4 | NEWS
Expanded production capabilities Rittal is expanding its production capabilities and building what it says is the world’s most advanced production plant for compact enclosures in Haiger, Germany, with completion scheduled for 2018. Total capital expenditure will amount to 250 million euros, making it the largest single investment in the company’s history. State-of-the-art infrastructure and digitisation will underpin highly-efficient production, logistics and communications processes. There will be corresponding upgrades to two other plants in the region, and the construction of a further plant for large stainless-steel enclosures. The 24,000 m² Haiger facility will manufacture 9,000 enclosures a day from 300 standard types, in accordance with each customer’s specific needs. Materials will be transported across the plant by means of automated guided vehicles (AGVs), dispensing with human operators. Intelligent systems, with machine-learning abilities will be deployed to continuously increase system availability, and to predictively order spare parts, reducing the likelihood of unplanned downtime due to wear and tear. It is hoped fully automated control systems, for example in the paint shop, will minimise energy consumption, costs and environmental impact.
Make an electric check part of your routine this winter NICEIC and Elecsa are urging householders to think electrics when they carry out their checks on the elderly this winter. Proportionately, older people suffer more fatal and non-fatal injuries from electrically-related house fires than the rest of the population. People over 65 are particularly at risk because they often live in old or poor-quality housing that contains faulty electrics or old appliances. Yet, research by NICEIC and Elecsa has revealed although many people will be looking in on an elderly relative or neighbour this winter, the one thing that could be getting overlooked is a quick check on the state of the electrics. NICEIC and Elecsa’s technical development manager, Darren Staniforth, said: “While up to 50% of people will be making regular calls on a relative or neighbour this winter, less than 20% of those would think to take a quick check of the electrics to make sure everything is ok. “With people over 65 statistically more likely to be involved in a fire caused by faulty electrics this is obviously concerning. “During the colder months the elderly are more likely to be plugging in electrical appliances such as heaters or electric blankets, many of which could be old and potentially dangerous. “They could also be plugging these appliances into an electric supply around the home that might not have been checked in decades or perhaps never at all. “We want to encourage those looking out for an older relative or neighbour to have a quick check of the home and make sure there is nothing there that could potentially lead to something awful occurring.”
Research carried out by NICEIC and Elecsa revealed: • 50% of us hold the opinion the elderly are more at risk from the electrical dangers in our homes. • 75% have never helped their relative to have their home safety checked by an electrician. • 80% have never been concerned by the safety of the electrical appliances in their elderly family member’s home. As Staniforth added: “Our research shows that the Great British public do a great deal of work looking out for the elderly in winter time. “The lack of concern over electrical safety is not one about not caring, but generally a lack of knowledge about what to look out for.” NICEIC and Elecsa have produced a checklist, of what to look out for to reduce the risk of an electrical fault. This quick visual check includes: • Ensuring plug sockets are not damaged or scorched. Any scorch marks around a socket are an indication something is not right and that you should call a registered electrician to investigate further. • Checking any leads or cables are not damaged or frayed • Checking lights are working correctly and there is no signs of visible damage • Checking sockets are not overloaded or too many extension leads are in use. • Check the main fusebox (consumer unit) has RCD protection fitted. An RCD (Residual Current Device) will trip should it detect an overload in the circuit. Staniforth added: “A registered electrician will be able to rectify any faults or carry out an Electrical Inspection Condition Report (EICR) which will identify any potential issues that could lead to further problems.”
w: www.spec-ltd.com e: enquiries@spec-ltd.com t: 01924 871 558 SPEC Ltd has recently expanded its services to meet the individual needs and demands of the customer to become a national company with regional presence. With a proven track record of successfully working with many service users from small businesses to large Blue chip multinationals both UK and overseas. Established as a total substation service provider, in the role of control, installation, cabling, operation and maintenance of mains 415/11000/33000 & now 66000 and 132,000 v power networks. To date SPEC Ltd operate and maintain over 2,500 HV connected sites nationwide from its 6 strategic regional offices in Gateshead, Lancaster, Wakefield, Birmingham, Oxford and Aldershot.
Electrical Review | December 2016
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