DEHN protects.
www.dehn.de
Lightning: Fascinating to watch,
but also extremely dangerous
The powerful natural phenomenon of lightning and
thunder has fascinated mankind through the ages. In
Greek mythology Zeus, the Father of Gods, is seen as
the dominion of the sky whose power is often envisioned as a lightning bolt. The Romans attributed this
power to Jupiter while the continental Germanic tribes
to Donar, known to the North Germans as Thor. For a
long time, the enormous force of a thunderstorm was
associated with a supernatural power and humans felt
at the mercy of this power. Since the Age of Enlightenment and the advancement of technology, this
heavenly spectacle has been regarded more soberly. In
1752, the kite experiment by the inventor and statesman Benjamin Franklin demonstrated that the phenomenon of lightning is in fact a form of electricity.
Nowadays, we are better able to understand and
explain the causes of thunder and lightning. And
although this natural phenomenon is fascinating to
watch, it is also extremely dangerous.
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Every year, lightning kills people and animals and
System failures and production downtimes result in
destroys material assets. Most of these fatal conse-
substantial financial loss while failure of fire alarm sys-
quences, however, could be prevented by taking
tems or emergency centres can cause serious personal
appropriate protection measures.
injury or even death.
Thunder and lightning in times of climate change
Lightning protection from DEHN
Increasingly extreme weather: Meteorological data
In 1910, the electrician and precision engineer
show that thunderstorms are on the rise globally, even
Hans Dehn set up an electrical installation company
in the moderate European climate. In Germany alone,
in Nuremberg. After Hans Dehn had successfully
more than two million lightning strikes are recorded
completed his training as a state-registered installer
every year and the tendency is rising. Severe thunder-
of lightning protection systems, the installation of
storms threaten lives and cause great damage: Hail
such systems became an integral part of the young
destroys roofs and cars. Lightning strikes cause fire and
company right from the start. Fascinated by external
surge damage to electrical or electronic devices and
lightning protection, Hans Dehn came up with his
systems – or even destroy them completely. Lightning
first invention in 1918 and registered his first patent.
strikes have particularly fatal consequences for the
Further patents followed in the course of the com-
industry, power generation or infrastructure sector:
pany’s history.
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DEHN protects.
4
“Two words,
a big promise.“
Thomas Dehn
DEHN protects: For us, our slogan is a promise that has been
both an obligation and an incentive for our family-owned
company for four generations. A promise we keep with
expertise and dedication – for the benefit of our customers,
partners and employees.
We are a medium-sized, international company. Based in
Neumarkt close to Nuremberg, we are rooted in Germany,
but we have also earned the trust of customers in more
than 70 countries around the world. We consequently use
our pioneering role to meet the individual market challenges. For this reason, we have become highly accepted as
a reliable manufacturer, market partner and employer.
Facts and figures on the DEHNgroup:
• Fourth-generation family-owned company since 1910
• 1,500 employees worldwide, 1,300 of whom are
in Germany
•150 Product/Market Managers and R&D staff
• 150 trainees
•4,000 devices and components
• 17 sales offices in Germany
•Partnering companies, 15 subsidiaries as well as
sales offices in 70 countries
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Committed
to safety
DEHN has taken on the task of reliably protecting people,
buildings, electrical and electronic devices and systems from
the hazards related to lightning and surges. With our heart,
expertise, dedication and pioneering spirit, we have been
stimulating development in the fields of surge and lightning
protection as well as safety equipment for decades. We
regard ourselves as a renowned expert with long-standing
experience.
Our portfolio includes a full range of systems, products and
services in the fields of surge protection, lightning protection,
earthing (grounding) and safety equipment.
The easily recognisable look of the Yelllow/Line® product line for data
systems and Red/Line® product line for power supply systems shows the
clear and sophisticated principle of DEHN surge protective devices.
