Troy Panels celebrates a decade of success

11th April 2016

Troy Panels celebrates a decade of success

Manufactured and tested to the highest specification, Troy Panels supplies a range of control panels to various sectors in Ireland and the UK.
Products include Form 2 and 4 distribution panels, MCC boards, PLC controls, bespoke combination unit systems, panels for biomass burners and custom-built panels for the food and beverage sector.
The firm is also a specialist when it comes to bespoke poultry controllers, electrical panels for custom-built grain drying facilities, panels for a wide range of ventilation systems, panels to control feeding systems and heating control systems.

All the control panels are designed, built and programmed exactly to the clients’ needs within the firm’s own workshop. Not only does the company produce its own control panels but it also acts as a manufacturer for other control system requirements. Manufacturing is carried out in-house by a team of panel builders who have years of experience and who consistently achieve high levels of quality.
“Each and every panel is built to the clients’ specification, and our efficient manufacturing techniques allow for an unusually fast delivery time and a cost-effective solution,” says Gareth Scott, Director at Troy Panels. “We also work very closely with machine manufacturers to solve automation issues from prototype design through to fully functioning machines.”
Using the latest industry standards, Troy Panels works with companies to improve process flow, save time and ultimately costs. The team at Troy has found over the past few years that, with profit margins getting smaller, they’ve been approached by companies from almost every sector to help them improve a process or control system.
The firm has been fulfilling this request through the use of PLCs (Programmable Logic Controllers). “These are basically industrial computers that can be programmed to suit every application. They also have the flexibility to be user friendly with parameter inputs to be entered by a general operative via a touchscreen or webpage. These types of systems (depending on process) typically have a very quick payback time,” says Gareth.
Typical automation examples provided by the firm include solutions to help improve or speed up a certain process within the food and beverage industry and control systems for energy-saving biomass burners.
The firm also supplies power factor correction systems that reduce the effect that ‘inductive’ AC motors and light fittings have on energy costs. Power factor correction units add capacitance to cancel the inductance which causes the wattless hours. Troy Panels states that PFC units often pay for themselves in a matter of months, regardless of the initial cost.
Managing energy going to motors in heavy industry (for pumps, fans etc) can also lead to significant savings as, quite often, motors don’t need to be running at full speed all of the time. A reduction in speed of 10% reduces the energy used by some 27% and, if the speed is reduced by 20%, there is a 50% reduction in energy consumed. Variable speed drives, supplied by Troy Panels, allow for this reduction.
According to Gareth, the best way for a company to save energy is to understand its energy consumption inside out.
“Knowing how much energy each part uses, what is necessary and what is being wasted is extremely helpful. By following four simple steps, any company can reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption. They just need to review the process, collect and analyse data, follow recommendation and implementation and continually review the process.”