Message From Hitachi: Alamo Bushing Recall June 2023

Hitachi Energy USA Inc.
1133 S Cavalier Drive
Alamo, TN 38001
United States
www.hitachienergy.com
June 19, 2023

Re: PRODUCT ADVISORY AND RECALL – ALAMO, TN MANUFACTURED BUSHINGS
To: All Hitachi Energy Insulation & Components Customers
IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED

The safety and satisfaction of our customers are of paramount importance to Hitachi Energy. We are writing to inform you of a recent quality issue that we have discovered in the manufacturing process associated with certain bushings manufactured in our Alamo, Tennessee facility for which we are issuing this product advisory and recall. The affected population of bushings have gasket part numbers 1ZUA215204-AA and 1ZUA215204-AB within our family of protective seals. During the manufacturing timeframe between December 1, 2022, and May 31, 2023, we discovered that a small percentage of these gaskets were eroding and/or extruding prematurely after the bushing’s assembly.

WARNING
BECAUSE OF THE RISK OF SERIOUS BODILY INJURY AND/OR DEATH IN THE EVENT OF A BUSHING FAILURE, CUSTOMERS SHOULD IMMEDIATELY PERFORM THE RECOMMENDED ACTION SET FORTH BELOW, TO ADDRESS THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ISSUES IDENTIFIED IN THIS PRODUCT ADVISORY AND RECALL.

Please see the images below:

Hitachi Energy is conducting an extensive investigation and root cause analysis, in conjunction with our third-party supplier, of the potential premature degradation of the coating material utilized on these gaskets. Currently, we are putting all products inclusive of the 1ZUA215204-AA and 1ZUA215204-AB gaskets on immediate manufacturing and shipping holds until further notice while additional analysis continues.

Information to date shows occasional damaged gaskets between the porcelain and CT tube of the bushing. While less likely, this situation could also occur between the lower porcelain and the lower support component. The gasket contains a coated material that is applied onto the gasket’s base material, and this gasket style is used in many of Alamo’s OIP bushings. We have determined that the coating supplied to Hitachi Energy during the December 2022 – May 2023 timeframe was improperly processed and therefore interacts with the gasket’s base material and causes the affected gaskets to extrude or deteriorate. Not all gaskets supplied have exhibited this phenomenon; however, all 1ZUA215204-AA and 1ZUA215204-AB gaskets supplied to Alamo and used in production from December 2022 – May 2023 were coated with the improperly process coating.

The product quality notification is relevant to the following bushing style numbers:

At this time, if you received any of the above bushing styles between December 1, 2022, through May 31, 2023, Hitachi Energy STRONGLY URGES YOU TO IMMEDIATELY take the following actions:

1. Remove the bushings from service
2. Stop all further shipments and deployments of these bushings until further notice

We recognize this is a drastic measure, however Hitachi Energy values our relationship and wants to assure you that we are committed to safety and quality as our top priorities. We are working to develop a prompt resolution with our supplier that meets the quality standards required for these gaskets and ultimately our bushings. Our team will soon be following up with customers individually to highlight specific serial numbers impacted and discuss the necessary next steps.

We have established a dedicated support center comprised of team members trained to field calls regarding this situation at 866-973-0851. As always, feel free to reach out to your regular Marketing & Sales representatives for guidance on this subject at any time.

We appreciate your cooperation and look forward to serving you in the future.

Hitachi Energy USA Inc