Faced with potential disruption of its business from blackouts and brownouts at its Kent headquarters, Batt Cables turned to Scorpion Power Systems for the installation of standby generators to cover three key areas of its site
A leading UK cable supplier specialising in the distribution of electrical cables including, computer cable, power cable, network cable, electrical cable and accessories, Batt Cable's headquarters is situated on an 11.5-acre site in Erith, Kent. As the centre of operations for the company’s seven stocking locations and 12 UK and overseas sales offices, ensuring that its headquarters and ‘superhub’ could operate during a powercut became the prime focus of Brian Hill, Maintenance Manager.
An in-depth survey of the site by Scorpion Power Systems engineers showed that there were three key areas of the site that needed a power support system. Each of these facilities has now been equipped with an appropriately sized standby generator so that machinery, offices and IT departments are unaffected when power outages occur.
To start the project, Scorpion Power Systems installed a Scorpion Powerhouse DV358 three-phase generator and UPS system to support Batt Cable’s three-storey office block and ancillary buildings. As the building is situated close to the River Thames, Scorpion arranged for the generator to be sited on a raised floor in case of flooding. Now, when an outage occurs, it is recognised by the generator’s AMF, which steps in to provide an alternative power supply. With the UPS, there is no break in power and this top of-the-range generator ensures 'computer-grade' power at all times.
“Following the installation of this generator, we experienced two successive power cuts,” said Hill. “Thanks to the standby power system our employees did not even notice there had been a power outage."
Additional generators
With the head office work completed, Scorpion’s engineers turned their attention to the other two key facilities on the site. A Scorpion Powerhouse DV142 three-phase generator was installed into the main 9600sq.m warehouse to provide standby power to cable cutting machines, a 20-tonne overhead crane and all other electrics such as lighting and IT equipment. Finally, a small Scorpion Powerhouse DP22 single generator was installed to support the transport office and co-ordinates needed for computer ordering.
All three generators are equipped with a supersilent waterproof acoustic canopy, automatic mains failure and a water jacket heater to aid cold starting, plus a steel bund to retain any diesel spillage. The addition of Scorpion’s Remote Dial Out to monitored for power, temperature and other important environmental conditions, together with Powercare Premier annual maintenance contract, has ensured that the standby power system will always be ready to take over the load should an outage occur.
“Operating as a ‘superhub’ to our large sales operation, it is imperative that we can be assured of receiving high-quality powser in the event of brownouts or blackouts to protect against our mission-critical systems,” aid Hill. “The Scorpion generators are providing us, our stocking locations and sales offices with peace of mind knowing that when a power outage occurs it will not disrupt our business.”
