Electrical specialist ACTOM’s MV Switchgear division has continued its successful business dealings in the Democratic Republic of Congo by signing new contracts to supply various switchgear systems to local industries and mines. “Air-insulated switchgear panels have been installed in the 11kV substations in Kamoa-Kakula copper mine during the past two years and we are now going to be installing solid insulated switchgear systems in same project,” says Rhett Kelly, Design & Development Manager in the MV Switchgear division.
MV Switchgear provided more than 200 of its popular and high-performing SBV4E switchgear panels for use in the low-to-medium voltage systems, with Rhett adding, “We will be installing 149 GELPAG solid insulated units underground. Harsh environmental conditions such as high levels of humidity and dust were found to be present in these underground sections, necessitating having to introduce more specialised switchgear equipped to cope with these conditions.”
While most businesses are struggling with the clearance of international orders in local ports, ACTOM has taken a decision that it hopes will pay off overnight. “We have collaborated with our international manufacturing partner, and we have commenced local manufacturing of some of our OEM switchgear components,” says Rhett. “We have substantially shortened the production lead times, as we can now manufacture the agreed locally produced components in parallel with the OEM’s production of the main product, thereby speeding up both final assembly of the product in our plant as well as delivery to the end-user.”
The components that ACTOM are manufacturing locally include the low-voltage compartment, drop-down boxes for the cable termination, and the internal arc ducting,” says Johan Jordaan, Technology Development Specialist at ACTOM. “To further speed up and simplify production and delivery, we’ve developed a low-voltage connector system that allows the panel’s circuit-breaker, disconnector and earth switch wiring to interface with the low-voltage control wiring via a standard multi-pin plug-and-socket system.”
MV Switchgear has also developed an innovative wiring test rig that allows it to test and verify the wiring of each low-voltage compartment before the panels leave the factory.
Enquiries: www.actom.co.za
