Grid operators rely on Brady's portable printers to ensure fast, reliable cable and cabinet identification, enhancing service restoration efficiency. (Image source: Brady Corporation)

A large grid operator needed reliable identification labels and printers to enable technicians to quickly recognise and code any cable in the field. Read the short case study and see how the challenge was answered by Brady specialists 

Power must flow. Of the many challenges grid operators face, keeping companies and homes powered 24/7 is without a doubt a very important one. Outages must be prevented, and if they do happen, power must be restored quickly after a cable or pipe was damaged, or malfunctioned.

Clearly labelled electrical cabinets and cables greatly support the speed and efficiency of time-sensitive interventions during the day and at night. Because of this, our customer needed a fast and flexible label printing solution. Above all, they needed reliable labels that stay attached and remain legible.

Solutions: Versatile and fast field labelling solution

Brady proposed the M410 Label Printer, B-342 sleeves, B-427 self-laminating vinyl labels and B-595 in- and outdoor yellow vinyl labels. Our customer also decided on the M710 Label Printer to print bigger sized labels and pre-slitted sleeves at the office.

The M410 Label Printer is an easy to use, rugged, portable printing solution that can create both die-cut and continuous labels up to 25 mm wide in the field. The printer automatically recognises label cartridges and auto-calibrates when a label or sleeve cartridge is inserted. This makes the M410 Label Printer a versatile and fast field labelling solution.

B-342 sleeves meet the requirements of SAE AS23053/5 (Class 1) for Insulation Sleeving and SAE AS-81531 for Marking of Electrical Insulating Materials. The cable sleeve stays attached indefinitely and offers good print legibility. The sleeves are highly reliable, and can be counted on during fast interventions. They are available for a wide variety of cable diameters, including 6, 12 and 18 mm. The grid operator uses black-on-yellow B-342 sleeve cartridges for the M410 Label Printer to maximise fast legibility.

B-427 self-laminating vinyl labels are also ideal for wire and cable identification. They offer good clarity, conform easily to the shape of a cable and they can resist water and oil. Our customer uses black-on-yellow B-427 label cartridges for the M410 Label Printer to identify already terminated cables.

The power grid operator also prints yellow B-595 vinyl labels with the M410 Label Printer, and in larger sizes with the M710 Label Printer to identify electrical cabinets on the outside. B-595 is a sturdy, all-round identification label with good outdoor resistance. The labels enable field technicians to quickly recognise the electrical cabinet that needs to be serviced.

Results: Quickly recognise cabinets and cables

When a power outage does occur, the power grid operator is very well prepared to restore the flow of energy quickly. Reliable labels enable technicians in the field to deliver their best work fast, because they can easily recognise the cabinet or cable that needs servicing. When a cable or component is replaced, technicians can immediately add a new label with the M410 Label Printer to keep the entire network identified, and ready for efficient upgrades or maintenance.

Identify any cable or component

As an installation professional you know what a nightmare unidentified cables & components can be.  Professional identification labels take away this frustration and increase your job efficiency. With a Brady Portable Printer you can print any label you need on-site in mere seconds, even die-cut and custom labels.

Learn more about Importance of professional labelling in the free guidebook from Brady >>

Supermicro teams with Exclusive Networks Africa to advance AI, data centres, and sustainability across the continent. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Supermicro, a leader in application-optimised total IT, has sought to expand its footprint across Africa by appointing Exclusive Networks Africa, a trusted cybersecurity specialist, as a distributor for the region

“The African market is marked by its rapid adoption of cutting-edge technology, largely due to a reduced dependence on legacy infrastructure. Exclusive Networks Africa’s strong presence across East and West Africa, the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the Indian Ocean Islands makes it an ideal partner to drive our growth ambitions,” remarked Wynand Möller, regional manager – sub-Saharan Africa at Supermicro.

“In a vast and diverse market like Africa, having a partner with the pedigree of Exclusive Networks Africa is critical. The company’s precision focus on security and data centre technologies aligns perfectly with our emphasis on next-generation solutions.”

Advancing AI

The two have a shared commitment to advance AI technologies and, to this end, Supermicro’s advanced graphical process unit (GPU) solutions will play a pivotal role. The GPU-driven innovations are designed to deliver robust, scalable and flexible infrastructure for AI acceleration, helping enterprises unlock new possibilities in AI deployment and data centre operations.

Möller added, “As the world’s third largest supplier and consumer of technology, behind only Microsoft and Meta, Supermicro’s GPU offerings play a key role in AI acceleration. This technology will form the cornerstone of the partnership with Exclusive Networks Africa, with a strong focus on GPU and data centre-related technology.”

“Organisations in Africa are increasingly repatriating their digital assets – such as data, applications or entire business processes – from public cloud environments to on-premises data centres, motivated by the need for greater control, performance, security and cost-efficiency,” commented Stefan van de Giessen, general manager for Africa at Exclusive Networks Africa.

“This trend is further driven by global geopolitical uncertainties and currency fluctuations impacting cloud costs. Exclusive Networks Africa is thrilled to collaborate with a company like Supermicro, a leader in advanced GPU technology, thanks to the growing AI market.”

Sustainability at the core

Supermicro has also explained that sustainability is a key cornerstone of the new partnership, with the company’s products designed for free-air cooling, liquid cooling-readiness and to reduce e-wastage.

“Very importantly for a region like Africa though is the focus on reducing power consumption,” said Van de Giessen. “Supermicro achieves this by sharing fans and power supplies, resulting in a more optimised operation, something that the business claims can reduce electricity use by an estimated 10%.”

