Penticton Herald
Underground mines used to be dank and dangerous places, as expressed in one miner's sing:"It's dark as a dungeon, way down in the mine ..." But that was before modern technology shone new light ... Electric power has become one of the mainstays of mining operations ... electricity that is supplied through cables (often hundreds of feet long) connected to a power source. ... Providing the power to light the mines and run the machinery is one of the jobs of a highly specialized Penticon company, Unit Electrical Engineering Ltd. The firm was established in 1990 ... click here to download article (PDF)

UEE's involvement of the construction on Mount Polley Mine in Likely, BC included complete design, equipment manufacturing, refurbishing and complete installation of all electrical systems ... click here to download an add featured in 'BC Report - June 30, 1997' issue (PDF)

... click here to download a copy of certificate (PDF)

A submersible rating for this low voltage coupler system opens many doors to new industries. For example, underground environments such as in microtunneling are often subject to moisture in the air as well as on the ground

.... many products on the market have a water-proof rating, but ... UEE's 1.1kV Cable Couplers, on the other hand, have received the highest NEMA rating of 6P. This rating means that these couplers can actually be submersed under water for up to 100 feet without system failure ...

For medium & high voltage couplers see .... "PRODUCTS"

1.1kV Coupler

Dowload 1.1kV Coupler Brochure

Ivan Ivandic of Unit Electrical Engineering Ltd. and Paul Bayston of Wismer & Rawlings Electric Ltd. are pleased to announce that effective August 1, 2000, UEE will be operated in partnership by Ivan Ivandic and Wismer & Rawlings Electric Ltd..

The association between these two well-established companies brings together a combination of expertise for electrical apparatus manufacturing and service.

Unit Electrical Engineering has earned a reputation in the mining industry worldwide, for its capability to design and manufacture equipment for various applications in open pit and underground mining operations.

Wismer & Rawlings designs, manufactures, services and distributes electrical apparatus for use in a wide variety of industries.

With this combined strength, the companies are committed to provide integrated solutions, products and turn-key services to their customers.

... click here to download article (PDF)

U.S. Patent 6,220,902
Canada Patent ________

... click here to download article (PDF) ... available soon

• Effective January 1, 2003 Wismer & Rawlings Electric Ltd. (WRE) has acquired the remaining shares of Unit Electrical Engineering Ltd. (UEE). WRE and related companies now own 100% of UEE. We are very pleased that Ivan Ivandic will remain as General Manager of UEE. The increase in order intake has necessitated additions to technical and production staff and an expansion to the Plant.

• Both Wismer & Rawlings Electric Ltd. and Unit Electrical Engineering Ltd. are proud to announce that both companies have achieved ISO 9001 – 2000 Quality Management Systems as access and registered by Intertek Testing Services NA Ltd.

Unit Electrical Engineering Ltd. has been ISO – 9001:2000 certified since 2004

This certification represents a Quality Management Program that is Customer Driven. Our company is committed to providing customers with assurance that UEE has established procedures and measures that continually focus on improvement as defined by the Company’s ‘Quality Policy’.

On-going External and Internal Audits ensure Compliance & Certification.

‘Quality Policy’

‘We are committed to provide our customers with products and services
which comply with the requirements while meeting or exceeding
our customer’s need and expectations for performance, reliability, and safety,
at a competitive price.'

Located 120 kilometers south of Hohot, Inner Mongolia – China, is the Heidaigou Open-Pit Coal Mine of Shenhua Zhungeer Energy Co. Ltd.

The shovel system used at this mine site is the first of it’s kind in the world – a Bucyrus 8750 gearless type dragline. Comprising a bucket capacity of 90 cubic meters, this piece of equipment has a total connected motor load of 30,000 HP.

In June 2005, the China Shenhua Energy Company Ltd. awarded UEE the electrical contract to provide two separate units: a mobile substation - 35/22 kV @ 25,000 kVA and a 22 kV mobile Distribution Unit (Switch Cabinet) to meet the power requirements of the Bucyrus 8750.

