Friday 16, November 2007

MAKING THE CONNECTION.

Sporting a philosophy of inventing market-orientated products, combined with innovation and vision, PES discovers how the firmly-established Multi-Contact has adapted to the challenges that the global quest for renewable energy presents. PES speaks to CEO, Rainer Isenrich.

PES: Can you explain a little about your company and what you offer the renewable energy industry?

Rainer Isenrich: Multi-Contact (MC) offers solutions in the broad field of electrical contacts. We focus on contacts for high power requirements, like high current ratings, harsh environments, etc. MC has over 40 years of experience in applications such as: switchgears, bus bar connectors, medical connectors, connectors for welding robots and measurement. As part of this experience, MC developed as the first company to make connectors for PV modules, back in 1992. Today, besides connectors, MC offers standard as well as customer specific junction boxes and cables suited to PV needs.

PES: How did the company progress into the solar sector?

Rainer Isenrich: As MC is well known for its quality and innovative power, pioneering solar customers turned to us as they wanted to connect modules easily and reliably. Their problem was that existing "off-the shelf" connectors could not withstand the high requirements regarding heat and damp. MC was able to develop a solution, based on which the renowned, market leading "MC 3 mm" and "MC 4 mm" range of connectors were established.

PES: How vital are standards of quality to your production?

Rainer Isenrich: Module manufacturers give warranties of 20 years and more for their products. It is important to remember that the modules, and therefore also the connectors, are exposed to harsh weather conditions on a daily basis, often in mostly remote or difficult to access locations. And most importantly, they have to sustain daily temperature cycles that can go from below freezing to up to 90 °C. You can imagine that the quality requirements are crucial. Recent issues in the industry turned the spotlight back toward quality and it is necessary for us to respond. We are also aware that customers require a higher level of quality, including service quality like delivery standards, on a global basis. MC products and services are not only designed to meet the highest standards, but with over 15 years of experience, our products have expertise as standard.

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