Electrical switchgear systems company, RBF Technology, part of the Schneider Electric group, is changing its focus from being a products based company to a solutions based company as part of Schneider Electric's global repositioning strategy.

RBF MD Johan Basson says that this will enhance RBF's portfolio, and will offer customers a solution that meets their needs, from one single source.

The acquisition of RBF, which took place in October last year, was part of Schneider's aim to establish a manufacturing footprint in South Africa.

Meanwhile, Basson says that RBF is currently in negotiations with a large international company for the design, manufacture and supply of distribution switchgear for diesel and gas-powered power generation equipment, destined for the Southern African region.

RBF has constructed motor control centres for a number of companies in the petrochemical, steel, engineering and mining sectors.

One of the most recent projects was for international power generation company Aggreko. This order was for a power generation plant in Cabinda, Angola, and included eight large distribution boards, each rated at 3 500 A, to supply electrical power to small towns and villages in Cabinda province. RBF supplied the B100 range of type, tested panels to the project. These panels were built specially for outdoor application to suit the clients needs.

Highveld Steel & Vanadium ordered two distribution boards for their flat product finishing end substation, serving the flat product roller mill and heavy plate coil mill respectively. The boards featured 4 000 A incomers and buscouplers, with feeders ranging between 400 A and 1 600 A. Rated voltage is 525 V. In this case RBF's B100 range was offered.

Sasol awarded a contract to RBF for two Natus Energon systems as part of the company's upgrade programme on the cooling water process and the ammonium nitrates plant for the production of fertilizers and explosives. The Natus system is a fully withdrawable design with certified safety features, and manufactured to Sasol's specifications. The operating parameters are 525 V/50 kA. The boards are equipped with incomers up to 3 200 A, plus a variety of DOL starters up to 150 kW and feeders up to 400 A.

Scaw Metals Wadeville production plant ordered a large main distribution board featuring 3 200 A incomers and buscouplers, and a variety of feeders ranging between 400 A and 1 600 A, destined for their main substation, which supplies various sub-distribution boards, sump pumps, compressors, furnaces and the ball mill in the plant.

Over recent years Scaw Metals has awarded a number of projects to RBF for the design, manufacture and supply of low voltage switchgear systems.

Chevron's Caltex refinery in Cape Town also ordered another Natus Energon low-voltage switchgear system from RBF. The board includes power factor correction-feeder units and a variety of starters ranging from 0,25 kW to 90 kW. The Natus Energon system is a fully withdrawable design that carries type test certification for all seven protocols of IEC 6043-1, as well as its internal arc.

When Gold Fields initiated a project for the 94 L refrigeration plant at its South Deep operation, the company contracted RBF for the design, manufacture and supply of the mines motor control centres and distribution boards. Six specially designed, stainless-steel motor control centres, incorporating about 90 starters, ranging between 1,2 kW and 160 kW, were manufactured for this underground application. The boards will operate at 525 V, with a fault level of 50 kVA. Once again, RBF supplied its B100 design, which is suited for this application because of its simplicity, robustness and reliablity.

Mine engineering joint-venture TMP-TWP Matomo recently awarded a contract to RBF for the design, manufacture and supply of motor control centres destined for the Ruashi BMR project near Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo, where a new base-metal refinery is being built. Around 185 tiers, incorporating 400 starters and feeders, will be installed in nine specially modified, 12-m marine containers. Starter sizes vary between 0,37 kW and 275 kW, while variable speed drives and soft starters are rated up to 220 kW. The operating voltage is 550 V with a fault level of 35 kVA. The system also incorporates intelligent electronic overloads, emergency incomers and automatic changeovers on the supply side. RBF will supply its C100 panel range for this project. It carries comprehensive A type test certification that includes internal arc.

Basson says that there is scope for the company to expand its business in Southern Africa and the sub-Saharan African region. "Because there are power generation challenges in Africa, added to the current problems that Eskom are experiencing, there is scope for expansion in this area," says Basson.

He adds that RBF has a history in the execution of large-scale projects as the company is a preferred supplier for a number of blue-chip companies and organisations.

Besides power shortages he comments that the second biggest challenge facing the company is the current skills crisis. In an effort to lessen the effects that such a crisis has on the company, RBF has established a lower level skills training centre at its Booysens production facility in the south of Johannesburg.

Basson reports that the centre has been accredited by the Manufacturing Engineering and Related Services Sector Education and Training Authority and will train learners to artisan level, as required to operate effectively in the electrical manufacturing industry.

"The training centre was established at the beginning of this year and will initially be made available to RBF employees and later for customers and industry employees, when fully operational, there will be up to 12 learners going through various courses which range in length from a couple of weeks to a couple of months," says Basson.

He adds that the company is also recruiting people from the public as learners. Candidates that demonstrate potential may be offered employment at RBF.

Established in 1979, RBF achieved official black economic-empowerment status in September 2004 through a transaction, which saw 26% equity taken up by historically disadvantaged South Africans. In September 2007, Schneider Electric acquired a 74% equity holding in RBF.

The company operates from its offices in Booysens, which are attached to a production facility dedicated to the manufacture of motor control centres, distribution boards and programmable logic control panels.