ABB Electrification Distribution Solutions will showcase its latest medium-voltage (MV) switchgear and smart grid technologies at the annual Association of Municipal Electricity Utilities (AMEU)Convention, taking place from 5 to 8 October 2025 at the East London International Convention Centre.
The AMEU Convention is the premier gathering for municipal electricity distributors, utilities, engineers, policymakers and suppliers across Southern Africa. The annual event provides a vital platform for knowledge-sharing, policy development and the showcasing of innovations that support the modernisation of the region’s power networks.
At this year’s convention, ABB will exhibit its fully functional demonstration MV Switchgear, equipped with leading ABB technology and equipment. Key offerings on display include ABB UniGear Digital ZS1 switchgear, LeanGear switchgear, SafePlus RMU, Smart Substation Control and Protection SSC600, SCADA software and technology, as well as a range of supporting components.
Customer-centric approach
“At ABB, our customers are at the heart of everything we do. Our portfolio of technologies and solutions is tailored to solving real-world challenges, supporting utilities and industries to modernise their grids and prepare for a more digital, decentralised and sustainable energy future,” says Jan van Zyl, Product Line Manager Primary Switchgear at ABB South Africa.
The UniGear Digital ZS1 and SafePlus solutions make use of advanced sensor technology instead of conventional current and voltage transformers. Combined with the Substation Centralised Control and Protection SCC600, these solutions offer predictive AI software that proactively forecasts where and when faults may occur. By replacing conventional hardware with sensors, ABB significantly reduces system footprint and associated civil costs, improves safety, shortens engineering and commissioning times, and lowers standing energy consumption. Importantly, ABB’s digital technologies are designed to adapt seamlessly to evolving grid requirements, reducing the need for hardware replacement.
Solutions-driven and innovation led
ABB also supports utilities and municipalities with battery energy storage and smart MV solutions, housed in modular compact substations. Type-tested ABB UniPack-G compact substations provide environmentally robust and safe solutions that can be rapidly deployed and remotely monitored, offering operators real-time insight into system status.
By integrating condition monitoring and fault prediction capabilities, ABB’s UniGear Digital ZS1 and Compact Substations actively enhance grid resilience. This provides utilities with actionable feedback on system performance while supporting the anticipated growth of renewable energy integration into the distributed grid. Furthermore, ABB’s sensor technology helps utilities to reduce spares inventory, as a single common sensor covers the full range traditionally managed by multiple current and voltage transformers.
ABB’s comprehensive MV portfolio ensures coverage across the full spectrum of market needs. The UniGear ZS1 switchgear is ideally suited for large metropolitan areas and industrial applications requiring high fault levels and operational performance, while the LeanGear and SafePlus switchgear ranges offer cost-effective and reliable solutions for smaller towns and utilities.
ABB will exhibit at the outdoor stand at the East London International Convention Centre, where delegates will be able to experience ABB’s latest technologies first-hand and engage with experts about the future of digital power distribution.
Electrifying the world in a safe, smart, and sustainable way, ABB Electrification is a global technology leader in electrical distribution and management from source to socket. As the world’s demand for electricity grows, our 50,000+ employees across 100 countries collaborate with customers and partners to transform how people connect, live and work. We develop innovative products, solutions and digital technologies that enable energy efficiency and a low carbon society across all sectors. By applying global scale with local expertise, we shape and support global trends, deliver excellence for customers and power a sustainable future for society. go.abb/electrification
