Cressall Resistors Limited - PR material

Cressall Resistors launches AC6 loadbank

2009-04-08T10:53:00.011Z

~ Ideal for everyone managing a fleet of generating sets ~

Cressall Resistors, the UK’s largest power resistor manufacturer, has produced a completely self-contained new load bank for testing generator sets. The unit is ideal for use by hire shops, local authorities and construction firms, where its rugged build and easy handling will appeal to anyone managing a fleet of such generators. The new model, branded the AC6, is intended for testing 220/240V supplies up to 6kW, in adjustable steps of 333W. The AC6 joins Cressall’s range of portable units for testing AC and DC systems including batteries, UPS systems and standby generators up to 100kW.

The unit’s key features are ease of use and portability. The clear controls provide easy to read indications of voltage, current and frequency, making it straightforward to see what adjustments need to be made to the unit being tested.

A one-piece aluminium casing helps keep the weight down to just twelve kilograms and the hinged lid of the unit is fitted with a carrying handle. The integral 1.5 metre cable and connector, which fits all small gen sets and is rated to CEE IEC 60309-2, means it’s impossible for the unit to be taken on site without the appropriate connectors. The connectors, cable and controls of the unit are located beneath a sturdy hinged hood, which again serves to keep the entire unit together permanently. Brief-case size dimensions of 550 by 495 by 220mm and IP20 ingress protection make the unit ideal for field use.

The unit is supplied as standard in a 220-240 VAC version, with a rated frequency of 50-60Hz. An alternative dual-voltage model also features 110-120 VAC functionality for use in countries such as the UK where the lower voltage is mandatory for site equipment. Easy control is provided by six toggle switches and, on the dual-voltage version only, a voltage selector switch.

The unit is fan cooled and the fan supply is taken from the test load itself. As a result, no external power supply is needed, which again makes the unit ideal for site work. Built-in over-temperature protection helps ensure the unit’s reliability. The AC6 is CE marked and RoHS compliant and, as a result, is suitable for use in the UK and abroad. A built in voltmeter of 0-300V and a built in ammeter of 0-100A complete the unit.

Free video, datasheets and catalogues featuring the AC6 can be obtained by contacting Cressall Resistors via its Web site, http://www.cressall.com/.

Ends: 417 words

Editor’s note: If you want to stay constantly up to date on the latest news from Cressall Resistors, paste the following link into your RSS reader, http://cressall-pr.blogspot.com/atom.xml. If you don’t have an RSS reader, I can recommend the following free package http://www.sharpreader.net/.

Electronic copy: Get an electronic copy of this release by mail richards@stonejunction.co.uk or download from http://www.cressall-pr.blogspot.com/

For further information contact: Peter Duncan,
Cressall Resistors, Evington Valley Road, Leicester, LE5 5LZ
Telephone: +44 (0) 116 2733633
Fax: +44 (0) 116 2737911
e-mail: peter.duncan@cressall.com
www: http://www.cressall.com/

Press enquiries: Richard Stone
Stone Junction, 33 Kirkdale,
Sydenham, London, SE26 4PN
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
e-mail: richards@stonejunction.co.uk
www: http://www.stonejunction.co.uk/

About Cressall Resistors: The world's foremost power resistor manufacturer, Cressall Resistors, offers an unrivalled combination of experience and expertise as well as the UK’s widest range of resistor technologies. Cressall’s customers include ABB, Siemens, Areva and Alsthom as well as major utilities such as Central Networks, Yorkshire Electricity, EDF and Scottish Power. The company also works with countless smaller specialists such as Street Crane, Digital Lift Controls and Computer Protek Systems. Indeed, because of the fundamental nature of Cressall’s product almost everyone in the electrical industry will have cause to contact the company at some point; making the Leicester based business a bellwether for the health of the sector itself.

Ref: CRE069/02/09

Cressall celebrates as Shell Steps student wins national award

2008-10-22T15:28:00.002Z

~Chris Haigh wins the final of national award scheme thanks to money saving work at Leicester based resistor firm ~

A student on work placement at Leicester based manufacturer Cressall Resistors has won the final off the prestigious national Shell STEP award scheme for his work at the firm. The student, Chris Haigh, developed standard operating procedures (SOPs) for a number of shop floor projects, including one which has resulted in a £500K contract being retained. Chris was chosen as overall winner at an awards ceremony in London on October 21.

Shell STEP places talented students, who can be studying for any type of degree, with host businesses to develop and progress a key project within their organisation. Placements can happen during the summer holidays, at other holiday periods or on a part time basis during term time. The awards scheme is judged on a local basis first, then regionally and finally nationally.

Chris has recently completed a degree in Manufacturing and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Warwick and is now studying for a master’s degree in Project Management. Born in Thurmaston, Leicester, he hopes to become a management consultant or project manager within a manufacturing business.

Chris produced SOPs for a range of machines and processes, all with objective of improving quality and ease of training. It is believed that the work he did has saved £6,400 per month, in addition to the retention of the £500K contract.

Furthermore, he has developed spreadsheets that have helped reduce stock levels of some key components by 45%, improving the use of space in the factory and helping avoid cash flow issues. Finally, Chris developed a video based SOP for Telema SpA, Cressall Resistor’s Italian parent company, meaning that they are now able to use a machine that had previously been dormant.

“Cressall was the first company that interviewed me as part of the Shell STEP programme,” said Chris. “I was particularly interested in the lean manufacturing element of what they do there. I think the placement has helped me massively. I was intrigued to work for a company in the manufacturing sector because that’s where my educational background is. But, everything I have done during my degree has been theory based and I was surprised how far away from real life the theory was. I have also picked up other things that you only find out about from experience, such as time management and professionalism.”

Andrew Eddy, Director of Shell UK said: “Shell Step gives students relevant and meaningful work experience by carefully placing them in small businesses that match their interests. Chris has clearly thrived in the working environment and gained new skills. Chris’s project has had a tangible impact on Cressall Resistors’ bottom line showing how companies can benefit from such raw talent. Chris is a deserving winner of this year's award and I wish him every success in the future.”

Leila Bahaijoub, of Shell Lubricants and Shell Step judge said: “Chris impressed the judges with his absolute commitment to the project from start to finish. He looked beyond the brief and went outside of his comfort zone, identifying further areas for improvement and consequently delivered great benefits to his host business. In doing so he demonstrated his excellent project and people management skills.”

“We’re all really pleased Chris has done so well,” enthused Peter Duncan, Managing Director of Cressall Resistors. “I think it’s testament to his character and potential that he could do such a lot for us in such a short time. We all wish him every success in his chosen career.”

Ends: 606 words

Editor’s note: The judges at the national awards were Leila Bahaijoub, Global Implementation Manager of Shell Lubricants; Simon Reichwald, Director of Bright Futures; Adeline Izerin, of Smart Grads and Ian Whiteside, Shell Step UK Winner 2007. 614 students took part in the Shell Step scheme, which ran between July and September 2008.

Editor’s note: If you want to stay constantly up to date on the latest news from Cressall Resistors, paste the following link into your RSS reader, http://cressall-pr.blogspot.com/atom.xml. If you don’t have an RSS reader, I can recommend the following free package http://www.sharpreader.net/.

For further information contact: Peter Duncan,
Cressall Resistors, Evington Valley Road, Leicester, LE5 5LZ
Telephone: +44 (0) 116 2733633
Fax: +44 (0) 116 2737911
e-mail: peter.duncan@cressall.com
www: http://www.cressall.com/

Press enquiries: Richard Stone
Stone Junction, 33 Kirkdale,
Sydenham, London, SE26 4PN
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
e-mail: richards@stonejunction.co.uk
www: http://www.stonejunction.co.uk/

About Cressall Resistors: The world's foremost power resistor manufacturer, Cressall Resistors, offers an unrivalled combination of experience and the widest range of resistor technologies. On February 28, 2006 Telema SpA of Italy bought the company through its British subsidiary TPR Resistors, bringing together Britain’s two largest resistor technology companies.