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Surge Protection
Safety Equipment
Our surge protection portfolio includes the Red/Line®
Our safety equipment portfolio includes a broad range of
product line for power supply systems and the Yellow/Line®
earthing (grounding) and short-circuiting devices, voltage
product line for information technology systems. Surge
detectors and protective equipment as well as clothing for
protective devices for installation into buildings are classified
working according to the five safety rules.
into:
• Type 1 arresters that are capable of discharging partial
This comprehensive portfolio proves our expertise in the
lightning currents of 10/350 µs wave form without de-
different applications of modern and functional protection
struction, also referred to as lightning current arresters.
systems. A variety of national and international patents
• Type 2 and type 3 arresters that protect against surges.
demonstrate the continuing success of our activities in surge
protection, lightning protection and safety equipment.
Lightning Protection and Earthing (Grounding)
Our broad lightning protection and earthing (grounding)
portolio is geared towards various applications and includes
all components for air-termination systems, down conductors
and earth-termination systems.
Our lightning protection and earthing (grounding) solutions protect
buildings from the effects of lightning strikes and the associated risk
of fire.
Our portfolio also includes safety devices and personal protective
equipment for work on electrical installations.
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Shaping the future
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“The future is not
an unknown, but
an opportunity.“
Dr.-Ing. Peter Zahlmann
Meeting the challenges of our time, we rely on feasible
solutions. We invest heavily in research and development to
create innovative products and to continuously improve our
products, their quality and ease of installation. To this end, we
always have an eye on our customers’ wishes and needs. The
feedback from standardisation committees, cooperation with
research institutions and international technical conferences
also advances the development of our products.
As part of our corporate strategy, our products have to
satisfy high and uniform quality standards. Our products
are designed to meet the basic requirements of the relevant
standards and the technical prerequisites of the specific
applications.
Our products can be widely used for a variety of applications.
We also focus on special industry and customer solutions
such as direct current arresters for photovoltaic inverters.
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Developing
innovations
How can a company demonstrate unabated innovative strength with regard to products for use in different
industries for more than 100 years? Thanks to our passion
for exploring, consolidated expertise and knowledge of
the current market conditions. According to these principles, innovations from DEHN are based on ideas that are
spawned by market trends and our customers’ individual
needs. They also result from our research and development
activities in our test laboratory and the cooperation with
universities and research institutions.
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Unique test laboratory
steps in-house, and we inspect all finished products before
Our renowned impulse current laboratory is integral for
they leave our premises. Our products and systems comply
the successful development of new products, systems and
with the applicable standards. Products for the interna-
protection concepts: Here we are able to test protection
tional market are manufactured in line with country-specific
functions with lightning currents up to 200 kA (10/350 µs)
standards. Our manufacturing processes are certified to the
under realistic conditions. For many years, we have been
DIN EN ISO 9001 standard. All these standards allow us to
studying the characteristics of natural lightning strikes in
offer our customers safe, reliable and durable products and
detail on a lightning measuring station in Austria where
protection solutions.
natural lightning strikes are analysed and the phenomenon
of lightning is investigated. From the results of this funda-
In dialogue with science
mental research, conclusions are drawn for product devel-
We finance an endowed professorship at the German
opment, standardisation and tests in our test laboratory.
Ilmenau University of Technology to promote fundamental
research on modern methods, technologies and materials in
Most stringent quality standards worldwide
the fields of lightning and surge protection.
Our aim is to ensure optimum quality. For our products we
use only high-quality materials, we carry out all production
Numerous functional tests are performed to
test the materials used in our products and
components.
In our unique impulse current laboratory we carry out
system and product tests in line with international
standards – also on behalf of our customers.
The globally leading arresters of our Red/Line®
product line are manufactured in our site in Neumarkt/Germany.
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Innovations
Innovative strength and flexibility are the key pillars of
our company and the driving forces that encourage us
– as a technological leader – to new ideas, further developments and solutions tailored to customer needs.
