FORT WORTH, Texas, June 17, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- AZZ incorporated
(NYSE:AZZ), a global provider of electrical products and services
and a provider of galvanizing services, today announced that it has
received US patent number 8,733,853 B2. The patent is for a front
door latching mechanism for AZZ's line of arc-resistant medium
voltage switchgear, which is designed to avoid catastrophic damage
to personnel and nearby equipment in an arc fault event.
An arc fault is a malfunction within electrical switchgear. In
an arc fault, very high electrical current deviates from its normal
path and conducts through the air between phases and/or to ground,
generating extremely hot gases and significant explosions,
endangering personnel and nearby equipment.
Tom Ferguson, chief executive
officer of AZZ, said, "This newly patented front door latching
mechanism represents an innovative step forward in switchgear
design as it provides the ability for visual confirmation to assure
that the door to the switchgear enclosure is properly latched and
that the effects of an arc fault would remain contained within the
switchgear. Our door contains the only latch in the industry
allowing for complete visual confirmation of closure, as all other
brands of switchgear doors use either bolts and/or latches that are
concealed to secure the doors in the closed position. If concealed,
it is not possible for personnel to visibly verify that all
latching points are fully engaged, putting people and equipment at
risk."
Mr. Ferguson continued, "AZZ is committed to making power
generation, transmission and distribution inherently safe,
reliable, sustainable and efficient. Our new line of arc-resistant
switchgear is a shining example of how AZZ employees bring that
vision to life with innovative new products. AZZ's robust utility
grade metal-clad switchgear has been the standard of excellence in
the industry for decades, and the new arc-resistant line is no
exception."
AZZ's arc resistant switchgear, with its newly patented doors,
is designed to withstand the force of arc fault events and to
prevent the unwanted escape of hot gases by properly routing those
gases through a vent outlet. Arc-resistant switchgear houses medium
voltage electrical switchgear components such as circuit breakers,
potential transformers, and fuses. Medium voltage switchgear is
available from 5kV to 38kV.
AZZ arc resistant switchgear is available now, and the design
meets industry requirements for both the
United States and Canadian markets. For more information,
visit http://www.azz.com/arc-resistant-switchgear.
About AZZ
AZZ incorporated is a global provider of
specialty electrical equipment and highly engineered services to
the power generation, transmission, distributions, and industrial
markets as well as a leading provider of hot dip galvanizing
services to the North American steel fabrication market.
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995
Certain statements herein about our expectations of
future events or results constitute forward-looking statements for
purposes of the safe harbor provisions of The Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. You can identify forward-looking
statements by terminology such as, "may," "should," "expects,"
"plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "predicts,"
"potential," "continue," or the negative of these terms or other
comparable terminology. Such forward-looking statements are based
on currently available competitive, financial and economic data and
management's views and assumptions regarding future events. Such
forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and investors
must recognize that actual results may differ from those expressed
or implied in the forward-looking statements. This release may
contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and
uncertainties including, but not limited to, changes in customer
demand and response to products and services offered by AZZ,
including demand by the power generation markets, electrical
transmission and distribution markets, the industrial markets, and
the hot dip galvanizing markets; prices and raw material cost,
including zinc and natural gas which are used in the hot dip
galvanizing process; changes in the economic conditions of the
various markets that AZZ serves, foreign and domestic, customer
request delays of shipments, acquisition opportunities, currency
exchange rates, adequacy of financing, and availability of
experienced management employees to implement AZZ's growth
strategy. AZZ has provided additional information regarding risks
associated with the business in AZZ's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended February 28,
2014 and other filings with the SEC, available for viewing
on AZZ's website at www.azz.com and on the SEC's website at
www.sec.gov. You are urged to consider these factors carefully in
evaluating the forward-looking statements herein and are cautioned
not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements,
which are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement.
These statements are based on information as of the date hereof and
AZZ assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events, or
otherwise.
Contact:
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Paul Fehlman, Chief
Financial Officer
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AZZ incorporated
817-810-0095
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Internet:
www.azz.com
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Lytham Partners
602-889-9700
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Joe Dorame or Robert
Blum
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SOURCE AZZ incorporated