Ref: CRE059/10/08

New MD for UK's largest resistor manufacturer

2008-05-29T16:10:00.000Z

~ Good results set to continue as existing board member takes the helm ~

Leicester based manufacturer, Cressall Resistors, has appointed Peter Duncan, an existing director of the company, as its new managing director. Duncan's appointment will ensure continuity of management and engineering expertise within the business.

Duncan has had two spells with Cressall. His first began in 1998, when the company was purchased by Halma Plc and Peter was made a director with responsibility for the revitalisation of the firm, which at that time had twelve employees. This period concluded in 2000, when he left to establish TPR Resistors, a UK manufacturer in the same sector. Six years later, in February 2006, Duncan re-joined Cressall when Telema SpA of Italy bought Cressall through TPR Resistors, which had by this time become one of its UK subsidiaries.

Duncan's career in industry followed a first degree at Walham College Oxford, in Engineering Science and Economics followed by an MSc in Operational Research and Management Studies at Imperial College, London. During this period, Duncan also served an engineering apprenticeship at Rolls-Royce Engines in Bristol.

Duncan plans to continue with Cressall's successful policy of implementing manufacturing improvement strategies, such as lean and six-sigma, as well as recruiting intensively to help the company meet continued demand. This strategy has been successful to date with orders doubling since 2006.

"I’ve taken over from my former colleague David Boughey, who created a team that has transformed Cressall during his tenure," explained Duncan. "As a director for the last two years I’ve been instrumental in formulating the strategy for the business, alongside my fellow directors. As a result, I think this is very much a case of continuing the good work, rather than instituting any sweeping changes," he concluded.

Ends: 299 words

Electronic copy: Get an electronic copy of this release by mail file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Richard%20Stone/Local%20Settings/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Content.Outlook/PFVI6X5P/richards@stonejunction.co.uk or download from file:///C:/Documents%20and%20Settings/Richard%20Stone/Local%20Settings/Temporary%20Internet%20Files/Content.Outlook/PFVI6X5P/www.cressall-pr.blogspot.com

For further information contact: Peter Duncan,
Cressall Resistors, Evington Valley Road, Leicester, LE5 5LZ
Telephone: +44 (0) 116 2733633
Fax: +44 (0) 116 2737911
e-mail: peter.duncan@cressall.com
www: http://www.cressall.com/

Press enquiries: Richard Stone
Stone Junction, 33 Kirkdale,
Sydenham, London, SE26 4PN
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
e-mail: richards@stonejunction.co.uk
www: http://www.stonejunction.co.uk/

About Cressall Resistors: The world's foremost power resistor manufacturer, Cressall Resistors, offers an unrivalled combination of experience and the widest range of resistor technologies. On February 28, 2006 Telema SpA of Italy through its British subsidiary TPR Resistors, bringing together Britain’s two largest resistor technology companies, acquired Cressall Resistors.

Ref: CRE054/06/08

Lean programme helps increase turnover by 100 per cent in 18 months

2008-04-30T12:41:00.001Z

~ Success due to customer focused implementation ~

Leicester based Cressall Resistors has put in a place a lean programme, managed by manufacturing director Cy Wilkinson, that has helped increase turnover by 100 per cent in 18 months. It has also contributed to the successful integration of a business, valued at over a million pounds, into the company’s Leicester facility. The resultant plant layout uses less floor space than the original did before the new company was integrated.

The fundamental strategy was formed through the use of eight lean tools: value stream mapping, 5S, standard work, flow, pull, TPM (Total Productive Maintenance), mistake proofing and set-up reduction.

After producing a strategic plan, Wilkinson began the implementation process by providing uniforms for the manufacturing team and implementing a set of external lean training courses. These courses resulted in improved manufacturing efficiency and provided staff with the chance to obtain an NVQ Level two qualification. During the sessions, teams of five or six delegates focused on a particular area and carried out a kaikiaku (blitz) to deliver focused improvement, usually resulting in implementation of the first three ‘S’s (sort, straighten and shine) of 5S and a new layout to improve flow.

Cressall Resistors now has on ongoing training programme consisting of four day seminars attended by a cross-functional teams consisting of shop floor operatives, sales engineers, designers, planners, engineers and directors.

In order to improve sale to delivery times, Cressall tackled the ‘order entry’ to ‘issue to manufacturing’ part of its process. The company took a snapshot of the situation, using value streaming techniques, which highlighted areas of concern such as bottlenecks, delays and duplication of work and information, before developing ways to counteract these weaknesses. This has resulted in major improvements in contract review and file location, information consolidation, shop floor access to CAD files and purchasing.

The company also applied its lean strategy to the manufacturing process, which reduced used-space by more than sixty per cent; reduced part associated employee movement and implemented single piece flow to reduce WIP (Work In Progress). A Kanban was established to manage component inventory and the time needed to complete a physical stock-take was reduced by 50 per cent thanks to the 5S workplace organization.

“When I joined Cressall in June 2006, there had already been several attempts to roll out 5S and to implement flow, all with varying degrees of success,” explained Wilkinson. “Though there was impetus from senior management, these earlier lean attempts failed due to lack of follow-up and buy in from the work force.”

As well as tackling the present, Cressall has also made plans for the future. There are a minimum of six lean events happening at the company in 2008, and a minimum of 24 employees who will go through the Business Improvement Techniques NVQ formal qualification.

Ends: 481 words

Editor’s note: If you want to stay constantly up to date on the latest news from Cressall Resistors, paste the following link into your RSS reader, http://cressall-pr.blogspot.com/atom.xml. If you don’t have an RSS reader, I can recommend the following free package http://www.sharpreader.net/.

Additional editor’s note: Should you require detailed examples of improvements to particular manufacturing cells or areas of the business, these can be provided on request. Also available are high resolution before and after photos of several areas of the plant, in addition to the ones provided with this release.

Electronic copy: Get an electronic copy of this release by mail http://www.blogger.com/Campaign%20planning/richards@stonejunction.co.uk or download from http://www.blogger.com/Campaign%20planning/www.cressall-pr.blogspot.com

For further information contact: Peter Duncan,
Cressall Resistors, Evington Valley Road, Leicester, LE5 5LZ
Telephone: +44 (0) 116 2733633
Fax: +44 (0) 116 2737911
e-mail: peter.duncan@cressall.com
www: http://www.cressall.com/

Press enquiries: Richard Stone
Stone Junction, 33 Kirkdale,
Sydenham, London, SE26 4PN
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
e-mail: richards@stonejunction.co.uk
www: http://www.stonejunction.co.uk/

About Cressall Resistors: The world's foremost power resistor manufacturer, Cressall Resistors, offers an unrivalled combination of experience and the widest range of resistor technologies. On February 28, 2006 Telema SpA of Italy through its British subsidiary TPR Resistors, bringing together Britain’s two largest resistor technology companies, acquired Cressall Resistors.

Ref: CRE050/02/08

Load bank launched for testing diesel-electric locos

2008-02-29T17:28:00.002Z

~ Cressall Resistors further improves its offering for the rail industry ~

Cressall Resistors has launched an easy to use, premium built load bank for performance testing diesel-electric engines and generators of all types up to 4000hp. Designated the DC7000, the new load bank has a capacity of 3100kW and 0-7000A continuously at up to 2000V DC. The unit features PLC controlled resistance adjustments and permits the pre-selection of any one of more than 2000 values of resistance, from 0.026Ω to 3.3Ω. The range allows routine maintenance tests to be conducted over the entire power envelope. It is likely to find applications in proving new and re-builds before they are introduced to service.

