Albesol Looks to Build off Schneider Electric Premset Medium Voltage Switchgear Partnership in Canada

PBSI Albesol SE 400

Dec 14, 2020

By Sarah Pickard

As a Premset Medium Voltage Switchgear and modular system electrical cabinets manufacturer and service provider, Albesol INC is the first licensed partner on the Premset offer for Schneider Electric in Canada. Albesol’s Canadian operations were founded in 2018 when the company expanded its operations from Albania, where they worked primarily in the energy and power sector. The Canadian arm of the company is centered around Premset Switchgear, which is applicable across a number of industry segments: mining, data centres, commercial, industrial and institutional buildings, as well as portable substations.

Albesol’s partnership began with Schneider in 2008 as a panel builder for low-voltage panels, bringing on some interesting and challenging projects for the company. They expanded that partnership in 2017, becoming a licensed partner of Schneider, manufacturing and selling SM-6 Medium Voltage Switchgear up to 20 KV.

In 2020 we became a licensed partner in Canada for Premset, which is the most innovative medium voltage switchgear,” said Albesol CEO, Artan Pulti.

The relationship that we have with Albesol in Albania really forges a partnership between the network of partners around the globe. As they look at their footprint here in Canada, it was a natural thing for us,” said Schneider Electric’s Wayne Gray, Senior Director of Power Systems and Services. “It’s really more about the journey that we’re on together: the shared values that we have about our customers and our safe and reliable cost-effective solutions.”

Pulti explained their partnership with Schneider allowed them to successfully expand their European operations and they would like to the same in Canada, “and the good thing is, this product is made in Canada, for the first time.”

When we look at this partnership,” added Gray, “it’s a key way for us to get more market penetration. We’re hoping to expand this as we go forward.

PHOTO 2020 05 13 14 06 45In terms of Premset, moving forward means focusing on safety and reliability. The new system employs a shielded, solid insulation system. With no exposed live units accessible to the user, the risk of inadvertent shocks and arcing is minimized. The operating mechanisms are accessible from the front of the switchgear and can be worked on without powering down the main bus.

The product’s modular size and design allows for easier installation and replacement, coming in at 60% less square footage when compared to an equivalent design. “With leveraging the Albesol flexible manufacturing processes, we can reduce manufacturing lead time. It’s a low maintenance product, sort of install and forget, and we think that’s good for the client and good for the workforce,” Gray said.

On the manufacturing side of things, Pulti explained, “Our goal is to be very flexible to the customer, to be close with them and to shorten the delivery times.” Pulti added that flexibility extends to any customization customers will require. Their team is experienced in design, allowing them the expediate the time needed for the design phase. 

The system runs on a ten-year maintenance cycle, and only needs to be cycled once every ten years to ensure operation thanks to its fixed breaker and 2SIS system. Most of the withdrawable breaker maintenance is done on the finger clusters and the withdrawing mechanism. These features are nullified in Premset’s fixed breaker system, which allows for a longer maintenance cycle. In addition, the 2SIS system seals the vacuum bottles for the life of the switchgear. They are protected from environmental effects such as humidity, dust, chemicals, and vermin inside of the core unit. Unsealed systems are prone to these possible defect modes and thus a higher maintenance frequency is required.

Premset also boasts innovative auxiliary features, optional for the consumer. One feature is the live cable interlock, which helps prevent the grounding of live cables in main circuit breakers. Another is the cable test device interlocked with the isolating ground switch, which simplifies the cable testing diagnosis. Testing can be done without accessing the cable compartment, instead working from the front of the switchgear while the cables remain grounded.

As for where they see this product’s applications, both Pulti and Gray turned their focus to the industrial and institutional sectors, as well as in mining and data centres. The application for Premset is broad, explained Pulti . They are beginning to see a demand for the product across multiple industries and are still exploring potential applications beyond the industry segments they are currently operating in.

Gray added, “We are looking at the academia space. The mining mineral/metal space, that segment—we think there’s tremendous applications there. As we’re working with our clients, we’re discovering other ways that we can come up with unique solutions, using this particular product. We’re excited about the product, we’re excited about our partnership.

