GE’s Consumer & Industrial’s Power Quality business has announced a so-called pure sine wave Digital Energy branded range of UPS's, the IT Series 600-3,000 VA UPS, which it says allows owners and managers of server, data storage, networking, telecommunications and point-of-sale applications to ‘stop worrying about downtime or equipment damage from power outages, voltage fluctuations and transient surges’.

Available in 600, 1,000, 1,500, 2,000 and 3,000 VA tower and 19in (48.3cm) rackmount models, the IT Series 600-3,000 VA UPS features pure sine wave, fully-digitised, microprocessor-controlled Automatic Voltage Regulation (AVR) at 50/60Hz, based on hot swappable, user-replaceable batteries.

“Power supplies don’t need to be as erratic as the weather,” says Brad Thrash, a North American UPS product manager at the unit. “This UPS range offers cost-effective, peaceof- mind reliability in the kind of critical applications often hurt by lightning, surges, short circuits or overloads.”

Featuring RS-232, USB and accessorycard communications slots, the GE Digital Energy IT Series 600-3,000 VA UPS also uses its proprietary MONITORing management and monitoring software, capable of interfacing with all major operating system platforms.

The kit also features front access to facilitate easy battery replacement, front-panel, multifunction indicators with audible alarms and six LEDs that allow quick understanding of overload, online and battery status, and extra communication slots that accept optional simple network management protocol (SNMP) communication cards.

MIDDLE EAST REMAINS HOT MARKET FOR UPS - FOR NOW
Market watchers Frost & Sullivan have just released a close look at the booming Middle Eastern UPS market – but warns the current strong pace of uptake is unlikely to extend beyond 2015.



GE's IT Series 600-3,000 VA UPS

The Middle Eastern UPS market is a highly competitive and growing market with multinational suppliers dominating the market, it says, a situation that is increasing with fewer barriers for the entry of new participants, especially in the low end power range (up to 20kVA). Price, after-sales service, and delivery are moving to centre stage as the key differentiating factors in addressing the demand of the market, it adds.

For the next five years Frost & Sullivan expects the region to attain double-digit growth rates owing to a steady demand from the oil and gas, manufacturing, banking, financial services, insurance (BFSI), telecom sectors and others. Most countries in the region, despite the global economic freeze, continue to upscale investment for construction and upgrade or expansion of infrastructure such as ports, airports, metro rail, railways, roads, special economic or free trade zones and so on.

But, post 2015, the market is unlikely to sustain such strong growth as the boom in major end-user segments is expected to stagnate. At the same time, there are possible blocks to maximising opportunity in the ongoing positive environment, it warns.

Most distributors operating in the Middle East, especially in the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries, also sell associated electrical and IT equipment, diluting the focus on UPS and they are not always specialists, lacking detailed knowledge and expertise, particularly in three phase.

Another challenging aspect in the Middle East region is the varying customs procedures across countries. Due to this, suppliers catering to multiple countries seem to be finding it difficult to adapt to multiple customs procedures and are being forced to rely on pan-Arabian or master distributors instead of appointing a strong local direct presence.

Some countries in the region, such as Iran, have also imposed a high import duty (up to 30%), making it difficult for major suppliers to sustain and grow in the local UPS market. At times, the high import duty restricts end-user access to new technology, which would have allowed them to reduce the cost of ownership.

In addition, trends indicate that some industrial end users (textile industries and others) in power-deficit countries, such as Pakistan, use diesel generators for their power requirements instead of relying on grid power. This has negatively impacted UPS sales. Moreover, owing to the recent economic downturn, current and future projects in some of the countries within the region have been put on hold.

And on the pricing front, prices of UPS systems across all power ranges have declined over the past two years due to intense price competition. Low-price products imported from China and Taiwan have also contributed to price reduction.

Some suppliers are selling under-rated UPSs in countries such as Pakistan to gain higher margins, affecting other suppliers that are selling their products at the correct rating. This trend is prominent in the less than 1kVA and, to some extent, in the 1-5kVA power range.

To sustain in this scenario, advises the analyst firm, UPS suppliers must strengthen their raw material sourcing processes, enhance supply chain efficiency, and expand the distributor network. Superior product quality, responsive after-sales service, timely delivery and support for product customisation are vital for success in the region.