Blog

Alroc Cable Jointers Tool Kits – WPD Western Power Distribution Approved

July 5th, 2018

Alroc Cable Jointers Tool Kits – WPD

uploaded by Chris Dodds - Thorne & Derrick Sales & Marketing Manager

Alroc working with the Cable Policy Engineer at UK DNO Western Power Distribution have produced a customised cable jointers tool kit to enable the preparation of their medium/high voltage 33kV EPR type insulated power cables.

The Jointers Tools Kits are now standard issue to all WPD Apprentices upon completion of MV-HV jointer training.

The WPD Cable Jointers Tool Kit includes: Western Distribution Power

The cable jointing tools are supplied in a carry case with foam insert and additional space for tape measure, torque wrench, rasp file, shears and jointers depth knives (0.4mm and 0.6mm) – these items are available for separate purchase from Thorne & Derrick.

Alroc Tools – Cable Jointing Tools (MV HV)

Alroc Tools are used and recommended by PFISTERER for MV HV cable preparation of cables prior to installation of their market-leading CONNEX plug terminations for connection to gas insulated switchgear and substations.

Thorne & Derrick

T&D are Specialist Distributors to UK Distribution Network Operators (DNO’s), NERS Registered Service Providers, ICP’s and HV Jointing Contractors of an extensive range of LV, MV & HV Jointing, Earthing, Substation & Electrical Eqpt – this includes 11kV/33kV/66kV cable joints, terminations and connectors for both DNO and private network applications.

Contact our UK Power Team for competitive quotations, fast delivery from stock and technical support or training on all LV-HV products.

Thorne & Derrick International

Nexans Power Accessories Achieve Success With Thorne & Derrick

July 4th, 2018

Nexans Medium Voltage Cable Accessories

Press Release: Chris Dodds – Sales & Marketing Manager Thorne & Derrick

Date: 4th July 2018

Big smiles all round for Thorne & Derrick International the UK Distributor for Nexans Power Accessories – all 2018 Nexans half year Sales Targets & KPI’s have been achieved.

With a very strong confirmed order book and several major project kick-offs pipelined we confidently expect a sustained success in the second half of 2018.

Thorne & Derrick signed an International Distribution Agreement with Nexans Power Accessories in January with clear sales results objectives and a shared “winning” business plan.

We have several exciting News Announcements to break soon about further extending our services and support to the Medium & High Voltage Electrical Contractor market in the UK in conjunction with Nexans Power Accessories – stay tuned by following us on LinkedIn.

Working with Nexans, Thorne & Derrick have been visiting and presenting the complete product range of Nexans products to contractors including their market-leading Euromold brand of separable connectors.

The Thorne & Derrick UK Power Team experienced a record intake of new business in 2017 and with record onboarding of new customers and new account openings the stage was set perfectly for 2018. This week the UK Power Team has been strengthened by the addition of Phil Bearpark who accepts responsibility to further develop T&D’s business share with the NERS accredited Independent Connection Provider (ICP’s).

The UK Power Team look forward to meeting and talking to more ICP’s and NERS accredited contractors in Q3/Q4.

Contact us to discuss your MV HV Jointing, Termination & Connector requirements – cold applied, heat shrink and EPDM rubber stocked in the UK up to 33kV, including Triplex.

Better still, call us today and see how we can help save you money without comprising quality.

Pictured left to right: Chris Dodds (Sales & Marketing Manager T&D), Martin Wigham (UK Power Team Sales Engineer), Josh Doust (Business Development Manager Nexans) and Jonny Hewitt (UK Power Team Sales Engineer).

Nexans

Joints | Terminations | Connectors | 11kV 33kV MV HV

Thorne & Derrick

T&D are Specialist Distributors to UK Distribution Network Operators (DNO’s), NERS Registered Service Providers, ICP’s and HV Jointing Contractors of an extensive range of LV, MV & HV Jointing, Earthing, Substation & Electrical Eqpt – this includes 11kV/33kV/66kV joints, terminations and connectors for both DNO and private network applications.

Contact our UK Power Team for competitive quotations, fast delivery from stock and technical support or training on all LV-HV products.

➡ Read: Thorne & Derrick Announce Distribution Agreement & Contract With Nexans

Thorne & Derrick International

Thorne & Derrick UK Power Team Welcome Phil Bearpark

July 4th, 2018

Press Release: Chris Dodds – Sales & Marketing Manager Thorne & Derrick

Date: 3rd July 2018

Today at Thorne & Derrick HQ we welcomed Phil Bearpark to the UK Power Team with direct and proactive responsibility for developing and maintaining new account business in the ICP and NERS sector – with Phil’s new role we can look forward to further developing yet more new business working with our key suppliers following an impressive first half sales results for 2018.

