Product category:
Cabling, Conduit, Accessories and Signal Conditioning
News Release from: i.Power Solutions
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 15 August 2002
Alliance brings switchgear to Australian
market
i.Power Solutions is increasing its presence in the world mining market with the formation of a strategic alliance with UK flameproof switchgear manufacturer Baldwin and Francis.
i.Power Solutions is increasing its presence in the world mining market with the formation of a strategic alliance with UK flameproof switchgear manufacturer Baldwin and Francis The agreement was formalised at the Queensland Mining and Engineering show (QME2002) in Mackay
Based in Sheffield, UK, Baldwin and Francis is an internationally renowned electrical engineering company.
Baldwin and Francis' range of industrial, flameproof and intrinsically safe products are predominant in the heavy industrial, process and mining markets throughout the globe and are supported by an extensive agency and distributor network with agents in Africa, China, India, The Middle East, Europe, Russia, Mexico, North America and Canada.
The collaboration gives i.Power Solutions' customers direct access to Baldwin and Francis' entire range of flameproof and intrinsically safe products and increases the market presence of both companies in the region.
Under the agreement, i.Power Solutions will bring to the Australian market internationally certified flameproof equipment for use on longwalls and other underground coal mining projects and will become the only company in South East Asia to exclusively distribute Baldwin and Francis' expansive range of flameproof and non-flameproof switchgear and motor control systems including mine power centres, multimotor control load centres, individual motor starters, CHP longwall controllers and the BMAC intrinsically safe PLC system.
According to Tim Haight, i.Power Solutions' Director of Marketing, the alliance combines Baldwin and Francis' global expertise in flameproof and intrinsically safe products with i.Power Solutions' local expertise to provide Australian mines with cutting edge solutions.
"We can now offer underground mines a broader package of equipment and leverage into hazardous area mines.
The combined expertise in complementary technologies will now enable i.Power Solutions to provide a solution for virtually any mining environment.
The agreement will enhance the levels of competition in the Australia market with consequent benefits flowing on to our customers", Haight said.
With Australia continuing to be one of the world's biggest underground equipment markets, the deal will allow Baldwin and Francis to grow its customer base and extend its reach into an emerging market.
Dave Dowell, Baldwin and Francis' Marketing Manager added: "As part of the relationship, Baldwin and Francis will be providing full-time support to i.Power Solutions in Australia to enable the company to increase its capability in the flameproof market place with immediate effect.
"Over the past few years, Baldwin and Francis had focused on becoming a key technology provider to the coal mining industry rather than just a product supplier.
The synergy between the companies could not be ignored.
The relationship would allow Baldwin and Francis' position to be considerably strengthened in the Australian market place utilising i.Power Solutions' broad range of engineering skills and field service capabilities together with their turnkey project and IT product solutions", Dowell said.
The agreement strengthens i.Power Solutions' flameproof offerings.
The announcement coincides with the recent opening of i.Power Solutions' new Mackay overhaul workshop.
The regional workshop will enable i.Power Solutions to provide repair facilities for flameproof and nonflameproof mining equipment, in addition to general switchboard repairs.
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