CPX 200 – One Device. Infinite Possibilities.
Part 1: The story of a testing device that became a proud Ecosystem.
After an amazing development journey, we are very excited to present CPX 200, our next generation multifunctional primary testing device. What began as excellent hardware needed professional software and was rounded off with a cloud system for optimized data management – CPX 200 ecosystem was born.
It consists of the hardware elements CPX 200 and the system component HVX10, the PC software CPXpert and the cloud-based platform CORTEX Grid. Lighter, smarter, and more powerful than anything else in the industry, it covers power transformers, instrument transformers and switchgear testing. The result is faster setups, safer testing and actionable insights that help service providers and utilities save time, reduce risk, and make better decisions.
How it all began…
Everyone in the industry is well aware of the current and future challenges: an aging electrical infrastructure that needs renewal, the increasing integration of renewable energies, growing decentralization, and the need to secure knowledge transfer in times of retirements and skills shortages. All of these developments underline the importance of ensuring long-term reliability and stability of our power systems. So, we asked ourselves, “How can we play a meaningful role in securing the energy supply of the future?”
Initially, we brought together seven experts from different teams, headed by Product Manager Michael Rädler and Project Lead Reinhard Gaurig, to tackle this challenge and let their minds run wild in a “Crazy Ideas Workshop”. This resulted in a colorful variety of fantastic ideas. Many more hours of focus, analysis, and conceptual planning led to the development of hardware variations, ranging from simple to complex. These variations were the foundation of the big question: “What exactly do our customers need?”
How we found the sweet spot
In the words of Theodore Levitt: “People don’t want to buy a quarter-inch drill; they want a quarter-inch hole.” What Levitt meant by this is that customers buy products to solve problems. We took this vision one step further, with the goal of bringing it to life. So, we set about finding a solution. Thanks to our multifunctional pioneer, the CPC 100, we have been able to gather a wealth of valuable insights. Customer feedback evaluated by our Technical Support team, sales channels, and OMICRON Academy training sessions was equally helpful. Our expertise and the analysis data provided the foundation for the evolution of a new multifunctional test set ready for the future dynamics and complexity of the market. The greatest challenge was differentiating between areas where a simple improvement would suffice and those where completely new solutions were needed.
For those who empower.
CPX 200 is made for you.
The limits of feasibility
"According to the laws of aerodynamics, a bumblebee should not be able to fly. But it doesn’t know that, so it flies anyway.” While this entertaining fact identifies limits, it also shows that they can be overcome with new, innovative solutions. We faced multiple limitations while developing the CPX 200 – but we “simply” mastered the most challenging obstacles. For example, how could we generate 1000 amperes without an internal transformer? Transformers are slow in tis response, heavy, and resource-intensive due to the copper required, but currently still represent the state of the art. The smart alternative was using power electronics. This idea took us into the unknown, but we still had a vision. Our ambition kept us going, and new customer benefits that were lighter, future-oriented, and offered completely new testing methods were our reward.
The HVX10 system component’s transformer is another example. It took 150 prototypes until its function, design, and future viability satisfied our demands. When is the research phase complete? After 50? After 100 prototypes? We always had the option of being satisfied with where we were, but instead, we took it all the way- until the results met our demands.We repeatedly pushed the bounds of feasibility, but ultimately, our know-how, the great trust and confidence placed in us by management, and the single-minded will to simply go further paid off.
A new beginning
As the initial development journey nears its end, the modular concept behind CPX 200 only has one limitation: the limits of our creativity. Our numerous ideas, some of them already in development, our eagerness to hear customer feedback, paired with motivation and a thirst for action, are what keep us happily pushing ahead. Join us as we look forward to the coming years! Until then, wait for Part 2: Deeper insights into the Ecosystem and the people behind.