“The traction market is a very important sector for Cressall Resistors,” explained Peter Duncan, a director of the business. “We have more than sixty years experience in this industry as well as the know-how from the resistors businesses acquired by us over the years, including Cutler-Hammer Resistors and Alstom Transit. In a sense these acquisitions future proof our customers’ equipment by ensuring that the components they used originally can still be supplied.”

The load consists of twin, 14 section, fan cooled resistor ducts with, starters and controls and an integrated off-load switch panel. The fans, resistors and switchgear are all built in to a single sheet steel frame with hinged lockable access doors, air
intake screens and, optionally, hand operated outlet louvres. Paint finish is RAL7032 light grey powder paint and the enclosure is designed for floor mounting with bottom cable entry. Fan motor and control voltages are set to suit the customer’s own supply voltage and frequency.

The load bank incorporates EN650 traction resistor elements, arranged in individually replaceable trays with all-welded interconnections. Each bank is contained in a fully insulated duct section with two independent levels of 3kV electrical insulation.

The resistor elements are manufactured from Inco alloy 601, a 60:23 nickel-chrome stainless steel. This is a high grade stainless steel with excellent corrosion resistance properties and a low (0.04%/°C) temperature coefficient of resistance, giving very stable resistance values over the whole range of operation.

Motorised off-load switches allow for the reconnection of the twelve resistors in each stack into more than 2000 different configurations, with a range from .026Ω/7000A through to 3.25Ω/6000A. There are intermediate points to suit the majority of locomotive alternators up to 4000HP rating.

Ends: 399 words

Editor’s note: If you want to stay constantly up to date on the latest news from Cressall Resistors, paste the following link into your RSS reader, http://cressall-pr.blogspot.com/atom.xml. If you don’t have an RSS reader, I can recommend the following free package http://www.sharpreader.net/.

Electronic copy: Get an electronic copy of this release by mail http://www.blogger.com/Campaign%20planning/richards@stonejunction.co.uk or download from http://www.blogger.com/Campaign%20planning/www.cressall-pr.blogspot.com

For further information contact: Peter Duncan,
Cressall Resistors, Evington Valley Road, Leicester, LE5 5LZ
Telephone: +44 (0) 116 2733633
Fax: +44 (0) 116 2737911
e-mail: peter.duncan@cressall.com
www: http://www.cressall.com/

Press enquiries: Richard Stone
Stone Junction, 33 Kirkdale,
Sydenham, London, SE26 4PN
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
e-mail: richards@stonejunction.co.uk
www: http://www.stonejunction.co.uk/

About Cressall Resistors: The world's foremost power resistor manufacturer, Cressall Resistors, offers an unrivalled combination of experience and the widest range of resistor technologies. On February 28, 2006 Telema SpA of Italy through its British subsidiary TPR Resistors, bringing together Britain’s two largest resistor technology companies, acquired Cressall Resistors.

Ref: CRE025/02/08

Cressall appointment proves that going back can be a big step forward

2007-09-14T18:22:00.000Z

~ Former employee rejoins Leicester based resistor manufacturer as part of long term, planned recruitment drive ~

Leicester based Cressall Resistors has added a former employee, Hina Thakkar, to its commercial engineering team, two and half years after she left the business to join another firm in the electrical industry. The appointment is part of a planned recruitment drive resulting from significantly increased business in 2006-2007.

Hina’s previous employers include Alstom and Racal Radar Defence Systems. She believes that both positions represented positive steps, taken at the right time. However, Hina feels more at home having re-joined Cressall, where she once worked as an internal sales engineer. “I think the important factors in choosing a workplace include the atmosphere and the people you work alongside,” explained Hina. “Of course, the position and the nature of the business have to be right as well.”

Hina began her career with an engineering degree at De Montfort University and is now involved in post sales management, handling contracts, schedules and ensuring safe delivery. As befits an organised mind who emphasises interpersonal values in the workplace, her hobbies include flower arranging and socialising.

“I think our invitation to Hina to return to Cressall signifies two things,” explained Peter Duncan, a director of Cressall Resistors. “The first is that the right appointment is the right appointment. The correct attitude is the key; almost anything else can be learned. Of course, in this case Hina is already a senior and skilled professional. The second is that we are very serious about drawing out the engineering talent in Leicester and the surrounding areas – this appointment is one of a string stretching back over a long period and part of a concerted plan to add many more staff to the business.”

Ends: 305 words

Electronic copy: Get an electronic copy of this release by mail http://www.blogger.com/Campaign%20planning/richards@stonejunction.co.uk or download from http://www.blogger.com/Campaign%20planning/www.cressall-pr.blogspot.com

For further information contact: Peter Duncan,
Cressall Resistors, Evington Valley Road, Leicester, LE5 5LZ
Telephone: +44 (0) 116 2733633
Fax: +44 (0) 116 2737911
e-mail: peter.duncan@cressall.com
www: http://www.cressall.com/

Press enquiries: Richard Stone
Stone Junction, 33 Kirkdale,
Sydenham, London, SE26 4PN
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
e-mail: richards@stonejunction.co.uk
www: http://www.stonejunction.co.uk/

About Cressall Resistors: The world's foremost power resistor manufacturer, Cressall Resistors, offers an unrivalled combination of experience and the widest range of resistor technologies. On February 28, 2006 Telema SpA of Italy through its British subsidiary TPR Resistors, bringing together Britain’s two largest resistor technology companies, acquired Cressall Resistors.

Ref: CRE042/09/07

Brake resistor range for high regenerative energy in compact areas

2007-05-19T09:48:00.000Z

~ New models for smaller lifts with high return energy ~

Cressall Resistors has expanded its range of low noise ES braking resistors with the addition of 1.0 and 2.0kW sized models. These new ratings complement the existing array, which includes 0.6, 1.5, 3.0 and 4.5kW versions with resistance values from 3.9Ω to 330Ω. The new 1.0 and 2.0 kW sizes are used where there is the need to cope with high levels of regenerated energy in a compact space. This includes motor control on elevators, VSD control and use on conveyors, cranes and winches as well as test loads.

The robust IP20 rated units produce negligible audible noise. This is essential for applications where they will be located near the general public, such as in the resonant chamber of a lift.

The units are manufactured using high grade nickel chrome wire, which means the resistance value changes only negligibly over the temperature range of the element. “This is a significant factor,” explained Cressall director Peter Duncan, “because a design using lower grade stainless steel could increase in resistance by as much as 50% - resulting in impaired braking.”

A choice of termination method and accessories keeps both purchase and installation cost on the ES series low. Installation is further simplified by slotted mounting points for M6 fixings. The terminal cover features two 20mm knock out holes on the end face and overhangs the resistor by 22mm, leaving an open area for cable entry.

Every continuous power rating in the range is available in ES – S and ES – P versions. The ES – S range allows for connection via screw terminals with an optional thermal trip and/or terminal cover, while the ES – P range has through panel terminals and optional thermal trip.

Ends: 299 words

Editor’s note: If you want to stay constantly up to date on the latest news from Cressall Resistors, paste the following link into your RSS reader, http://cressall-pr.blogspot.com/atom.xml. If you don’t have an RSS reader, I can recommend the following free package http://www.sharpreader.net/.

For further information contact: Peter Duncan,
Cressall Resistors, Evington Valley Road, Leicester, LE5 5LZ
Telephone: +44 (0) 116 2491707
Fax: +44 (0) 116 2737911
e-mail: peter.duncan@cressall.com
www: http://www.cressall.com/

Press enquiries: Richard Stone
Stone Junction, 33 Kirkdale,
Sydenham, London, SE26 4BT
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
e-mail: richards@stonejunction.co.uk
www: http://www.stonejunction.co.uk/

About Cressall Resistors: The world's foremost power resistor manufacturer, Cressall Resistors, offers an unrivalled combination of experience and the widest range of resistor technologies. On February 28, 2006 Cressall Resistors was acquired by Telema SpA of Italy through its British subsidiary TPR Resistors, bringing together Britain’s two largest resistor technology companies.

