“The electrical sector is experiencing a period of great transformation, in which new technologies and materials are being introduced into a market with a long history behind it, characterised by dated systems, entrenched habits and, at times, a particularly tortuous design past, which makes it difficult to choose the right components.". Andrea Tagliabue, Technical Director of Electrical Power Solutions at Teknomega immediately outlines the company's role in the current panorama of the sector, which today extends well beyond low voltage switchboards and represents an integral part of systems such as data centers, UPS, electric charging, inverters and energy conversion systems.
“It is these three factors – dated systems, established habits and the effect of previous installation choices that influence revamping – that make it more complex to design and install an electrical panel today.”, continues Tagliabue. A complexity that, in most cases, does not depend on real technical needs.
The first step to meet these needs is to have awide range of solutions: on the one hand, to meet very diverse needs, but also to support customers in different markets and applications, maintaining technical consistency and a consistent approach. It is precisely this expansion of the operational scope that highlights how simplification today is not just a matter of product but, above all, of vision.
Operating in over 60 countries, Teknomega closely observes the differences between supply chains, geographical areas, and even between companies in the same country. “This is not a typically Italian situation”, the engineer clarifies, "Because every place has its own customs. And these, at first glance, greatly complicate the selection of components, regardless of whether the initial choice was more or less complex. Often, the customer prefers to follow a path already traveled because it feels safer."
On the other hand, complexity is partly physiological, because the electrical panel is a layered system that requires conscious choices.
“What a company like ours must know how to do” Tagliabue clarifies, “it is distinguishing the necessary complexity from that which can be reduced”The Teknomega approach is based on three simplification vectors:
- Breadth of range
- Technical expertise and consultancy approach
- Ability to propose tailor-made alternatives based on the state of the system.
Breadth of range
“There are several ways to bring electricity from one point to another, and as a company we offer various solutions with excellent efficiency.” explains the engineer. “Among them there are flexible foil bars or braided connections, which represent valid alternatives to the classic electrical cable, even in terms of reduced dimensions”, says Tagliabue. "However, we are dealing with a market that is accustomed to considering the cable as a reference, and it has now become part of our job to help the customer look a little further, to the discovery of more innovative and customized technologies.".
While the cable remains a central component of many applications, particularly on circuits with smaller capacities, there are contexts in which the choice of flexible bars allows for simplify wiring, reduce operations and increase overall system efficiency.
“One of the key principles in simplifying electrical panels is the reduction of connection points.”, explains the engineer. “With a pre-formed flexible bar, or even with a standard flexible bar, there is generally no need to add a cable lug: once stripped and drilled for attachment to a bar system or a component – such as a switch – the connection is already ready. By adopting a component more suitable for this type of installation, the customer can eliminate an operation, reduce working times and consequently costs.”. Not to mention that having fewer elements in the connection chain also means greater order and, in many cases, greater reliability.
“Think of systems subject to vibration, such as a transformer or an inductor inside an electrical device.”, continues Tagliabue. "The two parts are usually mechanically separated. A flexible connection, especially a braided one, can absorb and dampen vibrations without transmitting them to the next component, ensuring long-term system efficiency and easier installation."
Technical and design support
For Teknomega, therefore, simplifying does not simply mean supplying a component, but guiding the customer in the most suitable choice. It is an approach that translates into activities Technical dissemination, sharing of best practices, consultancy support and provision of digital tools designed to facilitate sizing and selection of solutions. “In this respect we believe that ΩWARE, the design software available on our website, is an important step in this direction", underlines Tagliabue. “Thanks to it, customers can develop their own electrical panel quickly minimizing the possibility of errors, 'touching with your hands' the possible options”.
Ωware is currently undergoing a major upgrade, scheduled for completion in 2026, which will transform it into a fully-fledged web application. This development confirms Teknomega's commitment to building an increasingly modern ecosystem in its relationship with the market. This is part of a broader digital evolution that has also affected other company assets, such as the website, in recent years.
“This consultancy model”, Tagliabue tells us, “is proving particularly effective in rapidly evolving application areas, where we explore the potential of new technologies together with the customer, from fast chargers to photovoltaic inverters, from energy conservation systems to uninterruptible power supplies, up to electricity generation and data centers”. In these contexts, explains Tagliabue, the value of pre-forming and co-engineering is growing, because they allow customers to reduce internal activities and focus on assembly and testing.
Tailor-made solutions
Emblematic, from this point of view, is the case of a revamping project undertaken by Teknomega alongside an installer. The new electrical panel had to be connected to an existing transformer, with connection points completely different from the original system. “The client, being an installer and not an engineering specialist in this area, asked us for support. Our proposal was a mixed solution, composed of standard bar and bar holder systems together with customized braided power joints, also capable of dampening the vibrations of the transformer” continues Tagliabue. “It was a winning solution, with which we supported the client through a complex project, also obtaining concrete recognition for the quality of the work done.”
A partner to transform complexity into value
In a scenario where systems are becoming increasingly larger and more integrated and the boundaries between different applications are being overcome, for Teknomega simplification does not coincide with a reduction in design ambition, but with the ability to support the customer throughout the project, from feasibility study to delivery, providing tools, skills and tailor-made solutions.
It is precisely at this stage that technical expertise, the availability of standard and customized solutions, and dedicated services such as preforming become crucial levers: not only to identify the most suitable configuration, but also to streamline the client's internal operations and allow them to focus on the phases with the highest added value.
Simplification thus becomes the result of a work of selection, support and co-engineering that streamlines what, at first, may appear complex.
"The market is changing rapidly, moving toward ever-increasing integration of diverse systems," concludes Tagliabue. "Those who are able to be responsive not only with their products, but also with their engineering and service, will be able to meet customer needs, eliminating unnecessary complexity and enhancing design quality."