This internal promotion for Phil Bearpark provides an excellent opportunity for career development and will further bolster the UK Power Team with further focus on servicing and supplying the LV, MV & HV Jointing, Earthing, Substation & Electrical Eqpt requirements of the utility and contractor markets.

Phil will be fully supported by the Thorne & Derrick Team and undergo technical training with our key suppliers – following our recent visit to PFISTERER there will be a planned and structured ongoing training programme for Phil to attain those skills and the knowledge level to effectively develop new business for Thorne & Derrick.

“Phil joins the UK Power Team having ‘cut-his-teeth’ in the difficult Export sales market. He has demonstrated a willingness to learn with a positive and proactive attitude and clear focus on providing excellent customer service, a rare thing in someone so young. A team player, listener and fast learner. I look forward to watching him grow further with T&D in the UK specialist LV-HV Cable Accessories market,” comments Ben Riley, Thorne & Derrick Director .

Pictured left to right: Chris Dodds (Sales & Marketing Manager), Phil Bearpark (Sales Engineer UK) and Gary Amos (Sales Engineer UK).

Thorne & Derrick

T&D are Specialist Distributors to UK Distribution Network Operators (DNO’s), NERS Registered Service Providers, ICP’s and HV Jointing Contractors of an extensive range of LV, MV & HV Jointing, Earthing, Substation & Electrical Eqpt – this includes 11kV/33kV/66kV joints, terminations and connectors for both DNO and private network applications.

Contact our UK Power Team for competitive quotations, fast delivery from stock and technical support or training on all LV-HV products.

➡ Read: Thorne & Derrick Announce Distribution Agreement & Contract With Nexans

➡ News: Nexans Power Accessories Achieve Success With Thorne & Derrick

Thorne & Derrick International

PFISTERER CONNEX Training & Visit For Thorne & Derrick

July 4th, 2018

Press Release: Chris Dodds – Sales & Marketing Manager Thorne & Derrick

Date: 28th June 2018

This week Thorne & Derrick, the UK specialist distributor for the PFISTERER CONNEX range of Medium & High Voltage Cable Accessories, visited their UK headquarters and training centre for technical training on theCONNEX 33kV inner cone cable plug-in termination system. This system predominantly used to terminate and connect polymeric type insulated cables into gas insulated switchgear and substations is the world-market leading type and specified by global utilities for the terminations of cables up to 400kV.

Electrical Safety

Special thanks go to James Roberts (PFISTERER Area Sales Manager) for setting the agenda and showcasing PFISTERER fully to the Thorne & Derrick team – this included an informative and concise overview of the PFISTERER range of Electrical Safety Equipment MV HV.

Sicon

Additionally, the new generation of PFISTERER SICON mechanical shearbolt connectors were introduced – these connectors provide exceptional contact and conductivity at each voltage level including LV MV HV up to 72kV for use with Cold Shrink and heat shrink joints and terminations.

The PFISTERER SICON connectors feature lower thread friction, lower shear-off torque for faster jointing of cables coupled with new smoother profile design – the cable barrel features an extended area on the cable lug barrel for advanced water sealing in outdoor cable terminations at medium/high voltages.

Pfisterer Sicon

The Thorne & Derrick team benefited from watching and learning from Jon Reed (PFISTERER HV High Voltage Trainer) – the rising star of HV Jointer Training with an amazing skill-set, Jon demonstrated mastery of “the semicon-screen cut“, the cable chamfer and overall cable preparation perfection when installing CONNEX connectors.

Jon rocked with excellent ALROC tool techniques – “walking and talking” us through the installation process from sheath removal to plugging-in. Jon manages and provides the lead on completing PFISTERER Training Courses for jointing contractors needing manufacturer issued Competency Certification when working on the termination of high voltage cables, both onshore and offshore, using PFISTERER CONNEX products.

Jon Reed (HV Trainer) overseeing and teaching T&D Sales Engineer Jonny Hewitt to use ALROC tools to strip bonded screen 33kV at PFISTERER UK HQ. More info: Alroc CWB18-60.

Thorne & Derrick very much look forward to further developing our mutual business interests with the PFISTERER Team and those contractors in the UK utility and ICP contractor sectors – from stock we offer PFISTERER CONNEX, SICON and associated MV/HV cable accessories and installation equipment including dummy plugs.

