Category: News

NEWS

BRUSH Power Networks Acquires Eta Projects

As we continue to evolve and grow our business, the BRUSH Group is delighted to announce the acquisition of engineering consultancy firm Eta Projects Ltd by our BRUSH Power Networks division.

The acquisition represents an exciting opportunity for both businesses to expand our presence and influence across the electricity and engineering sectors. 

Nicolas Pitrat, BRUSH Group CFO, explained the importance of this acquisition: “Our vision for BRUSH Power Networks is to provide agile and adaptive engineering solutions for electricity networks while enabling a lower-cost zero-carbon future. The acquisition of Eta Projects is a significant milestone on this journey.“

Eta Projects Ltd is a leader in its field and the company’s talented specialists will retain their autonomy and independence while remaining OEM agnostic. Both businesses recognise the exciting opportunities this sale will give us in terms of building our capabilities in areas such as market reach, employee training and development, and customer relationships.

Lars Hennecke, Strategic Business Development and Sustainability Director at BRUSH Power Networks added: “Eta Projects complements BRUSH Power Networks’ capabilities and enables us to establish ourselves as a leading OEM agnostic engineering house, providing consultancy engineering, design engineering, as well as build and project management services.“

And Managing Director of Eta Projects Ltd, Eugene Conroy said: “I am delighted to announce this tremendous opportunity to share our knowledge and experience by becoming part of the BRUSH engineering history. With a shared vision of investment in people, we are opening a new chapter in UK Engineering.”

The transaction was completed on Tuesday 23rd August 2022, with business continuing as normal for all BRUSH Power Networks and Eta Projects employees, clients and suppliers.

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NEWS

One Equity Partners Agrees Sale of BRUSH Power Generation Division

The management company of BRUSH Group, One Equity Partners (OEP), has announced an agreement to sell BRUSH’s Power Generation division to energy technology, industrial and oilfield services company, Baker Hughes.

The sale represents an exciting opportunity for our Power Generation division to continue its development and growth. Among the many benefits Baker Hughes anticipates gaining from the acquisition include the enhancement of their core turbomachinery portfolio, the expansion of their customer reach, and a provision of a growth platform for its facilities and employees.

Ori Birnboim, a Managing Director at OEP said: “As a current customer of BRUSH’s Power Generation business, Baker Hughes is a natural buyer for the business, as this acquisition will provide Baker Hughes with more security in its supply chain while also diversifying its end market exposure.”

Steve Lunau, another Managing Director at OEP, added: “We are thrilled to help unlock meaningful value creation through the transformational sale of BRUSH’s largest business segment. OEP recognized BRUSH as a leader within the Power Generation equipment and services sector when we acquired the business last year. We look forward to continuing to support and grow BRUSH’s remaining Power Distribution and Networks business alongside our exceptional management team.”

By focusing on our Power Distribution and Networks business, we believe we will be well-positioned to meet the challenges the UK’s Net Zero initiative will pose on electrical distribution networks, and better support a lower-cost zero-carbon future for electrical networks. This new focus will also allow us at BRUSH to accelerate our strategic business development, which is based on environmental sustainability, social responsibility and effective corporate governance.

“We value the partnership with OEP,” said Chris Abbott, CEO of BRUSH Group. “Their experience in supporting and unlocking strategic value in industrial businesses like ours has been, and will continue to be, instrumental as we grow our independent Power Distribution and Networks company.” 

The transaction is due to complete by the end of the year and is subject to closing consideration. Until then, it is business as normal for everyone at BRUSH.

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News

Fast and Effective Grid Infrastructure Upgrades for Motorway EV Chargers

Local Member of Parliament visits BRUSH Transformers to discuss new EV technologies

Jane Hunt, MP for Loughborough, UK visited BRUSH Transformers manufacturing facility recently to discuss our work for WPD’s Take Charge project and see the transformer component of the solution that is pioneering new technologies to rapidly rollout roadside EV charging infrastructure.

The creation of high-capacity ultra rapid charging infrastructure across the UK’s network is a key enabler for the transition towards all-electric cars.

BRUSH was approached by Western Power Distribution (WPD) to help engineer and design a new substation to enable fast and effective grid infrastructure upgrades. Network Innovation funded and designed to accelerate transport decarbonisation, the scope of the Take Charge project was to specify, design, test and trial an innovative, standardised medium voltage package substation.

Jane Hunt MP (centre) with Paul Jewell from WPD (right) and BRUSH Transformers team

This compact package substation solution will deliver large capacity to motorway services in a more cost and time effective manner and thus provide the new grid infrastructure that enables high capacity rapid car and van EV charging.

