Electrical assembly’s manufacturer sees growth spurt

USUALLY the term ‘start-up’ is reserved for businesses in the IT sector but this start-up, Modulêr – established only last year in Atlantis, is showing real growth in the type tested electrical panel enclosure and dry transformer space.

Founder Ludi Erasmus has more than 20 years’ experience in these sectors and armed with the low voltage Logstrup agency for sub Saharan Africa, he is seeing a surge in demand particularly from the expanding agri- processing industries of the Western Cape.

"We manufacture the Logstrup modular enclosures to the very exacting internationally approved specifications of Logstrup in Denmark whose products are regarded worldwide as the Rolls Royce of electrical panel enclosures, a reputation earned since its establishment in 1958.

"Logstrup is a quality product which meets the latest local and international electrical standards for panel manufacturers with higher dimensional copper busbars than was required by previous codes" he said.

"This is a vital cost differentiator as the global move to smaller and more compact internal panel components require greater heat dissipation via an increased size of copper busbars, which affects operational reliability, safety and price.

"Logstrup modular enclosures’ frames and panel covers are manufactured from AluZinc – a material which ensures maximum corrosion protection, a must have in coastal areas, hostile environments found in mines, wet environments such as water and wastewater treatment works and in marine applications" he explained.

"In fact the marine environment ports, harbours and ship building – is seen as a strong potential market for us."

Training for new regulations

"The imminent adoption of new IEC 61439 standard for Low Voltage Switchgear and Control Gear Assemblies by the South African authorities – having been vetoed for several years by some panel builders – stipulates changes to established design criteria which require a complete understanding to ensure compliance and safety. Realising that there are some knowledge gaps in our industry, we have invested in training programmes aimed at panel builders – our main customers – their clients and end users, consultants, and regulation enforcement agencies such as municipalities.

Regrettably, while the regulations will meet the latest international code of best practice, there is a serious lack of qualified inspectors necessary to ensure compliance, which is currently left to reputable panel suppliers and consultants to police.

The burgeoning solar industry where large scale industrial or commercial installations are involved, require suitably sized electrical control panels and distribution equipment. A lack of understanding or a deliberate use of outdated codes has created potential safety hazards resulting in a number of panel fires, caused by the overheating of inadequately sized busbars. The need for training is a matter of urgency, particularly with regards to solar installations" he explained

TESAR agency secured

In a complimentary venture, Erasmus has secured the distribution rights for the Italian TESAR range of dry transformers – a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional oil filled transformers.

"While dry type transformers are not new, they previously suffered from being higher priced than the oil filled types, despite having numerous advantages. TESAR has overcome the disparity and can now offer dry types with improved performance and reliability at a price that places them on par with oil filled transformers.

"We have identified significant growth throughout the agri value chain beginning with farmers extending their production capabilities through mechanised methods which involve more sophisticated electrical distribution systems. Greater produce volumes impact on the agri-processing sector that needs to expand production facilities and that is good news for us!

"We have recently secured orders for three TESAR transformers from the agri-processing sector – two 2 500kVA and one 1 600kVA unit as part of a plant upgrades."

Erasmus reports that their initial growth plans have already been exceeded due to the upswing in demand from solar installers and agri sectors, and while expansion produces its own set of challenges, he is happy to be part of a revitalised economy, in the Western Cape at least.