Success in the fields of surge protection, lightning
protection and safety equipment does not only require
visionary thinking, know-how and experience, but also
persistence – a large number of innovation examples
from DEHN over the last 100 years proves this.
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1921:
1958:
A subsidiary is set
up in Neumarkt
close to Nuremberg.
Neumarkt is today’s
global headquarters.
1910:
1923:
Hans Dehn registers
an electrical installation company in
Nuremberg and starts
to install lightning
protection systems.
1910
The world’s first
separable earth electrode, also referred
to as an earth rod,
enters the market.
Hans Dehn starts
to manufacture lightning protection and
earthing (grounding)
equipment.
1920
1933:
Hans Dehn’s sons join
the company which
now operates under
the company name
DEHN & SÖHNE.
1930
1918:
1940
1948:
The Dehn family
decides to move their
production from
Nuremberg to Neumarkt.
1950
1960
1953:
He develops a new
lightning protection
component, a ridge
conductor holder for
lightning protection
wires, and is granted
his first patent for his
invention.
Richard Dehn is
granted his first patent for the invention
of a ball pin for safety
equipment. This
invention paves the
way for our safety
equipment portfolio.
1929:
Hans Dehn is
granted his second
patent for the
invention of a test
sleeve for lightning
rods.
1954:
DEHN introduces the
world’s first arrester
for indoor use, J250.
This forms the foundation for our surge
protection portfolio.
1954:
DEHN becomes an
exporting company:
First representative
agency in Austria.
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1984:
The world’s first lightning
current arrester, DEHNventil®
VGA 280, enters the market.
DEHNventil becomes a synonym worldwide for a new
series of arresters.
1993-1998:
Restructuring and reorganisation in Neumarkt
based on a ground-breaking master plan.
1964:
ExFS spark gaps
for use in hazardous areas are
developed and
patented.
1970
1976:
VA280 is
the world’s
first DIN rail
mounted
surge arrester.
1980
1986:
The world’s first arrester with
a modular width of 17.5 mm,
VM 280, is a ground-breaking
innovation in the field of
surge protection.
1990
1996:
The energy-coordinated Yellow/Line®
arrester line including
the key product
BLITZDUCTOR® CT
protects data and
automation systems.
BLITZDUCTOR® is the world’s
first surge arrester for protecting measuring and control
equipment and data systems.
The JA250 surge
arrester for indoor
use is presented to
the market.
DEHN launches
the PHE III voltage
detector with visual
and acoustic indication.
2003:
The patented
HVI®Conductor sets
a new standard in
external lightning
protection.
2000
1979:
1966:
1998:
2001:
The new
complete device
DEHNventil® is
ideally suited
for all system
configurations.
2006:
1977:
DEHN starts
manufacturing
PHE and PHG
voltage detectors.
1993:
The energy-coordinated
Red/Line® product line
including the DEHNport®
and DEHNguard® arresters
is launched to the market.
The new
applicationoptimised design
for the Red/Line®
and Yellow/Line®
arrester lines is
introduced to
the market.
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2012:
2008:
Compact in design,
the DEHNvenCI type 1
combined arrester with
integrated backup fuse
ensures system protection.
The space-saving
DEHNrecord MCM
XT condition
monitoring system
indicates imminent
arrester overload.
2010:
We celebrate our
100th anniversary.
2008:
2011:
The new arc-faulttested gloves protect
workers while
working on electrical
installations.
The coordinated
DEHNsecure type 1
arrester for d.c. applications is introduced
to the market.
2010
2007:
2010:
Development of
a pipe clamp for
use in hazardous
areas without
ignition sparks
when lightning
current flows
through it.
The newly developed
DEHN UNI earthing
clamp is ideally suited
for integrating PV
mounting systems
in the equipotential
bonding/earthing
system.
2011
2011:
The universal
DEHNbox lightning current/surge
arrester is compact in design and
can be retrofitted
at any time.
2012:
The spark gap technology
and d.c. extinction circuit of
the DEHNlimit PV 1000 V2
combined arrester protects
PV systems.
