Custom Consoles control desk chosen by Scottish Power
February 19, 2008Custom Consoles has completed a large technical supervision desk for the control room at Scottish Power's Cruachan hydroelectric generating plant in the Highlands.
Installed inside a man-made cavern 1 km below ground, the desk is a large delta-shaped design accommodating a master control pod and eleven LCD computer monitor screens. The control room is used to regulate the operation of Cruachan Power Station, an ultra-modern pumped-storage facility deep within Ben Cruachan on the shores of Loch Awe in the Scottish highlands. Water stored in a reservoir high on the mountain is channelled down at high pressure through two 5-metre diameter pipes into four generators to generate electricity during periods of high demand. At night, when demand for power is at its lowest, electricity from the National Grid is then fed back into the generators which double as pumps to cycle the water back up to the high-level reservoir.
Based on Custom Consoles' Module-R product range, the Scottish Power control desk is 4,500 mm in width and finished in variegated granite grey. It is constructed from three integrated desk units (left, centre and right) supported by six forward-angled extruded aluminium legs. The worksurface is hard-wearing Marmoleum finished in variegated granite grey. The contract also included six two-door cabinets for storing the personal effects of shift staff plus 11 Ergotron LX arms which allow the LCD monitor screens to be adjusted easily to suit the viewing requirements of individual operators.
"Custom Consoles' Module-R was the obvious choice for this application," comments Cruachan Power Station engineer Martyn Cunningham. "It provided a design-base from which we could specify what amounts to a fully customised IT-based control console without the long lead time usually incurred with bespoke technical furniture. The desk is attractively styled and built to the high structural and ergonomic standards we required for round-the-clock operation. It also meets with the requirements of the Display Screen Equipment (DSE) regulations."
Custom Consoles was chosen and contracted by Remtech Computer Security which specialises in providing physical protection of media and hardware against harzards such as flooding, fire and theft. Based in Epsom, Surrey, Remtech UK is supported by Remtech Nordic and Remtech Netherlands to provide product and service throughout Scandinavia and Northern Europe. It also has dealerships based in Russia, Latvia and Slovenia. Remtech has completed many projects in these areas, ranging from 10 square metre communications rooms to 3,000 square metre data centres.
"We are very pleased to have been chosen for such a significant contract in the energy sector," adds Custom Consoles Sales Manager Gary Fuller. "Cruachan Power Station is an excellent example of the way in which electricity from generators operating in standby mode at night can be harnessed to offset peak-period demand."
Custom Consoles' Module-R enables studio designers and system integrators to pick-and-mix from a range of desk sections which can be supplied quickly and assembled easily. Technical control desks can be tailored to individual requirements from a range of high-quality desk pods, base sections, worktops, rear tops, end-panel modules and metal legs. Module-R desk pods are available as single, dual and triple-bay sections with a choice of 3U, 6U or 8U chassis capacity. Cabinet construction is in high-quality MDF with Marmoleum or Linoleum worksurfaces. Cable management ducts are integrated into all desk sections.
Founded in 1996, Custom Consoles Ltd is an independent company manufacturing a broad range of control-room furniture. This includes motorised, manually-adjustable and fixed-height units plus fan-cooled sound-insulated equipment housings. Custom Consoles has built its name in the design and manufacture of bespoke furniture to a client base that includes major corporations in Britain, mainland Europe and the Far East. Custom Consoles Ltd is active worldwide.
Media contacts:
Gary Fuller, Custom Consoles: +44 (0)1525 379 909
David Kirk, Stylus Media Consultants: +44 (0)1342 311 983