DBs, SWITCHES, SOCKETS & PROTECTION
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ABB and Compu-Power’s high- efficiency UPS innovation
marketing manager at Compu- Power. “We do not simply sell products; we deliver solutions tailored to customer needs. From large-scale data centres to retail outlets, our collaboration with ABB enables us to provide a full complement of reliable, energy-efficient power systems. Events like X-Change allow us to demonstrate that we are more than a box mover. We are solution architects who understand the customer’s operational pain points,” said de Clerk. Ryan Chetty, business unit manager at Compu-Power, added: “We aim to bring ABB’s UPS expertise to our extensive African footprint. From our head office in Johannesburg, we support customers across the SADC region, East Africa and West Africa, reaching markets such as Botswana, Kenya, Nigeria, and Ghana. With over two decades of experience, we design resilient power backup systems that keep critical infrastructure running. X-Change gives us the perfect platform to engage directly with industry leaders and decision-makers.”
Ryan Chetty, business unit manager at Compu-Power
partnership,” highlighted Ivor Becks, UPS sales specialist at ABB. “ABB’s acquisition of the original Swiss UPS manufacturer that formed the basis of this collaboration laid the foundation for the strong synergy we have today. Together, we offer complete end-to-end solutions, from power protection to data monitoring, that meet the complex needs of data- driven industries.” The event provided an ideal platform for ABB and Compu- Power to demonstrate how integrated power solutions can enhance operational efficiency and resilience in various sectors, including IT infrastructure and retail. A subsidiary of iOCO Ltd., Compu-Power is a Level 1 B-BBEE- certified company with more than 4,600 employees and partnerships with over 90 OEMs, including ABB as its exclusive UPS partner. “We are proud to represent ABB’s world-class UPS technology,” explained Nicky de Clerk, business development and
ABB participated in the 31st annual IS³ X-Change 2025 event, held in Cape Town in October, alongside its long-standing channel partner, Compu-Power. The two companies highlighted their collaborative approach to high-efficiency Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) solutions for data centres and AI applications; technologies that are fast becoming the backbone of Africa’s digital future. ABB’s Mehdi Rajehi, sales service and project execution leader – Power Protection, MEA, was scheduled to deliver a presentation entitled ‘LV/MV High-Efficiency UPS Solution for Data Centres & AI Applications’. The session explored ABB’s latest advancements in UPS design and energy efficiency, including its unique single-conversion medium-voltage UPS system, the only one of its kind currently on the market. “Our relationship with Compu- Power stretches back many years and has evolved into a powerful
‘technical debt’, those legacy systems that hold back innovation. With support from global leaders like ABB, we are showcasing how digital transformation and power resilience can go hand-in-hand to drive productivity, efficiency, and cost savings.” Becks concluded: “ABB and Compu-Power share a vision of reliability, sustainability and partnership. Events like X-Change strengthen that connection and reaffirm our joint commitment to powering Africa’s data-driven future.”
Hosted annually by IS³ (Industrial Software Solutions), X-Change is Africa’s leading industrial software and innovation event. Now in its 31st year, the conference brought together senior professionals from across sectors. This year’s edition debuted a fresh format in Cape Town, with interactive sessions, live technology showcases, and in-depth discussions on digital transformation, AI, and sustainable automation. Sade Eaton, representing the iOCO Ltd. marketing team and event co-organiser, commented: “X-Change 2025 is about helping African industries overcome
Enquiries: www.abb.com
Power Process Systems showcases local innovation driving South Africa’s energy future A s South Africa’s energy landscape evolves, one local company is proving that home-grown innovation can first solution in anti-vandal, intelligent infrastructure protection.
lead the way. Power Process Systems (PPS), a South African original equipment manufacturer (OEM) established in 1993, has become a national benchmark for infrastructure protection, developing electrical enclosure solutions that keep the lights on, safeguard infrastructure, and strengthen revenue collection for utilities. With over 30 years of continuous innovation, PPS has built a reputation for transforming everyday engineering challenges into globally recognised solutions. Its facilities, located in Johannesburg and Cape Town, serve as a hub of local ingenuity, combining design, precision manufacturing, and advanced material engineering to produce robust, secure, and intelligent enclosures that meet the complex needs of municipalities and utilities. Innovation born from necessity The PPS story began amid a safety crisis in Alexandra, Johannesburg, when Eskom faced widespread risks from unsafe street- level kiosks. Replacing them entirely was financially unfeasible, so PPS was tasked with finding a creative, cost-effective alternative. “We were approached to offer a solution and developed a shroud which could be placed over the entire kiosk and locked to the existing structure. Eskom then used these to cover all unsafe street boxes,” explains Nhlanhla Zondo, director at PPS. That practical innovation laid the foundation for what would later evolve into PPS’s flagship product, the smart I-Kiosk, a fully fitted meter and distribution kiosk that has since become a world-
Evolving alongside South Africa’s utilities From its early fibreglass enclosures to today’s advanced steel and composite solutions, PPS has consistently aligned its products with the needs of the industry. “As the industry matured, we recognised the need to produce safer, stronger, and more cost-effective products. We have adapted accordingly, while never compromising on quality,” says Zondo. The company’s defining moment came with the rise of electricity theft and vandalism, a growing national concern. “This culture has not only had crippling effects on revenue collection and protection, but it has also driven vandalism and theft of infrastructure and bred an environment of corruption and collusion within some municipal structures,” notes Zondo. In response, PPS developed the I-Kiosk, an intelligent, anti-vandal meter and distribution kiosk that integrates structural protection with real-time data and access control. It offers a physical and structural anti-vandal design with coordinated information integration. It allows for the environment and access control of the I-Kiosk and its surrounds to be managed and monitored, and staff to be audited. “This innovation has transformed how utilities safeguard their assets,” highlights Zondo. Local manufacturing, national impact Today, PPS solutions are embedded in municipalities, utilities, and public entities across South Africa and beyond. Its product range, including pole boxes for overhead
reticulation and slam-lock kiosk designs, is redefining how infrastructure safety and operational efficiency are approached. Every PPS product is manufactured locally, using South African materials and labour. “Being at the forefront of innovative technology manufacturing means that PPS is playing a key role in enhancing key technical skills development and capacity building,” says Zondo. The company’s workforce of nearly 200 direct employees and over 300 indirect employees plays a meaningful role in addressing unemployment and inequality through skills development and youth empowerment. “We see ourselves not just as a manufacturer, but as a driver of technical skills and local capacity-building, particularly among youth,” says Zondo. Engineering the future of energy With the energy sector in transition, PPS is positioning itself for the next phase of growth. The company is actively exploring diversification in areas such as renewables, decentralised energy generation, and advanced metering infrastructure. “The electricity distribution industry is undergoing profound change,” notes Zondo. “We are excited about the opportunities ahead for new technologies, new markets, and new partnerships.” Even as it expands
its horizons, PPS remains grounded in the values that have sustained it for more than three decades, namely innovation, quality, empowerment, and a deep commitment to South Africa’s development.
Enquiries: www.ppspower.co.za
SPARKS ELECTRICAL NEWS
DECEMBER 2025
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