Ref: CRE049/02/07

New Cressall manufacturing director brings lean efficiencies to Leicester

2007-01-16T14:03:00.000Z

~ Jobs to be created at existing plant ~

Leicester based electrical engineering firm Cressall Resistors has added to its senior management team by appointing former Eaton Electrical lean manufacturing expert Cy Wilkinson. Wilkinson, who joins as manufacturing director, is set to oversee significant expansion of the Cressall team, which will result in new jobs being created at the company’s Leicester plant.

Before joining Cressall, Wilkinson worked for Flavel Leisure, EU-Matic, Mayflower and Eaton Electrical. Key achievements include taking an EU-Matic site from green-field start-up to volume production and managing 200 staff on the MG TF project for MG Rover while at Mayflower.

Wilkinson’s new employer, Cressall Resistors, was acquired by Italy’s Telema SpA through its British arm TPR Resistors in February last year. As a result, the two firms’ manufacturing bases have been consolidated into one, under the Cressall brand, creating significantly increased production in Leicester.

Wilkinson, who is married with a two year old son, plans to apply his lean manufacturing expertise at Cressall. "We're preparing to increase our production by 20-25% over the next year,” explained Wilkinson. “To support this growth, we have some really good people here. Their skills and capabilities, as well as those of the new team members, will be the key factor in achieving our goals,” he enthused.

“The crux of the issue is providing people with clear direction and then trusting them to carry out their responsibilities. The right people will use their initiative to help us meet our targets and ultimately improve the service that we give our customers,” concluded Wilkinson.

Ends: 266 words

Ref: CRE037/10/06

Editor’s note: If you want to stay constantly up to date on the latest news from Cressall Resistors, paste the following link into your RSS reader, http://cressall-pr.blogspot.com/atom.xml. If you don’t have an RSS reader, I can recommend the following free package www.sharpreader.net.

For further information contact: Peter Duncan
Cressall Resistors, Evington Valley Road, Leicester, LE5 5LZ
Telephone: + 44 (0) 116 249 1707
Fax: +44 (0) 116 2737911
e-mail: peter.duncan@cressall.com
www: www.cressall.com

Press enquiries: Richard Stone
Stone Junction, 24A Waldram Park Road,
Forest Hill, London, SE23 2PN
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
e-mail: richards@stonejunction.co.uk
www: www.stonejunction.co.uk

About Cressall Resistors: The world's foremost power resistor manufacturer, Cressall Resistors, offers an unrivalled combination of experience and the widest range of resistor technologies. On February 28, 2006 Cressall Resistors was acquired by Telema SpA of Italy through its British subsidiary TPR Resistors, bringing together Britain’s two largest resistor technology companies.

Trusting the power of flexible generating sets

2007-01-11T09:10:00.000Z

~ Sheffield based Sheafpower develops bespoke gen-sets for every single customer ~

Many UK manufacturers have begun to focus on custom design for specific projects over the years. Indeed, one might argue that the UK has become a hub of design engineering talent, just as it has lost its mass manufacturing base to countries with lower overheads and operating costs. However, some companies, such as Sheffield based Sheafpower have built their reputations on the production of special designs since their inception. As a result, when the company came to choose a supplier of load banks to test its generating sets, it looked for a partner that could match its own flexibility. The company it chose was TPR Resistors, who in February 2006 bought Cressall Resistors, merging the two companies under the Cressall name.

Sheafpower Ltd is an offshoot of the former Thomas Wards Industrial Group and as a result uses the trading name Wardpower. The company has been building generating sets for over 50 years and, as an independent manufacturer not aligned to one particular engine supplier, aims to design the best solution for every project. Its range of gen-set output runs from 30kVA to 3MVA for a wide range of duties.

“We are an entirely bespoke generating set manufacturer, “explained Keith Marshall the company’s sales director. “We tend to deliver very high-end specifications for customers with exacting demands - people like National Grid and British Nuclear Fuels.”

Other clients of note include Scottish Power, Johnson Controls, Balfour Beatty and Vodafone. The range of applications includes stand-by generating sets for emergency power applications, prime and continuous duty sets for peak lopping and base load applications and combined heat and power generation using either diesel or gas.

The company has an unusual modus operandi for a firm with such an impressive client list. Every project is handled by the same person from cradle to grave. The individual that tenders the enquiry also designs it, project manages it, commissions it and manages the servicing and even de-commissioning - when the day comes.

Sheafpower uses Cressall’s load banks to test its generating sets. “We have used Cressall routinely for over five years,” explained Marshall. “Their load banks have become a regular part of our arrangement for Scottish Power and National Grid. We use them for monthly automatic testing - not a full load but at a level sufficient to diagnose any problems.”

Peter Duncan, a director of Cressall Resistors believes that such activity represents best practice, “For any standby generating set, routine testing which includes on-load running to bring the engine, alternator and radiator up to its normal working temperatures is better for the set and means a much higher certainty that it will perform as expected in a real power outage.”

As well as using Cressall’s load banks for testing, Sheafpower also uses them as ballast loads in some situations. “Occasionally an application will have a very big starting load but a low running load. This can result in the engine coking up and thus the service life being reduced,” explained Marshall.

“In those applications where the connected load may vary over a wide range, either as a result of seasonal variations or the nature of the load itself, and the 'real' demand is small, it can be beneficial to add some additional load to keep the engine operating at least at 50% of its capacity,” agreed Duncan.

There’s no question that in this context Sheafpower’s gen-sets, and the load banks supplied by Cressall are mission-critical items. Apart from correct maintenance of the starting batteries, regular load testing is the best way of ensuring reliability. Sheafpower’s customers have to completely trust the equipment in order to have confidence in this reliability.

“The implications of any equipment failure can be very serious,” explained Marshall. “Taking the National Grid as an example, the gen sets are used as emergency backup supply to power essential sub station equipment,” he continued.

The infrequency of power outages in the UK over the last five to ten years demonstrates that the process is running pretty smoothly for most generators but also the importance of the standby set. “Failing to regularly test a unit is like diligently fitting a seat belt in every car but not thinking to check the inertia reel is operable when the car is manufactured,” offered Duncan. “The fact that Sheafpower builds monthly automatic testing into its sets is an enormous benefit for its customers.”

Marshall took up the argument, “We break our gen-sets down into different classes of reliability according to the demands of the customer. National Grid is in the second highest class in these terms – the only class above it is the nuclear power industry,” he explained.

“While load banks by their very nature are pretty unsophisticated pieces of equipment, we do have a good agreement with Cressall with regard to the packaging of the device,” explained Marshall. “The enclosures they provide are duct mounted and matched to the radiator. They work easily with the right engine and fit the mechanical interfaces appropriately. Because of this, in a small way Cressall supply us with a solution and that is appreciated. The equipment is normally easy to fit and integrate, which, while unsurprising for such a simple category of technology, is always a benefit no matter who the supplier.”

While the technology is often simple, one unusual application on which Sheafpower is working with Cressall can be found in a tea drying plant in Bangladesh. The tea is dried to bring its moisture content down to two or three per cent and to stop all enzyme activities so it can be sold. In this application the heat produced by the load bank is incorporated back into the process by mounting the banks inside the unit used to dry the tea. Thus the temperature is raised significantly and the process is speeded up. This also reduces the energy required, creating a beneficial knock-on affect both in decreased costs and reduced carbon emissions. “We stage mount the load banks on the radiator in order to further heat the air in the drying cabinet. This achieves an increased temperature of around 30° at no additional cost,” continued Marshall.

