Electrical Industry News for May 2022

Ingeteam has been selected as the technology partner to equip the largest energy storage system in Italy, which will also be one of the largest and most important systems in Europe and the world. This battery system will have a power output of 70 MW and an installed capacity of 340 MWh. The project, which is to be installed in northern Italy, is set to start operating in 2023 and will serve to support the country's power grid. This concept is based on a market associated with the wholesale elec...

Power management company Eaton has announced its eMobility business has been chosen to supply a 4-speed medium-duty electrified vehicle (EV) transmission to Proterra, an innovator in commercial vehicle electrification technology, for the company’s ProDrive drivetrain used in Proterra ZX5 electric transit buses. “Our EV transmissions have unmatched performance, providing class-leading acceleration, horsepower, range and durability,” said Julie Marshaus, manager, New Product Int...

In an industry first, Siemens Smart Infrastructure announced an open, modular suite of grid software to address the increasingly critical energy transition. The suite is a game-changer for established energy players and new stakeholders alike, enabling them to be fast, agile, and flexible when coping with existing and future challenges. 85% improved task efficiency Siemens has already made significant steps to improve its offering for smart meter data management such as a cloud-native option...

In response to the goal of bringing global carbon dioxide emissions to net-zero by 2050, Advantech, a pioneer in Industrial IoT, signed a letter of intent (LOI) with Tsai Ying Clean Energy Co., Ltd. (TYCE) for cooperation in developing the first ‘Made-in-Taiwan’ hydrogen fuel cell electric bus (FCEB) management system, as well as jointly exploring domestic and international markets for it. Due to the increasing threat of climate change, the global net-zero trend, and the carbon bord...

Schneider Electric, the globally renowned company in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, has unveiled several innovations at Hannover Messe 2022, with a single aim - To accelerate the path to net zero CO2 emissions for customers and partners. “Industry continues to undergo a massive period of change,” said Barbara Frei, the Executive Vice President - Industrial Automation at Schneider Electric, adding “Our vision, however, remains constant. We want...

Tetra® signage lighting from GE Current, a Daintree company, the industry’s advanced lighting and controls manufacturer, is for creating unforgettable first impressions. And with five new products that outshine their competition, the Tetra display (booth #4931) is a must-see for ISA International Sign Expo goers in search of superior innovation, quality, and reliability. Visibly better Judged against competitive LED systems, Tetra® LED systems to provide improved brigh...

Scolmore continues to develop its Click Smart+ home automation range and has introduced a new wireless smart scenario switch that is designed to control lights and appliances from any location. The battery-powered wireless smart scenario switch allows the user to control multiple lights and appliances and with one click, they can create multiple smart solutions, bringing added convenience, comfort, security, energy-saving, and ultimately more control in the home. Energy-efficient home There a...

Pierce Manufacturing Inc., an Oshkosh Corporation company, kicked off its FDIC International 2022 exhibition, featuring 14 fire apparatus and the latest product and technology advancements. Highlights include the Pierce Volterra platform of electric vehicles and the introduction of the next generation Pierce Ultimate Configuration (PUC) water pump, with flow capabilities up to 2,000 gallons per minute. Fire apparatus configurations Pierce Manufacturing spotlighted the vast scope and significa...

Partnering with Eviny, the Norwegian e-mobility leader, ABB’s Terra 360 is available for use by the country’s rapidly growing community of EV drivers at the Oasen Shopping Center, Bergen, and in the Norwegian ski resort of Geilo. ABB charging technology The pilot installations, which will be followed by a more widespread rollout across Norway and Sweden, serve as a further demonstration of the ability of ABB charging technology to perform in extreme weather conditions and enable su...

Schneider Electric, the globally renowned company in the digital transformation of energy management and automation, has announced the appointment of Jana Gerber as the President of Microgrid North America. In this role, Jana Gerber will be responsible for growing the commercial microgrid business in the region and supporting customers in their sustainability and resilience journeys. President - Microgrid North America With a strong background in a variety of customer-facing capacities, Jana...