Related Articles


Changing Scene

  • Wesco Opens State-of-the-Art Facility in Eastern Canada to Support Influx of Megaprojects in the Region

    Wesco Opens State-of-the-Art Facility in Eastern Canada to Support Influx of Megaprojects in the Region

    Wesco International has recently announced the grand opening of a new state-of-the-art facility on Higney Avenue in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada, making this the largest facility of any distributor in the Atlantic region. The new building, facilitated by Touchette Real Estate, a division of Groupe Touchette, will feature Wesco’s comprehensive suite of services and solutions including… Read More…

  • PataBid Nominated for Canadian Choice Award in Software Services

    PataBid Nominated for Canadian Choice Award in Software Services

    PataBid is proud to announce its nomination for a Canadian Choice Award in the Software Services category. This recognition highlights PataBid’s commitment to supporting the electrical contracting community across Canada by providing innovative estimating software solutions that streamline estimating processes and ensure predictable and profitable projects. Read More…


Sponsored Content
The Easy Way to the Industrial IoT

The way to the Industrial IoT does not have to be complicated. Whether access to valuable data is required or new, data-driven services are to be generated, Weidmuller enables its customers to go from data to value the easy way. Weidmuller’s comprehensive and cutting-edge IIoT portfolio applies to greenfield and brownfield applications. Weidmuller offers components and solutions from data acquisition, data pre-processing, data communication and data analysis.

Visit Weidmuller’s Industrial IoT Portfolio.


ADVANCED Motion Controls Takes Servo Drives to New Heights (and Depths) with FlexPro Extended Environment Product Line

Advanced Motion Controls is proud to announce the addition of six new CANopen servo drives with Extended Environment capabilities to their FlexPro line. These new drives join AMC’s existing EtherCAT Extended Environment FlexPro drives, making the FlexPro line the go-to solution for motion control applications in harsh environments.

Many motion control applications take place in conditions that are less than ideal, such as extreme temperatures, high and low pressures, shocks and vibrations, and contamination. Electronics, including servo drives, can malfunction or sustain permanent damage in these conditions.

Read More


Service Wire Co. Announces New Titles for Key Executives

Bruce Kesler and Mark Gatewood have been given new titles and responsibilities for Service Wire Co.

Bruce Kesler has assumed the role of Senior Director – Business Development. Bruce will be responsible for Service Wire’s largest strategic accounts and our growing Strategic Accounts Team.

Mark Gatewood has been promoted to the role of Vice President – Sales & Marketing. In this role, Gatewood will lead the efforts of Service Wire Company’s entire sales and marketing organization in all market verticals.

Read More


Tri-Mach Announces the Purchase of an Additional 45,000 sq ft. Facility

Tri-Mach Elmira Facility

Recently, Tri-Mach Inc. was thrilled to announce the addition of a new 45,000 sq ft. facility. Located at 285 Union St., Elmira, ON, this facility expands Tri-Mach’s capabilities, allowing them to better serve the growing needs of their customers.

Positioning for growth, this additional facility will allow Tri-Mach to continue taking on large-scale projects, enhance product performance testing, and provide equipment storage for their customers. The building will also be the new home to their Skilled Trades Centre of Excellence.

Read More


JMP Parent Company, CONVERGIX Acquires AGR Automation, Expanding Global Reach

Convergix Automation Solutions has completed the acquisition of AGR Automation (“AGR”), a UK-based provider of custom, high-performance automation design and systems integration primarily to the life sciences industry.

Following Convergix’s acquisitions of JMP Solutions in August 2021 and Classic Design in February 2022, AGR marks the third investment in Crestview’s strategy to build Convergix into a diversified automation solutions provider targeting the global $500+ billion market, with a particular focus on the $70 billion global systems integration and connectivity segments. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Read More


Latest Articles

  • How Advanced X-Ray and AI Inspection Technologies Optimize Quality Control and Reduce Costs in SMT Manufacturing

    How Advanced X-Ray and AI Inspection Technologies Optimize Quality Control and Reduce Costs in SMT Manufacturing

    Explore how Omron’s latest X-Ray machines and AI-driven solutions are setting new standards in manufacturing efficiency and quality control. The manufacturing landscape is swiftly evolving, and Omron is at the forefront with its innovative PCB inspection machines. These systems offer profound insights into SMT production process, enhanced quality control, and can significantly reduce labor costs. Advancements… Read More…

  • KUKA Establishes New Software and Digital Business Segment

    KUKA Establishes New Software and Digital Business Segment

    Software is playing an increasingly important role in mechanical engineering. What used to be mostly solved mechanically is now done by electronics and the associated software. “With KUKA Digital, we are expanding our offering in order to position ourselves broadly for a market with strong growth potential. Our customers need products, solutions and consulting approaches to digitalize… Read More…