The transformer component is designed and manufactured by BRUSH Transformers Loughborough. The first unit will be lifted to site at Exeter Moto at the end of the month.

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Innovative Vacuum Tap Changer Technology To Future-Proof UK Distribution Networks

The 33kV power transformer is an integral part of the UK’s electrical distribution networks

We are pleased to announce publication of our latest BRUSH Engineered Solutions White Paper on “How tapping into 33kV transformer assets decarbonises UK distribution networks.”

The current backbone of the UK’s electricity transmission and distribution systems was built at a time when generation was dominated by large, centralised structures. Similar to the Victorian railway system not being able to adequately support modern high-speed rail, the growth of renewables and the electrification of transport mean that large parts of existing infrastructure are no longer fit for purpose.

The 33kV power transformer is an integral part of the UK’s electrical distribution networks. With an extended lifespan, it lends itself perfectly to not only demonstrate the challenges of future-proofing networks under the premise of ‘lower cost zero-carbon’, but also showcases how simple infrastructure decisions can help facilitate the transition.

For example, a power transformer in an existing network might no longer meet technical requirements due to capacity constraints or limitations in view of operational flexibility. To address such changes in technical requirements two fundamental, short term strategies are available: (1) asset replacement or (2) asset retrofit.

Where the useful life of existing assets can be extended with modern equipment that can be easily retro-fitted, networks are future proofed whilst minimising costs and lowering the carbon footprint.

The Vacutap® VBO® On Load Tap Changer (OLTC) for 33kV power transformers (VBO) uses vacuum technology with an innovative drive system. Developed by MR in collaboration with BRUSH it is maintenance free for up to 300,000 operations, and allows 100% reverse power flow.

Chris Abbot, BRUSH Group CEO comments: “We are proud to have been instrumental in bringing this new technology to the UK market. With easy bolt-on installation of the VBO to existing 33kV power transformers, required capital investment is reduced when compared to asset replacement, in particular when taking the significant tap changer maintenance savings of up to £250,000 per unit into account. What’s more the remaining lifespan of the transformer will be utilised, if not extended, and associated carbon footprints reduced accordingly.”

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NEWS

BRUSH Group Committing To Net Zero By 2050

Committed to support industrial decarbonisation and sustainable development, we have pledged to increase the focus on the impact our activities have upon the environment by setting ambitious objectives to achieve our target of Net Zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. We are backing the industry climate commitment to NetZero by 2050 and are signatories of BEAMA’s NetZerobyDesign.

On signing this historic pledge BRUSH CEO Chris Abbot comments: “As BRUSH commences its journey under the new ownership of One Equity Partnership (OEP), this provides a great opportunity for BRUSH to enhance our focus on the impact our activities have upon the environment by setting ambitious objectives to achieve our target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 in line with the Paris Climate Agreement.

As part of our journey, we will implement a Sustainability Policy in 2021 and implement a supporting strategy in 2022 which will be applicable to all BRUSH businesses.  As part of the evolving BRUSH sustainability strategy, we will continue to identify and adapt relevant group business level targets to ensure we meet this ambitious goal.  “

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One Equity Partners Acquires BRUSH Group

We are thrilled to announce that on the 18th June 2021 One Equity Partners (“OEP“), a leading middle market private equity firm based in the US, acquired the BRUSH Group. 

This is a very exciting opportunity for the next phase of our Company’s development. BRUSH will not only be well positioned to grow through further investment but also to support the increasing challenges of our world-class customers in the Power Generation & Power Distribution Sectors. 

“With a rich history dating back to the 1880s, BRUSH has a proven track record for market leadership, product innovation, and trusted customer service. OEP is excited to partner with BRUSH’s industry leading management team, led by CEO Chris Abbott, for the next chapter in the BRUSH story,” said Ori Birnboim, Managing Director, OEP. 

“OEP has a strong track record of building market-leading industrial companies through organic and inorganic investment initiatives that drive operational performance, add product capabilities and expand geographic reach,” comments Chris Abbott. “We are pleased to be partnering with OEP as we continue to further develop and grow.”

BRUSH Group Acquires Aprenda Ltd

As part of our journey and strategy for growth, we are also very excited to announce that, with OEP’s support BRUSH Group has recently completed the acquisition of Aprenda Ltd., based in Cambridgeshire. Aprenda is a well-respected design services and independent connections provider to the UK power distribution industry. 

“We’re thrilled to have completed the acquisition of Aprenda with the support of OEP. Together, we look forward to starting a new and exciting chapter of growth for BRUSH,” said Chris Abbot.