“Our target is to be the best specialist gen-set manufacturer in Britain,” he outlined. “But the key to that statement is the word specialist – we have no standard range and there simply are no catalogue products. However, because many of our clients have now taken us on as a retained supplier we are able to offer the products we have designed for them just as if they were standard items – with all the same training, service and operational benefits a stock product offers. The best way of summing it up is to say that we start with raw metal and at the end of the process we have a gen-set. We don’t buy other people’s systems, modify them and call them our own. Instead, we actually go through the research and development process from start to finish.

“Our policy on suppliers in general is that, because we build only specials, we work with a very limited number of people who can provide the same kind of support we provide for our clients. We limit our pool of suppliers to firms who can do that for us, and all of our current partners can,” Marshall explained.

Peter Duncan offered this statement in conclusion, “I am absolutely delighted to see Sheafpower so successfully carving out its market niche and working at such a high level of consultancy with its customers. Countless large users of generating sets, particularly the water, power and telecommunications utilities, where many of Sheafpower’s customers sit, are now fully persuaded that the relatively low cost of including a fixed load bank at the time of installation is justified by the saving in maintenance costs. Of course, this includes the saved cost of regular load bank hire, over the life of the set. However, Sheafpower’s bespoke approach to gen-set construction takes this theory on another step. There are few companies in the UK that could compete on the same level with the firm and I think it’s successes to date are a reflection of that unique skill set.”

Ends: 1381 words

Editor’s note: If you want to stay constantly up to date on the latest news from Cressall Resistors, paste the following link into your RSS reader, http://cressall-pr.blogspot.com/atom.xml. If you don’t have an RSS reader, I can recommend the following free package Sharp Reader.

For further information contact: Peter Duncan,
Cressall Resistors, Evington Valley Road, Leicester, LE5 5LZ
Telephone: +44 (0) 116 249 1707
Fax: +44 (0) 116 2737911
e-mail: peter.duncan@cressall.com
www: http://www.cressall.com/

Press enquiries: Richard Stone
Stone Junction, 24A Waldram Park Road,
Forest Hill, London, SE23 2PN
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
e-mail: richards@stonejunction.co.uk
www: http://www.stonejunction.co.uk/

About Cressall Resistors: The world's foremost power resistor manufacturer, Cressall Resistors, offers an unrivalled combination of experience and the widest range of resistor technologies. In April 2006 Cressall Resistors was acquired by Telema SpA of Italy through its British subsidiary TPR Resistors, bringing together Britain’s two largest resistor technology companies.

Ref: CRE018/10/06

Electrical firm benefits from closer collaboration with education

2006-11-09T17:36:00.000Z

Following a series of successful work placements, Leicester based electrical firm Cressall Resistors is calling for more local firms to support engineering work placement and apprenticeship schemes such as the one run by De Montfort University.

Cressall Resistors currently has two students on placement from the Faculty of Computing Sciences and Engineering at the University. They are Helen Benjamin, who has already been offered a job at the firm to begin after her degree, and John Shaw, who started in June. These two are part of a continuing and long running project.

However, the origin of Cressall’s relationship with De Montfort University goes back to a fire in the company’s office in 2001. The company drafted in some students to help with the clean up operation. As well as their sterling efforts in returning the office to normal, the students were able to lend a hand in other ways. Although the fire was relatively small and almost all mission critical material was protected from it, some drawings for a project that was underway were scorched. One of the students, Victor Fernandez, was studying engineering design and he set about producing a set of drawings that replaced the damaged papers.

Eventually, the drawings Fernandez produced were used as part of this degree coursework. In addition, when he left University Fernandez joined Cressall’s design team and stayed for nearly three years.

Tony Harris, who has responsibility for managing the student recruitment process within Cressall explains, “I think it gives us fresh ideas, partly because students often use our computer aided design tools in different ways. When a project they have been involved in comes to fruition, we see an enormous sense of satisfaction.

“I think these sort of schemes are good for industry overall. I started as an apprentice, at GEC in Birmingham; simply because I had an interest in making things work. I don’t see many people following similar routes into engineering now. However, work experience is a good move in the right direction. I would like to see more firms support institutions like De Montfort,” concluded Harris.

The Faculty of Computing Sciences and Engineering at De Montfort is among the largest in the country and places students into a range of disciplines including pharmaceuticals, IT and food as well as electrical engineering. Placements typically last three or twelve months. Tracey Harris, the placement administrator at De Montfort explains, “While the student doesn’t arrive as an expert they do bring technologies and ideas that sometimes aren’t in place already. However, they are also learning and developing themselves and this can really strengthen their skills base. We find that academics that go straight into the final year of a degree without a gap year in industry don’t have the same edge. This is often reflected in their degree results and employability.”

Interested parties can find out more about the Faculty of Computing Sciences and Engineering work placement schemes at www.dmu.ac.uk/cseplacement.

Ends: 496 words

Editor’s note: If you want to stay constantly up to date on the latest news from Cressall Resistors, paste the following link into your RSS reader, http://cressall-pr.blogspot.com/atom.xml. If you don’t have an RSS reader, I can recommend the following free package http://www.sharpreader.net/.

For further information contact: Peter Duncan,
Cressall Resistors, Evington Valley Road, Leicester, LE5 5LZ
Telephone: +44 (0) 116 2733633
Fax: +44 (0) 116 2737911
e-mail: peter.duncan@cressall.com
www: www.cressall.com

For further information from De Montfort University contact: Simon Wragg,
Faculty of Computing Sciences and Engineering, The Gateway, Leicester, LE1 9BH
Telephone: 0116 250 6175
Fax: 0116 2577963
e-mail: swragg@dmu.ac.uk
www: www.dmu.ac.uk/cseplacement

Press enquiries: Richard Stone
Stone Junction, 24A Waldram Park Road,
Forest Hill, London, SE23 2PN
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
e-mail: richards@stonejunction.co.uk
www: www.stonejunction.co.uk

About Cressall Resistors: The world's foremost power resistor manufacturer, Cressall Resistors, offers an unrivalled combination of experience and the widest range of resistor technologies. On February 28, 2006 Cressall Resistors was acquired by Telema SpA of Italy through its British subsidiary TPR Resistors, bringing together Britain’s two largest resistor technology companies.

Ref: CRE015/07/06

Cressall shows load testing products at IP&EE

2006-11-01T10:28:00.000Z

~ “The show is a great chance to talk to customers,” explains the Cressall board ~

Cressall Resistors will display its range of load testing products at Independent Power & Energy Europe 2006, at the NEC in Birmingham on November 8-9. The three products on show at stand number D1 in the Pavilion will be the AC6 and AC100 portable load banks and a 5kW radiator mounted dummy load. These are representative of the company’s load testing range for on site power applications.

Simple and robust, the AC6 can be loaded up to 6kW in 333W switched steps of 333W, 666W, 3x1kW or 1x2kW, switched in any combination. It has built-in connection cables stowed within the load bank and at 12kg is light enough to be carried and used anywhere.

The 5kW radiator mounted load bank that will also be on show is for fixed installations and designed as a bolt-on addition to the set, requiring minimal space between the generator’s radiator and acoustic splitters. Because the load bank makes use of the radiator airflow for cooling, the basic design is simple, low-cost and adaptable to almost any engine. Most standard generating sets in the range of 50-1000kW have radiators with a free pressure loss of at least 125Pa. As a result, a load bank can be added without the need for modifications to the basic design or an increase in the rating or cost of the acoustic splitters.

