Fast installation and high reliability: that’s cable protection!
ABB provides PMA cable protection systems to passenger boats used on the Königssee.
The shipping traffic on this Bavarian lake has been fully electric since 1909. In order for it to work efficiently, Anton Dax, the manager at the electric workshop for Königssee shipping, and his eight employees take care of the electric maintenance of the fleet.
Currently the electrical wiring on the roof of the passenger boats is being gradually upgraded to a PMA cable protection system from ABB. In particular, the leads to the main floodlight are protected. This ensures that if there is poor visibility or an accident, sufficient lighting can be provided.
In the interview, Anton Dax explains why he opted for the ABB solutions.
Anton, what is your main task with the shipping industry on the Königssee?
As a master electrician, I and my eight employees take care about all the challenges that arise in the 18 boats of our Königssee fleet.
What influenced your decision to use PMA cable protection?
We always had problems with the durability of our cables outdoors. Use and UV-radiation made cables brittle, which meant that they had to be replaced. So I looked for a solution that is durable and simple to install, while offering high reliability.
What was your specific task in this project?
I had to find a technical solution that reduces the work needed to replace the cables, allowing for simple installation and, in the end, being the most cost-effective solution. After all, our boats should always be ready to be used by our guests, and not fail due to technical problems.
What was the biggest challenge?
Our boats are used 364 days a year. We do not operate them only on Christmas Eve and if the ice on the lake is too thick. The solution thus has to be very reliable and, at the same time, easy and fast to install. The upgrade was not the only task: in new units, the system had to be adapted as well, this is the case, for example, in our 19th boat, which is currently being built at the shipyard.
The technical consulting offered by the ABB sales representative Holger Quest was very useful, we found a solution and overcame all the problems in no time.
What have you been able to achieve with the project?
With the PMA cable protection system from ABB, we have fewer overheads. The cable conduits offer long-term protection, and the costly replacement of cables will not be needed in the future. Thus, we save money, work — and, in the end, it is also more environmentally friendly.
What do you enjoy the most about your work?
The technical challenges are very diverse. I have liked this right from the start. We have to find a simple solution to the most complicated problems. The hardest thing was to learn direct voltage technology practically from scratch after my training as an electrician. During my master training, I could expand my professional knowledge hugely. Today, at our small electric workshop on the Königssee, we offer first-class service.
The ABB cable protection products are made by PMA, a 100% subsidiary of ABB acquired in 2012.