THE COMPANY
Panel Technique (Pty) Ltd is an electrical panel manufacturing company which has been registered in 1989.

Today we have a total staff complement of 45, ranging from semi-skilled labourers to qualified wiremen and sheet-metal workers and design technicians. We have full time design and Auto CAD facilities as well as two qualified SABS Assembly Assessors. We are registered with Metal Industries Bargaining Council as well as the National Industrial Council and members of the The Electrical Switchgear Association of South Africa (ESASA)

OUR STANDARDS

1)    Steel pre-paint treatment – Seven stage zinc-phosphate dipping tanks.

2)    Baked epoxy powder coating.

3)    Sondor type SBR closed-cell Butadiene rubber gasket fitted to all doors and covers.

4)    All labels are secured by means of screws (drilled & tapped).

5)    Documented quality control in place, similar to ISO9002 but not audited.

6)    Priority is given to “see through” flash barriers covering busbar terminations in our general design.


GENERAL CONSTRUCTION AND TESTING

We utilise a "bend and welded" construction method with flush doors/covers, generally using 2mm mild steel. We have the latest Euromac fully automated CNC sheet-metal punching machine and copper punching and bending machine, which ensures the highest accuracy and quality of workmanship at all times.

Panels are fabricated and constructed completely prior to going through a 7 stage zinc phosphate dipping process which ensures that all welded joints are treated.

It is a policy of Panel Technique when designing and assembling switchgear to pay particular attention to the safety of the end user, i.e. no live parts to be accessible without specifically defeating door interlocks or intentionally using a tool to remove cover plates. All the switchboards manufactured in our plant are fully compliant with the latest requirements of the South African Wiring Code,                 SANS 10142-1

In 1999 we had our panels successfully tested, utilizing Merlin Gerin “Prisma P” busbar supports, by S.A.B.S., test report number HC/84568/R27.

A three-phase short-time withstand current of 50 kA-3 s, with the first major half-cycle peak value of 105 kA was achieved.

Conductors from main busbars to the incoming side of circuit breakers are calculated in accordance with fault levels and equipment manufacturers international test approvals.

All control wiring ends will have crimped "bootlace" ferrules and colour coded to international colours for the control voltage used or to clients specific requirements.


OUR WORKS AND PEOPLE

Our factory is demarcated into three sections, namely the sheet metal fabrication, pre-treatment and powder coating, and electrical assembly and wiring. Checks and tests are carried out at various stages of manufacture with complete mechanical and electrical testing before leaving our premises. Our test equipment includes voltage testing up to 3000 volts and current testing up to 2000 amps.

We have a sheet-metal and electrical supervisor and a works manager on the floor at all times, each of whom has over 20 years experience in their field, as well as an electrical services manager who is a shareholder in Panel Technique (Pty) Ltd.

The above are general standards, however we do cater for individual requirements combined with our experience and expertise in this field.

DETAILS OF RECENT PROJECTS AND REFERENCES

•    AMJ Electrical Services Richards Bay – Mr Vic Partington

•    Ethekwini Water and Waste Services – Mr Mike Coward (CBI)

•    H Young & Co-Kenya / Bosch Projects – Mr Gary Barlow

•    Force Electrical – Newcastle – Mr Wayne Meikle-Braes

•    Intersite (Durban Railway Station – c/o Mr Chris Ramble of Ramble Malone

•    Ultimate Instrument Contractors - Mr Adolf Stecher, Mr Bruce Rudd

•    Illovo Sugar Limited – c/o Mr Johan Wessels of Khanyisa Africa

•    SAPREF – Prospection – Mr Deesan Govender

•    Richards Bay Coal Terminal – Mr Braam Breukelman / Mr Pat Poole

•    Techserve – Mr Alec Stuart

•    Sappi Fine Paper – Stanger – Mr Ravi Moodley

•    PG Bison (Piet Retief) – Mr Gert Bezuidenhout

•    MONDI Business Papers – Mr Dewald Pelser

•    Shepstone & Krause – Mr Eddie Krause

•    Clifford Welding Systems – Mr Lawrence Homan / Mr Neil Prowse

•    Software & Technical – Mr Tony Paverd

•    Wayne Giles Refrigeration – Mr Wayne Giles

•    RTS Designs – Mr Peter Allen

•    ARB Electrical Wholesalers Richards Bay – Mr Bruce Sloley

RECENT PROJECTS IN EXCESS OF R1Million

•    ICC Ethekwini – c/o Mr Chris Ramble of Ramble-Malone – R3,000,000-00

•    Rainbow Chickens Coffeeman Project – c/o Mr Peter Garrett EDM Consulting Engineers / Siviest – R 1,10,000-00

•    Mhlume Sugar Mill – Swaziland – Mr Charles Coleman – R 1,000,000-00

•    Foskor (Pty) Ltd – Richards Bay – c/o Schneider Electric – Mr Mark Marucchi –                              R 3,100,000-00


APPROVED VENDOR FOR:

•    Illovo Sugar Group

•    Toyota

•    Sappi

•    Tongaat Huletts

•    Mhlume Sugar – Swaziland

•    H Young & Company

•    Foscor

•    Richards Bay Coal Terminal