“IP&EE is still the only UK exhibition dedicated to stand by power and co-generation and is extremely important to us,” explained Martin Nicholls, a director of Cressall. “Following Cressall's purchase by Telema SpA in February and the merging of Telema's British subsidiary TPR Resistors with Cressall in July we are keen to re-affirm our commitment to this important market sector. We trust we will see many of our customers at IP&EE.”

The final product on show at IP&EE is the AC100 portable load bank, suited to both testing on initial set up of generation plant and continual planned maintenance. It is also suitable for testing single phase power up to 33kW in 400W steps. The device is the largest load bank in Cressall’s standard range and can be loaded up to 100kW at 415V 3 phase, 50/60Hz. Thanks to manufacturing efficiencies it is available on extremely short lead times.

Ends: 401 words

Editor’s note: If you want to stay constantly up to date on the latest news from Cressall Resistors, paste the following link into your RSS reader, http://cressall-pr.blogspot.com/atom.xml. If you don’t have an RSS reader, I can recommend the following free package http://www.sharpreader.net/.

For further information contact: Peter Duncan,
Cressall Resistors, Evington Valley Road, Leicester, LE5 5LZ
Telephone: +44 (0) 116 2733633
Fax: +44 (0) 116 2737911
e-mail: peter.duncan@cressall.com
www: http://www.cressall.com/

Press enquiries: Richard Stone
Stone Junction, 24A Waldram Park Road,
Forest Hill, London, SE23 2PN
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
e-mail: richards@stonejunction.co.uk
www: http://www.stonejunction.co.uk/

About Cressall Resistors: The world's foremost power resistor manufacturer, Cressall Resistors, offers an unrivalled combination of experience and the widest range of resistor technologies. On February 28, 2006 Cressall Resistors was acquired by Telema SpA of Italy through its British subsidiary TPR Resistors, bringing together Britain’s two largest resistor technology companies.

Ref: CRE029/09/06

Cressall rende gli ascensori più affidabili con con la nuova gamma di resistori di frenatura presentati a LIFT 2006

2006-10-27T12:47:00.000Z

~ Nuovi modelli per ascensori più piccoli con alto ritorno di energia ~

Cressall Resistors sarà presente alla prossima fiera LIFT 2006 dall’ 8 al 11 Novembre presso i padiglioni della Fiera di Milano. La società inglese dividerà il proprio stand P09 nel Padiglione 7 con la società Memco, progettista e realizzatore sistemi di sicurezza per porte e telefoni di emergenza per ascensori. Cressall esporrà campioni presi dalla propria gamma di resistenze di frenatura ES a basso rumore. La gamma di questi prodotti è stata di recente ampliata con l’aggiunta di resistenze da 1,0kW e 2,0kW. Queste nuove misure completano la gamma esistente che include le versioni da 0,6 , 1,5 , 3,0 and 4,5kW con valori di resistenza da 3,9Ω a 330Ω. Le versioni da 1,0 e 2,0 kW sono spesso richieste per gli ascensori più piccoli dove c’è la necessità di far fronte agli alti livelli di energia di recupero in spazi molto compatti.

“L’industria degli ascensori offre un potenziale significativo” ha spiegato Martin Nicholls, un direttore di Cressall Resistors. “ Naturalmente questa è una buona cosa per noi. Comunque, è anche un mercato dove c’è un alto grado di standardizzazione unito ad alti volumi. Di conseguenza , quello degli ascensori è un settore dove siamo in grado di sviluppare un alto tasso di specializzazione unito a rapporti di fiducia con i nostri clienti.

La nostra serie di prodotti ES a basso livello di rumore, è particolarmente utile in applicazioni MRS ( “machine room less” ) dove i controlli sono sistemati nel perimetro del vano ascensore piuttosto che in una stanza separata.

Il resistore di frenatura non fa alcun rumore durante il funzionamento e questo è essenziale poiché il vano ascensore è in effetti una camera di risonanza che può amplificare il rumore e rendere sgradevole la corsa ai passeggeri.”

Come per il controllo motore sugli ascensori, la serie ES trova applicazioni sui nastri trasportatori, sulle gru , sui verricelli e per carichi di prova.

La scelta del metodo di connessione e degli accessori fa si che sia il costo di acquisto che quello di installazione abbiano potuto essere tenuti bassi. Ciascun valore di potenza continua è disponibile nelle versioni ES – S e ES – P. La gamma ES – S permette una connessione attraverso un terminal box ed ha una protezione termica opzionale, mentre la gamma ES – P ha connessioni interne con ingresso dalla parte inferiore della carpenteria ed ha una protezione termica opzionale.

Nota : Se si vuole tenersi costantemente aggiornati sulle ultime novità di Cressall Resistors, si applichi il seguente link al proprio lettore RSS ( http://cressall-pr.blogspot.com/atom.xml ). Se non si possiede un lettore RSS , raccomandiamo il seguente pacchetto gratuito http://www.sharpreader.net/ .

Per ulteriori informazioni si prega di contattare: Peter Duncan
Cressall Resistors, Evington Valley Road, Leicester, LE5 5LZ
Telefono: +44 (0) 1162491707
Fax: +44 (0) 116 2737911
e-mail: peter.duncan@cressall.com www: www.cressall.com

Per informazioni da parte della stampa rivolgersi a: Richard Stone
Stone Junction, 24A Waldram Park Road,Forest Hill, London, SE23 2PN
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
e-mail: richards@stonejunction.co.uk www: www.stonejunction.co.uk

Per informazioni su Memco da parte della stampa rivolgersi a: Belinda Whitehead Halma PR Services Ltd, The Castell Building, 217 Kingsbury Road, London NW9 9HP
Telefono: +44 (0) 20 8511 1822
Fax: +44 (0)20 8205 0055
e-mail: bwhitehead@halmapr.com www: http://www.halmapr.com/

Informazioni su Cressall Resistors: Tra I più famosi costruttori di resistenze del mondo, Cressall Resistors, offre una varità di esperienze senza rivali e la più vasta gamma di tecnologie costruttive. Nel Febbraio 2006 Cressall Resistors è stata acquistata dalla società italiana Telema SpA attraverso la sua sussidiaria TPR Resistors, mettendo insieme le due maggiori società di resistenze della Gran Bretagna.

Ref: CRE030/09/06

Portable load bank helps guarantee supply

2006-09-12T11:20:00.000Z

~ New Cressall load bank ideal for generator testing ~

Cressall Resistors has launched the AC100, a new portable load bank, ideal for testing three phase power up to 100kW in 1.25kW steps. It is also suitable for testing single phase power up to 33kVA in 400W steps. The new device is the largest load bank in Cressall’s standard range and, thanks to manufacturing efficiencies, is available on extremely short lead times.

The AC100 is suited to both testing on initial set up of generation plant and continual planned maintenance. Customers include contractors, facilities managers, financial institutions, telecoms and IT firms and other companies where the consistent supply of power is crucial.

Amongst the key advantages of the AC100 is its portability. Measuring just 1150 x 700mm and weighing 140kg, the load bank fits comfortably into the back of a small van and can be easily manoeuvred by a single person. The load bank is mounted on braked rubber castors and fitted with push bars at front and rear with a top mounted cable stowage tray. Another advantage is its rugged control system, featuring a voltmeter, ammeter and frequency meter, all controlled using durable pushbuttons.

Lower AC voltages can be applied, resulting in the maximum power being reduced accordingly. For example, 220V three phase power, at 50/60Hz, would result in 28kW in 350W steps while 110V single phase power, at 50/60Hz, would result in 7kW in 85W steps.

The AC100 uses metal sheathed wire elements manufactured from high-grade nickel/chrome resistance wire in magnesium oxide insulated stainless steel tubes and 600V primary insulation. It is cooled with a single 450mm fan powered from the test load itself or an external supply. The fan is mounted in the base of the load bank and blows vertically through mesh bird screens at the top and bottom. The enclosure in which it is housed is manufactured from sheet steel with an all-welded steel frame.

