Sparks Electrical News September 2019

CONTRACTORS’ CORNER

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PERSONALITY OF THE MONTH – DR. JANAN ALLOS

REMEMBERING A PIONEER IN THE ELECTRICAL FIELD

world to countries that would benefit from the Automatic Voltage Switcher’s ability to protect electrical and electronic equipment from bad power. A natural home for the AVS was found in Africa, where the increasing uptake of electrical appliances was not being matched by development in electricity transmission infrastructure. Sollatek Kenya was launched in 1986 and followed by rapid expansion into Sub- Saharan Africa. Allos was limited to a wheelchair for the final 25 years of his life; however, his enthusiasm for the business and product innovation never subsided. He was actively involved in Sollatek’s operations as it expanded into solar power, energy saving and temperature control, growing into a company that has offices in 14 countries and ships over two million products to over 100 countries a year. Allos was in the office on a weekly basis right up to his death from natural causes in January 2018 at the age of 81. Research and Development is at the heart of Sollatek, with 30 engineers based at Sollatek’s UK head office continuing Allos’ legacy of developing solutions for Africa’s electrical prob- lems under the guidance of Allos’ sons, Manhal and Maan Allos.

Dr. Janan Allos

DR. JANAN ALLOS was born in Mosul, Northern Iraq, the son of a renowned doctor. Allos was a top student at the Jesuit run, Baghdad College and his potential was recognised with a scholarship to study electronics in the United Kingdom at King’s College London, where he accumulated a B.Sc followed by a PhD in record time. Having moved back to Iraq and started a family, Allos began teach- ing at Baghdad University where he wrote many scientific papers and was a firm favourite with the students. During this time, Allos was working on an invention that would be- came omnipresent throughout large parts of Africa, the Automatic Voltage Switcher (AVS), a device that disconnected power if voltage of the Hudaco Group since 2013, is bringing into the market, including a new 40-page short form catalogue soon to come available for Uni-T. “Of special interest is a new household domestic multimeter at a great price point,” he says. His, and the company’s, focus is primarily on the customer. “Clients are important – you need to go out and see them to keep your finger on the pulse. We never stop looking for places to grow, but it is tough work. You have to keep knocking on doors. That is why you see myself and Mark Jenkins (sales director) out on the road all the time; we do all the training and visit customers, we don’t sit in our offices. We are out there and, as the decision makers, we can make decisions instantly,” he says. The company also does everything in its power to ensure that its customers are satisfied. “Whatever the circumstances, the customer is always right, and if the customer is happy, we are happy. An example of this is the free repairs offered on Uni-T meters. Uni- Trend Group Limited is one of the leading testing meters and instruments companies in Asia and the group has developed and manufactured creative, reliable, high quality and safe-to-use-technology products and provided a wide range of products and related services to global markets. As an electronics technician by trade, Downard, along with two other members of staff, repair any returns within a week. “Although we don’t get many back, having the ability and resources to repair the products in- CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

house ensures a quick turnaround time and a happy customer,” he says. The company’s own staff are also of vital importance to Downard. “I have an expression for everyone who joins this company – ‘we are serious about what we do, but you should have fun whilst doing it.’ If you’re not having fun you shouldn’t be doing it, and we combine both. We have fun, but are serious, we work hard and hit the numbers. I’m happy when we hit a record month like we did in July. A lot of hard graft goes into it and when you see the results, especially in these testing times, it's a vindication of all the effort.” Downard also leads from the front and his enthusiasm for the industry is clear. He gets involved on the warehouse floor when he has to and is one of the first to arrive at the office. Generally, too, he turns his computer back on when he arrives home, and continues working. “I am very passionate, if you’re not passionate, don’t do it,” he states. With a vast array of international and local suppliers, Three-D Agencies aims to provide its customers with the highest levels of service and expertise at all times. With Downard leading by example, keeping in close contact with the industry and catering to the needs of the local electrical contractor, Three-D will look to continually grow and improve its product offering to the market. went outside of pre-set limits, and automatically re-connected power when the voltage returned to an acceptable level. In the early 1980s, Allos moved to London as a result of rising ten- sions in Iraq and because his children were studying at universities in London. Around this time, Allos was diagnosed with Multiple Sclero- sis, an incurable condition that was attacking his nervous system and gradually limiting his ability to move under his own power. In the midst of this life changing revelation, Allos launched Sollatek (Allos spelt backwards + tek) in 1983 along with the patented innovation of the AVS. Initial products were manufactured in a colleague’s garage and Allos’ son Manhal travelled around the

Enquiries: www.sollatek.com

ENSURING GROWTH IN TOUGH TIMES

Enquiries: www.three-d.co.za

SEPTEMBER 2019 SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS