Tdworld 18729 Screen Shot 2019 06 03 At 3 11 26 Pm
Tdworld 18729 Screen Shot 2019 06 03 At 3 11 26 Pm
Tdworld 18729 Screen Shot 2019 06 03 At 3 11 26 Pm
Tdworld 18729 Screen Shot 2019 06 03 At 3 11 26 Pm
Tdworld 18729 Screen Shot 2019 06 03 At 3 11 26 Pm

Eriez Becomes Majority Shareholder of FaultCurrent Ltd.

June 2, 2019
Based in the United Kingdom, FaultCurrent Ltd. invented a passive magnetic fault current limiter.

Eriez is now the majority shareholder of United Kingdom-based FaultCurrent Ltd., which developed a unique passive magnetic fault current limiter called the pmFCL. Its design uses permanent magnets at its core to provide a solution for electrical power grid reinforcement.

“Making this investment in FaultCurrent Ltd. was a natural choice for Eriez as we are constantly developing and investing in breakthrough products that keep us on the cutting edge," says Tim Shuttleworth, Eriez president and CEO.  

The pmFCL protects utility electrical distribution networks from unanticipated power surges and new demands placed on aging and already overburdened electrical infrastructures from the connection of distributed energy sources. The patented technology behind this next generation fault current limiter has been achieved through a combination of magnetic engineering insights, including using ferrite permanent magnets to saturate a network of inductors.

The pmFCL provides additional fault current headroom, presenting a low impedance during normal “in service” current flows until an abnormal fault current instantaneously forces the device into a higher impedance state, and in doing so, allows time for the power system’s existing infrastructure to react to isolate the fault safely.

Post-fault, the pmFCL instantly recovers, ready to protect the network again. Unlike other fault current limiters, pmFCL’s breakthrough design is truly “fit-and-forget” technology. This self-contained three phase unit is delivered to the site as a complete unit that is ready to go once placed on a concrete pad. The pmFCL requires no maintenance beyond simple inspection.

FaultCurrent Ltd. was incorporated in July 2012 to develop a new generation of fault current limiters based on pioneering research and development work carried out by Dr. Jeremy Hall at the Wolfson Centre for Magnetics at Cardiff University. Early stage funding was provided by Fusion IP, now incorporated into the IP Group.

Eriez-Europe Chairman Andy Lewis says, “The project attracted attention--and subsequently grants--from the Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) department of the UK government.” Lewis explains, “Eriez Investments Ltd. has a majority shareholding position, having cumulatively invested a seven-figure sum in the past two years, with the IP Group and FaultCurrent Ltd. company directors and former directors holding the remaining shares.”

FaultCurrent Ltd.’s Board of Directors is comprised of Andy Lewis, Martin Ansell, Dr. Jeremy Hall and Andy Cheer. For more information about FaultCurrent Ltd., visit http://faultcurrentltd.com.

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