2012
2012:
In addition to helmets
and gloves, the new
DEHNcare® arc-faulttested protective suit
is the third component
of personal protective
equipment for work on
electrical installations.
2009:
The DEHNguard® Y PV SCI
arrester is the first arrester
to combine surge protection
for PV systems with personal
and fire protection.
2012:
Ground-breaking ceremony
for our new logistics centre
south of Neumarkt.
2009:
The easy-to-use
DEHNguard® CI surge
arrester with integrated backup fuse
takes up little space.
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Achieving goals together
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“We set our goals
together with our
customers and
partners.”
Dr. Philipp Dehn
For us, it is important to cultivate long-term and close relationships and to provide our customers with solutions to their
differing needs. In this context, support as we understand it is
not just a service, but an investment in a partnership that we
foster and preserve.
Our close ties with the installation, trade and industrial sector
allow us to understand the current market-specific needs and
to create innovative solutions at an early stage. Our on-going
pursuit of innovations, high quality, reliability, flexibility and
creativity is the cornerstone of all our activities. We set high
priority on complying with ethical, social and economic values
when fulfilling our tasks and dealing with our employees.
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Understanding
customer needs
As a pioneer in surge protection, lightning protection and
safety equipment, we are always first in line when new
industries emerge. In this way, we get detailed knowledge of
the industry-specific needs, allowing us to develop customised
solutions. Apart from residential and functional buildings, the
following market segments are our main areas of business:
renewable energies, transportation systems, telecommunication systems, process industries and safety systems.
Entering emerging markets at an early stage requires high
investments. We consistently take this step after thoroughly
considering the future perspectives of the relevant market.
Residential and
functional buildings
Our external lightning protection,
equipotential bonding, earthing
(grounding) and surge protection
products are used for both residential and functional buildings.
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Industry
Photovoltaics
Wind energy
DEHN is an expert for coordinated
lightning and surge protection to
prevent failure of industrial production facilities and IT systems.
Best practice: Our DEHNguard®
M Y PV SCI type 2 arrester
combines surge protection with
personal and fire protection.
Our experience over decades in
the field of lightning protection and our intensive research
on wind turbines make us an
industry expert in coordinated
lightning and surge protection.
Telecommunication systems
Industry and transportation systems
Since the inception of mobile radio communication,
For decades, DEHN has been meeting the high safety standards
we have been a partner and supplier of protective devices.
placed on systems and buildings of the process industry sup-
We have been developing transceiver protection solutions
plying comprehensive and, if required, customised protection
for the emerging mobile radio market for more than
solutions and continuous research and development work.
25 years. As an industry expert, DEHN is a key supplier
We also meet the most stringent production and product qual-
of earthing (grounding), equipotential bonding as well as
ity standards for transportation systems.
lightning and surge protection products.
Future technologies
Renewable energies
We face new market segments and develop protection con-
The same applies to photovoltaics: Since the early 1990s,
cepts for wind parks, charging stations for electric vehicles as
we have been developing special solutions for effective
well as smart home and smart grid solutions.
surge protection including both personal and surge protection. We have also been active in the wind energy and
biogas sectors early on offering special products and services
ranging from consulting regarding protection concepts to
test services in our laboratory.
Telecommunication systems
Transportation systems
Process industries
Safety systems
For more than 25 years, we have
been developing protection solutions for mobile radio stations and
have been a leading supplier and
industry expert in this field.
We offer comprehensive protection solutions for transportation
systems: power supply and traffic
control systems for railways and
road vehicles.
Maximum safety and availability
are paramount: DEHN has been
offering comprehensive and
customer-specific protection solutions for decades.
Our products for video surveillance, fire alarm and burglar
alarm systems are certified and
used by leading manufacturers.
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DEHN service
and support
A major concern for us is to offer our customers reliable and
safe technology and to facilitate their everyday working life.
