32 | Switchbuild REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Keeping systems running Switchbuild typically designs and manufactures the switchboards and control systems, while electrical contractors handle site installation and cabling. THE BEST CONNECTION ELECTRICAL • data • TELECOMMUNICATIONS • security Phone (03) 477-2795 | www.oec.co.nz OEC (2017) Ltd - Trading As: Otago Electrical & Communications Pleased to be associated with Switchbuild Aotea Electric Southern - your Local Electrical Team TansleyElectrical “Trusted for over 65 years” www.tansleyelectrical.co.nz • Residential & Commercial Electrical • Fire Protection & IQP Compliance Proud to support Switchbuild T T from page 30 site installation and cabling. This allows the company to focus on the specialised engineering and manufacturing aspects of projects. “A contractor might be wiring up a treatment plant or an industrial facility, and we’ll supply the switchboards and the automation systems that control the process. It’s a very collaborative environment with contractors and consultants across the country.” Recent projects illustrate the diversity of the company’s work. Switchbuild has contributed to infrastructure upgrades including the Lake Dunstan water supply scheme in Central Otago. The project involved switchboard design, automation programming and telemetry systems supporting a new bore field and water treatment facility. The business has also undertaken work for organisations such as Pan Pac Forest Products and Contact Energy, as well as delivering projects for councils throughout New Zealand. For Michael, one of the most satisfying aspects of the business has been watching staff develop their skills during long careers in the industry. The company employs electricians, automation engineers, draughtspersons, apprentices, and ITOT (information technology/operational technology) specialists, with many employees building long-term careers within the organisation. “We’ve always put a big focus on training and bringing people through the business. “You see apprentices come in straight from school and over time they become highly skilled tradespeople or engineers. Watching that development is hugely satisfying.” New Zealand’s industrial base also provides varied opportunities for people working in the electrical and automation sector. “The experience people get here is really quite diverse. They might work on water infrastructure, industrial plants, energy projects, or manufacturing systems, so they develop a wide range of practical skills.” That diversity has helped Switchbuild maintain a steady pipeline of work as infrastructure investment continues nationwide. After 50 years in operation, the company’s focus remains on combining technical capability with practical engineering experience. “There’s a huge amount of skill within the team here. When you look at what people can design, build, and commission, it’s pretty impressive.” Switchbuild’s automation capability operates through Core Automation, a specialist division focusing on turnkey solutions, programming, control systems, and industrial software. Engineers develop programmable logic controller (PLC) systems, SCADA platforms, IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) applications, telemetry networks and remote monitoring solutions that allow operators to monitor and control infrastructure in real time. Remote access and monitoring are now an essential part of how modern systems are managed. They allow operators to track performance, compliance data, and alarms across dispersed sites, while ensuring reliable data is available for operations and regulatory purposes. “A lot of operators now want to be able to sit at a computer or even look at their phone and see what’s happening at a reservoir or pump station. They want alarms coming through 24/7, with information about levels or flows, and the ability to react quickly if something changes.” That capability is especially valuable where downtime can quickly create wider problems. “A lot of the work we do involves infrastructure that simply has to keep operating. If something fails in a water or wastewater system, or a generator control system at a hospital, the response needs to be immediate.” Projects often involve close collaboration with electrical contractors, engineering consultants, and civil contractors. Switchbuild typically designs and manufactures the switchboards and control systems, while electrical contractors handle
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