A contract to supply, install, commission, service and support uninterruptible power supply (UPS) solutions so far worth about R5 million to Africa's largest food retailer, the Shoprite Group, is being implemented by SIS (Structured Infrastructure Solutions), a company in the JSE-listed technology group, Square One Solutions.
The locally manufactured UPS units are designed for South African conditions and cover a range of capacities up to 40kVA, depending upon the size and requirements of individual Shoprite and Checkers and U-Save stores. They ensure ongoing operation of tills, bar code readers, store computers and servers as well as other IT equipment without loss of data. Customers can, therefore, continue their shopping and receive uninterrupted service from the tills.
The standard battery back-up on the units at Checkers stores picks up the power load for 25 minutes whenever a mains power failure occurs. According to SIS, this provides the stores with an ample safety margin as standby generator power kicks in within a minute or two. Once utility mains power is restored, the standby generator set shuts down and the UPS resumes feeding clean, corrected mains power to the store systems.
Different requirements apply for the U-Save stores where the UPS units have extended battery pack support that will keep the operations online for up to six hours when mains power fails.
A most important function of the UPS units is the cleaning up of power supplied from both the mains and the standby generator, ensuring it is consistently surge and sag-free to prevent damage to the store's IT systems.
The UPS systems are upgradeable to cater for growth at the stores and the Shoprite Checkers IT department has remote access via computer network in order to monitor aspects of the power support systems such as UPS usage, standard of power supply and environmental conditions, among others.
Square One Solutions Group's national footprint enables SIS to provide the Shoprite Group with 24-hour support and services 365 days a year, including preventive maintenance, all tailored to suit Shoprite's requirements.
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Square One Solutions Group
Square One Solutions Group is listed on the Software & Computer Services sector of the JSE Limited. It focuses on providing niche, vertically applied technology solutions, has a national footprint and more than 23 years of experience in the South African market. The group's primary solution offerings encompass law enforcement and authentication, industrial printing coding and marking, infrastructure and facility solutions, system integration services and telecommunications and service provider solutions, all supported by a tailored suite of finance and leasing solutions and services. The key target market is enterprise, SME, corporate and government clients and the group focuses on coupling innovation, technology and service to achieve value for clients as well as superior returns and earnings growth for shareholders. For more information, visit www.sq1.co.za.
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