Motors and Electrical Equipment News

Siemens Smart Infrastructure’s building products KNX/DALI gateway N 141 and the switch/dim actuator 2x DALI Broadcast N 525D11, as well as the Desigo PXC3 controller, were recently certified under the new DALI-2 communication protocol standard for lighting in buildings. DALI-2 is an update to the original Digital Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI) protocol and facilitates interoperability and control for LED drivers. Application integration Customers can choose between soluti...

As the number of people owning a smart phone increases year-on-year, the popularity and use of apps continue to rise. Marie Parry, the Group Marketing Director of Scolmore Group, looks at some of the statistics and how apps are making life easier for contractors and installers. mobile phone population and apps In 2015, 52.7 percent of the global mobile phone population accessed the internet from their mobile phone. This figure is expected to grow to 61.2 percent in 2018. In 2020, the number...

With an influx of budget products from hitherto unknown names hitting the UK electrical accessories market, Marie Parry, the Group Marketing Director at Scolmore, outlines the value of investing in a trusted brand. wiring accessories market growth According to AMA Research, the UK wiring accessories market is expected to be worth £1.8bn by the end of 2018, while the market for home automation products, including intelligent wiring accessories, is described as a rapidly growing market...

Mark Flanagan, the Technical Manager with Scolmore Group looks at some of the problems associated with inferior quality connector products, which don’t meet the required standards and therefore, represent a safety hazard. Since Scolmore introduced the first-ever Flow Connector in 2007, it has proved a highly popular product and has continued to grow and develop the range. Inevitably this has led to a lot of copies of the product being brought to market. They may be cheaper, but in many...

In the light of the Grenfell tragedy, the spotlight has been shone on fire safety with the result that building regulations are becoming much more stringent, and building products are coming under more scrutiny. As the first manufacturer to launch fire-rated downlights back in 2005, with the award-wining FlameGuard fire protected and acoustic rated products Scolmore has had years of experience in developing, modifying, and improving the range of products to ensure they meet the latest requi...

A recent survey by online wholesaler - Electrical Direct found that despite the ever-growing popularity of smart home products, many tradespeople are unprepared for the increasing customer demand. The poll found that 82% of tradespeople have never undertaken any form of training in smart home technology and this figure remains largely unchanged following results from the same poll in 2018. Smart home integration While this may come as a surprise to many, it shows that despite the huge growt...

Marie Parry, the Group Marketing Director at Scolmore Group, looks at the latest report on the UK lighting sector. According to the latest report by AMA Research - Lighting and LED Market Report - UK 2018-2022 the UK lighting market was estimated to have increased by 44% in 2013, in value terms. Retro-fitting lighting solutions The key driver for the lighting market is LED lighting, which has gained a significant share in the non-domestic sector and has started to make inroads into the do...

A new generation of touch voltage detectors with a built-in lamp. Acquisition system with high-speed data processing microcontroller. Providing maximum reliability in areas where there are complex electrical fields. Lamp in the top part with high-brightness, low-consumption LEDs, for use in dark places Lamp use is independent of the detection Voltage present indicator using multiple high-brightness red LEDs over 360° and buzzer-type intermittent acoustic signal Absence of voltage indic...

Megger are pleased to announce that they have acquired the BALTO product line from STEVO Electric bvba (Belgium). The BALTO products, continually developed since their launch in 2003, are used to test the operation of DC high-speed electrical circuit breakers.  Acquisition of BALTO products These circuit breakers provide protection to equipment and are frequently found in DC traction, rail and underground transportation, where their reliable operation is critical to maintaining safe opera...

Relay and current transformers have been in high demand for a long time in India with only a handful of brands that customers are able to choose from. Megger entered this market in early 2016 but faced two critical challenges: Matching technical and commercial qualification criteria Identification of 765 kV site for validation Long-distance travel The end-user in India required specific criteria of performance certificate for the MRCT from 400 kV substations. After a series of demos at m...

