Leading producer of Australian-manufactured switchboards, Fuji SMBE Macquarie, has relocated to a high-tech, new, and customer-responsive facility at 39 Lyn Parade in Prestons, NSW, to better serve its customers.

The new facility, combined with the Fuji SMBE Harwal facility, brings the Group’s local manufacturing facilities to more than 6,000m² with a specialised focus on Australian design, manufacture and testing of engineered modular and custom built low voltage electrical switchboards and motor control technology.

Fuji SMBE Macquarie’s switchboards are fully backed by local service, and provide advantages for applications including industrial, commercial, hospitality, data, health, infrastructure, rail, mining, retail and financial institutions.

“The demand for Australian-made products has increased since Covid-19, so our move to a larger facility that can better serve our customers was well timed,” said Mr Peter Silsby, Managing Director, Fuji SMBE Macquarie, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Electric.

“Our new Prestons facilities have been specially designed to produce low voltage switchboards that have optimum levels of safety, efficient performance and cost-efficiency, to deliver the best value to our customers,” he said.

Fuji SMBE Macquarie’s product ranges include the iNTELECT G3 Modular Switchboard System, pictured, which features the strength and reliability of custom-built assemblies, coupled with the flexibility of modular construction.

Fuji SMBE Macquarie’s products extend from basic Form 1 Distribution Boards to fully type tested 7000A, 100kA, Form 4 Main Switchboards and withdrawable Motor Control Switchboards.

Advantages of Fuji SMBE Macquarie’s local designs include:

• Custom sizing to suit particular site spaces and overcome any challenges – including a customised choice of height, depth and width
• Versatile and flexible custom (fully welded) or modular construction, which offers both rigidity and adaptability
• Front and rear access where required, and connection from the top, bottom or sides of panels
• Type-tested bus bar systems up to 7000 amps
• Flexibility to enhance, adapt and extend as performance requirements change over years of service
• Ability to meet short delivery lead times as required

“We know that technology is constantly evolving, and all our products are designed to be highly flexible and adaptable, to futureproof each client’s investment,” said Mr Silsby.

Standards Compliance

Fuji SMBE Macquarie designs and manufactures its electrical switchboards to be compliant with AS/NZS 61439, which specifies stringent verification requirements on switchboard manufacturers.

“New updates included in this standard focus on design verification and validation from temperature rise to short circuit and corrosion testing. Overall, it impacts the design and verification process for low voltage switchboards, with the primary focus on operator and product safety,” explains Mr Silsby.

“The new standard goes hand-in-hand with ISO9001 Quality Assurance certification, which Fuji SMBE Macquarie has in place for our new facilities. ISO certification demonstrates our commitment to continual improvement of the system and the assurance of conformity to statutory and regulatory requirements,” he said.