The scope of work included a turnkey operation for the project - engineering & design, manufacturing, procurement, assembly supervision, commissioning and staff training.

Both the 35 kV and the 22 kV switchgear units were enclosed using UEE’s Modular Steel Building System. Designed and developed by UEE, these versatile frame and panel constructed insulated buildings are engineered to withstand diverse applications and extreme environments. For this project, the skid-mounted option was chosen for ease of mobility at the job site.

In addition, UEE manufactured and supplied their patented trailing cable coupler system. This was a challenge due to the power requirements dictated by the dragline system. UEE innovation designed and manufactured the largest of the company’s coupler lineup – 25 kV @ 600-amps.

The substation and distribution equipment has been manufactured, shipped to China, assembled, commissioned and is fully operational.

‘The successful completion of this project has allowed us to gain a better understanding of Shenhua as a company and conducting business in the People’s Republic of China. Conversely, this close working relationship with Shenhua has allowed them to gain the knowledge and confidence in UEE products and services, which we feel, will greatly assist us in working together on future projects. In fact, we have recently submitted a bid to Shenhua for another coal mine that includes twelve high voltage mobile substations and 25 medium mobile switch cabinets’
Paul Bayston, President & CEO.

Snap Lake Mine is located in the Northwest Territories, approximately 220 kilometers northeast of Yellowknife. Once this mine has been constructed and is fully operational, it will be Canada’s first fully underground diamond mine.

In April 2006, UEE was successful in securing the electrical contract by AMEC for Underground Power Distribution Equipment. This contract includes the complete electrical engineering, design, manufacturing, procurement, and commissioning of underground power distribution equipment as specified in the mine electrical plan prepared by AMEC.

Equipment for this contract incorporates the following:

• 3 MVA Substation c/w 5 kV MCC and Power Transfer Scheme
• Combination of 750 and 1500 kVA Skid-Mounted Mobile Substations
• Combination of two and five cell, 15 kV Skid-Mounted Switchgear Lineups
• 600 Volt Portable and Stationary MCC Units
• Wall Mounted Universal Power Controller Units – Starters
• UEE Low Voltage Patented Cable Couplers – 1.1 kV, 160Amp & 320Amp
• PLC and HMI System

Production of custom manufactured and standard equipment is currently underway - target completion date of early 2007.

‘The award of this contract is great news for UEE! Supplying a turnkey operation from conception to completion for two prominent companies - De Beers and AMEC will demonstrate and reinforce our commitment to quality, safety and reliable products’
Mark Burleigh, General Manager.

The Minto Mine is an open-pit, copper-gold mine site located approximately 240 kilometers northwest of Whitehorse in the Yukon Territory of Canada.

In 1998, UEE was awarded a contract to complete the electrical engineering and design for the electrical distribution system for the entire mine site. The project at that time did not move forward due to depressed metal prices. The project is now moving ahead with the intent of the mine being fully operational in the spring of 2007.

In May 2007, Unit Electrical Engineering was awarded a Contract to provide engineering services, procurement and commissioning of electrical equipment. The scope of work for this project includes:

• Engineering & Commissioning of mine site electrical design. UEE is working with Hatch Engineering Ltd. in coordinating mechanical and process design
• Supply of 4160 Volt switchgear, Power Transformers and 600 Volt MCC sections
• Design and Supply of plant PLC and HMI system
• Thorough mechanical & electrical analysis/tests of the 900 HP, synchronous Ball Mill and Sag Mill motors at the UEE facility in Okanagan Falls, B.C.

‘The magnitude of this project is exciting for our Engineering Department – the design and scope of work required will utilize the skills and talent within the organization’
Brad Haight, Electrical Designer.

A group-associated company of UEE has recently been awarded a contract by Bombardier Transportation to manufacture sixty linear induction motors (LIMS) for the automated light rail transit (ALRT) system located in Yong-In, Korea. Comprising two motors per car, each motor is rated at 600 Volts @ 400 amps – 3 phase power. Adhering to a motor delivery schedule, this project will be complete by December 2007.