Capital Equipment News April 2015

CONSTRUCTION

is to cater for the significantly extended product range as well as the increased de- mand for Shaw Controls’ E-Housing solu- tions. This expansion will include the design and establishment of a 2 000 m2 stand- alone E-House and container conversion facility. Shaw Controls’ E-Houses represent a cost-effective alternative to traditional containerised solutions manufactured in standalone marine containers. The expansion of Shaw Controls is in line with the Zest WEG Group’s strategy of extending its manufacturing capability to boost its presence in the local market and in Africa, which is perceived as a major growth area. “Our aim is to position the Zest WEG Group as a regional hub of WEG and in so doing position Shaw Controls as the number one panel builder and systems integrator in Africa,” Louis Meiring, CEO of the Zest WEG Group, says. Shaw Controls will also be able to leverage off the Zest WEG Group to offer a total solu- tions package for its customers’ complete electrical requirements, from switchboard panels and control systems to transform- ers, switchgear, MCCs, distribution boards, motors and also full installation if need be. “Our product range can be integrated with the rest of the Zest WEG Group companies for turnkey projects,” Knihs says. Another milestone achieved by Shaw Con- trols is that all of its LV products have been successfully type tested to the IEC 61439-1 and IEC 61641 standards. The maximum test rating is 690V+5% @ 65 kA. “We are at the forefront of testing and compliance in South Africa with all certification being undertaken independently, which helps po- sition the Zest WEG Group at the top end of the local market,” Knihs concludes. b

SHAW CONTROLS EXTENDS ITS PRODUCT OFFERING to encompass low voltage and medium voltage applications

S haw Controls, a company within the Zest WEG Group, has extended its product offering to encompass low voltage (LV) and medium voltage (MV) ap- plications. It manufactures switchboard panels and control systems from 24 V up to 36 000 V (36 kV) for the industrial, mining and infrastructure sectors. “Shaw Controls offers a complete product line from MV switchgear to LV withdrawable Motor Control Centres (MCCs),” Valter Luiz Knihs, Group Automation & Systems Di- rector, says. These locally manufactured products are independently certified in accordance with the IEC 62271-200 and IEC 61439-1/2 standards. According to IEC specifications, LV covers applications up to 690 V, while the MV range is from 1 kV up to 52 kV. In addition, Shaw Controls has recently received ISO 9001 accreditation from Bureau Veritas. LV switchboard panels range from SC 100, SC 200 to SC 300 models, which can be configured for various applications at dif- ferent fault levels and current ratings. This gives Shaw Controls the flexibility to be able to offer fit-for-purpose solutions. A re- cent addition to the Shaw Controls product

range is the CCM 03 ZA withdrawable MCC which is an already well-established prod- uct of WEG Brazil. This highly successful MCC solution will now be manufactured in South Africa. All products include both a mechanical and electrical interlock system to ensure max- imum safety, while the construction itself is robust. Switchgear panels are manufac- tured in bent steel profiles and enclosed on all sides by steel plating. Over-pressure re- lief devices in the top provide for pressure relief in the event of internal arc. Shield- type MV switchgear have metal divisions separating the compartments. The general busbar configuration compris- es one or more rectangular bars, manufac- tured from electrolytic copper with tin-plat- ed fittings. The LV compartment is located in the upper front part, which houses the measuring instruments, protection relay, terminals, thermostats and contacts. This is completely isolated from the MV via a steel plate, with its own closable door. The Zest WEG Group recently also an- nounced a significant expansion of Shaw Controls’ manufacturing capabilities. This

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