are both ABB medium-voltage products with similar lead times and procurement processes.
Price This Switchgear Financing Package
Send the quote, seller, lead time, deposit requirement, project location, and the electrical package scope. We will review the structure around the purchase schedule.
Review Switchgear TermsCommon Questions on ABB UniGear Medium-Voltage Switchgear Financing
Straight answers before you send the equipment file.
We need UniGear for a project in Houston where we do not have a local office. Does geography affect the financing?
No. The financing underwriting is on the buying entity, not the installation location. Your company's credit profile and the equipment value drive the approval, regardless of which city the switchgear is installed in.
Can we finance ABB UniGear alongside Relion relay panels on the same project scope?
Yes. UniGear switchgear and associated Relion relay panels on the same project can be financed in a single transaction. One application and approval covers the complete protection and distribution package.
The UniGear spec requires factory witness testing by the owner's engineer. Is that cost financeable?
Factory witness testing charges on the switchgear invoice can be included in the financed amount. Keep them on the same invoice as the switchgear equipment. Standalone testing service invoices are harder to finance separately.
Our plant had a bankruptcy three years ago that was discharged. Can we still get UniGear financing?
A discharged bankruptcy is a data point, not a permanent bar. The question is what has happened in the three years since, and what the current business looks like. Strong bank statements, consistent revenue, and clean post-discharge credit all help. Tell us the full story and we evaluate honestly.
We own UniGear that is fully paid off. Can we do a cash-out refinance against it?
Yes. A sale-leaseback or cash-out refinance against paid-off UniGear converts the asset value to working capital. We evaluate current fair market value and structure terms at a term appropriate for the equipment age and condition. Contact us with the details.
Review The ABB UniGear Medium-Voltage Switchgear Financing Package
Send the equipment quote, seller, lead time, deposit schedule, and project location. The finance desk will review the package against the actual procurement calendar.