No one sets out to over engineer a Class 1, Division 2 application. And yet, it happens a lot, and with good reason. Why? Because lives are at stake when you design equipment for hazardous environments.
When you put it that way, incremental redundancies add up quickly. And that's the challenge right there. Can you design equipment for a Class 1, Division 2 application that's truly safe without overspending? It'd be nice if you could spend less and still sleep well at night, wouldn't it? Well, you can.
Innovation: Engineered Containment
c3controls approaches the challenge of providing optimized electrical control products for Class 1, Division 2 applications by focusing on the contact block. "We've developed two types of contact blocks for Class 1, Division 2 hazardous locations: hermetically sealed and factory sealed" says Peter Damesimo, Vice President & COO. "We offer four types of hermetically sealed contact blocks based on the rating, the type of application you intend to use it for, the type of current, and the voltage you'll switch with the device. So you can select a contact block that meets a specific need. You don't have to purchase a device that switches 10 amperes when you only need it to switch 1 ampere. Our factory sealed contact block is rated A600 and Q300 like a standard duty contact block for use in any typical industrial environment. So, between the hermetically sealed and the factory sealed contact blocks, c3controls offers five options with various N.O. and N.C. contact configurations to choose from."
That's more choices than any other manufacturer in standard control—more than Siemens, more than Rockwell Automation, more than Schneider Electric.
The remarkable thing about c3controls' contact blocks isn't only the choices available, but the materials they're made from. "We use Fortron, a high-performance, glass-filled, thermoplastic that's as rugged a material as anything in the world" says Pete Damesimo. "Chemicals and vapors won't degrade it. We use stainless steel screws, stainless steel hardware, stainless steel terminals and, as we all know, stainless steel does an outstanding job resisting corrosion. The material we use in our contact blocks is important because it's the foundation of the product's quality." And using materials that hold up in corrosive and hazardous conditions also ensures that it's not all up to the enclosure to keep people safe because that little explosion remains contained in the contact block.
Perfecting Hazardous Location Pilot Devices
"That's a big advantage" says Geoff Taylor, CEO of c3controls. "Right there, if you can reliably contain that spark in the contact block you've saved money on the sort of enclosure you have to buy." Peter Damesimo adds, "OEMs should know that because we've done the heavy lifting with our 30mm hazardous location pilot devices that using a standard enclosure, using a standard conduit, using standard conductors and connectors are viable options. OEMs save money because they can use standard off the shelf industrial use components and still build into their products the protection and safety their customers and industry standards demand."
"c3controls is different," says Geoff Taylor. "We offer a better, more focused selection of product than anyone else. And we aren't the only ones saying that. The U.S. Military, for instance, uses our products in their Humvees. Some of the biggest companies worldwide also agree: Shell, BASF, Exxon, Dow Chemicals. The people working in these corporations are responsible for submitting recommendations to the National Electrical Code and installation codes that define what hazardous locations are in the first place and what solutions and products are acceptable to meet that challenge. These corporations choose our 30mm hazardous location pilot devices over anyone else's. I'd say that's a pretty convincing testimony that c3controls can't be beat when it comes to Class 1, Division 2, Zone 2 applications."
Three Mindsets
Some manufacturers are committed to a very broad product portfolio. You recognize them by the thickness of the numerous catalogs it takes to promote their products. Many products with numerous variations. Each of these products is purchased by someone, but nobody buys them all. OEMs who purchase standard (high-demand or common) products end up paying a premium for products, not because they are better, but because of the impression that bigger is better. Sometimes it is, more often it's not—it's just overpriced.
Some manufacturers have a narrow product offering. They are often well regarded as specialist, niche-players in the industry. Their expertise is focused on a limited and highly differentiated product portfolio. Often the go-to-guys in their area of specialty, they will often have a product (solution) for every application need—and sometimes can turn around a custom version/product to meet a custom request. You can count on them and their products, they cost a bit more, but are usually a good value. The challenge for OEMs is justifying adding additional suppliers to an already crowded list.
Then there is c3controls. We are a different and a better option for many OEMs—a broad range of products typically used in control panels with enough variety to satisfy many specialized needs without, but not too broad or in too many variations. We stand toe-to-toe with the big boys and the specialists offering a range of electrical control products that have been proven for over forty years to perform in the most demanding applications. Because we don't try to manufacture every type of control, we have become very good at what we do. And because we focus on offering a variety of choice, but not endless variations, we are able to deliver a truly unique solution—and value to the OEM.
We deliver—Class 1, Division 2 products recognized as exceptional in their design, as well as the unique value produced for the user. There's a lot riding on engineering hazardous location solutions, and c3controls helps you address your risk without adding unneeded costs.
Learn more about c3controls Hazardous Location Pilot Devices for Class 1, Division 2 applications here, or call us at 724.775.7926.