Advanced Testing Systems Inc. —located in Bethel, Connecticut —specializes in high-voltage testing technology and equipment testing. It has been a member of HIGHVOLT, a Reinhausen Group company, since 2022, thereby further expanding HIGHVOLT’s service network in the USA. Mike Sowerby, General Manager of Advanced Testing Systems Inc. explains why his team’s services are more in demand than ever.
What does Advanced Testing Systems Inc. do?
We essentially serve two areas: One concerns the testing of medium and low-voltage systems at private companies, for example in industry, as well as at state facilities such as hospitals or retirement homes.
We carry out routine maintenance tests on switching systems, motors, and transformers. If equipment is defective, we repair it and return it to our customers ready for use again. In this field, the focus of our operations is on the states of New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey.
And the other area?
This is our service in the high-voltage range and includes our large AC voltage and DC current tests with test capacities of up to 1000 kilovolts.
„HIGHVOLT and Advanced Testing Systems complement each other perfectly here. We are also planning to work more closely with Reinhausen Manufacturing.”“
Mike Sowerby, Geschäftsführer
We offer this service throughout the USA as well as in Canada and Mexico. Customers include major manufacturers such as Siemens, ABB, Hitachi and Nexans. We also test gas-insulated switching systems (GIS), cables for energy supply companies, and transformers.
And we carry out maintenance on the high-voltage testing systems required for this type of equipment. In this regard, we support all test systems from all high-voltage manufacturers such as HIGHVOLT, Haefely, Phenix, HVTest and others, and also support the commissioning of HIGHVOLT projects in North America.
HIGHVOLT and Advanced Testing Systems complement each other perfectly here. We are also planning to work more closely with Reinhausen Manufacturing, and we expect lucrative synergies in the long term with such a strong partner behind us.
What makes your services special?
We have highly qualified and experienced employees who are very familiar with the technology. For other market players, this is not always a given. They often offer lower prices, but even in regard to routine maintenance, our expertise can make a difference because we recognize problems early on that others might overlook. We prefer to work long-term.
We also offer an emergency (24/7) service. Our customers can even contact us on a Saturday night, and we will send a technician as quickly as possible. We have always received very positive feedback for this flexibility as well as our expertise and we can offer service for HIGHVOLT test systems with very short response times.
How do you see the current market situation?
The market in the high-voltage sector seems to me to be the best we have ever seen. It’s crazy out there right now at the moment with gigantic infrastructure projects currently being launched in the US. The state of New Jersey alone has recently spent billions to modernize its substations.
More and more cables are also being laid underground for high-voltage transmission in the 345 kV range, which is great news for our AC tests. Until now, overhead lines have mostly been built for this purpose in this country.
And there is also a change in awareness: In the US, there is significantly more testing than there was 15 years ago because many now realize that some problems can be avoided if they are identified and eliminated in advance. HIGHVOLT’s testing systems will therefore be in greater demand. And as a service company, we are adapting to this trend.
At a glance
Advanced Testing Systems Inc. was founded in 1982 and has been steadily expanding its portfolio ever since. Mike Sowerby studied electrical engineering and has been on board since 2005. In 2023, the British native took over management of the company from its founders and now runs it with a total of 18 employees.
The most important services are:
- Alternating current and direct current tests up to 700 kV
- Installation, maintenance, and services for test systems
- Commissioning tests for GIS and cable systems
- Cable fault location
- 24/7 emergency service