54 ASU & GPU Power strategy The market for ground power continues to evolve.
e begin our annual review with the US, where Brian Piety, Executive Vice President of PAGE Industries, says that the past 12 months have been extremely interesting for the company, to the point that developments have completely changed the enterprise, which was established in 1976. He explains further: “PAGE Industries, after over 40 years in business, has completely changed its product offering. Having been a leading supplier of 400Hz central system distribution and control equipment, such as gate boxes, line drop compensators and load point control units, PAGE has now developed a complete line of ancillary ground support equipment that is unique in appearance and function. By adding 400Hz cables, PCAir hoses, PCAir reels, gate park systems and baggage chutes and other support equipment to our established product line, we are now able to offer a wide range of ancillary ground support equipment to our worldwide customer base. “In addition to adding new products
to the PAGE product range, PAGE also changed the way many traditional products look and function. Specifically, PAGE is the only provider of 400Hz cables that offers a polyurethane plastic outer material on the cable and a moulded connector that includes a replaceable wear nose. In addition to offering a connector that is moulded, not just attached to the cable, PAGE has also introduced safety features to the 400Hz cable/connector never provided before, by adding thermal management
and broken neutral detection integral to the connector to make this the safest 400Hz cable/connector ever made for both personnel and aircraft. These are truly revolutionary firsts for the previously stagnant 400Hz cable market.” What about the environmental side of the equation? To what extent was this an important part of the operation? Brian relates that PAGE has focussed on going green with its PCAir ducts, with which it has initiated the use of materials and manufacturing processes that permit a significantly smaller amount of pressure loss and heat gain than traditional PCAir ducts. By doing this, passengers on an aircraft will be kept more comfortable whilst the aircraft is on the ground. “After being in the ground support equipment market for over 40 years, PAGE Industries has expanded its product offering. We expect the marketplace to embrace these improvements and steer the entire GSE ancillary market to follow many of these trend-setting developments,” he concludes. Another US respondent, Hobart Ground Systems, has had plenty of upheaval since it relocated from Troy to Palmetto in Florida. In addition, J&B Aviation relocated from Vacaville to Santa Rosa. The company expanded its headquarters in Palmetto by adding 20,000 square feet of manufacturing space to accommodate the Hobart line of products.
Ann Roberts takes up the story: “In 2012
we introduced the PoWerMaster 2300 Solid State Frequency Converters. This is
PAGE unit small and discreet
the latest addition to the Hobart line of 400Hz frequency converter products. Their flexible design allows the GPU to be set up for either bridge, fixed, or trailer mount configurations and the unit can support the B787 up to the A380. “Hobart also introduced a new 28.5 VDC diesel GPU, the JetEX 7D, with a Tier IVi engine. The design is rugged, compact and efficient. This Hobart GPU features the Cummins 4BT series electronic diesel engine and the Hobart-designed and manufactured single bearing generator. A key benefit is that the parts are compatible with the prior JetEx Models, the 4, 5, and 6. “J&B Aviation introduced their own line of 400Hz and 28VDC banded cables with attachable connectors. The cables are built in accordance with military specifications to ensure quality performance. The cable assemblies come in a wide variety of lengths and performance features to suit all requirements and specifications. Now that we have completed the expansion of our Palmetto facility, we are working to streamline our processes, to continue with our research and design efforts to produce more efficient equipment and provide improved service to our market. We have many new product offerings on the horizon for 2013. This includes a line of expandable towbars and maintenance stands through J&B Aviation and an improved and more efficient design for our re-conditioned air product line.”
GROUND HANDLING INTERNATIONAL APRIL 2013
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