Take the MT32

Plug and play technology has been rapidly revolutionising the way electrical contractors go about their business. The products come pre-wired and tested in the factory, installation times tumble, and total project costs come down too.

Marshall Tufflex looks to have taken the philosophy further than most, and stolen a march on the opposition, by being the first to launch a compact plug and play solution for a 32 A power connection system the MT32.

MT32 incorporates a simple three or four pole male to female click together system. Mechanically keyed so that it cannot be incorrectly installed, MT32 offers a waste-free, no-tools, pre-wired, pre-tested connect and go system.

Early examples of the product have already generated much interest and Marshall Tufflex has now moved into full production.

“We see the underfloor market as our major target area,” explains Jeremy Dodge, head of projects and product development at Marshall Tufflex. As our pictures show, MT32 is equally at home in the firm’s perimeter trunking products such as Sterling and Odyssey.

The breakthrough has been made by the compact connector. Marshall Tufflex claims this is the only 32 A connector small enough to fit in standard trunking and 25 mm conduit. The connector has been made for Marshall Tufflex by Tyco.

Tyco’s experience in the connection market will open up longer-term opportunities for Marshall Tufflex but the existing underfloor and perimeter trunking markets are enough to be going on with. “We estimate the underfloor distribution market to be worth around £25 million per year,” reckons MT32 product manager Chris Scott. With Marshall Tufflex historically not as strong here as it is in the perimeter trunking sector, it is anticipating solid growth with this new breakthrough.

“We see this as ideal for medium to large contractors who are geared towards commercial installations such as fast-track office fit outs,” explains Scott. How long before the opposition think the same thing remains to be seen.