SPARKS October_2016

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SPARKS
ELECTRICAL NEWS OCTOBER 2016
ZestWeg_463_ext_Sparks_285x50.indd 1 2016/01/27 8:26 AM
MOTOR CONTROL CENTRES AND MOTOR PROTECTION
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LOW VOLTAGE SWITCHGEAR COMPLIES WITH TYPE 2-COORDINATION
Z est WEG Group has announced that as part of WEG Brazil’s
ongoing commitment to meet customer requirements
worldwide WEG low voltage switchgear now complies with
Type 2-coordination.
Stephen Cook, switchgear manager at Zest WEG Group, says
that the journey to obtain Type 2-oordination involved the in-
house testing of products as well as the independent verification
of the test results to ensure that the product solutions meet IEC
60947-4-1. The substantial investment on the part of WEG Brazil
included the construction of a purpose-built testing facility for Type
2-coordination testing in Brazil.
“The majority of the other players in the market depend on
external third party laboratories to do these tests and having our
own facility will facilitate the future testing of low voltage switchgear
combinations. This will allow Zest WEG Group even greater flexibility
in terms of servicing our customer base,” Cook says.
The rationale behind this large investment to have WEG low
voltage switchgear Type 2-approved is in line with the Zest WEG
Group level of commitment to participation within the African
market and it was therefore important to be able to offer its
customers access to this level of specified switchgear.
The most important advantage when using Type 2-coordination
switchgear is that under short circuit conditions there is no danger
to installations or personnel, and that the motor starter (contactor
and overload relay) will endure the short circuit and still allow for
further use.
“It is all about continuity of service with Type 2-coordination
switchgear,” Cook says.
He says that Zest WEG Group’s in-depth understanding of the
operating conditions in Africa enabled the testing of a range of
switchgear combinations that would meet customer needs and
ensure a reliable solution.
“Being able to participate in the specified switchgear market will
enable us to offer a major advantage to our customer base whereby
product packages can be tailored for specific applications,” Cook
continues.
An example would include the supply of motors, VSDs, soft
starters, low voltage and high voltage switchgear and MCCs to a
greenfields mine development.
Zest WEG Group offers a comprehensive range of low
voltage switchgear including miniature circuit breakers,
moulded case circuit breakers, contactors, thermal and
electronic overload protection, isolators, push button and
pilot lights as well as full range of signalling devices. WEG
low voltage switchgear is designed and manufactured to the same
high standards that have long ensured that WEG motors and VSDs
are considered benchmarks in their product categories.
All WEG low voltage switchgear products are available ex-stock
across Zest WEG Group network of branches and backed in the field
by a 24/7 technical support service.
Once again, WEG has displayed its commitment by investing in
continuous product development and while Type 2-coordination
may not be new, this move has levelled the playing field and given
customers wider options.
Enquiries: +27 11 723 6000
The WEG CWB range of contactors undergoing a glow wire flammability test
according to IEC 60695-2-11.
Magnet Electrical Projects offers a thermal imaging service designed to reduce plant
breakdowns, minimise costly repairs, optimise the production process and improve
safety in the workplace. Johan Roets, training and site inspection manager, says
onsite services encompass power quality analysis, electrical compliance auditing
and power factor correction, as well as onsite electrical installations and the retrofit
of air circuit breakers. He says the thermal imaging service has been designed to
reduce plant breakdowns, minimise costly repairs, optimise the production process
and improve safety in the workplace. By detecting irregularities that are usually
invisible to the naked eye, thermal imaging – which is one of the most valuable
diagnostic tools for industrial applications – allows corrective action to be taken
before costly system failures or fires occur.
Enquiries: +27 31 274 1998
Thermal imaging services reduce
downtime, improve safety