TE Connectivity (TE), a pioneer in connectivity and sensors has completed the acquisition of Kemtron Ltd. (incl. it's subsidiary -Kemtron Sarl), a United Kingdom-based company and provider of EMI/RFI shielding, environmental sealing, and the gaskets and components. With TE’s depth of engineering expertise and manufacturing of heat shrink tubing, the acquisition of Kemtron Ltd. further strengthens TE’s capabilities and design solutions for customers who produce sensitive electronic...

Power management company Eaton announced it has signed an agreement to acquire a 50% stake in the circuit breaker business of Jiangsu Huineng Electric Co., Ltd. (Huineng), which manufactures and markets low-voltage circuits breakers in China and had revenues of $35 million in 2021. Application-tailored product offerings “Huineng’s application-tailored product offerings and manufacturing base in China, combined with Eaton’s expertise and global channels, will enable us to furt...

Headquartered in the Spanish city of Bilbao, Iberdrola, one of the world’s largest electric utilities and the world's largest wind power producer, aims to become carbon neutral across Europe, by 2030. To achieve this goal, it is systematically implementing its environmentally-friendly and sustainable business model. Fluorine gas-free switchgear To this end, Siemens Smart Infrastructure (Siemens) has been commissioned by i-DE Redes Eléctricas Inteligentes SAU, the company responsi...

What kind of power does it take to make a heavy-duty vehicle run? Take into consideration their high duty cycles and loaded vehicle weights of up to 42 tons in mainland Europe and 70 tons or more in Scandinavia. That is a lot of trucks. Diesel is still the dominant solution, as the ‘go-to’ fuel source for heavy-duty mobility with the most extensive infrastructure support. To date, alternative fuels have only played a niche role in heavy transportation – but that could change s...

The evolution of the smart home gathers pace, with the market witnessing a continued increase in the appetite for smart technology from end-users. While this advancement will bring significant business opportunities for switched-on electrical contractors and installers, there is reluctance on the part of some installers to fully embrace this new technology, as it is deemed too complicated to install and they are, therefore, unwilling to upsell to customers. With a reputation for developing...

Scolmore’s Inceptor Evo Bulkhead Luminaire is a high quality LED bulkhead luminaire that can effectively replace existing 28W fittings for commercial and home applications. The product looks stylish and thanks to the impact-resistant polycarbonate body, doesn’t compromise on toughness. The luminaire is certainly larger than standard bulkheads, but infinitely more manageable than 28W circular fluorescents. Inceptor Evo Bulkhead Luminaire Good quality instructions are provided w...

Scolmore Group looked close to home when considering the product requirements for the expansion and total redesign of the Visitor Center at its Staffordshire headquarters. Originally opened in January 2009, Scolmore’s Visitor Center was designed to cater for groups of up to 24 people and act as a facility to showcase and demonstrate the growing range of products to customers, as well as serving as a venue to host internal meetings and presentations. Scolmore’s Visitor Center A...

Marie Parry, the Group Marketing Director with Scolmore, highlights the role wholesalers can play in overcoming the barriers to adoption of smart technology among the elderly. According to the Office for Budget Responsibility, by 2065, 26% of the population of England and Wales, in the United Kingdom (UK) will be more than 65 years old, increasing the cost of health and social care. While the increasing longevity is something to celebrate, the economic, social and political implications are...

With a myriad of styles and finishes available for wiring accessories, Marie Parry, the Group Marketing Director at Scolmore Group looks at what makes simple, white accessories - the bread and butter for the electrical contractor and why wholesalers should be stocking them. There has never been a wider choice of styles and finishes in wiring accessories available in the market, giving end users the opportunity to reflect the latest trends for interior design in the switches and sockets that t...

GridPro from Scolmore is an extensive range of interchangeable mounting plates and modules, available in the most comprehensive choice of finishes – offering contractors the ultimate in flexible, modular grid solutions. The range was developed with speed and ease of installation as key attributes. It provides installers with the flexibility to create multi-function, 1 to 24 gang plates which are styled to seamlessly integrate with Scolmore’s vast range of Click wiring accessories....

