Arabian Gulf Switchgear Ltd’s (AGS) expertise, built over many years, has won it recognition among clients within the UAE and abroad.

The company was established in 1977 at a time when the Arabian Peninsula was in the thick of major construction and infrastructure activity, and the need for quality electrical control equipment was intense.
Setting up at that period in the Gulf’s development, made it a sought-after company.  As one of the pioneers in the manufacture of low-tension switchgear and control panels, the company felt a particular responsibility to satisfy its customers with quality products and associated services. That dedication has won it a client list that includes the biggest names in the construction and infrastructure field and enabled it to export its range to markets well beyond the region in which it is located.
With its long history in the design and assembly of products and after-sales service, the company is able to offer solutions in power distribution, electronic engineering and energy management systems, a company spokesman said.
The company, whose main factory is at Sharjah Industrial Area No 15, has co-operation and franchise agreements with reputed international organisations and the capability to design and manufacture LT switchgear up to 6,300 A conforming to various national and international standards and to the principals’ stringent requirements.
The AGS group opened a similar switchgear unit in Riyadh in 1985 under the name of Saudi Electrical and Electronic Control Systems Industry Co Ltd (Selco).

Quality control
Describing quality aspects, the spokesman said: “Assembly and installation is carried out in a controlled manner with stage-by-stage inspection conducted at certain prescribed intervals to check and verify that the product or system conforms to relevant standards  (BS-EN-60439-1).
“It is also ensured that the final product or system is in conformity to the approved drawing and specification of the consultants and customers.
“AGS’ in-house testing capability for LV switchgear is detailed in the relevant procedures according to ISO 9001:2000 and complies with statutory and regulatory requirements. The main busbar assembly designed by AGS is Asta certified at 50 kA for three seconds.
“Major suppliers are evaluated for the quality of their products and are either ISO certified for their quality or follow an approved quality management system. Materials imported to incorporate in the finished product or system are thoroughly tested and certified for their quality by the respective suppliers.”
The overall quality management system of AGS has been audited and checked for its effectiveness and certified by Germanischer Lloyd Certification GmbH to ISO standard 9001 since December 9, 1995. The company has now obtained certification according to the new 2000 version emphasising the commitment of the management to continually improving the quality of product and services and ultimately exceeding customers’ expectations.
According to company officials CG Pandehis and J Paul, AGS registered an increase of 47.3 per cent in sales 2004 compared to the previous year. The company has been a supplier to markets including the GCC region and the former Soviet Union, but is looking forward to penetrating more markets in the Middle East, North Africa and Europe.
The product range includes main distribution panels, sub-main distribution panels, MCC panels, capacitor banks, feeder pillars, final distribution boards and generator control panels.

Product features
The main distribution panels have the following provisions: type-tested assemblies to BS-5486 Part 1 & IEC 439-1; rated operating voltage up to 660 V; rated current up to 6,300 A; Asta-certified 50 kA for 3 sec; protection standard up to IP-54; construction in form 2,3 or 4; fixed or fully withdrawable design; sheet steel thickness 1.5 mm or 2 mm; maximum safety and reliability; adequate spacing for incoming and outgoing cables and customer design according to client requirements. 
The sub-main distribution panels have the following features: type tested assemblies to BS-5486-Part 1 and IEC 439-1; rated operating voltage up to 660 V; rated current up to 1,250 A; Asta-certified assemblies up to 50 kA 1 sec; protection standard up to IP-65; construction in form 2, 3 or 4; solid busbars with insulated colour sleeving; maximum safety and reliability; adequate e spacing for incoming and outgoing cables; custom design.
The MCC panels have the following features: type- tested assemblies to BS-5486 Part-1 and IEC 439-1; rated operating voltage up to 660 V; rated current up to 3,200 A; protection standard up to IP-55; Form 2 to Form 4 type 7 construction; fixed or fully withdrawable design; sheet steel thickness 1.5 or 2 mm; maximum safety and reliability; adequate spacing for incoming and outgoing cables; custom design according to client requirements; fort or rear cable access; fully extendable at both ends; intelligent motor control and switchgear systems; custom control panels using variable frequency drives, soft starters and programmable logic controllers, and supervisory control and data acquisition  (Scada).
The capacitor banks have the following features: ratings up to 600 kVar; rated operating voltage up to 660 V, multi step design; construction to form 2, sheet steel enclosure 1.5 or 2 mm; protection standard up to IP-55; a ventilation system; HRC fuses for capacitor protection, a main isolator; special contactors for capacitor switching, R, Y and B colour coding for busbar and wiring; special capacitors have integral protection; isolation transformer is provided for control, a measuring circuit, a  microprocessor-based power factor correction; relay digital type with PF reading and indication; maximum safety and reliability; adequate spacing for incoming and outgoing cables and custom design.
The feeder pillars have the following features: a rated current up to 1,250 A; rated operating voltage up to 660 V; form 2 construction in fixed design; protection standard IP-55; GRP or sheet steel or aluminium double-walled or single-walled enclosures suitable for external mounting (weather proof); easy cable termination with ample space; fixed fuses or fuse switch arrangement; shrouding for maximum safety; maximum safety and reliability; adequate spacing for incoming and outgoing cables and custom design.
The final distribution boards have the following features: commercial type in multi-split or single split arrangement in flush or surface multi-row enclosure or vertical two-type arrangement; protection standard IP-31 up to IP-55; rated short circuit up to 15 kA; MCBs up to 10 kA or 15 kA to IEC 947-2 and IEC 898; maximum safety and reliability; adequate spacing for incoming and outgoing cables and custom design.
The generator control panels are provided with: generator synchronisation panels for multiple generators with load shedding in case of dependent start and stop; rated current up to 6,000 A; engine start/stop control with fault monitoring; manual/auto synchronisation with load sharing; load dependent stat/stop and synchronising and automatic changeover with load shedding. 

Major projects executed
The company has executed major projects at airports, including those in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai and Oman. Currently it is executing the Dubai Airport Extension AX-247 for Thermo, the customer, with Dar Al Handasa as the consultants for the project.
AGS has also worked on the Gamco Building in Abu Dhabi and on a project for the Diwan of the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi.
Among the projects it has worked on are well-known buildings including Ghadier Tower and Al Salam Tower, Al Bida Plaza, Fairmount Hotel, Al Ghurair Centre Cinema and Supermarket, Grand Hyatt, Al Rostamani Tower, Madinat Jumeirah (all in Dubai); Al Mulla Tower and Al Hamdan Tower (both in Abu Dhabi), and Sharjah Mega Mall (Sharjah).
The company has also been associated with a number of royal palaces, villas and important government projects including ones for the UAE Defence Ministry and the country’s the police departments and Ministry of Health establishments in the UAE and the Gulf states.
Industrial projects with which AGS has been associated include Dubai Aluminium- Dubal, Emirates Linear Alkyl Benzene Factory, Dubai Drydocks (all in Dubai); Qafac Methanol, Dukhan Gas Lift R (both in Qatar); Sohar Copper Project (Oman); Salman Offshore Production (Iran), and Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Saudi Arabia)
AGS has also worked on several water and wastewater projects including the Ajman Sewerage System.