• • • NEWS • • •


Major changes to 18th Edition open for public comment


A


raft of updates are being proposed to the 18th Edition of the Wiring


Regulations, with a consultation opened today to engage with industry on the potential for a 2nd amendment. The changes, led by IET and BSI, have


been proposed following ongoing discussions at committee level, which involve stakeholders including ECA. To help ECA Members and the wider


electrotechnical industry respond to the draft for public comment, ECA has created a set of resources and guidance, available now at www.eca.co.uk/amd2. ECA technical manager Gary Parker


said: “With the ever-increasing pace of technological developments, it’s vital that the Wiring Regulations keep up-to- speed with new industry technology and methodologies. However, this must be balanced with a practical engineering approach. The proposed changes could impact all ECA Members. Therefore it is vital that Members submit comments to BSI if they feel these changes could be overly onerous, lacking clarity or simply require refining.”


Roxtec supplies seals for hazardous areas to pharmaceutical group Guerbet I


ELLIS EXPANDS WITH EYES ON GROWTH


C


able cleat manufacturer, Ellis Patents has invested £½ million in a 25 per cent expansion of its North Yorkshire headquarters.


The main element of the expansion is a new 10,000sq. ft. warehouse,


which was built by local contractor, S Marshall. While the new facility will be used primarily for assembly and storage, its construction has freed up 7,000 sq. ft. of space in existing parts of Ellis’ premises. This will be used to expand the company’s manufacturing facilities – a development that is seen as vital for future growth and improved business efficiency Richard Shaw, managing director of Ellis Patents, said: “We can claim


the position of market leaders because we design, develop and manufacture products, which others simply try to emulate. Innovation has always been at the heart of the business, and through it we will continue to lead our sector forwards.” “The extended manufacturing space will allow us to increase our


range of manufacturing processes, bring even more new and unique products to market, and widen the range of markets we serve.”


Volkswagen integrates latest EPLAN and Rittal solutions


V


olkswagen has released the sixth generation of its VASS


(Volkswagen Audi Seat Skoda) Standard, which includes an update to EPLAN Version 2.9. The standard has also been expanded to include 3D functionality in switchgear system engineering and information for bi-directional exchange with PLC project planning tools. The new VX25 control cabinet system from Rittal has also been integrated into the standard. Volkswagen’s decision to start


providing suppliers with 3D data based on EPLAN Pro Panel in the VASS standard libraries means that complete digital twins of control cabinets and the components within them can now be integrated into automotive projects. For suppliers, the new release of


nternational safety seal manufacturer Roxtec has supported pharmaceutical group Guerbet with an upgrade project at its Irish manufacturing site.Guerbet specialises in diagnostic and interventional medical imaging. It


operates nine manufacturing sites around the world, including one at the Damastown Industrial Estate north of Dublin that makes active pharmaceutical ingredients for the firm’s MRI, X-Ray and interventional imaging products range. Ronan Mills, Roxtec Market Manager for Ireland, said Roxtec was brought in to supply Guerbet with a range of


specialist pipe and cable safety seals. Part of the project involved extending the County Dublin facility’s Ex-classified manufacturing areas. These areas contain an explosion hazard, requiring airtight seals that protect against the risk of explosion to be fitted at all pipe and cable entry points. Mills said: “We’ve worked with Guerbet on a regular basis, helping to support facility upgrades in hazardous areas. Our Ex cable transit devices are designed specifically for environments where it’s necessary to guard against the risk of explosion. We supplied Guerbet with transits offering Ex e protection, which provides increased safety for explosive gas atmospheres. These products have helped to create a safe work environment for the company’s employees by forming an airtight seal and isolating rooms with potentially hazardous gases. They also play a crucial role in protecting valuable equipment.” All Roxtec’s Ex sealing solutions are certified according to the ATEX directive and the IECEx International Certification Scheme.


VASS creates the foundation for adopting and expanding automated manufacturing processes in control cabinet and switchgear system engineering. These range from mechanical NC machining to automated terminal assembly, as well as wire processing and wiring support. Companies benefit from the fully developed design templates provided by Volkswagen that can be used as a basis for faster and higher-quality system engineering, manufacturing and commissioning. “The additional 3D functionality


provided by EPLAN Pro Panel makes it possible to directly derive manufacturing information for automated control cabinet and switchgear system engineering”, explained Chris Olds, Strategic Account Manager at EPLAN UK. “Engineering projects further benefit from the integrated collision check and thermal power dissipation.”


Lockdown DIY gives Brits new appreciation for tradespeople I


t’s no secret that during lockdown many people themselves kept busy with DIY projects and it


seems that all the extra time spent on maintenance, repairs and renovations has led to a new found appreciation for tradespeople. According to new research from leading tool firm Draper Tools, 53% of Brits said their recent DIY efforts had given them a greater appreciation for


electricalengineeringmagazine.co.uk


the skills talented tradespeople have. And, more than 1 in 5 agreed that lockdown DIY had made them appreciate how hard tradespeople work too. Commenting on the findings, Kev Smith, Head of


Marketing at Draper Tools said: “While it’s been great to hear about how the British public has embraced DIY and kept themselves busy over lockdown, it’s clear there are a few jobs that the


average person is best to avoid and leave to the pros. Whether it’s tiling a crucial area or putting up wallpaper – if you’re not confident, it’s always worth considering calling in a skilled tradesperson with the right expertise. It’s encouraging to see that many of the population agree with this and have developed a new found respect for the hard work that the UK’s tradespeople do.”


ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • SEPTEMBER 2020 7


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