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Relocation of Networks team to CPTC East Hall

The Electrical Networks team moved from the Clothier Laboratory to Blyth on the 1st July and is currently setting up electrical and materials testing operations in CPTC East Hall with the first test - a temperature rise rest for ABB Sunderland - scheduled for this coming week.

The team will initially consist of the following specialists:

-    Alex Neumann, Director of Electrical Networks
-    Hodi Mirafsari, Testing Operations Manager and Head of Chemicals and Materials Services
-    Peter Ozers, Senior Electrical Engineer and Consultant
-    Chris Ebden, Senior Power Systems Engineer
-    Stuart Watson, Electrical Test Technician

A new Sales Manager and Senior Electrical Engineer are currently being recruited.

The team will continue to be a solutions provider for electrical systems, primarily focused on onshore and offshore transmission and distribution networks and supported with high voltage, high current and materials testing capabilities.  Narec will continue to provide forensic, type test and certification services for electrical transmission and distribution equipment, including switchgear, bushings, transformers and cables.

Our main areas of competence are:

1. Specialist knowledge (including design and forensic investigation/autopsy experience):

2. Type and routine testing and certification experience relating to various T&D equipment

3. Experience relating to power system planning and design, including insulation coordination fast transient analysis capability.  We also have a track record of investigating integration issues relating to new and renewable generation technologies.

4. Chemicals and Materials Services (CMS) analytical work and materials and environmental testing, including a dedicated oil sampling and testing facility.

5. LV R&D facility comprising model-generation technologies linked to a fully controlled electrical grid network allowing voltage, frequency, loads and network parameters to be configured to fully test network connection issues. Services include G83 and G59 testing for small scale embedded generation

6. Submarine cable type testing to the relevant CIGRE recommendations and IEC standards by combining our electrical test offer with partner laboratories’ mechanical and hydrostatic test capabilities

Please note that the CPTC East Hall and associated rooms are now an operational laboratory and are no longer an unoccupied storage facility.

For further information, please contact Alex Neumann or Hodi Mirafsari.

ICT systems upgrade

As part of the continuous improvement programme for ICT services, a number of initiatives are underway to add value to your projects:

MS Window 7 Upgrade

A programme to upgrade all laptops and PCs to use the Windows 7 operating system will standardise systems and ensure the latest functionality is available to all employees.  PCs not capable of running Windows 7 will be replaced under a rolling replacement programme and any legacy systems e.g. Windows XP, will continue to be supported by the ICT Department until they are no longer supported by Microsoft. 

Microsoft Office programmes are being upgraded to the latest version 2010 with enhanced functionality, such as mobile applications.

The web applications element of Office 2010 allows you to edit and create document from any location and you may notice change to the webmail log on page - https://webmail.narec.co.uk

Other increased functionality available within this product includes the ability to see attachments directly on the server, without having to download to a public PC and the ability to open shared calendars.

Microsoft OneNote

This is a free form information gathering and multi-user collaboration program and is now available. It can gather user's notes (handwritten or typed), drawings, and audio commentaries and share them with other users of Microsoft OneNote over the Internet or Intranet.

Remote Access

Can we remind you that remote access to corporate file shares etc, including your personal drive, is available at the location - https://remote.narec.co.uk

Should you have any queries on any of the above, please do not hesitate to contact the ICT team - ICTDepartment@narec.co.uk

New accreditation partner for training qualifications

Narec is a cluster member of the National Skills Academy for Environmental Technologies North-East Hub. The National Skills Academy for Environmental Technologies comprises a network of training providers that deliver accredited environmental technologies training.

Over 80 colleges and other training providers across England have been accredited under the National Skills Academy banner. Together they will deliver a range of environmental technology courses that have been approved by SummitSkills, the Sector Skills Council for Building Services Engineering.

The Skills Academy will consist of 14 leading 'hub' colleges across the country working in partnership to offer the environmental qualifications. In the North East of England the lead hub is Hartlepool College, working with cluster members Narec, City of Sunderland College and Redcar and Cleveland College.

This partnership will ensure qualifications are delivered to the Qualification Credit Framework (QCF).  A range of flexible training modules mapped to National Occupational standards and designed to directly meet the skill requirements of every occupation across the United Kingdom.

Narec was successful in its application to deliver qualifications accredited by EAL following a visit by the external verifier in June 2011. Narec is now in a position to deliver high quality, fully assessed learning packages to the public using EALs delivery model and assessment tools.

Qualifications include:

In addition, the Distributed Energy team has invested significant resource developing their own qualifications in the last 12 months to compliment the above offering and will be publishing an Autumn/Winter prospectus over the coming months.

 

 We welcome the following new employees:

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