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Firema Trasporti S.p.A. recently contracted Magnetek Inc. to develop auxiliary power units (APUs) for new subway cars to be used by the Milan, Italy transit authority.

The company expects to deliver a prototype in spring 2005, then obtain a $5 million order from the agency to produce 170 APUs.

Magnetek’s APUs are designed to convert high-voltage power from the subway’s third rail into low-voltage power needed for on-board services such as air conditioning, lighting, door operation and battery charging. Delivering 60 kilowatts of power per unit, the APUs feature high power conversion, natural convection cooling and NEMA 4X protection.

The project is part of Firema’s multi-year plan to expand and modernize its 600-car fleet. Each group of three subway cars requires two APUs.