ABB Electrification Distribution Solutions recently showcased its latest medium-voltage (MV) switchgear and smart grid technologies at the annual Association of Municipal Electricity Utilities (AMEU) Convention, which was held early October 2025 at the East London International Convention Centre.
The AMEU Convention is the premier gathering for municipal electricity distributors, utilities, engineers, policymakers and suppliers from across Southern Africa. The annual event provides a valuable platform for knowledge-sharing, policy development and the showcasing of innovations that support the modernisation of the region’s power networks.
At this year’s convention, ABB exhibited its fully functional demonstration MV Switchgear, equipped with leading ABB technology. The display included ABB’s UniGear Digital ZS1 switchgear, LeanGear switchgear, SafePlus RMU, Smart Substation Control and Protection SSC600, SCADA software and technology, as well as a range of supporting components.
A customer-centric approach
“At ABB, our portfolio of technologies and solutions are customer focused, tailored to solving real-world challenges, supporting utilities and industries to modernise their grids and prepare for a more digital, decentralised and sustainable energy future,” says Jan van Zyl, Product Line Manager Primary Switchgear at ABB South Africa.
The UniGear Digital ZS1 and SafePlus solutions make use of advanced sensor technology instead of conventional current and voltage transformers. Combined with the Substation Centralised Control and Protection SCC600, these solutions offer predictive AI software that proactively forecasts where and when faults may occur. By replacing conventional hardware with sensors, ABB equipment significantly reduces system footprint and associated civil costs, improves safety, shortens engineering and commissioning times, and lowers standing energy consumption. Importantly, ABB’s digital technologies are designed to adapt to evolving grid requirements, reducing the need for hardware replacement.
Solutions-driven and innovation-led
ABB also supports utilities and municipalities with battery energy storage and smart MV solutions, housed in modular compact substations. Type-tested ABB UniPack-G compact substations provide environmentally robust and safe solutions that can be rapidly deployed and monitored remotely, offering operators real-time insight into system status.
With integrated condition monitoring and fault prediction capabilities, ABB’s UniGear Digital ZS1 and Compact Substations actively enhance grid resilience. The technologies provide utilities with actionable feedback on system performance and support the growing need to integrate more renewable energy into the distributed grid. Furthermore, ABB’s sensor technology helps utilities to reduce spares inventory, as a single common sensor covers the full range traditionally managed by multiple current and voltage transformers.
ABB’s comprehensive MV portfolio covers the full spectrum of market needs. The UniGear ZS1 switchgear is suited for large metropolitan areas and industrial applications requiring high fault level monitoring and robust operational performance. The LeanGear and SafePlus switchgear ranges offer cost-effective and reliable solutions for smaller towns and utilities.
For more information visit: go.abb/electrification