• • • NEWS • • •
SP ENERGY NETWORKS UTILISES DRONES TO INSPECT NETWORK
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P Energy Networks is making the switch to modern drone technology to inspect its transmission network, delivering environmental benefits and reducing costs.
The electricity network provider had previously relied solely on helicopters to visually assess the towers on its transmission network. However, following a successful trial period last year, a fleet of drones is now carrying out condition-based assessments across the SP Transmission network, which covers Central and Southern Scotland. The drones are helping to reduce the company’s carbon footprint, contributing to SP Energy Networks’ drive towards Net Zero emissions targets. Drone-based inspection firm Cyberhawk has been awarded the contract to carry out these inspections, utilising its iHawk software to collect data against 85 different points on the towers. This allows SP Transmission to assess
any network risk and inform future investment, enhancing network resilience, integrity and security – ultimately keeping the lights on. Pearse Murray, transmission director for SP Energy Networks, said: “It’s a massive undertaking to complete the regular inspection of the many towers on our transmission network but the drone technology represents a significant step forward for a number of reasons. “Firstly, it’s hugely beneficial for the environment and the imagery we obtain is of a high standard due to the flexibility of the drones in assessing tower conditions, meaning we can make even more informed decisions. Following the successful trial, we also realised that the drones dramatically minimise the impacts on landowners and make it much easier to arrange access to land when we require it.” Cyberhawk has secured a contract until the end of 2022.
Knightsbridge commits to green packaging
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nightsbridge, manufacturer of wiring devices, accessories and lighting, is demonstrating it is Committed to a Brighter Future with a move to
sustainable packaging that is both 100 per cent recyclable and made from 100 per cent recycled materials. In the case of cardboard boxes, the company has teamed up with the
Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) to ensure its packaging comes from wholly recycled sources and is certified as such – look out for the FSC logo on these new materials. Where products were previous sold in plastic ‘clamshells’, these will now be sold in recyclable and biodegradable poly bags. The company also tasked its in-house recycling team to see what use could
be made of materials received that would ordinarily go to waste. Its latest bright idea is converting incoming cardboard into ‘stuffers’ – the crinkle-cut packing that secures products within their outer cartons. The shift towards fully recycled and recyclable packaging falls within
Knightsbridge’s Committed to a Brighter Future initiative, which sees the company’s determination to look after both customers and the environment turned into tangible, practical measures – rather than another round of corporate ‘greenwash’. Other achievements realised under the scheme so far include, for example,
a 95 per cent reduction in single use plastics, 98 per cent of packaging being biodegradable; and contributions in both goods and volunteers that have helped feed over 1000 people at the company’s local food bank.
CMD PROVIDES COMPLETE OFFICE POWER SOLUTION C
MD Ltd, UK manufacturer of office power and connectivity solutions, has supplied almost 3km of Betatrak underfloor powertrack for the 240,000ft² 3 Arena Central development in Birmingham, along with under desk power modules, workstation power modules, floor boxes and grommets.
The grade A office building is a showpiece commercial development for the city, opening directly on to Birmingham’s new Bank Court – the centrepiece of the new public realm. CMD’s 63A standard earth Betatrak underfloor powertrack system has been installed to deliver a plug and play power distribution network, providing both speed of installation for the electrical fit out and flexibility for the end user. CMD provided 2.4m, 1.8m and 1.2 metre lengths of Betatrak, calculating the optimum mix of sizes to enable the electrical contractor to tailor the underfloor power distribution networks to the dimensions of each floorplate. The system enables tap-offs at 300mm intervals, allowing the office areas to be configured and reconfigured to meet the needs of the end user. CMD has also supplied a varied range of floor boxes, slab boxes and grommets for the project, including the company’s fast fit 20 Series four-compartment floor boxes. The power distribution solution from CMD has also included the supply of 2,411 Conti under desk power modules which were configured to meet the end-user’s requirements and custom manufactured for the project by CMD at the company’s Rotherham factory. The
Aluminium extruded body Conti modules include RCBO protection for each workstation and have been fixed to the underside of the desk to bring the power distribution network to each user with a plug and play feature connecting to the on desk modules. Supplying the contract furniture provider for the project, CMD has also manufactured more than 2,400 of the company’s Contour workstation power modules for 3 Arena Central. The compact on desk modules will provide two sockets and dual port Type A and C adaptive fast charging for each workstation, completing the connection from switchboard to workstation with a complete CMD Ltd solution. CMD’s key account manager Tim Shirt commented: “3 Arena Central is a very prestigious office building and we are delighted to have been specified for both the electrical and workstation elements of the Cat B fit out. As a UK manufacturer, we can provide flexibility, attractive lead times and high standards of quality assurance across all our products, offering a robust and varied solution for projects of this scale and scope.”
6 ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • APRIL 2021
electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk
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