Henok Kebede, CEO of NIB International Bank (L) and Elfagid Woldegiorgis, Business Development Director for Ethiopia, Somalia, and Sudan at Mastercard (R) launch of the NIB International Bank Prepaid Mastercard in Ethiopia. (Image source: Mastercard)

Celebrating its 25th anniversary, NIB International Bank (NIB) has partnered with Mastercard to unveil the Prepaid Mastercard, a flexible and secure payment solution designed to support Ethiopian consumers with effortless local and international transactions

This collaboration reflects a shared vision to drive financial inclusion and foster innovation in Ethiopia.

As Ethiopia’s digital economy expands, with estimates predicting a contribution of over ETB 1.3 trillion (approx. US$10.11bn) to GDP by 2028, the need for reliable and adaptable payment solutions has become more critical. The Prepaid Mastercard meets this demand by offering a reloadable payment option ideal for e-commerce, travel, and everyday expenses. Equipped with 3D Secure technology, the card ensures safe and convenient fund management.

The Prepaid Mastercard addresses a key market gap by enabling Ethiopian consumers to perform seamless online transactions. With the rise of online shopping and international travel, this solution supports changing consumer preferences while promoting financial transparency and economic development.

“At Mastercard, our innovations are driven by a commitment to transforming access to secure financial services and accelerating financial inclusion across Africa. The launch of the Prepaid Mastercard exemplifies the transformative impact of collaboration in advancing digital payments. By collaborating with NIB International Bank, we are supporting Ethiopian consumers to embrace the possibilities of digital transactions, enabling seamless and secure global connectivity while driving the broader financial inclusion agenda,” said Shehryar Ali, senior vice-president and country manager for East Africa and Indian Ocean Islands at Mastercard.

“Through our collaboration with Mastercard, our new prepaid solution provides customers with a convenient, secure payment tool that addresses both domestic and international needs, underscoring our commitment to customer-focused innovation and accessibility. This launch marks a significant milestone in our mission to enhance financial inclusion and support consumers with versatile solutions that adapt to their lifestyles,” added Henok Kebede, CEO of NIB International Bank.

The launch is further strengthened by Premier Switch Solutions (PSS), Ethiopia’s leading third-party processor, which ensures seamless and secure electronic transactions between banks.

“We are pleased to collaborate with Mastercard to onboard our founding member, NIB bank, for the issuance of NIB’s Prepaid Mastercard. At PSS, we remain committed to advancing the payment sector by delivering innovative solutions that enhance efficiency, security, and accessibility for our member banks. This collaboration with Mastercard and NIB International Bank underscores our commitment to providing financial services, empowering Ethiopian consumers, and fostering economic growth,” stated Ato Amha Tadesse, group CEO of PSS.

The Prepaid Mastercard offers several standout benefits, including its reloadable design, which allows users to conveniently load funds for daily expenses, online purchases, and travel-related transactions. It provides a secure and practical alternative to cash, with advanced security features for both online and in-person payments. Accepted at millions of locations worldwide, the card opens doors to global commerce for Ethiopian consumers.

By adding this innovative solution to its digital banking services, NIB demonstrates its dedication to meeting the diverse financial needs of Ethiopian consumers. With the Prepaid Mastercard launch, Mastercard advances its mission to promote financial inclusion and empower communities with cutting-edge digital solutions, contributing to its global goal of integrating one billion people into the digital economy by 2025.

MTN partners with Telecoming to launch Cloudplay in South Africa, offering affordable cloud gaming for all users. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

MTN, Africa's leading telecommunications provider with a subscriber base exceeding 290 million across the continent, has launched Cloudplay, a cutting-edge cloud gaming service

The service is developed in collaboration with Telecoming, a sportech firm specialising in mobile sports and entertainment experiences. This launch represents another significant achievement in their ongoing partnership.

MTN Cloudplay: Transforming gaming access

MTN Cloudplay offers South African MTN users the opportunity to enjoy an extensive array of cloud-based video games, providing an exceptional gaming experience without the need for downloads or high-end consoles. The service allows users to stream premium PC games directly to their mobile devices, enabling gaming on the go, anywhere, anytime.

This initiative aims to make high-quality mobile gaming accessible to everyone, featuring various genres such as retro classics and popular titles with multi-device support, all for an affordable price of just R79 per month (approx. US$4.34).

Jason Probert, MTN South Africa’s general manager for digital services, commented, "We’re thrilled to launch MTN Cloudplay in South Africa. We’re committed to enabling our customers to enjoy the benefits of a modern connected life and the advent of 5G means that it is now possible to stream and play games without the need for a PC or console. Customers can use their existing Steam licenses on the service, and have access to more than 300 games on the service for only R79 per month."

Alí Karaosman, MEA director of Telecoming, added, "It is very exciting for us to extend our collaboration with MTN, bringing our nearly decade-long experience in this market and supporting the operator in this innovative digital entertainment offering, we are convinced that MTN Cloudplay will revolutionize the way users in South Africa enjoy video games. For Telecoming, this partnership with MTN is a strategic step in our mission to bring esports and innovative digital services to Africa. We are committed to continuing to develop technological solutions that enhance digital leisure for people in the region."

Service overview

Since November 2024, MTN Cloudplay has been available to all MTN subscribers in South Africa. With a library of over 340 games from more than 50 publishers, the service provides a premium gaming experience across any device.