An “intelligent light bulb” and fire-resistant cables were among the standout products on show at the FosRich Group of Companies Expo which sought to introduce various stakeholders to the newest in energy-efficient technology.

The one-day expo, which was held at the Jamaica Pegasus hotel in New Kingston yesterday, saw the local electrical and lighting company partnering with international energy brands, including Nexans and Victron Energy, under the theme, “Connecting Companies: Securing the Future”.

“FosRich has a number of international partnerships that bring great products to the market in energy-saving efforts, whether it is constructing your buildings using wires that do not burn when a fire starts, or to bring energy conservation tips for your offices. So we want Jamaicans to be connected to these companies,” managing director of the FosRich Group of Companies, Cecil Foster, told the

Jamaica Observer following the expo’s opening ceremony.

“So it makes no sense we have these companies and we keep their expertise under a bushel. We are trying to let Jamaicans know, so the consultant, the architects, the engineers, the hoteliers and, of course, the homeowners — these are the people we are trying to inform and connect with the international partners that can help them with their projects,” he continued.

Foster explained that one of the main reasons for the expo is to introduce innovative products, such as the Nexan Noflam fire-resistant cables used for electrical panels and electrical cabling systems, which he said can be a game changer to better deal with fires.

He explained that if a fire starts in a large building, one of the things that elevates the situation is the fumes that come from burning cables, which negatively affects the situation as the inhalation of the fumes can result in death.

“Now we have wires that prevent that. It doesn’t burn and doesn’t give off the fumes, so it is good for hospitals, good for schools, good for places where you have a lot of people like malls, supermarkets and hotels. Because if a fire starts in a hotel, most times smoke is what affects you in such a way that you cannot survive, so we have on hand some of Nexan’s products which can help in that regard,” Foster said.

Meanwhile, industrial and sales project engineer at FosRich, Troy Crossley, said the cables have so far attracted the interest of representatives from the National Water Commission and various hospitals.

Another highlight for many expo attendees was the FosRich-manufactured “intelligent light bulb”, which Foster said has been on the market for about 18 months and is one of their more popular products.

“This bulb, it operates like a regular bulb and it looks like a regular bulb. It is an LED bulb with a one-year warranty and five-year lifespan, and when you lose power from JPS (Jamaica Public Service Company) or wherever it is, this bulb will come on at night. If you lose power in the day, it doesn’t come on; it comes on at night and it will last you between five to six hours,” the managing director explained.

He added that people are excited about the product as it is an alternative to more expensive options such as a generator or a solar-powered system, as it doesn’t require any special set-up or additional space.

“Coming out of this expo, we hope persons will take away the need to become more energy-conscious and energy-efficient; the need to make sure you are building offices or hotels using the right type of cables and wires that will make you not suffer from hazards when they come and so on. so we hope that people will take those things away from the expo,” Foster said.

— Javene Skyers