Electric.ie Mar/Apr 19 Magazine

44 ELECTRIC.IE • The Magazine & Website for the Irish Electrical Industry • MK Electric MK Electric celebrates100 years ͵ͽ͵ͽ Ȃ Š‡ •–‘”› „‡‰‹• In February 1919, Charles Arnold founded the Heavy Current Electric Accessories Company – the business which would one day become MK Electric. ‹–Š –™‘ ‡’Ž‘›‡‡• ƒ† •‡…‘†Ǧ hand machinery, the company „‡‰ƒ ‹ ‘”–Š ‘†‘ ™‹–Š Œ—•– ‘‡ ’”‘†—…–ǡ –Š‡ —‹“—‡Ž›Ǧƒ‡† —Ž–› ‘–ƒ…– •‘…‡–Ǥ ƒˆ‡” ƒ† ‘”‡ ‡ơ‡…–‹˜‡ –Šƒ –Š‡ •’Ž‹– ’‹ •‘…‡–• ™Š‹…Š ™‡”‡ ‘ –Š‡ ƒ”‡– at the time, the British Engineering Standards Association (BESA) revised its standards in line with –Š‡ ‰”‘—†Ǧ„”‡ƒ‹‰ Ž‡˜‡Ž• ‘ˆ •‡ŽˆǦ ƒ†Œ—•–‡– ƒ†…‘–ƒ…–Ǧƒ‹‰ ‡•–ƒ„Ž‹•Š‡† „› –Š‡ •‘…‡–Ǥ By 1924, the company had adopted the name of its most famous ’”‘†—…– Ȃ –Š‡ —Ž–› ‘–ƒ…– Ǧ ƒ† “M.K.” Electric was born. ͵ͽͶͨ Ȃ ƒ‡…Šƒ‰‹‰ ‹‘˜ƒ–‹‘ As the business grew, Arnold continued to innovate. In 1928, “M.K.” Electric launched a product which would form the basis of the ”‹–‹•Š ‡Ž‡…–”‹…ƒŽ •›•–‡ ƒ• ™‡ ‘™ ‹– –‘†ƒ› Ȃ –Š‡ ˜‡”› Ƥ”•– •Š—––‡”‡† •‘…‡–Ǥ ‡•…”‹„‡† ƒ• Ǯƒ–‹Ǧƪƒ•Šǯǡ ”‘Ž†ǯ• •Š—––‡”‡† •‘…‡– ˆ‡ƒ–—”‡†…‘…‡ƒŽ‡† Ž‹˜‡ ƒ† ‡—–”ƒŽ…‘–ƒ…–•Ǥ –• •‘…‡– tubes were isolated the instant a plug was removed, eliminating the ƒ”…‘ˆ ƪƒ‡ ™Š‹…Š Šƒ† ƒ……‘’ƒ‹‡† the withdrawal of all previous plugs, and setting a new standard for electrical safety. This achievement would be echoed nearly 70 years later. The launch ‘ˆ Ž‡…–”‹…ǯ• ‘‰‹…Ž—• TM range of wiring devices – featuring a ”‡˜‘Ž—–‹‘ƒ”› ͟Ǧ’‹ǡ…Š‹Ž† ”‡•‹•–ƒ–ǡ †‡•‹‰ Ǧ ”‡’”‡•‡–‡† ƒ ‡˜‘Ž—–‹‘ ‘ˆ –Š‡ •Š—––‡”‡† •‘…‡–Ǥ ơ‡”‹‰ a new curved aesthetic and ease of installation features such as upward ˆƒ…‹‰ ƒ† ‹ǦŽ‹‡ –‡”‹ƒŽ• ƒ† „ƒ…‡† ‘—– ƒ†…ƒ’–‹˜‡ •…”‡™•ǡ this type of device is still widely regarded as most advanced and •ƒˆ‡•– ‘ –Š‡ ƒ”‡–Ǥ ͵ͽͷͽ Ȃ Ͷ Š‹Ž•– „—•‹‡•• ™ƒ• „‘‘‹‰ for the company, circumstances out of Arnold’s control were at ™‘”Ǥ  ͥͥ͟͝ǡ ͞ „‡‰ƒǡ ƒ† large businesses were expected to …‘–”‹„—–‡ –‘ –Š‡ ™ƒ” ‡ơ‘”–Ǥ During this time, production at “M.K” Electric shifted focus to †‡–‘ƒ–‘”•ǡ Ƥ”‹‰ •›•–‡• ƒ† …‡–”‹ˆ—‰‡• ˆ‘” —•‡ ‹ ’‹–Ƥ”‡•ǡ —””‹…ƒ‡• ƒ† ƒ…ƒ•–‡”•Ǥ After the war, normal production resumed, and 1945 saw MK develop –Š‡ Ƥ”•–…‡‹Ž‹‰ •™‹–…Šǡ ”ƒ’‹†Ž› ˆ‘ŽŽ‘™‡† „› ƒ ™ƒŽŽǦ‘—–‡† version – both were an instant success. ͵ͽ͹͹ Ȃ Š‡ ‘†‡” Ž‹‰Š– •™‹–…Š ‘–Š‡” Žƒ†ƒ” ›‡ƒ” ˆ‘” –Š‡ company, 1955 saw “M.K” Electric launch the Plateswitch – the very Ƥ”•– Ǯ‘‘„Ž‘…ǯ Ž‹‰Š– •™‹–…ŠǤ Until this point, light switches consisted of a switch that was screwed to the mounting box, and a switch cover plate. Featuring just two components, the mounting box and integral switch and frontplate, the Plateswitch was cheaper and easier to install that all contemporary products, instantly …ƒ–ƒ’—Ž–‹‰ –Š‡ „—•‹‡•• –‘ ƒ”‡– leader for switching. ‘ ‹ƪ—‡–‹ƒŽ ™ƒ• –Š‹• †‡•‹‰ǡ –Šƒ– even today, virtually every light switch is based upon the original Plateswitch. ͵ͽͦ͵ Ǧ ƒ†‡ ‹ ”‹–ƒ‹ Following the war, the business continued to go from strength to strength, ultimately requiring larger ƒ—ˆƒ…–—”‹‰ ƒ† ‘ƥ…‡ ’”‡‹•‡• Ȃ fondly referred to as the ‘Edmonton Empire.’ Š‡ ˆƒ…–‘”› ‹ ‘—–Š‡†Ǧ‘Ǧ ‡ƒǡ Essex opened in 1961, although there were some teething problems ƒ– Ƥ”•–ǣ ƒ› ’‡‘’Ž‡ Ž‡ˆ– ‹ –Š‡ •—‡” ‘–Š• –‘ ’‹… Š‘’• and fruit, leaving Arnold without ർ This year marks the centenary of MK Electric, arguably the best-known wiring device manufacturer in the UK and Ireland. To reflect the occasion, Aidan Hayes, National Sales Manager, Ireland, looks at the milestones which have made MK Electric the market-leading business it is today. Charles Arnold