ESL News & Events

Recent Events:

(Corona, CA July 2007)
StormSwitch™ Introduction
ESL Power Systems has just unveiled its latest innovative, safety-interlocked- product. The ESL StormSwitch™ provides power connectors and a manual transfer switch allowing a quick, safe generator hook-up and operation for any building.

Several state statutes are now requiring that select gas stations and/or other types of businesses be equipped with generator provisions and a transfer switch in case of an emergency power outage.

Safety should always be a top concern. With ESL’s proprietary mechanism, interlocked molded case switches (or circuit breakers) prevent cross-connecting power sources – backfeeding the utility grade is unsafe. Additional safety features include an interlocked door and dead-front panel.

Once installed by a licensed electrician, the StormSwitch™ is so easy and safe to operate that only basic training is required.

(San Diego, March 2007)
Ports 2007 Show
On March 2007, ESL’s sales and marketing team had the opportunity to exhibit at the Ports 2007 in La Costa San Diego. This is the second time that ESL exhibits in this event, and it was definitely as successful as the first time in Houston 2005. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) organizes the Ports Conference and Exhibition every two years, and it’s definitely an excellent forum to network with people from the Engineering and Port community.

Without a doubt the consensus is that the Port industry is enjoying good times but also facing many new challenges. It was amazing to experience first hand the importance that many ports are giving to environmental issues. Green technologies are being sought in many areas to reduce pollution and to become environmentally sound. For us at ESL, it’s exciting to witness the level of awareness that reigns in the industry.

(Mexico, November 2006)
TOC 2006 Americas
Our team participated in another excellent trade show in Mexico. TOC Americas is now 5 years old, and we are proud to continue being a part of this prestigious event. It was great to see old friends and get acquainted with new ones.

TOC Americas was the perfect opportunity to launch our new Power Connection Solutions for refrigerated container application Catalog. The new catalog was very well received by conference attendees. We look forward to participating in the next edition of TOC Americas in Panama.

(Long Beach, California Sept. 26, 2006)
BBQ at California United Terminals
Earlier this month, the ESLPWR1 RV took another trip to Long Beach to thank California United Terminals for their business. ESL hosted another great BBQ lunch for all of our good friends at CUT. The weather was just as great as the food, and the turn out was phenomenal.

We hope that this relationship keeps growing, and with a bit of luck we’ll be having another BBQ lunch soon.

(Ensenada, Mexico May 28, 2006)
BBQ at Ensenada Intl. Terminal
On May 28 the ESL team drove South of the border to Baja California in the ESLPWR1 – our new company RV. Once in Ensenada we hosted a BBQ lunch for our good friends at Ensenada International Terminal. The turn out from EIT was excellent and not even the wind nor drizzle stopped them from coming to Cruise Port Village where we had set up camp.

Ensenada International Terminal and the Hutchison Ports Holdings Mexico group have been excellent customers and friends for quite some time. We were very pleased to have the opportunity to share with them and show our appreciation for their increasing business. The team at ESL looks forward to growing our relationship with HPH Mexico.

(Corona, California, April 18, 2006)
ESL Power Systems, Inc.
ESL has released a new brochure that addresses how shipyards and dockyards can utilize safety-interlocked industrial maritime electrical distribution systems that provide greater safety and protection from arc flash hazards.

The new brochure, Plug into Shipyard Safety, discusses a broad range of custom built safety-interlocked industrial power distribution systems that are safer than traditional pin and sleeve type equipment. The electrical distribution systems meet NEMA Type 4X and UL watertight requirements while delivering rugged, watertight performance and superior protection for maritime facilities.

“Massive amounts of electrical power are used in the building, repairing and modernizing of ships,” said Michael Hellmers, VP Sales for ESL. “OSHA and NFPA 70E require increased user/operator electrical safety regarding arc flash hazards. ESL’s safety-interlocked devices are engineered to provide greater operator safety thanks to our unique designs that deliver the perfect combination of increased safety and superb durability in flexible configurations.”