Options include a dual AC/DC model, which has all the capabilities of the standard version plus an additional rating of 0 - 190A (42kW) at 220V DC. Existing customers of the AC100 include Jersey’s Computer Protek Systems.

Ends: 352 words

Editor’s note: If you want to stay constantly up to date on the latest news from Cressall Resistors, paste the following link into your RSS reader, http://cressall-pr.blogspot.com/atom.xml. If you don’t have an RSS reader, I can recommend the following free package Sharp Reader.

For further information contact: Peter Duncan, Cressall Resistors, Evington Valley Road, Leicester, LE5 5LZ
Telephone: +44 (0) 1945 464696 Fax: +44 (0) 116 2737911
e-mail: peter.duncan@cressall.com www: www.cressall.com

Press enquiries: Richard Stone
Stone Junction, 24A Waldram Park Road,
Forest Hill, London, SE23 2PN
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743 Fax: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
e-mail: richards@stonejunction.co.uk www: www.stonejunction.co.uk

About Cressall Resistors: The world's foremost power resistor manufacturer, Cressall Resistors, offers an unrivalled combination of experience and the widest range of resistor technologies. In April 2006 Cressall Resistors was acquired by Telema SpA of Italy through its British subsidiary TPR Resistors, bringing together Britain’s two largest resistor technology companies.

Ref: CRE007/08/06

Shocking lack of trust in the electrical industry – open letter to the editor

2006-06-29T12:49:00.000Z

This letter was issued to the editors of selected electrical trade magazines:

Dear Sir,

As a director of an electrical firm I’m always shocked when our new customers simply don’t expect our trust. We make power resistors; when a company places its first order with us, we don’t ask for pre-payment. Instead we just say, “We’ll trust you this time”. The responses range from pleased to genuine surprise. It seems that in industry everyone has grown used to being regarded as a potential unpaid invoice.

The background in my own area of the electrical business is perhaps influential in this context. As the global electrical players have stripped down their offerings to their ‘core skills’ they have divested themselves of anything not ‘mainstream’ – and that includes power resistors. As a result there are only one or two specialists left in each country in Europe. With less choice, it has become more important for buyers to trust their chosen suppliers.

Furthermore, because power resistors are so fundamental a component most are now engineered for a particular job. For this reason our customers share a lot of confidential information with us and depend us to help them comply with an extensive list of regulations. Most importantly, they trust us to help them get their job done. In some ways, choosing a supplier of such essential items is a little like choosing lawyer, architect or accountant – a high level of confidence is essential. Indeed, this is true in many areas of industry. So why then do we, as suppliers, so rarely trust our customers?

Best regards,

Peter Duncan
Deputy managing director
Cressall Resistors
Evington Valley Road
Leicester
LE5 5LZ
Tel: 01945 464696

FAQs – Replacement resistors

2006-06-12T10:34:00.000Z

This article was produced exclusively for IEN (Industrial Equipment News):

Question: As a plant manager of several years standing, one problem I often encounter is replacing damaged power resistors. Often, the original supplier no longer exists in the UK market, or has a presence but doesn’t supply resistors any longer. I’ve had this problem on crane controls, as well as pumps, fans and compressors - what’s the solution?

Answer: Firstly, you’re right about the lack of suppliers in the UK. The power resistors market has consolidated over the years, as the global electrical players have stripped away non-core products. As a result, there are now far fewer active firms. However, if you type the right phrase, such as ‘slip ring starter’ or ‘crane controls’; into Google you should find a trustworthy partner.

Most of the replacement enquiries we get are for motor control resistors on cranes, especially overhead cranes in severe environments such as steel works. Older cranes almost invariably have cast iron, grid or folded strip resistors, probably from one of the many now-defunct British suppliers you mention such as Fawcett-Preston, Walshe, BTH, AEI, GEC and Allen West. However, as you point out, there is also a big problem with replacement starting resistors for large pumps, presses, conveyors and fans. For reasons of speed, simplicity and cost it is usually more economical to replace old resistors rather than to take out a whole drive system and replace it with squirrel cage motors and modern drives. However, because large inverter-driven electric motors are much more energy efficient at part load, there are sometimes running-cost savings to be made by moving to inverter systems. In contrast, if your application is safety-critical or infrequently started, such as a motor on a drainage pump, the proven reliability of a resistor-started wound-rotor motor is worth retaining. Of course, the replacement cost is normally lower than fitting a new system so it does no harm to your capital expenditure.It is worth stressing that a good resistor manufacturer will give you balanced advice. What we, as suppliers, lose on the motor control roundabout we usually win back on the braking resistor swings!

If you do opt for a replacement you should always send the original to the partner company you have entrusted with the job. They can then ensure that the replacement is completely correct. Beyond the obvious need to match Ohmic values, it can be equally important to ensure that the active mass, type of material used and the electrical creepages and clearances are all appropriate.

If you can’t supply the remains for any reason, we have been known to work from photographs and a description, or even just the rating plate details of the motors involved.Although it may not be possible to produce a carbon copy it is normally feasible to produce resistors that are functionally identical in terms of electrical and thermal performance and physical size. The resistor itself may be different but trust me; the laws of thermodynamics remain the same!

For example, we were recently supplied with the remains of the starter and speed control resistor for a DC drive system. We duplicated the size, mountings and terminal locations for the customer who had sent his motor to Lincolnshire Rewinds, a Lincoln based motor rewind specialist.Finally, many of the older designs, which use low-grade silicon steels or even cast iron, can be readily replicated in modern stainless steel coils, grids or strips. In another recent example we were sent an old ASEA starting resistor with cast iron grids for a 2.5MW motor. It was used for driving the wind-tunnel fans in a UK research facility. We replaced the failed section and the wind-tunnel was back in operation within days of the failure. To cater for breakdowns of this type a good power resistor firm will hold large stocks of materials and finished grids.

So, although your original supplier may not exist you don’t need to go back to the drawing board. Help is at hand and your application can be up and running again relatively quickly.

This month’s answer was supplied by Peter Duncan, deputy managing director of Cressall Resistors.

Ends: 685 words

Editor’s note: If you want to be constantly up to date on the latest news from Cressall Resistors, paste the following link into your RSS reader, http://cressall-pr.blogspot.com/atom.xml. If you don’t have an RSS reader, I can recommend the following free package Sharp Reader.

For further information contact: Peter Duncan or David Boughey,
Cressall Resistors, Evington Valley Road, Leicester, LE5 5LZ
Telephone: +44 (0) 1945 464696
Fax: +44 (0) 116 2737911
e-mail: peter.duncan@cressall.com or david.boughey@cressall.com
www: http://www.cressall.com/

Press enquiries: Richard Stone
Stone Junction, 24A Waldram Park Road,
Forest Hill, London, SE23 2PN
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
e-mail: richards@stonejunction.co.uk
www: http://www.stonejunction.co.uk/

Ref: CRE003 – HN/05/06

Braking the mould in lift control

2006-06-08T14:14:00.000Z

The Dynamic Brake Resistor (DBR) used in the control panel of a lift is a mission critical item - if not a glamorous one. Failure or inaccurate sizing would result in the lift not being able to stop in accordance with the rest of the control system. Although accidents of this kind are almost unheard of, it is essential for the panel builder to choose the right supplier. So, when Daventry-based Digital Lift Controls set about sourcing a partner, the decision to entrust the job to Cressall Resistors was not taken lightly.

Digital Lift Controls was established eight years ago by managing director Yan Phoenix and has since built up an enviable reputation among OEMs as the partner of choice for replacement lift control panels. The company both designs and manufactures control systems which are used in applications ranging from retail and healthcare to hotels and local authorities. End users of the company’s products, it ships nearly 700 panels a year, include Sainsbury’s, Boots and Marks & Spencer.

