Schneider Electric South Africa has announced that its PIX Easy Air Insulated Switchgear, previously 100% internationally manufactured, will now have a 68% local finishing process, reducing the customer waiting period from 12 weeks to 4 weeks, and boosting local manufacturing and empowerment.
“This is only the second local manufacturing licence on this particular offering that Schneider Electric global has signed and represents a major step for Schneider Electric South Africa and our Gauteng-based RWW Engineering partner,” said Taru Madangombe, vice president of power systems, Anglophone Cluster for Schneider Electric. “Through this partnership, we are able to service our customers quickly, with the certain knowledge that the local assembly meets the stringent global requirements and standards of Schneider Electric.
“This type of deal is crucial to grow the South African economy and boost our exports, as we are now able to reach other markets outside our borders, as evidenced with the projects that we have already done in Ghana with RWW, subsequent to the signing of the PIX project.
“President Ramaphosa is pushing for support of local manufacturing and design and this is key to our organisation in terms of making sure that we transfer the knowledge and skills to our own people in the country. We are committed to increasing this local content, possibly even aiming as high as 80%.”
“This has been a long and involved design process,” added Jeremy Woods, director of RWW Engineering. “Safety is a prime concern with switchgear and PIX Easy is locally made to meet international safety requirements. I believe that this kind of high-quality equipment will be well received in the market.”
The PIX Easy Air Insulated Switchgear adapts to all electrical power distribution requirements up to 17.5 kV. It is metal enclosed, intended for medium voltage applications such as those found in HV/MV or MV/MV substations, buildings and industries.
“PIX Easy is essential for electrical utilities and smart cities,” concluded Madangombe. “It is utilised in the food and beverage, automotive, water and wastewater, small industries and life sciences.”
Reinstatement opportunity for ECSA registration
News
In 2023 the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) announced a special opportunity for engineers in South Africa to reinstate their registration status if it had been cancelled. This exclusive offer is available until the end of August 2024.
Read more...Bringing brownfield plants back to life Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Today’s brownfield plants are typically characterised by outdated equipment and processes, and face challenges ranging from inefficient operations to safety hazards. However, all is not lost, as these plants stand to gain a lot from digitalisation and automation.
Read more...Power supply with scalability optimised Schneider Electric South Africa
Electrical Power & Protection
Schneider Electric has introduced the Easy UPS 3-Phase Modular to the South African marketplace. This robust uninterruptible power supply (UPS) is designed to protect critical loads while offering third-party verified Live Swap functionality.
Read more...The industrial era of wireless telemetry and radio communication Schneider Electric South Africa
Data Acquisition & Telemetry
Today’s advanced wireless telemetry offers a range of benefits that go beyond cost savings, including greater flexibility and mobility, remote monitoring capabilities, and enhanced safety.
Read more...Distributed energy resource management systems: a grid symphony Schneider Electric South Africa
Electrical Power & Protection
To listen to a symphony is one of the world’s great gifts. A conductor must ensure that instruments play beautifully as a whole and are kind to the ear and uplifting to the spirit yet shine in their individuality. The same can be said of a DERMS, which must effectively manage diverse energy sources to avoid compromising the grid’s integrity.
Read more...Variable speed drive for water challenges and green agriculture Schneider Electric South Africa
Motion Control & Drives
Schneider Electric South Africa has launched its Altivar Solar ATV320 variable speed drive, a solar-powered drive solution that is compatible with a wide range of water pumps, catering for water challenges and decarbonisation of irrigation pumping and agriprocessing machinery.
Read more...Hytec opens fifteenth Mandela Day library Bosch Rexroth Africa
News
Over 200 learners at Monene Primary School in rural Limpopo have received their own containerised library. This is the fifteenth library since 2011, provided by Hytec South Africa and the Nelson Mandela School Library Project to schools across the country.
Read more...Higher level cybersecurity certification for Schneider Electric Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure IT NMC3 platform has obtained a new and higher level of cybersecurity certification, making it the first data centre infrastructure management network card to achieve SL2) designation from IEC.
Read more...CSIR survey on the state of cybersecurity in South Africa
News
The CSIR Information and Cybersecurity Centre has released four comprehensive national cybersecurity surveys. These delve into critical areas such as cybersecurity preparedness and resilience in the public sector, cybersecurity skills gaps, cybersecurity incidents, and the digital identity landscape in South Africa.
Read more...Referro Systems partners with Festo in Northern Cape
News
Referro Systems has been recognised as an Authorised Official Partner Candidate for Festo in the Northern Cape, marking a significant milestone in its commitment to delivering best-in-class automation solutions to customers.