Pictured left to right: James Roberts, Jonny Hewitt (T&D), Phil Bearpark (T&D), Jon Reed, Martin Wigham, Chris Dodds and Gary Amos (all T&D).

PFISTERER CONNEX Stockists & Distributors

Thorne & Derrick

T&D are Specialist Distributors to UK Distribution Network Operators (DNO’s), NERS Registered Service Providers, ICP’s and HV Jointing Contractors of an extensive range of LV, MV & HV Jointing, Earthing, Substation & Electrical Eqpt – this includes 11kV/33kV/66kV joints, terminations and connectors for both DNO and private network applications.

Cable Jointing & Pulling Equipment

Contact our UK Power Team for competitive quotations, fast delivery from stock and technical support or training on all LV-HV products.

Thorne & Derrick International

Taking Care Of Insulating Gloves

June 27th, 2018

Taking Care Of Insulating Gloves

uploaded by Chris Dodds - Thorne & Derrick Sales & Marketing Manager

As Main UK Stockists for the CATU Electrical range of insulating gloves Thorne & Derrick regularly are requested to provide care and maintenance advice to ensure gloves provide adequate and ongoing electrical safety and protection to the wearer.

For insulating gloves to function effectively and in accordance with their specification they must be carefully and regularly cleaned, checked and tested – if damaged always replace. If uncertain always replace.

The insulating gloves will fail to provide hand protection against electrical shock if the surface integrity has been comprised by “wear and tear”.

Clean

Keep gloves clean. Similar to arc flash clothing, the cleaner the owner keeps their pairs of rubber insulating gloves the less risk of electric shock. Chemicals, oils, and other petroleum-based products can cause rubber to weaken and break down, so if the gloves become contaminated on the job, wash them off with tap water and a mild, bleach-free detergent to cleanse and remove debris and contaminants. Gently dry gloves with a clean cloth.

Check

Check for embedded materials. Due to the thickness of the insulating glove material the glove surface can be damaged by small, sharp particles of foreign material, such as copper cable particles, to work their way into the gloves and go undetected. Even though the embedded debris may not be obvious or penetrate entirely through the wall of the glove it still creates small holes and weak points that can compromise the wearers electrical safety. Before each wearing roll the gloves between your hands to feel for embedded particles. If any are found ensure the insulating gloves are electrically tested to verify their status for safe use or disposal.

Test

Air test them before every wear. Even minuscule pinholes in electrical gloves can be dangerous, so it’s extremely important to air test gloves before wearing them – each and every time. To air test the gloves simply hold the gauntlet (sleeve) end of it closed trapping air inside. Then tightly roll the closed end of the glove downward toward the fingers. If no air leaks out, the glove is free from holes. Have gloves electrically tested twice a year. Insulating gloves need to be electrically tested at least every six months to ensure that they’re still able to protect against low, medium or high voltages. Follow the stamped dates on the gloves closely. If you end up not using a pair of gloves within a year following their electrical test have the gloves retested before putting them back into use.

Store

Store gloves properly. Heat, UV rays and pressure from other objects can all cause damage to gloves – so store them carefully when they’re not in use. Before putting them away, ensure that the gloves are clean and dry. Rubber insulating gloves are best stored in cool, dark places, away from chemicals and heat sources. If you store gloves in a bag or container with other items you must ensure that nothing is piled on top of the gloves, or otherwise pushing them out of shape.

Insulating Gloves – Class & Category

Should you require any further advice about the care, maintenance or selection of insulating gloves please do not hesitate to contact us.

Insulating Gloves Class	CATU Electrical Code	Category	Thickness	Length	Colour	AC	kV	DC
Class 00	CATU CG-05	AZC	0.5mm	360mm	Beige	≤ 500V	0.5kV	750V
Class 0	CATU CG-10	AZC	1mm	360mm	Beige	≤ 1000V	1kV	1500V
Class 1	CATU CG-1	RC	1.5mm	360mm	Bi-Colour	≤ 7500V	7.5kV	11,250V
Class 2	CATU CG-2	RC	2.3mm	360mm	Bi-Colour	≤ 17000V	17.5kV	25,500V
Class 3	CATU CG-3	RC	2.9mm	360mm	Bi-Colour	≤ 26500V	26.5kV	39,750V
Class 4	CATU CG-4	RC	3.6mm	410mm	Bi-Colour	≤ 36000V	36kV	54,000V