Copper theft continues to place enormous strain on utilities, municipalities, and industry, often resulting in costly damage, downtime, and unsafe electrical environments.
To counter the incentive for vandalism and theft of electrical infrastructure, South African manufacturer, Power Process Systems (PPS), has introduced AV-CAB, a purpose-engineered anti-vandal copper–aluminium busbar.
Designed to combat copper theft while maintaining high electrical performance, AV-CAB combines the conductivity benefits of copper with the affordability and lightness of aluminium, removing the scrap value that drives theft.
AV-CAB is a high-performance solid bar conductor in which 20 to 30% copper by weight is permanently fused to an aluminium core. This metallurgical bond is created through heat and pressure, forming a single, inseparable alloy rather than a surface plating that could be stripped. Since AV-CAB cannot be separated, stripped, or melted down for recovery, it holds no illicit resale value and therefore significantly reduces the risk of vandalism and theft.
“Copper theft continues to undermine infrastructure reliability and service delivery across South Africa. AV-CAB gives utilities, municipalities, and industrial clients a practical way to protect critical assets without compromising on electrical performance,” says Nhlanhla Zondo, Director at PPS. “It delivers copper-level performance at a lower cost, and because it has no scrap value, it removes the incentive for vandalism. This is a step forward for infrastructure resilience.”
Designed to replace traditional copper busbars, AV-CAB can be used in electrical distribution panels, substations, kiosks, and industrial switchboards, and is fully compatible with existing installations. Its lightweight construction has a further advantage in that it simplifies handling and installation.
From its early days in 1993, PPS has evolved from a small local manufacturer into a trusted OEM, known for its robust electrical enclosures and innovations such as the intelligent I-Kiosk. AV-CAB builds on this legacy, supporting safer energy delivery, revenue protection, and long-term infrastructure sustainability across the country.
For more information visit: http://www.ppspower.co.za
