Tools, equipment and installation methods
Our projects

Advantages and

comparison to other systems

After nearly 10 years of manufacturing lattice ERS towers according to the IEEE 1070 design, SBB revolutionized the industry in 1998 with the 412. This 412 aluminum section has many advantages:

  • It is compact and light.
  • It can meet line requirements from 69 kV to 1200 kV.
  • It can resist to winds up to 270 km/h +.

Modern system

Thanks to the integrated rail system at the 4 corners of a 412 section, The Sliding Ginpole can easily be hoisted to the full height of the tower. It allows a faster installation of an SBB tower compared to a traditional lattice tower.

No heavy machinery is required to erect or dismantle the tower. SBB provides the training and all the necessary tools. A team of only 6 people can install a 30 meters/100ft tower in a couple of hours.

Easy to erect and disassemble

The same rail allows the integration of our CE Certified Fall Arrest Device. This Fall Arrest allows the linemen to be securely attached throughout the installation of the tower without having to detach themselves to move from one section to another. With peace of mind, the linemen can execute the work more quickly.

Other Fall Arrest Devices available on the market can only be installed when the tower is at its final height. These systems are useless for the erection of an ERS tower.

Working safely = speed

Having our own factory and training center allows our engineers and designers to work in constant collaboration with our customers to increase the productivity of linemen. Here are some examples of tools and components that have been developed, improved and tested over the years thanks to feedback from customers.

  • working platform (7th generation) to allow the connection of conductors to the end of the insulators;
  • resting platform to improve the comfort of the linemen;
  • lightweight and powerful winch, including a work table and integrated anchors;
  • tensioning device for conductors;
  • etc.

Accessories designed for the needs of assemblers

Once the order is processed, the SBB experience begins! Our experienced team (more than 2500 towers delivered in more than 50 countries) will offer you an incomparable support during the following steps:

  • While manufacturing your order, you will receive regular updates about the status of the production. You will also be advised 30 days before the scheduled Factory Acceptance Tests so you can prepare your visit to witness those tests if you chose to do so.
  • During your visit to SBB to attend the Factory Acceptance Tests (FAT), we will give you a detailed document including all our quality control points (ISO 9001-2015) as well as test reports for the tests you witnessed (such as IEEE 1070).
  • Your field training given by linemen who have experience with our towers. We will provide you detailed installation drawings for different tower heights to increase your autonomy and efficiency on the field.
  • Your software training given by an SBB engineer to get you familiar and autonomous with PLS-CADD LITE and PLS-POLE LW + MAST softwares.
  • After training, and for as long as you own SBB towers, we offer you a technical support at no additional cost for your basic requests (we regularly support customers who have purchased our towers over 20 years ago!).

A complete process for customer support

ERS COMPARAISON TABLE
SBB
Lattice type ERS manufacturer
Other ERS Supplier
1- In ERS since
1989
1982
2002
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2- IEEE 1070 design compliance
From 1989 to 1998
Still today
Never
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3- IEEE 1070 testing compliance
Good
Good
Good
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4- Highest voltage provided in a project
800kV HVDC
765kV
500kV
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5- Mast section type
Same model from 69kV to 800kV
4 different models
Same model
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6- Today's design
Modern type
All 4 of lattice type
Modern type
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7- Mast section weight per meter (kg/m)
<46.8 kg/m
Up to 51.4 kg/m
48.1 kg/m
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8- Highest design wind speed in a project (km/h)
270 km/h
270 km/h
198 km/h
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9- Highest tower ever installed (m)
125 m
70m
70m
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10- Attachment points at each 0.5m or less
Good
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Good
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11- Sliding gin pole integrated
Good
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Good
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12- Lineman fall arrester system integrated
Good
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Good
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13- CE certified lineman fall arrester system
Good
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14- Manufacturing Facility
Good
Good
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15- ISO 9001:2015 certified for design and manufacturing
Good
Good
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16- Speed and ease of erection
Excellent
Very good
Excellent
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17- Safety of the system
Excellent
Very good
Excellent
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18- Using PLS-CADD / PLS-POLE MAST software
Good
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Good
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19- Lineman comfort and user friendliness
Ask user's opinion
Ask user's opinion
Ask user's opinion
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20- Tower length possible to store in one 20' container (6m)
145.0 m
92.8 m
154.8 m
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21- In house engineering staff dedicated to ERS projects
8
Less
Much less
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22- Number of countries with at least 1 ERS customer
50 +
20 +
15 +
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23- Number of ERS towers sold worldwide
3 000 +
1 000 +
150 +
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24- Number of field training performed
100 +
?
Much less
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Note : information from other ERS suppliers coming from website or other publications


MORE DETAILS ON SOME POINTS ABOVE


2 - SBB started in the ERS business in 1989 by supplying the IEEE 1070 design. However, following the request of several customers who were dissatisfied with its performance, SBB decided to give up the IEEE 1070 design and lauched in 1998 the famous 412 mast section.
 
10 - This allows to be very close to any phase to phase requirement and therefore reduces tower height compare with an old lattice type.


11 - Major improvement over lattice type, increasing the speed, ease & safety of erection.


12 - Major improvement over lattice type increasing linemen's confidence and therefore speed of erection. Lattice type manufacturer claims his system can accept all commercial available fall arrest systems but it must be installed once the tower erection is completed which is not very useful.


13 - Given the importance of the fall arrest during erection of ERS towers, it is imperative that it should follow a strict certification / standard to ensure linemen safety.


14 - Important for the R&D and quality control of the complete ERS


18 - Using PLS-CADD / PLS-POLE MAST software ensures an unlimited capacity of designs and validations from a reputable third party.


19 - We are not afraid of the comments from linemen who work with both lattice and modern technologies.