“We use Cressall’s Dynamic Braking Resistors in all of our panels,” explained Phoenix. “Although at first a DBR seems like a standard piece of equipment, there is quite a bit of work to be done for each application. We specify the operating parameters, its power and ohmic value, for each resistor according to its use and load. The factors we have to take into account include the speed and capacity of the lift and the regenerative energy produced by the motor. We use the energy per stop to determine the DBR’s peak power and the energy per stop plus the frequency to determine the DBR’s average power. We find that, typically, the slower the lift the more inefficient its operation is.”

When Digital Lift Controls receive an order, the firm first sends the details to the engineering team where the panel is designed and laid out. It is then kitted, fitted and wired before at least a 74 point safety check is conducted on the operation of the lift and the safety circuit is double checked. “Safety is absolutely our biggest concern every time,” Phoenix explained. “The DBRs are of course a big part of this. Without them the lift wouldn’t slow down in the time determined by the drive. It is absolutely critical that the system works every time and this reliability is what we provide, in conjunction with Cressall.”

After working with the customer on the specification, Digital Lift Controls passes on its requirements to Cressall where a DBR is designed and manufactured to meet them.

Before providing the right resistor for the speciation, Cressall first checks the energy per stop, the duty cycle and the ohmic value. The first two are normally considered as one variable - the power of the resistor. Cressall’s engineers then calculate the energy involved in each stop. This is the sum of the kinetic, rotational and potential energies, minus any frictional losses if these are significant, minus the electrical losses in the motor and/or inverter system. Because all the energy produced by the braking process is used in heating the resistor, Cressall needs to know the characteristics of the duty cycle before it can specify the right size for the DBR.

However, Phoenix claims that he doesn’t just work with Cressall for the company’s ability to specify accurately. Another reason is the company’s adaptability and willingness to be flexible in order to get the job done. “A good example of Cressall’s readiness to go the extra mile would be the size of the cable knock-outs on their enclosures,” he claims. “Hole sizes can be a real irritant for a panel builder but Cressall will punch them to the size we request. As a result, the DBRs come as a package that is easy to fit and integrate on to our enclosures. Because a resistor is a commodity product of sorts we are effectively buying an off the shelf item adapted to our specification.”

“It isn’t just the enclosures where they win out though. It might equally be that we need a different type of connector or something else as seemingly minor as that. However, it’s really useful to have a supplier able to help us meet these ‘small’ requirements every time. Our customers use us because we are flexible and we’ve made our equipment simple to use. I think Cressall reflect that philosophy as well,” continued Phoenix.

“Cressall’s range is quite wide, which in turn allows us to quote for a much wider range of applications. For instance, if the need is for a small but high power resistor for wall mounting or mounting in a very small enclosure we are now able to be extremely competitive,” Phoenix explained.

Digital Lift Controls claims that the replacement market for lift control panels is pretty buoyant, having been positively affected by a number of legislative changes over the last few years. For instance, the Disability Discrimination Act means that floor levelling in lifts now has to be much more accurate and as a result variable speed drives are now used much more often. It has also meant that the ‘car controls’ (the buttons you press to choose your floor) in the lift often need to be replaced. End users now demand more tactile buttons and a lot of companies have opted to lower the height of the car controls to make them easier to reach from a wheelchair. The cumulative effect has been more replacement lift panels and increased levels of business since the Act was introduced in October 2004.

Unusual applications have included wall climber lifts for the outside of buildings, which operate using a rack and pinion system. These lifts have their drive motor fitted on top of the car along with the brake and gearbox. The motor drives a pinion that, after engaging a toothed rack bolted to the lift mast, moves along the rack. This technology enables the lift car to climb up and down the mast at controlled speed. “These lifts produce much greater levels of energy, which the DBRs we use handle without any problem, thanks to the sizing work put in initially,” explained Phoenix.

“We definitively plan to continue buying from Cressall,” Phoenix concluded. “The customer service is good and they are always very responsive if we need something urgently. Occasionally, we will have to produce a panel at the last minute for a customer whose lift has broken down. This normally entails turning something around in 24 or 48 hours. Cressall will always make something in these conditions if they don’t have an item in stock. The result is that we never have to let our customers down. That kind of working relationship is the best you can ask for from a partner in your supply chain.”

Peter Duncan, deputy managing director of Cressall Resistors, said, “I’ve worked with Digital Lift Controls for a long time and during that period a bond of trust has developed between the two companies. As a result, it is a particularly satisfying application for us. I think the market that the company has found – replacing the mechanical controls in older lifts with digital controls – is one that looks sustainable for the foreseeable future.”

Ends: 1207 words

For further information contact: Peter Duncan,
Cressall Resistors, Evington Valley Road, Leicester, LE5 5LZ
Telephone: +44 (0) 1945 464696
Fax: +44 (0) 116 2737911
e-mail: peter.duncan@cressall.com
www: www.cressall.com

Press enquiries: Richard Stone
Stone Junction, 24A Waldram Park Road,
Forest Hill, London, SE23 2PN
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
e-mail: richards@stonejunction.co.uk
www: www.stonejunction.co.uk

Ref: UFM004

TPR Resistors buys Cressall

2006-04-24T13:50:00.001Z

~ Resultant firm set to dominate UK power resistors industry ~

TPR Resistors has bought Cressall Resistors Limited in a move that was finalised in early April. The resultant company will be the largest player in the UK industrial and power resistors markets. It will retain the Cressall name and be based at Cressall’s recently expanded facility in Leicester.

“Our expectation is that our customers will barely notice the transition,” remarked deputy managing director Peter Duncan. “There will be only positive effects in terms of service and product offering. This is important because many of TPR’s customers have migrated to the company from Cressall since TPR was founded in 1992. They will get the same service now that originally prompted them to work with us, as will those who remained loyal to the enduring Cressall brand. The only changes for both sets of customers are that there will be more people within the new organisation to help with enquiries and they will now be presented with a much wider range of technologies and design options than ever before.”

The last decade has seen the power resistor market move from being hardware dedicated to placing much more trust in design engineering. There has also been some significant rationalisation in the number of players operating in each country. TPR’s purchase of Cressall means that the resultant company has the engineering skills in house to compete on a global scale where necessary.

“The scarcest resource in UK engineering is experienced talent,” continued Duncan. “This move will pool the two company’s groups of skilled engineers, creating a much stronger R&D department. Furthermore, many of these people have worked together in the past and know and trust each other already. As a result, we expect the process to be seamless.”

Until the purchase, Cressall Resistors was owned by Halma Plc, an organisation made up of market leaders in specialist electronic, safety and environmental technologies. TPR Resistors is majority owned by the Italian Telema SpA. As a result, Cressall Resistors will now have access to the Telema SpA testing facilities, which are amongst the worlds most impressive.

Ends: 355 words

For further information contact: Peter Duncan,
Cressall Resistors, Evington Valley Road, Leicester, LE5 5LZ
Telephone: +44 (0) 1945 464696
Fax: +44 (0) 116 2737911
e-mail: peter.duncan@cressall.com
www: http://www.cressall.com/

Press enquiries: Richard Stone
Stone Junction, 24A Waldram Park Road,
Forest Hill, London, SE23 2PN
Telephone: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
Fax: +44 (0) 20 8699 7743
e-mail: richards@stonejunction.co.uk
www: http://www.stonejunction.co.uk/

Ref: CRE001

Welcome to Cressall Resistors Limited - PR material

2006-04-10T10:56:00.000Z

Welcome to Cressall Resistors Limited - PR material. From here you can copy and paste the text of any of Cressall's press releases. If you would like a high resolution copy of an image, simply e-mail richards@stonejunction.co.uk