For several years, Ensto Utility Networks has invested in a research laboratory. The goal was to ensure the high quality of the products and continuous development of their own product development work. New international standards require extensive type testing which Ensto is prepared to carry out in their own premises.
Ensto develops and tests its network building products in world-class laboratory
For several years, Ensto Utility Networks has invested in its research laboratory. The goal was to ensure the high quality of products and continuous development of their own product development work. New international standards require extensive type testing which Ensto is prepared to carry out in their own premises. Another task of the laboratory is the quality assurance of completed products.
Janne Lappalainen arrives at the interview carrying a 62-page test report. "This is a typical pile of papers when we carry out type testing for products." The result of testing one product family is easily about 150 test reports. The standards call for extensive testing and customers know to demand for the test reports. They want to ensure that they invest in high-quality network building products to secure quality electricity distribution to their own customers.
Lappalainen leads the laboratory of the Ensto Utility Network business unit created for testing and developing products needed in network building. The laboratory belongs amongst the top units, even from a global standpoint. More than one test set is run in the laboratory every day of the year.
Upgraded to international level through big investments
Ensto has invested in the laboratory for several years. The newest investments strengthen the research and development of underground cable accessories, in particular. Tests, run in the immediate vicinity of the product development unit, boost the product development work. "We are able to respond quickly to customers' wishes and possible reclamations. We can also test products according to customers’ own requirements." states Lappalainen.
"We have renewed all the most essential testing equipment, and will supplement it as needed. The equipment is designed and built for our specific needs. Moreover, we have increased human resources all the time - we now have four full-time laboratory engineers.”
A tour in the laboratory clarifies the extent of the investments. Lappalainen starts by introducing an updated connector aging test program and renewed test benches. In one of the new rooms, there are plastic material testing devices for testing heat shrinks. “Ovens, tensile test machine, dielectric strength device, and volume resistivity equipment, a durometer and devices for measuring density. In May we received two last shipments of equipment for defining chemical composition," lists Lappalainen.
"The new equipment for defining chemical composition reports about the production materials down to the elements. We can monitor the quality of our own and our trading products quite carefully. For example, the material combination of connectors can have a major impact on quality. Only a studied, correct combination guarantees the mechanical strength of a connector and its ability to endure extreme climatic changes.
In the hot work room, installations of extensions and terminals can be made to develop and test new solutions. Furthermore, the room is used for customer training
We go past the tensile test machine and the climate chamber, and our tour ends in the high voltage testing area with a new 100 kV voltage test transformer and partial discharge measurement devices. "These pieces of equipment play a very important role in the testing of underground cable products. Partial discharges can occur if there are voids in the insulation material. Too high partial discharges will destroy insulation in the long run. The new equipment helps us in developing new and better solutions and in monitoring the quality of the material.”
Type testing in compliance with standards
The new international standards for overhead lines and their accessories are taken into use this year. "We have been preparing for this for a long time, and have type tested our products in accordance with the new standards," states Lappalainen.
A year is a short time when talking about the complete type testing of one product. Many tests take time, despite the fact that the products are exposed to strain and aging situations considerably more efficiently in the laboratory than in natural conditions.
The type testing of medium voltage waterproof overhead line accessories and low voltage SLIW 50 product range have been the main projects at the laboratory. “In addition, we have tested and developed existing products to comply with the new standards. An external inspection and certification company, SGS Fimko, inspects and certifies our products to comply with the new standards," tells Lappalainen.
Laboratory's significance internationally
Mikael Nordman, Managing Director at Netcontrol Oy, starts the interview by having a cup of coffee to get into the right mood. Nordman used to be responsible for the product development and product management of the Ensto Utility Networks business area. As a PhD in technology, Nordman has always appreciated development.
"In five years, a big change was made in Ensto in regards to our laboratory. The organization and management wanted to do good work. It was interesting to see that the Ensto laboratory was known in the industry and by the competition and we received a lot of positive feedback”.
Ensto invested in new equipment, for example, the benches used in aging test represent the latest technology in the industry. "A lot of investments were made and the results speak for themselves. I had an opportunity to visit corresponding laboratories in, for instance, Germany and France. I can state that Ensto has a world-class laboratory. Moreover, one must not forget the significance of competent personnel. Professionals of the industry have been recruited to the laboratory,” Nordman states firmly.
The laboratory is of invaluable help in product development but good testing and development facilities also create true credibility in the industry. For example, the representatives of a major European electricity company appreciated the high-quality laboratory facilities so much that they wanted to develop solutions in co-operation with Ensto. “Know-how speaks for itself," says Nordman and sips his coffee.
Further information: Janne Lappalainen, Laboratory Manager, Tel. +358 204 76 2287
Text: Marja Bruun