Page 20 - EngineerIT June 2022

ARMCOIL

South Africa has a powerful

transformer manufacturing industry

outh African transformer manufacturers are
often being overlooked by large privately
Sowned companies such as IPP’s/EPCM’s/
EPC’s/mining/data centres as they tend to focus on
turnkey specialists for their power requirements in
substations and distribution networks.
Turnkey solutions are considered by many as a
more effective way of managing projects. This tends
to exclude local MV substation manufacturers as the
supply of MV substations is outsourced to companies
in countries like India, Turkey and Europe.
South Africa has a very well developed and
equipped transformer manufacturing industry with
products that equal, and even exceed, the designs
and quality of imported products.
When developing a specification for a power
network, companies should consider the benefits of
specifying local products and add this requirement
before awarding a contract to a turnkey project
company. The benefits of buying local products
are many: including supporting the growth of a
strong local manufacturing base and creating work
opportunities.
ArmCoil can meet every MV substation Typical distribution network transformer
requirement. Over the past few years, the
company has manufactured a wide range of MV
substations for the mining industry. However, this
achievement does not apply to the renewable
energy market segment which seems to prefer
importing substantial amounts of power equipment
and transformers from overseas under the turnkey
solution banner.
ArmCoil has delivered numerous products
to large EPCM/EPC and mining companies
and other clients with specific specifications
focusing on above average safety, protection,
and environmental features across the country
and into sub Sahara Africa. These above-average
specifications have been successfully met.
ArmCoil is fully compliant with the
requirements of the ISO systems, IEC and SANS
standards. Its products have undergone testing and
inspection including by third party inspectors.
Typically, the MV substations are fitted
with a robust skid mount base manufactured
according to regulated welding procedures. They
are then treated and painted to numerous paint
specifications available to meet the customer’s
requirements. Typical mining application MV-MSS

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