Cressall Resistors

Resistors are commonplace power components in industrial buildings - but their use is not limited to the factory floor. In many industries, resistors play a vital role in the power management of electrical equipment. Here, Simone Bruckner, Managing Director of Cressall, explores the applications of resistors beyond the four walls of industrial buildings.

While the most destructive forms of transient surges are typically lightning and utility load switching, these two events are thought to account for just 20% of all transient surge activity. The remaining 80% occur in the supposed safety of the factory walls. So how can plant managers protect their equipment from its own production line? Here Simone Bruckner, Managing Director of Cressall, investigates.

From the electric fans and power tools in our homes, to crane control systems and industrial machinery - motors can be found in mechanical applications of all shapes and sizes. But what exactly keeps them turning? Joshua Piccaver, Electrical Design Engineer at Cressall Resistors, explains why resistors are key to ensuring steady motor control.

Air pollution is now the biggest environmental risk to public health in the UK. As unregulated medium sized combustion plants (MCPs) and generators are a known source of significant air pollution, addressing their environmental impact is crucial. Here, Andrew Keith, product development director at power resistor manufacturer Cressall Resistors, discusses the changes to emissions regulations and what they mean for power maintenance.

According to the Women’s Engineering Society (WES), less than ten percent of engineering professionals in the UK are women, the lowest figure in Europe. Latvia, Bulgaria and Cyprus are leading the way, with female engineers making up almost 30%. Here, Helen Marston, engineer at resistor manufacturer, Cressall, discusses the role of women in engineering throughout history. 

Thanks to a donation from resistors manufacturer Cressall, students at the Madani Schools Federation are enjoying a recently refurbished outdoor relaxation zone. The zone, which includes a water feature surrounded by trees, provides a space for students to gather their thoughts between classes, away from the hustle and bustle of school life. Relations with the local school are important to the community support offered by the Leicester-based engineering firm, which opened its second site in 2017.

Figures that have been released by the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) has shown that only ten percent of engineering professionals in the UK are women. This is the lowest figure in Europe with the UK lagging well behind leading countries such as Latvia, Bulgaria and Cyprus, which all boast figures closer to 30%. Here, Helen Benjamin, an engineer at resistor manufacturer, Cressall, discussed the role of women in engineering throughout history.

Air cooled resistors are common in motor driven applications like cranes, lifts, hoists and conveyors, but in medium voltage, high power applications liquid cooling wins out. A medium voltage drive running off a 3.3kV supply to turn a 500kW motor will put a severe heating load on the application’s power transistors – hence the need for water cooling.

Currently underway in China is the largest data centre in the world which will be 6.3 million square feet when completed. That's roughly the size of 116 football pitches. The growing popularity of cloud computing and recent regulations regarding data sovereignty are the driving forces behind the new and technically advanced data centres appearing all over the globe. 

Power resistor manufacturer Cressall has achieved the Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series (OHSAS) 18001 certification. The company's accreditation is a testament to its dedication to safe and reliable practices. In recognition, Cressall was issued a certificate of approval on February 22nd, 2016.

Resistor and load bank manufacturer Cressal is partnering with its French sister company, Rentaload, to provide the UK market with an effective means of load testing data centres. The collaboration comes as a response to the growing popularity of cloud computing and consequently, the need for reliable data storage.

Cressall Resistors has released a white paper highlighting the need for load bank testing in manufacturing facilities. 

The RapidHeat consortium led by Cressall Resistors has developed an on-demand electric water heater that is faster and more compact than other similar products on the market. The EU-funded development project breaks new ground by making hot or boiling water instantaneously available in domestic or commercial applications. Freshly heated instant hot water is not currently available on the market.

Five Cressall Resistors employees have successfully completed their ICT APEE apprenticeship. As part of its dedication to continuing professional growth and development, Leicester based power resistor manufacturer Cressall, offered its employees the opportunity to enrol on the course and supported them throughout their studies. 

Andrew Keith’s promotion follows a successful placement year and permanent employment offer

Cressall Resistors has developed a new range of liquid cooled resistors for the braking systems of hybrid and all-electric vehicles. The new range, dubbed the EV series, converts excess electricity that is not needed for recharging the vehicle’s battery into heat that can be dissipated safely. They make genuine regenerative braking in electric cars a possibility by providing a method to dissipate excess braking energy as heat, via the water system.