Generators will remain important in supplying power during power outages, owing to their flexibility and affordability, says industrial power solution provider Master Power Technologies sales and marketing director Rory Reid.

“When companies need power for extended periods (several hours), generators remain the most viable solution there is for the South African market.”

However, Reid tells Engineering News that there are several factors companies should consider before investing in a generator set, such as finding the right original-equipment manufacturer (OEM), a local supplier and ensuring that regular maintenance is done.

Another factor to consider is the company that installs the generator set adheres to local legislation around generator installation.

He says customers should look for suppliers that offer reputable OEM brands. “Suppliers should assist customers in finding the most suitable generator, keeping in mind the company’s needs and budget. The supplier should also be capable of the installation, and provide after-sales support and spare parts. Reputable OEM brands ensure that the product has been independently tested to meet international standards and good-quality spares are available for the full life of the product,” adds Reid.

Good suppliers will also assist with regular maintenance and ensure that the generator is performing to expectations, he adds. “This is another important factor, especially to ensure optimal performance and that the generator set functions for its full life expectancy.”

Further, Master Power Technologies specialises in the supply, installation and after-sales servicing of a comprehensive range of engineered power solutions.

This ranges from modular data centre solutions, uninterrupted power supply and generator systems to battery management, automated monitoring, and control and energy management systems.

Reid notes that the Universal Controller – designed and developed by the company’s in-house research and development team – assists clients in monitoring its generator sets, as well as ensuring early warning for possible or developing issues.

The Universal Controller actively monitors electrical equipment to ensure that it is operating at optimal capacity and pre-empts any problems. It is used in highly resilient installations where uptime is of critical importance.

The remote management system monitors all alarms and the condition or status of secure power equipment in critical areas such as data centres. This also includes environmental monitoring such as humidity, temperature, intrusion detection and closed-circuit television monitoring.

“Every uninterrupted power supply and rectifier is only as reliable as the batteries providing the backup power; hence, companies must ensure that their batteries are functioning optimally at all times through a remote monitoring system,” adds Reid.

Master Power Technologies has been awarded market research company Frost & Sullivan’s 2019 Customer Value Leadership Award – which falls under the ‘best practice awards’ – for the third time. The company also won this award in 2014 and 2016.

Frost & Sullivan’s best practices awards acknowledge companies in a variety of regional and global markets that demonstrate outstanding achievement and superior performance in areas such as leadership, technological innovation, customer service and strategic product development.

Industry analysts compare market participants and measure performance through in-depth interviews, analysis and extensive secondary research to identify best practices.

Reid notes that this achievement serves as a long-term recognition from customers. “It shows that we are moving in the right direction and that what we are doing is working. As a South African business, we at Master Power Technologies are proud of competing with international companies.”

Moving forward, the company plans to continue developing its operations to ensure that it delivers the best service to clients. A result of some of these developments, Master Power Technologies received ISO 9001 accreditation in March.