Optimising overhead conductivity Lumpi-Berndorf

systems (protection on the AC and DC side of the plant). The company took part in this year’s Intersolar trade fair, showcasing the products and solutions from ETI Green Protect programme. It also has some new and challenging lines in PV system protection, as well as being aimed towards the mining industry (cylindrical fuse-links CH14 and NH DC HRC fuse-links).

A new universal current-sensitive RCCBs EFI B type and B+ type provide fault and additional protection against direct or indirect contact of live parts, as well as fire protection in the cases of the fire hazard exposure. Special features such as sensitivity to pure sinus residual current make these suitable for protection of various sites, vehicles and machine tools (frequency converters, charging stations for electric vehicles, UPS, computer data centres, electronic equipment on construction sites, test set-ups in laboratories and so on).

ETI has also introduced a unique switchgear product, KZS 1M, with an outstanding feature combination of miniature circuit breaker and residual current circuit breaker. Because of its complex protective qualities, it is highly recommended in premises such as hospitals and kindergartens.

The company also innovates in the area of technology (switchgear and fuses), with solutions being very often designed to meet customers’ specific requests.

Market strategy

The political and economic crisis in the former Yugoslavia in the 1990s brought about changes in the status and market orientation of ETI, which finally began to operate under the current name ETI Elektroelement d.d.

Although Germany is its largest market, ETI’s presence in eastern European markets is clearly visible in growing revenues. While in that part of the Europe, as well as in Slovenia and Balkans, the company is selling its products under its well-known ETI brand, in western Europe the company still operates through OEM partners and sells only specific items on demand. As its presence in the European markets continues to grow, the company is looking forward to expanding to the Asian market as well.

In the last few years ETI has made pivotal investments in ecological projects (including a wastewater treatment plant in Izlake) and has introduced modern organisational principles of mass production. All these developments make ETI a reliable partner with a plan to combine partnership with wholesalers and active technical support to users. The company will continue to enlarge the range of its products in addition to strengthening its brand, while expanding more towards the east. n

Visit: www.eti.si

Development centre RC eNeM – New Materials Ltd. • Podvine 36, 1410 Zagorje ob Savi Tel.: +386(0)35660524 • E-Mail: info@rc-enem.si • Web: www.rc-enem.si

Developing new materials in the area of:

• Ceramic materials and fuses • Nano materials • Nano materials in glass industry • Advanced electronic assemblies • SPD - Surge Protection Devices in advanced networks • New materials and energy from the process of generating electricity • New materials for selective laser sintering • Switching equipment • Nano varistor Metaloplastika was founded in 1960.

Production program is quits diversifi ed, but can be classifi ed in a few basic categories: • Contact knives needed in the production of low-voltage fuses and knife fuses • Electro-installation material • Electro-contact components for switches, extension cords, plugs • Valves for bottles of LPG and pressure regulators • Products for the water industry (nuts, connectors, fi ttings, caps, inserts,…)

METALOPLASTIKA a.d. Zlatiborska 48 31310 Čajetina SERBIA T. +381 31 831 570 F. +381 31 831 386 E. metaloplastik@ptt.rs www.metaloplastika.rs

OPTIMISING OVERHEAD CONDUCTIVITY

Lumpi-Berndorf is a technology leader in the development and manufacture of overhead conductors as well as aluminium-clad steel wires. Philip Yorke talked to Rainer Puerzelmayer, the company’s general manager, and Norbert Hadinger, its managing director, about the company’s latest ingenious contribution to optimising electricity load flows, and about the consolidation of its three primary manufacturing facilities.

IN 2005 there was a fusion between two of Austria’s leading wire and conductor companies; the result has been the birth of a dynamic and visionary company that is not only introducing innovative new products but capturing the imagination and attention of leading utilities and contractors worldwide. Today, Lumpi-Berndorf is jointly managed by two leading experts in the field, Rainer Puerzelmayer and Norbert Hadinger, who between them have brought an unparalleled wealth of expertise, experience and know-how to the new company.

The merger between Lumpi and Berndorf in 2005 was a strategic success and created fertile ground for the development of new products as well as a renewed commitment to providing the best products and services possible in a highly competitive energy marketplace. The increased production facilities also created greater freedom regarding project-related contracts, and a combined network of global contacts boosted access to export markets. Today the company is headquartered at Linz, whereas the factory in Berndorf has been producing aluminium-clad steel wires since 1970. It currently supplies more than 4000 tonnes of high tensile, aluminium coated steel wires every year as well as around 10,000 tonnes of overhead conductors, which is expected to increase to 15,000 tonness in the next two years.

Keeping data and electricity flowing

The special solutions developed by LumpiBerndorf are designed specifically for the needs of individual customers, and provide special constructions for the economical and flexible uprating of existing overhead lines. Over the last few decades, there have been major increases in the demand for energy, which has led to the liberalisation of the market and to an increased demand in loadflows. Enhanced distribution and improved transmission performances are therefore considered top priorities today. Lumpi-Berndorf has answered this challenge with a number of innovative options for the economical uprating of existing overhead lines.

Mr Hadinger said, “Because the demand for energy increases significantly year on year and governments require 10 –15 years to pass the legislation required for the erection of new power towers and lines, optimising existing infrastructure is the only way forward. There is huge demand for the reconstruction of energy networks all over Europe. In Austria alone, more than €8 billion has been allocated to meet existing demands and this figure can be multiplied by a factor of 20 for bigger countries such as Germany.

Rainer Puerzelmayer added, “In response to this energy supply crisis we have developed conductors that can transmit double the current overhead loads but can still be used on existing grids. We call these our HTLS (high temperature low sag) conductors. These high temperature conductors for high voltage lines are available along with a range of other special conductors to address the technical problems facing the power transmission industry today. Our very latest HTLS conductor significantly reduces the ‘corona effect’ and is more environmentally friendly than any other existing conductors today. There are many other benefits which I am unable to mention at this stage, but suffice to say that