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NEWS

Virtual Factory Acceptance Testing, V-FAT

Supporting critical electrical energy management solutions worldwide, the COVID-19 pandemic and resulting lockdowns in many countries posed a significant challenge for BRUSH Group’s global customers.

To help maintain critical delivery schedules, we worked alongside our customers to develop and deploy a new, remote witness testing routine, using video conferencing and live camera streams instead of on-site attendance.

Ensuring that our products could undergo witnessed tests to maintain delivery schedules despite factory visits being impossible the teams in our Czech generator manufacturing and UK switchgear plant designed and implemented tailor made remote test witnessing programs.

By live streaming of the main parameters and responding to customer requests via live chat all parties are kept informed at all times.

Customer feedback regarding the virtual testing routine has been very positive and based on associated customer benefits in saved time and travel expenses, BRUSH is now offering customers remote witness testing programs as an alternative to the traditional on-site process.

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NEWS

Brush Group Website Covid-19 Notice

The COVID-19 Pandemic Continues To Challenge The Lives And Work Of All Around The World And BRUSH Continues To Diligently Observe Government Directives And Advice With Regard To Managing The Spread Of The COVID-19 Outbreak.

We wish to reassure our customers that BRUSH Switchgear, BRUSH Transformers & HGI in the UK, BRUSH Generators in the Czech Republic, BRUSH NL in the Netherlands and BRUSH Americas in the USA all remain fully operational with our dedicated Field Service Engineers available to support our customers critical operations.
 

We support customers within the Power Generation and Infrastructure sectors with many of our activities falling under the “Critical” classification and are actively working with our supply chain to minimise risks of disruption.
 

BRUSH continues to monitor the situation closely and will react appropriately where required to help ensure that we continue to provide the superior service and support that hallmarks BRUSH as a trusted electrical equipment & service partner for our customers around the world.

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BRUSH Awarded Gulf Of Mexico FPSO Order

We are excited to announce that we have successfully won an order to supply three DAX 71-193ERH generators for a floating production storage and offloading vessel (FPSO) project set to operate in the Gulf of Mexico.

The project outputs required compliance with all major international standards, very high offshore operation specifications and the marine certifying authority.

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The award came despite very strong competition and within a brief cycle time between tendering and order.

The project requires the supply of generators, line and neutral cubicles, control panels, and acceptance test will be delivered during 2019 and early 2020.

Once running, the FPSO will be capable of processing just less than 100,000 barrels of crude oil, over 70 million cubic feet of gas, between 120,000 to 130,000 barrels of water injection per day and have a storage capacity of just less than 1 million barrels of crude oil. It will be deployed off the coast of Mexico at a water depth of less than 40 metres.

View more information on our range of oil and gas industries products and services. If you have any questions, please contact our team.

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BRUSH Group Embraces Hawker Siddeley Switchgear

BRUSH Group, the world’s largest independent manufacturer of generators and a global leader in electrical engineering for some 130 years, has today announced the closer integration of its switchgear subsidiary Hawker Siddeley Switchgear (HSS), which becomes BRUSH Switchgear, with immediate effect.

The company, which has revealed a new brand identity as part of the integration with the wider BRUSH Group, has ambitious growth plans and intends to increase the range of products manufactured at its site in Blackwood, South Wales.

HSS has been a major part of BRUSH for many years, but in order to harness global growth and cross-selling opportunities and to compete on an international level, BRUSH Switchgear will benefit from the greater brand awareness and commercial infrastructure associated with the BRUSH brand.

BRUSH Switchgear (formerly HSS) was founded in 1888 with the creation of the Brush Electrical Engineering Company. The business grew to incorporate heritage switchgear brands such as South Wales Switchgear, Brush Switchgear and Whipp & Bourne, all of which are now supported from its current site in Blackwood, South Wales, where the business will continue to be based.

Meirion Richards, Managing Director of BRUSH Switchgear and Transformers, said:

“We are focussed on growing the business and creating secure and sustainable employment, and today’s announcement to rebrand HSS and integrate within the BRUSH Group is a major step towards this.

“Following a strategic review of our business and important feedback from major stakeholders, customers and colleagues, we understand that in order to achieve long-term growth in this competitive market it is key to have a strong, globally-recognisable and dynamic brand and we are delighted to unveil this today.”

Chris Abbott, CEO of BRUSH Group, said:

“Hawker Siddeley Switchgear is a significant contributor to the BRUSH Group and the closer interaction that will result from this rebranding will undoubtedly provide positive benefits to our customers and employees.”

For more information and to learn about how BRUSH Switchgear’s innovative products and services meet customers’ unique and diverse requirements, look through the BRUSH Switchgear sections on this website.

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