Photo by Clinton Adams

Lowering TCO With Custom Integration

by Brandon Dilley

Mar 14, 2023

The traditional method when it comes to custom switchgear is to go to a standard manufacturer and obtain a quote with many specials. This option often seems the most reasonable but is seldom the best choice. Often, this method comes with more downsides than not, namely longer lead times and quality issues due to a lack of capabilities.

With a multitude of orders, many engineers, and a need to churn out a product as fast as possible, it can be nearly impossible to gain the attention required to design and build custom gear!

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

The second method, integration, starts with something called “Bare Bones Gear.” This is equipment that is otherwise referred to as OEM. It contains all of the major necessary components like copper bussing, breakers, and the enclosure which everything is mounted in, but that’s it.

The simplicity and convenience of ordering bare bones gear is a major part of what makes the custom integration process so favorable. See, when you can outsource the time and materials it takes to build the “bones” of switchgear, you can spend a lot more time on what really counts—the inside.

With custom integration, you have a dedicated engineering, manufacturing, and field execution team—all rolled into one. This means improved communication, customized solutions that are built to your scope, flexible design, and overall improved lead-time.

But how can you have improved lead-time when you have to wait for the bare-bones gear to ship?

Well, most manufacturers can build these shells much faster, so the only thing you have to contend with is shipping time. As soon as we receive your receipt of order, we can place the order for the switchgear, and immediately start on the engineering drawings. Once the gear arrives we will have all the subassemblies ready to install in the gear and test.

So what does all this add up to?

Custom integration takes care of your bottom line. With the lower upfront cost, a dedicated maintenance team (meaning longer product life), the total cost of ownership (TCO) will inevitably be much lower! Not to mention, the outcome of your project is much more predictable, meaning less down time and a safer work environment.