Emma Segelov, MK Electric’s EMEA Marketing Operations Manager, discusses how MK Electric has made history over the past 100 years.
The summer of 1919 is culturally significant for many reasons: The Treaty of Versailles, the first nonstop transatlantic flight, and the beginning of prohibition in the United States. In a small factory in North London, Charles Arnold also made his own small piece of history with the invention of the Multy Kontact socket.
At that time, most available sockets were split pin-style sockets that were primarily made from thick gauge slotted brass tubes, offering practically no flexibility. The Multy Kontact was safer and easier to use than anything else then on the market. So much so, that the British Engineering Standards Association (BESA) revised its standards in line with the levels of self-adjustment and contact-making that it established.
It is not the company’s only pioneering invention.
In 1928, Charles invented the first shuttered socket, ‘anti-flash,’ which featured automatic isolating caps that concealed and isolated the socket tubes the instant a plug was removed, eliminating the arcing sensation associated with plug withdrawal.
This set a new standard for electrical safety and formed the basis of the British Standard electrical system as we know it today.
The launch of Logic Plus in 1996 saw MK Electric set the standard yet again with its unique and patented 3-pin, child-resistant shutter system.
Serving the country
The arrival of World War II placed great strain on the country’s economy requiring a vast number of resources, including the 131,549 aircraft that were manufactured over its seven-year duration.
As such, MK Electric ceased production on 90% of its domestic and industrial products and switched to those that would help with the war effort, such as detonators, overload protection devices and centrifuge bolts for aircraft.
When peace returned and businesses resumed their usual operations, MK Electric proceeded to purchase and renovate new factories in 1953 (Park Road, London) and 1961 (Southend-on-Sea).
Guiding the future
Flash forward to 2019 and MK Electric remains committed to quality and unwavering in its determination to find better and safer ways to meet the needs of its customers, now and in the future.
An example of this is the integration of USB charging modules with Dynamic Device Recognition (DDR) technology into its portfolio, to support the widespread adoption of mobile devices. This means contractors can cater to the changing needs of the modern world.
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