Electrical measurement company Megger Group (Megger) announces it has acquired the entire share capital of Metrycom, a provider of grid network sensors and analytics to the electrical supply industry. Metrycom supplies unique grid sensor and analytics solutions for online measurements, condition monitoring, and fault location using extensive detection and prediction algorithms for medium and high voltage grid networks. Smart grid sensor networks bring insight to grid operators, enabling trackin...

Standards Australia published Amendment 2 of the Wiring Rules on 30 April 2021. These standards will come into effect on 1st November 2021 for all states and territories. The amendment covers the following areas: Clarifications concerning RCD requirements for alterations. Clause 2.10.2.2 — switchboard accessibility and emergency exit facilities: location, spacing, room layout, switchboard doors, and switchboard room doorways. Clause 2.10.3.2 — switchboard construction and verifi...

When it comes to wiring accessories, installers want products that are as simple to fit as possible. Marie Parry, Marketing Director at Scolmore Group, looks at the sector and how it needs to keep evolving to meet these requirements and the implications for the electrical wholesaler. Expected to be worth £1.8bn by 2018 according to AMA Research, the UK wiring accessories market is a mature one, with the product mix remaining fairly stable in recent years. As a mature and sizeable market,...

According to the latest market report from AMA Research – ‘Home Automation Market Report – UK 2017-2021, the UK home automation market is worth £160 million annually. It has experienced significant growth since 2010 as homeowners seek out system solutions that include access, security, climate, lighting controls, home entertainment, and communications systems. It describes the market for home automation products as a rapidly growing market that has benefitted from the sp...

Marie Parry, Group Marketing Director, Scolmore Group, looks at how feedback from electrical contractors is helping shape the company’s growing wiring accessories portfolio. Regular engagement with contractors via social media, trade magazines, and face to face at exhibitions and trade shows is how Scolmore gains constructive insight into how contractors like to work, the issues they face, and what they need to help them do their work in the most time-efficient and cost-effective way. It...

Building Information Modelling (BIM) is changing how buildings, infrastructure, and utilities are planned, designed, and built. Having started life as a three-dimensional modeling system in the 1980s, BIM was originally used by architects and concentrated solely on construction elements. Currently, the latest generation of BIM software includes all the components of a building, including MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) services and it provides contractors with the ability to deliver...

Scolmore Group is delighted to announce that it has been successful in upgrading its ISO 9001 certification to the new International Quality Standard ISO 9001:2015.  Benefits of the certification With only 15% of UK companies having applied to transition from the old standard when it was introduced in September 2015, Scolmore’s decision to update to the new system early demonstrates a continued commitment to remain at the forefront of developments in their industry and sets them a...

Scolmore Group is delighted to continue to provide its much-valued support and products for several very worthwhile projects that are helping to transform the lives of deserving families throughout the UK. In a recent collaboration with Gra-Bern Electrical Contractors in Telford, products from across Scolmore’s lighting and wiring accessories ranges were installed in a property that was being extended and adapted to allow a young family member to return home from a prolonged hospital...

With a career spanning an impressive 60 years, electrical industry legend, Tony Cable, has amassed a wealth of experience and knowledge during his rise from apprentice at the age of 15, to his most recent role as senior marketing and events engineer with the NICEIC. Director's comments Although officially retired from his full-time role, Tony will not be disappearing completely from the electrical industry scene, and Scolmore is delighted to announce that he will be taking up a consultancy r...

Scolmore Group’s ongoing commitment to deliver a first-class service to its customers continues to pay dividends, with two more accolades added to the company’s growing list of industry achievements.  Unicrimp has just been voted ‘Best New Supplier for 2017 by the IBA (Independent Buying Association), while Scolmore was voted the IBA ‘Highly Commended Supplier for 2017’. Both achievements were awarded in recognition of outstanding performance in Product Ra...

