Surge and lightning protection specialist launches academy

11th December 2015

By: David Oliveira

Creamer Media Staff Writer

  

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Lightning and surge protection, and safety equipment supplier Dehn Africa laun- ched its Dehnacademy, in Johannesburg, last month to transfer its knowledge and experience to customers across Africa.

This will help to curb the effects of lightning strikes, and ensure that African engineers and consultants design effective lightning protection systems.

Dehn Africa MD Alexis Barwise said at the launch that this was an important milestone for the company, which started local operations in 2013. He added that the success of the company, which had increased from two customers in as many countries to 28 customers in ten countries across Africa, was a precursor to the launch of the academy.

Dehn Africa technical manager Hano Oelofse highlighted that lightning protection was a specialised field, which was largely unknown in Africa.

Many engineers were unaware of the basic methods and standards of lightning protection, prompting Dehn to address the knowledge gaps on the continent. “Our vision is to equip the African people with knowledge, experience and tools to protect their lives and investments,” he added.

The Dehnacademy was divided into e-learning and classroom modules, customer seminars, Engineering Council of South Africa- (ECSA-) accredited continuing professional development (CPD) seminars, market-specific training and university education initiatives.

As part of the academy launch, Oelofse handed over Dehn’s Lightning Protection Guide to representatives from the University of the Witswatersrand’s (Wits’) Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment. He noted that Wits was one of the few universities in the country to offer lightning and surge-protection training.

Dehn will offer fourth-year Wits engineering students holiday work, as well as lightning and surge-protection training to third- and fourth-year students. Upon completion of their degrees to further promote lightning protection as a viable career opportunity for young engineers, the company will also offer top students a one-year working contract at Dehn.
“We are working closely with Wits to create awareness that there is a need for skilled engi- neers in the lightning protection industry,” Oelofse said.

He explained that the e-learning modules were based on the fundamental principles of lightning and surge protection, and provided an easily accessible learning database, which people would be able to work through at their convenience.

Dehn will also host biweekly classroom learning sessions at its offices in Johannesburg. The sessions will consist of more advanced lightning and surge-protection principles, such as risk assessments and proper earthing techniques.

Oelofse noted that customer seminars were a popular training method for many companies and, as such, Dehn would provide training, customised to the needs of customers, at customers’ facilities.

The company will also facilitate two-day ECSA-accredited CPD seminars that will offer a comprehensive understanding of lightning and surge protection, as well as SANS 6305 parts one to four.

Oelofse asserted that, as part of its commitment to its customers, Dehn would also offer industry-specific lightning and surge-protection training.

Meanwhile, Oelofse pointed out that the new training academy was part of Dehn Africa’s latest offering, Dehnservices, which included support, testing and concept services.

The support services entail product support, as well as support for industry-specific surge and lightning protection systems. The testing services comprise a range of tests, including approval, component and product comparison testing, while the concept services involve risk assessments, detailed designs and compliance education, as well as establishing specifications and standards for individual customers.

Oelofse explained that the risk assessment software used by Dehn calculated a three-dimensional rolling sphere radius, which showed the blanket area of lightning protection covering an asset.

The models developed from the risk assessment software could be used to develop detailed designs, such as safe distances between conductor clamps and the location of earthing systems.

Global Strategy
Germany-based holding company Dehn sales and marketing MD Helmut Pusch noted during an explanation of the company’s growth strategy that the company would strive to maintain its global position as leader in lightning protection, but would also strive to double its sales by 2025.

Further, the company would expand its market penetration into other countries, he stated, adding that, despite being the global leader in lightning protection, 60% of the group’s sales were generated in Germany.

Dehn will also expand its operational footprint in Germany, with the unbundling of production and distribution operations at the company’s Neumarkt headquarters to a new facility in nearby Muhlhausen.

The Neumarkt facility will focus on marketing and sales, as well as research and development.

Dehn had a yearly turnover of about €200-million and employed about 1 600 people worldwide. The company also controls 1 136 international patents.

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

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