The Eldon Newsletter Talks with Andrew Wylie, Eldon UK’s Area 3 Sales Manager about Power and Distribution Enclosures
The Eldon Newsletter Talks with Andrew Wylie, Eldon UK’s Area 3 Sales Manager about Power and Distribution Enclosures
EN: Good Day, Andy. Glad you could join The Eldon Newsletter to share your knowledge about the ins and outs of Power Distribution. First off, what are some of the important issues customers face when selecting a power distribution solution?
AW: Happy to be here. There are five key criteria customers would do well to weigh up, when choosing a power distribution enclosure: cost, ease of installation, lead-time, flexibility, and certification.
However, before we get into the five specific things to look for when making a choice, there’s a more important consideration that anyone who is considering the purchase of a power distribution product should bear in mind — that being — how did that specific power distribution enclosure design arise in the first place. Did the manufacture seek out input from its panel builder and installer customers or is the manufacturer simply trying to get the market to buy whatever it has.
At Eldon, we’ve spoken with customers in five different national markets and taken the time to learn what they wanted in a  power distribution system. As an example, our customers in the UK were very interested in seeing increased separation and more internal screening to separate the bus bars from the functional units.
EN: I see. So Eldon’s interest is discovering and meeting the needs of the market rather than forcing the market to take what it has to offer. Outstanding. Now, what about those five factors…
AW: The first factor that probably springs to everyone’s mind is cost – and while actual enclosure price is certainly a component of a product’s total cost, it’s very important to note the relationship between overall enclosure cost and ease of installation.
For example, purchasing a power distribution system at a very low price sounds like a great deal. However, if the product is built in such a way that it will take a lot of expensive man-hours to install, it really ends up costing much more than an enclosure that was designed from the ground up to be easily installed.
EN: So one really has to look beyond list price when gauging a power distribution system’s total cost. What about lead times? What should customers look for there?
 AW: Good question. The amount of lead time necessary to get a power distribution system from a manufacturer is dependant on that manufacturer’s production choices. For instance, at Eldon, our distribution systems employ standard, catalogued parts like our very successful Multi-Flex frame and its standard accessories. This keeps lead times short. We can have a power distribution solution out the door in a very short time because no one has to design any special parts. Using cataloged as opposed to custom parts also, of course, helps to keep costs down. We also have local market designated assembly teams.
EN: Let’s talk about flexibility.
AW: Customers should look for a manufacturer that offers a broad range of both sizing and configuration options. At Eldon we offer enclosures in a broad array of dimensions and our configuration possibilities are nearly limitless.
EN: And the final factor is certification.
AW: Well, in some ways we saved the most important for last – because without having the proper certifications for the market in which the product is being installed, it can’t be installed at all. In the UK, Eldon is partnered with Termate Ltd, who provide us with a fully Asta certified, Diamond Marked busbar system. Countries on the continent generally require KEMA certification & testing. The facility to allow different Busbar manufacturers equipment is very important.
EN: Thanks, Andy. What should customers do to learn more about power distribution enclosures?
AW. By contacting their local Eldon sales office or Eldon distributor, customers and potential customers can get information on power distribution products and accessories.
About Andrew Wylie: Currently in his 18th year with Eldon, Andy’s career began at Eldon’s Rotherham production facility. In 1996, he moved to an inside sales position before being moved to a more technical role dealing with special application quotations and technical aspects of standard enclosures. In March of 2006, Andy was promoted to Area 3 Sales Manager. So those of you in Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, South Yorkshire and, Leicestershire, can expect to see Andy utilizing his technical background to provide solid enclosure and power distribution sales solutions. Folks outside of Andy’s area can click here to determine the identity of their Eldon salesperson. |