Sparks Electrical News December 2017

CONTRACTORS’ CORNER

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INNOVATIVE FIT-OUT BOOSTS ‘GREEN’ STATUS OF GE AFRICA INNOVATION CENTRE

L eading architecture, interior design, and space-planning practice Paragon was tasked by GE Global Properties to design and fit-out the Centre (GEAIC), the first green- and LEED-cer- tified GE building in Sub-Saharan Africa. GE opened its first African-based innovation centre in Johannesburg in June 2016 as part of its investment in developing home-grown solutions for Africa. The R80 million facility is the twelfth GE Innovation Centre globally. It is home to GE’s inno- vation focus across Africa, within its key business sectors of healthcare, aviation, energy, oil and gas, power, and transportation. “A holistic view was adopted for the building. We have arrived at a stage of sustainable design inter- nationally, with the minimum level being quite high. Being more than the sum of its parts, the overall fit-out aims to achieve substantially over and above

this minimum level,” says Paragon Interface Direc- tor, Claire D’Adorante. The building is designed to operate more ef- ficiently than the market average, featuring Xeris- caped gardens and water-efficient planted walls, occupancy-controlled lighting, substantial external views for occupants, acoustically-tested and -de- signed environments, and efficient water usage. D’Adorante explains that in order to be an In- novation Centre it had to prescribe to global and local best practice towards a more sustainable built environment. The overall thought process of the design focused on the use of environ- mentally-sound materials, acoustics, flexibility, ergonomics, visual comfort, waste management and water/electricity reduction in the appliance/ technology used. The engineering teams and various sub-con-

internal air quality, lighting, and thermal comfort.

tractors (HVAC, electrical, wet services) aided the process with regard to specifying and sys- tematising all the elements necessary for high

Enquiries: +27 (0)11 482 3781

UNIDRIVE ELECTRIC MOTORS RECLAIMS ITS POSITION

FIRE & SECURITY TECHNIQUES LAUNCHES NEW FIRE ORBS IN SOUTH AFRICA

I t is not every day that a company faces liquidation and the prospect of devastating job losses, and sur- vives to tell the tale. Unidrive Electric Motors Company is embarking on a second lease on life under new, majority-black women-owned management, following the acquisi- tion of the majority stake in the business by Ayanda at Work (Pty) Ltd. Between 2012 and 2013, Unidrive had cash flow challenges which pushed the business into a precari- ous financial position and the possibility of closure. This position led the company to cede its market posi- tion in the local armature winding space and lose busi- ness opportunities as clients lost confidence. Unidrive managing director Theo Mashego says, “Unidrive is one of the most recognised players in the refurbishment and supply of electric motors, and its demise would have been very sad. “We entered into discussion to acquire the majority stake in this business at just the right time, before a decision was taken to pull the plug. Starting a business such as Unidrive afresh - off the ground – could take between five and 10 years and the experience of the workforce would take forever to build again,” he says. Mashego has spent the past two years refocusing Unidrive’s business model and rebuilding business confidence. The company has re-examined its product and service offering to ensure it is compatible with the markets being serviced. “We are very competitive in the market for the re-

pair of up to 450 kW, up to 1000 V motors, and we comply with SANS 60079-0 and 60079-1 for repairs of flameproof motors. We comply with SANS 60079- 0/15/19 for spark-roof motors and pride ourselves on an impeccable safety record over the past two years. It is very important we achieve these standards as they give our clients confidence that their products are in good hands,” he says. The company saw its turnover growing in double digits between 2015 and 2016, with more upside ex- pected in 2017 with the recovering economy. “There are lots of positives in this rejuvenated business to give us indications of a positive future,” says Mashego.

