Sparks Electrical News October 2017

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CONTRACTORS’ CORNER

LOW LEVEL PUSH-AROUND HY-BRID LIFTS

NWU’S STAR WILL BE CHASING THE SUN T he Faculty of Engineering at the North-West University (NWU) launched Naledi, the 2017 iteration of the solar car that will be competing in the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge starting in early October in Australia. The gruelling journey starts in Darwin, follows the Stuart Highway to Port Augusta and shifts to Highway 1 to Adelaide, about 3000 km away. Naledi, meaning ‘star’, boasts a new design with its body based on the JS3 Jonker Sailplane – that also has its roots at the Faculty of Engineering – giving Naledi sublime aerodynamic attributes. “We chose the name ‘Naledi’ because we feel that, like a star, we rise above our competition,” says Professor Albert Helberg, team captain. In previous competitions teams were allowed the use of a total of 6 m² of solar panels, but that number has been reduced to 4 m². To compensate for this reduction of a third of the possible power that can be generated, the team from the NWU will be using solar tracking technology, meaning that the panels will be able to rotate as the car drives. This allows for the panels to be kept at an optimal angle to the sun at all times. The body shape with the use of solar tracking makes Naledi unique in the competition. “Most of the other cars use a catamaran-style design, but we are thinking completely out of the box, using a design not seen since the 1980s, with modern materials and aerodynamic knowledge we believe can vastly improve on previous performances,” Helberg ex- plains. “On a technical level, the competition will be a lot harder with a third less energy at our disposal, but I am convinced we will be one of the top teams and I am more than confident we will finish the race.” The technical constraints will not be the only test the teamwill face. “The heat is going to be our biggest challenge. It is going to tire us out and reduce the efficiency of our solar panels. We also need to be wary of trucks carrying large freights on the road. Another obstacle will be areas of severe wind, but we have a stable design and I am positive we will be able to navigate that challenge as well.” The team is aiming for a constant speed of between of 70 to 80 km/h, by generating 8 kW/h throughout the day. According to CP Kloppers, one of the project engineers, the team is adamant its design will pay dividends. “There are two approaches to building a solar car whilst adapting to the new rules,” he explains. “You can either go for the approach of building a car that generates as much energy as possible, but drives a bit harder, or a smaller car that is easier to drive with a focus on minimising energy expenditure. With our unique solar tracking approach, we went with the former.” In 2016, the team from the NWU achieved the longest distance by a South African team, the longest daily distance by a South African team, won the Team Professionalism and Safety Award as well as the Spirit of Africa award in the Sasol Solar Challenge. It is a lot to live up to, but it is a challenge the NWU’s dedicated team relishes.

mal risk of leaks. The HB-P527 features an integrated hydraulic pump and lift cylinder, while the HB-P827 and HB-P1027 feature self-contained hydraulic systems with two connection points. The features minimise the potential for floor damage and safety hazards and provide a clean system for operating indoors in either finished or unfinished environments. A full-access gate swings completely open so contractors can step onto the platform rather than lifting bars or removing chains. The full- swing gate, coupled with a step-in height as low as 51.5 cm, allows contractors to place materials, such as electrical bobbins and toolbox- es, on the platform. Not only does this reduce fatigue and knee strain associated with climbing up and down ladders and scaffolds and on and off taller lifts, it also virtually eliminates falls that can occur when operators are loading and unloading heavy tools and supplies. Custom Equipment incorporated the step into the lift’s frame, which minimises the lift’s overall length. Custom Equipment builds its low-level push-around lifts with robust scissor stacks that feature oversized, 2.5 cm and 3 cm pins to enhance stability and minimise scissor sway associated with the smaller pins found on other lifts. Hy-Brid lifts use absorbent glass mat (AGM) batteries that make the units virtually maintenance free because they never require users to add water. They also feature self-regulating chargers that prevent the batteries from over-charging.

CUSTOM EQUIPMENT’S push-around Hy-Brid lifts – the HB-P527, HB-P827 and HB-P1027 – give electrical contractors safer and pro- ductive alternatives to ladders and scaffolds. They are also a more lightweight and compact alternative to taller lifts. The units provide ample platform space for supplies, such as electrical wire, conduit and tools. With their 3.4-, 4.3- and 4.9-metre working heights, contractors can use Hy-Brid push-around lifts in many of the same areas as they would ladders and scaffolds, greatly improving safety on electrical jobs. With the chance of falls virtually eliminated, operators can confi- dently manoeuvre tools and materials without steadying themselves. They will also reduce the number of trips up and down to secure tools, as the platform provides a larger, more accessible work zone than a ladder, which enhances efficiency. The largest platform is 69 cm wide, which makes it easy to fit through narrow doorways. The HB-P527 platform is 94 cm long and can hold as much as 227 kg. The HB-P827 and HB-P1027 both fea- ture a 69 cm long platform that can hold 249 kg. The three units have a zero-turn radius for hassle-free manoeuvrability around tight corners and through doorways. The lifts weigh as little as 34 kg, resulting in wheel loads as low as 115 psi. This allows contractors to use the units on delicate floors where ladders would normally be used, such as laminate, mezzanines, raised floors and tile. Users also can get onto poured concrete several days sooner than they can with larger lifts. Custom Equipment designed the lifts’ hydraulic systems for mini- SEW-EURODRIVE is building on its presence in Tanzania, its main hub in Eastern Africa, by opening a new office in Kenya, and commencing with a recruitment drive for Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). East Africa represents a major growth area for the drive and automation technology specialist, SEW-Eurodrive South Africa MD Raymond Obermeyer comments. “We have managed to secure a lot of business in Africa, and I see it contributing a large percentage of our turnover going forward.” This growth is largely owing to the fact that the SEW-Eurodrive brand is well-entrenched in Africa, especially in diverse sectors such as mining and agriculture. In addition, the outward focus on expansion on the continent is necessary to counter the prevailing socio- economic climate in South Africa. “That is the determining factor. We need growth, political stability, and business confidence in order to ensure the continued sustainability of the business.” While the investment for the new manufacturing facility is being provided by the German parent company, the necessary business decisions are all being made locally, Obermeyer assures. The greater South Africa itself is not being neglected, with the Port Elizabeth

Enquiries: www.hybridlifts.com

SEW-EURODRIVE BUILDS ON ITS EAST AFRICAN PRESENCE

SEW-Eurodrive South Africa MD, Raymond Obermeyer.

branch recently relocating to newpremises in order to accommodate growth in the Eastern Cape market.