Launch of electrical power PODs in Norway

CTS Nordics and Elcor have founded a new joint venture company, NordicEPOD AS, for the production of electrical power PODs in Stavanger, Norway. These electrical PODs are in first line for the Scandinavian market and second for the European market.

The initiative for this joint venture is based on the current rapid market growth in the need for sustainable electrical power PODs in an increasingly electrified industrial world. NordicEPOD’s new generation of electrical power PODs are designed specifically for the requirements of a harsher Scandinavian climate with a focus on green production and standardisation rather than the tailor-made solutions common on the market today. In a perfect dovetail of proven industry experience, there is no better match than the joint venture between one of the largest switchboard manufacturers, Elcor, and the leading design and build data centre contractor CTS Nordics.

This new generation of electrical PODs are designed to four standard power feeds, namely 0,5MW, 1MW, 1,5MW and 2MW. All NordicEPOD contain state-of-the-art Power Monitoring Systems (PMS) and integration of Building Management Systems (BMS) produced by subsidiary companies. The design is fully based on maximum standardisation of the main components.

Not only the design, but also the complete assembly will be approved by Norwegian authorities in addition to meeting the requirements of all relevant European standards. In the design and production, sustainability and a green aspect of the power PODs have been integrated.

NordicEPOD’s manufacturing facility is being established in Stavanger, Norway and scheduled to start production early September 2022. The advantages of this location include close proximity to the main Elcor switchboard factory, the off-shore oil and gas industry and Port logistics access.

Digitalisation of each step in the production process provides customers with an easy-to-follow digital system for full review of their product from production start through to testing and balancing. Each POD leaving the factory will be fully commissioned following the highest possible standards. The POD assembly lines will follow the quality principles used in the car manufacturing industry and LEAN processes.

In response to the current inflexibility in pricing and delivery of electrical power PODs, NordicEPOD provides a solution that will be delivered in a shorter time-frame than current market standards and below market price.

CTS has been established 25 years ago by Paul Wardell as a specialised design and build contractor with sole focus in the data centre industry. Since 2019 the CTS Nordics Group of Companies has rapidly expanded their operations out of the headquarters in Oslo to become a highly reputable data centre design and build contractor, whereby electrical PODs are one of the main components.

ELCOR Group of Companies is Scandinavia's leading supplier of electrical panels for power and control systems with over 30 years of experience. ELCOR delivers installations to clients in all industries such as offshore, maritime, land-based industries and data centres. ELCOR’s subsidiary, Gapit AS, is a company committed to bridging the gap between the automation world and the open-source IT world, and is a strategic partner of NordicEPOD.

The Start-up of the joint venture is led by two CEOs, Knut Husebø and Filip Schelfhout, until a full professional management team will take over. NordicEPOD will also have fully operational after-sales and service organisations located in Stavanger with additional branches expanding into Sweden, Finland and Denmark, followed by future expansion in different European countries.

The NordicEPOD manufacturing operation is a proof that the Norwegian data centre industry’s supply chain and ecosystem is creating value and jobs.