Although officially retired from his full-time role with the NICEIC, industry legend, Tony Cable, has not disappeared completely from the electrical industry scene, and Scolmore is enjoying having him on board in a consultancy role with the business. Tony will be joining forces with the nation’s favorite sparky, Billy Byrne, on the Scolmore stand at the first ELEX show of 2018 which kicks off at Alexandra Palace on Wednesday, 31st January, and Thursday, 1st February.  Work experie...

Wiring accessories, lighting, and security products manufacturer, Scolmore Group, continues to expand and develop the business and is pleased to announce the acquisition of Sangamo, the specialist supplier of time switches and heating controls. Established in 1921 and based in Glasgow, Sangamo has built up an excellent reputation and an extensive product range which will make an ideal fit within the Scolmore Group portfolio, enabling the company to bring an even more comprehensive range of...

Scolmore is pleased to announce the appointment of Martyn Walley to the newly created position of Group Technical Manager. A well-known name within the industry, Martyn comes to Scolmore following a four-year term with Aico. Martyn's experience He brings a wealth of technical experience and knowledge garnered over a career spanning 29 years, which began with an apprenticeship with the Midlands Electricity Board and has included roles with several leading organizations in the electrical,...

Ambitious expansion plans by leading electrical solutions provider, Scolmore Group, will see three major developments come to fruition during 2019 - the launch of a new, independent lighting company; the appointment of industry expert Mike Collins to head up this new enterprise, plus the acquisition of an additional 67,000 sq. ft. of head office and warehouse space, to accommodate the rapid growth that the business is enjoying.   New lighting company In a bid to position the compan...

Scolmore Group is one of fifteen manufacturers and ten wholesalers who have signed up as Founder Members of EDATA, a new ‘by the industry for the industry's product data pool. EDATA is the latest strategic initiative from the Electrical Distributors’ Association (EDA) under their EDA Data Services banner. E-commerce and digital transformation are inextricably linked to the availability of the highest quality product data, and EDATA offers manufacturers a central ‘single so...

As part of its commitment to support the electrical industry and to help develop the next generation of electricians, Scolmore Group became an official partner with SkillELECTRIC to support the organization’s competition to find the UK’s best young electrician. The event, which is run in conjunction with WorldSkills UK, is designed to promote and showcase high standards and skills across the electrotechnical industry. It is organized by National Electrotechnical Training (NET)....

Scolmore is delighted to announce that following his 18-month tenure as commercial manager for the company, Jim Hutchison has been promoted to group commercial director.   Jim's experience He will oversee all commercial procedures across the Scolmore group of companies which includes Click wiring accessories, Ovia lighting, ESP security and fire protection, and Unicrimp cable accessories.  A well-known figure in the electrical industry, Jim has amassed more than 30 years of expe...

Working in partnership with Scolmore ensures that electrical wholesalers have access to the widest possible source of information, resources, and promotional support to help them stand out from the crowd and stay ahead in a highly competitive marketplace.  Key to this support is the Marketing Hub – a unique website facility for Premier Stockists which is available across the group – Scolmore, Ovia, Unicrimp, and ESP and provides a range of tools that wholesalers can use to...

Scolmore Group is delighted to have been accepted by the IET (Institute of Engineering Technology) as its latest Enterprise Partner. This makes Scolmore the 150th company to join the organization in the year that the IET is celebrating its 150th anniversary. IET offerings With more than 160,000 members worldwide in 150 countries, the IET is the UK’s largest professional engineering institution that offers Professional Registration by the Engineering Council. The IET offers support for...

ABT-CT insulation piercing connectors can be used for all types of LV-ABC conductors, as well as connections in the service line system, building electrical system, and public lighting system. ABT-CT can be easily installed by tightening the bolts to force the teeth to penetrate the insulation of the main line and the tap line simultaneously. Peeling of insulation on both lines is avoided. It is made from polyamide 6.6 with fibreglass. Saw-shaped tabs are made from brass with a tin-plated finis...