Electricity and Control August 2023

INDUSTRY 4.0 + IIOT : PRODUCTS + SERVICES

An integrated portfolio for modular data centres

In its approach to modular data centres Eaton brings together the best of its hardware and technical capabilities plus a worldwide network of support and service for customers. Leveraging one integrated product portfolio from a brand where safety is paramount, customers have the assurance of safe system compatibility and reduced risk. Rapid response times are standard and Eaton’s international network of licensed, audited, certified partners means it can support and service its modular solutions in any location around the world. Efficient planning and management of the so-called ‘white spaces’ in data centres, where IT equipment is located, and the ‘grey spaces’, which house the backend infrastructure that supports it, are critical for project success. Eaton’s modular data centre solutions cover the full spectrum of white and grey space requirements, including customised options. The portfolio extends from server racks, cooling and rack power distribution units to UPS and battery systems combined with low voltage power distribution. They can be installed in different non-ISO and ISO modular solutions and skid versions if required. Prefabricated data halls and preconfigured, modular data rooms enable a faster, more flexible journey to op erational readiness than is the case in commissioning a brick-and-mortar structure. Importantly, modular elements can be tailored to suit customer requirements based on Eaton technology that is designed to work together. The company provides turnkey solutions from design and engineering to monitoring, preventive and corrective maintenance and support services. The numbers relating to data volumes today are ex traordinary. Some 180 zettabytes of data are forecast to

In its modular data centres, Eaton assists customers by providing a single source solution that meets their needs. be created, captured, copied and consumed globally by 2025 – up from 64.2 zettabytes in 2020. Plus, another one billion more mobile users and 30 billion more connected devices by the same year. In the age of Big Data, the data mountain is growing faster – as is the need for the right data centre infrastructure to store and manage it. The ‘traditional’ approach to specifying and tendering components for data centres from multiple suppliers remains the best option for some applications. However, coordinating, assessing and implementing the options can be complex and time consuming. Eaton’s modular data centre solutions draw on its ex perience of supplying countless successful data centre projects worldwide, combining this insight with the com pany’s cohesive, high-quality product range and service levels to bring customers a streamlined, single point of contact offering. It means Eaton can deliver new levels of data centre customisation, scalability, safety and overall value. This helps hyperscale and colocation enterprises, as well as smaller, owner-managed companies, to grow their businesses at a pace that is right for them. experts in their respective fields. Since the academy’s inception in 2002, it has provided training for about 2 200 students. For training on Yaskawa’s robots, all students can ex pect a hands-on approach. In-person classes ensure the trainees gain the required knowledge and skills to operate and maintain the robots effectively. Coetzer highlights that with South Africa’s skills shortage, fewer barriers to entry mean more opportunities to strengthen the country’s work force and reduce unemployment. “We recommend that students who would like to par ticipate in our training programmes should have a matric qualification, a good understanding of mathematics, or at least some mechanical or electrical background knowl edge,” Coetzer adds. “However, we welcome anyone will ing to learn and participate in our training programmes, regardless of their educational background or previous ex perience. We believe anyone with the right attitude and will ingness to learn can benefit from our training programmes Continued on page 11 For more information contact Eaton. Visit: www.eaton.com/za/en-gb

Growing robotics skills in SA

Robotics is a growing industry and South African manu facturers are increasingly adopting automation into their production processes to remain competitive. Yaskawa’s longstanding training academy offers its customers, as well as individuals looking to enter the industry, the oppor tunity to learn and upskill in various in-demand skills areas, including programming, operations, maintenance, safety, and robot troubleshooting.

The Yaskawa Training Academy offers training programmes in robotics and related in-demand skills.

“At the Yaskawa Southern Africa Training Academy, we offer a range of courses and training programmes designed to meet the needs of different skill levels, from beginners to advanced practitioners,” says Leon Coetzer, Training Officer at Yaskawa. He adds that the staff of the training academy includes experienced engineers who are

10 Electricity + Control AUGUST 2023