Despite appearing to be a modern phenomenon, the first electric vehicle took to the road in 1832 and in 1899, outselling all other available options, including steam and gasoline powered vehicles. Since 1935, with the invention of the internal combustion engines, gasoline-powered vehicles have become the popular choice. This changed in 2016, which saw a record in the sale of electric vehicles worldwide, with 750,000 cars sold.

Manufacturing flexibility has never been as important for industry as it is today. In a world of interconnected devices and smart factories, the ability of a manufacturer to innovate and adapt to its customers’ requirements is vital. For many manufacturers, the road to innovation starts with research and development (R&D). Here Andrew Keith, engineering director of power resistor manufacturer Cressall Resistors, discusses the role ...

South America’s unique geography means it has a wide diversity of wildlife unique to the continent. The llama, anaconder, anteater, agoiti and chinchilla are just some of the 40% of the world’s plant and animal species native to South America. Here, Stewart Wittering, Marketing Director for South America at resistor manufacturer, Cressall Resistors, explains how the South American geography and climate affects the resistor market.

Cressall has purchased an automated fibre laser cutter to ensure its resistors are at the highest level of quality possible. The machine, which has seen an investment of over £0.5 million, will also improve efficiency, with process speed expected to increase fivefold. The equipment, which has been purchased from machine manufacturer Salvagnini, is part of Cressall’s long-term strategy to ensure it remains at the cutting edge of r...

Industrial resistor manufacturer, Cressall, has taken the first steps to launching its products and services in South America. This follows on from the recent opening of the company’s third site in the UK. In March 2017, Cressall visited Colombia to meet potential partners and customers and has now made plans to return early in September and later to visit Chile, Argentina and Peru in order to build partnerships with potential customer...

Following an increase in demand for large scale, high power resistors and load banks, power resistor manufacturer Cressall Resistors has expanded its UK operations. Cressall have taken a lease on a 8,000ft2 unit just five minutes from its UK headquarters in Leicester, allowing the business to work on significantly larger projects.

The East Midlands Chamber Business Awards recognise local businesses that have pioneered new concepts and innovation, excelled in commercial enterprise or set themselves apart with their approach to workforce development. Judges selected Cressall as the overall Business of the Year out of all Leicestershire category winners.

Cressall has demonstrated its design and manufacturing capabilities by producing specialist Neutral Earthing Resistors (NERs) suitable for use in explosive atmospheres. The NERs meet the international IECEx and European ATEX specifications and allow generator manufacturers and end users to protect distributed generation systems. This ensures regulatory compliance and peace of mind for companies operating in explosive environments.

Plant managers across the UK have struggled for years to replace damaged power resistors for one reason or another. Often, the original supplier no longer exists in the UK market, or does not supply resistors any longer, so managers are forced to look for the required components elsewhere. Whether the application is crane control, pumps, fans or compressors, replacement resistors are still needed for legacy systems.

Manufacturing flexibility has never been as important for industry as it is today. In a world of interconnected devices and smart factories, the ability of a manufacturer to innovate and adapt to its customers’ requirements is vital. For many manufacturers, the road to innovation starts with R&D. Here Andrew Keith, Engineering Director, Cressall Resistors, discusses the role of research and development in the manufacturing industry.

According to a report by the British Chamber of Commerce, the final quarter of 2015 witnessed exports fall to below pre-recession levels. Experiencing its poorest performance since 2009, the UK needs companies to focus more on overseas markets if it wants to see exports pick up again. Here Simone Bruckner, Managing Director, Cressall Resistors, shares his three top tips for UK manufacturers considering exporting.

Cressall Resistors, has designed a resistor that operates at 132kV and can withstand a high-voltage impulse of up to 650kV. Furthermore, because it’s intended for use in Australia, it can survive an earthquake or cyclone on an epic scale. Here, Martin Nicholls, Sales Director, Cressall, explains how finite element analysis (FEA) helped ensure that the construction would withstand the most tempestuous elements.

Resistor manufacturer Cressall has developed a cost-effective range of neutral earthing resistors (NERs) designed to help generator manufacturers and end users around the world protect distributed generation systems. The NERs have been specifically designed to be supplied with multiple vacuum contactors, for applications requiring the earthing of multiple parallel-connected generators.

  Cressall have designed a resistor to safely withstand the mechanical and thermal stresses of the 48MJ that is applied for 0.25s at the switch-on of HVDC systems using voltage source converter technology.

Cressall Resistors has worked with training provider Focus Management for Business to deliver a set of NVQ training programmes in business improvement techniques for its plant floor team. 

Leicester based power resistor manufacturer Cressall marked a hundred years of successful business by inviting local UK MP Jonathan Ashworth to visit the factory and discuss the challenges and opportunities the company has experienced over the years. Cressall's managing director, Cy Wilkinson, and the Leicester South MP discussed the challenges of recruiting specialised staff, maximising exports and the status of manufacturing in t...