With an influx of products onto the electrical market, contractors need to be more aware now than ever before of the importance of ensuring the quality and provenance of the products that they are using. The UK wiring accessories market is a growing one and the opportunities that this growth and expansion promises can be evidenced in the influx of products onto the market in recent years, from unknown names from outside the market.  Pressures of tight margins Within these constraints...

Marie Parry, the Marketing Director at Scolmore Group, looks at the developments in the lighting sector and how wholesalers can benefit from the smart lighting revolution. Where it used to be considered a luxury and accessible only to the well-off folks, smart lighting is now becoming more widely accessible, thanks to the advancements in technology, which means that smart devices are now being utilized in all areas of life and app-based control is a standard part of everyday lives. Smart l...

Scolmore International continues to grow and expand its electrical accessories and lighting business and has just announced the acquisition of ESP (Elite Security Products Limited) - a specialist supplier of security, fire and intruder protection products - by way of a joint venture between Scolmore International and Andy Clements, the current ESP Managing Director. While the acquisition means ESP will now be part of the Scolmore Group, the company will continue to trade as an independent ent...

A wide selection of CLICK wiring accessories from Scolmore International have been used at RAF Cottesmore, in the refurbishment of hangar facilities and the construction of a new T Annexe accommodation. The products were selected by electrical contractor - East Midlands Electrical Contractors Ltd (EMEC), who worked closely with main contractor – R G Carter, on this design and build project. CLICK light switches installed CLICK light switches, power sockets and fused spurs have been...

In the last few decades, carbon dioxide emissions have increased dramatically as a result of burning fossil fuels for energy generation, causing damage that is difficult to repair. This has led to greener solutions being sought as a way to protect the planet. One such solution is solar energy, which is renewable, inexhaustible, and non-polluting. Sofamel has developed everything required for the connection, safety, and optimization of a photovoltaic installation. It supplies the customers with...

In many countries, arc flash incidents are one of the leading causes of death or injury for electrical technicians. Given that more than half of all risks and injuries related to arc flashes affect the area above the neck, Sofamel has created different hoods that provide extremely effective personal protection: the Armour-1, Armour-2, and Armour-2 ATPV36. Armour-1 With a clear polycarbonate shield for low-intensity arc flashes Armour-1 provides adequate protection for class 1 as defined by t...

Click Scolmore's award-winning Fumagalli lighting collection has been extended to include a range of bulkhead fittings. Manufactured with the unique resin formulation used in all Fumagalli products, the new bulkheads offer the same lifetime guarantee against corrosion. An IP66 rating means they have the versatility to be used across a range of outdoor or indoor settings, including bathrooms, wet rooms, and swimming pool areas. Installations and color availability Backlit versions of the ran...

Low energy GX53 downlighters are available from CLICK Scolmore to provide a solution for installations where ceiling recess depth is limited. The fitting has been designed exclusively for use with the energy-efficient 13W GX53 lamp, which meets the requirements of Part L of the Building Regulations about the installation of low-energy luminaires. Available in 2 different recess depths, the fittings are available as fixed or adjustable luminaires in white, polished chrome, or satin chro...

Marie Parry, Group Marketing Director, Scolmore Group, looks at some of the issues surrounding the supply of electrical products to the healthcare sector. Infection control is one of the biggest challenges facing the healthcare sector. Healthcare-associated infections (HCAI) are infections that occur in a healthcare setting that a patient didn't have before they came in. These infections can develop either as a direct result of healthcare intervention (such as medical or surgical treatment) or...

Scolmore has confirmed that it recently threatened court action against LGA, the distributor of the \\\’Selectric\\\’ brand of products. Paul Dawson, Group Commercial Manager of Scolmore stated as follows \\\"Scolmore has, for a number of years, sold metal plate accessories under its ’Deco’ branding. We have popularised this brand, invested a great deal in it, and made it our own. We recently discovered that LGA had been advertising metal plate products by reference to a...