Preformed Line Products - The Making of A Network Reliability in the power and energy sectors is critical.
While no system is perfect the transmission of electricity to homes and businesses must, for the most part, remain uninterrupted and power companies invest heavily into improving reliability and ensuring that the output continues to meet the demands of their ever expanding distribution networks. Any components selected for use in the service of transmission must be able to perform under rigorous conditions and they are often affected by both climate and or simply the passage of time.
One company that has excelled in the manufacture and supply of a proven range of products that are highly durable for electricity networks is Preformed Line Products (PLP). For the last fifty years PLP has been supplying product to Australian power utilities and it is a tribute to the high standards of quality that many of the original components provided many years ago are still in service.
Up until recently PLP consisted of two major operating divisions that catered for specific areas of technology producing a broad range of products for the power distribution, power transmission and communications markets. One particular division is Rack Technologies, which manufacturers a range of cabinets and enclosures for data communication, electronics, electrical connections and the security market.
However, PLP’s Australian state-of the-art manufacturing facility located in the Sydney suburb of Glendenning is where products are designed and engineered to the highest standards for the electricity sector. The factory produces a broad range of products and is capable of wire forming, forging, casting, plastic moulding and extrusion, sheet metal work, powder coating and assembly along with Steel and Aluminium welding. The manufacturing facility is also supported by a modern tool-room which features a range of highly accurate modeling design software and includes the latest CNC vertical machining centre which is linked directly to the engineering office.
On August 1st 2010, PLP acquired 100% of the shares of both Electropar Ltd (New Zealand) and its subsidiary Electropar Pty Ltd (Australia). This is a significant boost to the organisation as it allows all involved to optimize both experienced talent and resources and to take advantage of the engineering, manufacturing and project management. This cross-Tasman relationship serves to strengthen not only the reach of PLP but broaden the level of product available and promote further expansion both here and in New Zealand.
Electropar PLP has already been involved in a number of Australian projects including ElectraNet's Mount Barker substation project in South Australia in collaboration with ETSA Utilities. This was and is a major project for Electropar PLP and in essence serves to connect existing 275kV transmission line circuits to the important Tungkillo and Cherry Gardens Substations.
ElectraNet’s Mount Barker Substation is part of that company’s investment and further expansion of both reliability and power supply in the eastern area of the Adelaide Hills, where the population of both residents and businesses continues to expand.
Electropar PLP provided all of the substation busbars and associated fittings, plus all of the connections between primary plant and equipment as well as the strung bus assemblies and porcelain tension insulators. The project provided some unique logistical challenges including the location of a number of very long spans of high level 200mm OD busbars to facilitate access on the site. It meant that the operation required close co-ordination with ETSA’s Construction and Maintenance Group to ensure extreme accuracy of designs as well as project management and a coordinated delivery process.
The wealth of experience within the electricity sector gained by Preformed Line Products over the last 50 years is invaluable and PLP has been manufacturing full, turnkey, integrated substation bus systems since 2000. In many ways it has been an ideal journey for PLP as it has allowed the vast knowledge accrued in the manufacture and supply of high voltage hardware and fittings over many years to assist in the advancement of the company’s turnkey substation systems.
The PLP engineering team can assist in the design and manufacture of turnkey substation packages and components ranging from 22kV to 500kV. Due to this involvement and broad capability on the part of PLP, it means that the company can apply its human resources and facilities throughout the process, from design and cost estimation right through to final manufacture. It guarantees that at the end of the day a high quality, finely engineered product emerges.
PLP substation fittings are designed with an emphasis on a ‘user friendly’ installation process for contractors working on-site. As much work as practically possible is completed in-house prior to shipping the package to site. Fully prefabricated systems have been engineered to eliminate the need for on-site welding, providing obvious advantages onsite. As part of PLP’s service to the customer a complete Quality/Installation manual is provided including: marked-up site layout drawings with all bar locations clearly noted, Assembly instructions, detailed busbar drawings, all certifications and Q/A documentation.
Preformed Line Products have clearly established a reputation for quality and excellence, producing a range of products for the electricity sector that have more than stood the test of time. The recent integration with Electropar simply reinforces that reputation and provides extra scope for the company’s continued expansion throughout the Australasian markets. Undoubtedly there are exciting times ahead for PLP and their clients in the electricity sector