“ESL’s new Shipyard capabilities brochure is designed to help decision makers involved in the modernization, maintenance, or expansion of industrial maritime facilities choose safer electrical components systems,” said Carlos Valero, Marketing Manager for ESL. “Today, facilities managers need to upgrade their electrical distribution systems and operator procedures. ESL builds an entire safety-interlocked product line of multi-gang power distribution centers, power outlets, welding and portable spider-box power units, and watertight plugs to help meet these needs.”

The company’s Web site – – provides additional product specifications for professionals seeking safer solutions for industrial electrical power distribution.

(Febuary 2006)
P&O Ports Canada (P&OPC) has implemented a new reefer plug system from ESL Power Systems...
P&O Ports Canada (P&OPC) has implemented a new reefer plug system from ESL Power Systems that separates the reefer socket and actuator pin so that the containers are energized from behind the plug and socket assembly.

Since it took over the Centerm terminal in Vancouver in February 2003, P&OPC has experienced lost time incidents where workers have been injured energizing reefer containers. Centerm’s Andy Green explains that because there is no standard for male reefer plugs fitted to containers, their quality is variable and some of the cheaper Chinese plugs have problems with ingress of water or salt.

Connecting plugs is a tiresome, repetitive task and ILWU longshoremen were not properly checking they were clean and dry. There were cases of flashovers and other explosions, some of which caused injuries and prompted longshoremen to refuse the task of connecting plugs.

There is little a terminal operator can do about the quality of plugs on reefer container cables, so a solution at the outlet had to be found. P&OPC initially thought of making a tool that would enable workers to push the actuator rod in from a safe distance, but this was abandoned as impractical. ESL was then asked to design a system where the reefer container can be energized with the longshoremen safely away from the front of the receptacle so they are not injured if there is an explosion.

ESL developed a new outlet socket in 4-gang and 3-gang assemblies and has supplied 34 units of each for the project. The units feature the actuator rod and receptacle on the opposite side of the enclosure to protect the operator in the event of a defective male plug causing an explosion. A stainless steel shroud around the plugs also ensures that any explosion is directed away from the rear of the enclosure where the worker is standing.

The units are electrically interlocked to prevent electrical contact being made or broken under load and there is a circuit breaker with auxiliary contact for each modular reefer outlet. Fuse holders are also fitted for additional overcurrent protection. Each outlet has an indicator light for visual status monitoring and each assembly has an 8-point auxiliary contact terminal block to enable remote monitoring.

Initially P&OPC installed the rear-actuated outlets on new reefer towers being added as part of the Centerm redevelopment project, but it has now decided to refit the whole terminal with the design. Green says that the extra cost of 25-30 per cent over standard front-energizing sockets is less than the expense of a single lost time injury and associated investigations and reports.

With the design of the new sockets, and reefer towers that are 8ft wide including walkways, Green is confident that P&OPC has created a safe working environment where longshoremen are not using ladders and are protected from electrical explosions. While it might be possible, if uncomfortable, to reach around and push the actuator pin from the front of the unit, workers have been trained not to attempt this and have accepted the new system. In fact, the ILWU is very pleased with it and may push for it in other terminals, Green said.

More Info: Spec Sheet

(November 29 - December 1, 2005)
TOC Americas Show 2005
Once again, our ESL team was present at the TOC Americas, this time in Savannah Georgia. As in previous occasions, the event was an excellent forum to discuss the challenges and opportunities faced by the port terminal operator industry. This was ESL’s third time exhibiting at the event. In the last years we have witnessed TOC Americas’ growth and success. This year too, the event was well organized and well attended.

At the exhibition and at networking events, we were very pleased to talk to our existing customers, prospects and friends from the industry. The consensus was that the industry is still enjoying good times with strong international trade and increasing cargo volumes. However there are many challenges to overcome in the environmental and infrastructure fields.

We enjoyed being part of TOC Americas 2005 and look forward to seeing all of you at TOC Americas 2006 in Acapulco Mexico.

(July 29, 2005)
ESL Power Systems, Inc.
Today ESL’s new website has been launched! Totally reconstructed from top to bottom, this new site not only is more pleasing to the eye but also contains more information. Along with our new “ESL Online Catalog” (coming soon), this new tool should help our customers in many new ways.