A SIMPLE-TO-USE FIRE-EXTINGUISHING device has been introduced to the local mar- ket by Centurion’s Fire & Security Techniques (FST). The FST Fire Orb is a self-activating, portable fire-extinguishing device that activates automatically when in contact with open flames. It is effective for use against all types and classes of fires, from electrical shortages to fat, oil, and paraffin stove fires, vehicle fires, and workshop and factory fires. The FST Fire Orbs can be wall-mounted for maximum effectiveness, explains Fire & Security Tech- niques CEO, Neil Hughes. Each FST Fire Orb weighs only 1.3 kg, making it lightweight and easy to handle and operate. It consists of a lightweight case of frangible material, with a protective exterior sheathing. The internal cavity contains a pyrotechnic detonator at or near the centre of mass. It is activated by fuse cords extending to the surface. The device is filled with mono am- monium phosphate, a non-conductive dry chemical powder, which means it can be used on any electrical product without resultant damage. The detonator incorporated in the FST Fire Orb is a small, non-lethal explosive mechanism. The force of the bursting device is non-harmful to humans, animals, or property, and the effect is further minimised by the use of low-density, low-mass components. This means no part of the device has sufficient mass or density to constitute a ballistic hazard or result in concussive shock. The FST Fire Orb activates automatically upon direct contact with open flames, and not heat. Upon activation, it emits a loud bang of between 119 dB to 138 dB as a warning signal, and disperses the dry chemical powder in order to extinguish the fire. The device is simply rolled or thrown into the fire, whereupon it activates within three to seven seconds. FST Fire Orbs have passed tests conducted by the PSB Corporation and Sirim Qas International for Class A, B, and C fires. Additional tests carried out include thermal resist- ance, burst effect, sound level, compression resistance, and drop tests. The devices are regulated and certified in accordance with ISO 9001: 2001. They have also been approved and classified by the South African Police Service. “We offer a free risk-assessment service to all clients interested in the product, whereby our risk-assessment manager advises suitable installation requirements pertaining to cus- tomer specifications,” says Hughes. He adds that the FST Fire Orb represents the latest advances in fire-extinguishing tech- nology. “The product is far more effective than traditional fire extinguishers, which must be operated manually in order to be effective. In addition, fire extinguishers have no fire-alert activation to warn any bystanders, and are bulky devices that weigh 10 kg to 15 kg on average.” Fire & Security Techniques demonstrated the Fire Orbs at the City of Tshwane’s Winter Awareness Day in the Kopanong Informal Settlement. “One of the many applications of the new technology is fire prevention in informal settlements,” Hughes points out. These not only have a high risk of fires, especially in the cold and dry winter months, but often lack the necessary firefighting equipment and skills. In this regard, the company

Enquiries: +27 (0) 11 813 3206

MODERN PACKAGING plays an important role in preserving, protecting and selling a host of products, from items tiny enough to need tweezers to be picked up to those that need a forklift to be moved. Packaging also comes in a confusing array of materials and can be very costly if incorrectly selected or processed. Countapulse Controls offers a range of opto-electronic sensors that have been developed to ensure packaging lines operate at peak cost efficiency to the packaging industry. Made by German instrumenta- tion manufacturer Leuze Electronic, the sensors are purpose-designed for the feeding, packing, dosing, detecting, labelling, sealing and other operations that go into the make-up of any packaged product. Modern, high-production packaging uses cutting edge technology, and sensors applied to these ap- plications have to be capable of meeting the demanding requirements. Leuze is a leading developer and manufacturer of opto-electronic systems, which use light in various spectra for sensing, monitoring and controlling products and equipment in the production line. This includes standard opto-electronic sensors, colour sensors, label detectors and sensors for work- place safety. Also in the range are sensors for foil and glass detection, CCD sensors, forked photoelectric sensors and sensors for differentiating between glass and PET. The complexity and depth of sensors available on the market can be confusing, and for this reason, Countapulse Controls can assist customers to evaluate an application for either the fitment of new sen- sors or the retrofit of replacement units. Countapulse Controls has more than 35 years’ experience in providing fit-for-purpose sensor solu- tions on the African continent. The company also operates a 24/7 technical hotline to assist customers. LEVERAGING EXPERIENCE TO PROVIDE SENSOR SOLUTIONS IN PACKAGING

is also championing its own Fire Heroes programme to pro- mote fire-preven- tion awareness, and to assist in generat- ing employment op- portunities in local communities.

Enquiries: +27 (0)12 621 9400

Enquiries: +27 (0)11 615 7556

SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS

DECEMBER 2017