In February 2023, Cyclone Gabrielle devastated New Zealand’s Hawke’s Bay region, leaving Pan Pac Forest Products’ Whirinaki site submerged under floodwaters as deep as 2 meters (6 and a half feet). In response to this damage, AuCom designed and installed the 11kV site distribution network that needed replacing. The new panels were engineered to improve personnel safety and minimize damage to personnel by introducing fully type tested switchboards. This includes arc flash detection, remote controlled racking of VCBs, bus earthing, output earthing, surge arrestor, Lockout Tagout system and smart digitally connected relays.
Before:
- Vertical racked VCB
- No bus earth
- No IAC certification
- Unsafe CB operation
After:
- Safe operation
- LOTO
- Fully type tested
- Bus Earth
- IAC Tested A FLR
- Remote Rackable Operation