To this end, our Lightning Protection Guide, a standard reference work for lightning protection companies, electricians
and consultants is published in a printed and digital version
and updated on a regular basis. The DEHNsupport Toolbox
software provides practical support in the professional design
of a comprehensive lightning and surge protection system.
Our DEHNconcept service offers our customers individual support in mastering complex design tasks.
Whether by personal contact,
mail or telephone: Our technical
support provides professional consulting services and will forward
your questions to our experts for
clarification.
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The DEHN sales team gives advice
and supports our customers.
Our Lightning Protection Guide
imparts in-depth knowledge of
lightning and surge protection as
well as protection concepts.
Our DEHNsupport Toolbox software makes it easier to calculate
the separation distance as well
as the lengths of air-termination
rods and earth electrodes.
On site and close to our customers
Individual support
Proximity and close contact with our customers is of utmost
As a globally active company and expert in many industries,
importance to us. Our experienced sales staff is looking
we develop and design customised products and solutions to
forward to meet you – for instance at one of the upcoming
meet the industry-specific requirements. The protective effect
trade shows.
of customised applications can be verified in the DEHN test
laboratory.
In dialogue with the industry
In seminars, workshops and conferences we share our knowledge on surge and lightning protection as well as safety
equipment. In hundreds of seminars every year, the industry’s unique DEHNacademy informs on new products, their
application and changes to standards. We also contribute
our experience to national and international standardisation
committees and associations.
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Local and international
NEUMARKT/Germany
(Headquarters)
Sales activities in more than 70 countries – DEHN locations worldwide
Germany (Headquarters): DEHN + SÖHNE GmbH + Co.KG.
Subsidiaries / Offices:
Australia: DEHN Melbourne Office
China: DEHN Surge Protection (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Shanghai
Denmark: DESITEK A/S, Søndersø
France: DEHN FRANCE S.à.r.l., Vendenheim
India: DEHN INDIA Pvt. Ltd., Gurgaon
Italy: DEHN ITALIA S.p.A., Bozen
Austria: DEHN AUSTRIA GmbH, Enns
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Poland: DEHN POLSKA Sp.z o.o., Warsaw
Russia: DEHN Moscow Office
Switzerland: ELVATEC AG, Altendorf
Spain: DEHN IBERICA Protecciones Electricas S.A., Madrid
Czech Republic: DEHN Praha Office
UK: DEHN (UK) LTD., Holmfirth
Hungary: DEHN Budapest Office
USA: DEHN Inc., Fort Pierce
Represented in 70 countries throughout the world
As a globally active and medium-sized company, DEHN
combines two major aspects. Our head office in Germany is
deeply rooted in the Nuremberg region and integrated in an
extensive supplier network. Currently, we invest in a modern
logistics centre.
At the same time, we are continuously expanding our international activities. With eleven subsidiaries as well as sales
offices and partners throughout the world, our sales activities
are adapted to suit country-specific conditions and include
active pre-marketing, short delivery times as well as product
availability thanks to modern logistics.
Trust shapes the future
Since our founding, we have operated our company on a
family basis and our corporate culture has been based on
personal appreciation and long-term cooperation.
Apart from our social commitment to local institutions,
environmental awareness and sustainability are deeply rooted
in our corporate strategy. Our environmental management
complies with the DIN EN ISO 14001 standards and meets
the requirements of the environmental audit.
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Surge Protection
DEHN + SÖHNE
Lightning Protection
GmbH + Co.KG.
Safety Equipment
DEHN protects.
Hans-Dehn-Str. 1
Tel. +49 9181 906-0
Postfach 1640
Fax +49 9181 906-1100
92306 Neumarkt
[email protected]
Germanywww.dehn.de
BLITZDUCTOR, DEHN, DEHN logo, DEHNcare, DEHNguard, DEHNport, DEHNventil, HVI, Red/Line, Yellow/Line are protected
by German Trade Mark, Community Trade Mark (EU), and/or other countries.
Changes in technology, misprints and errors cannot be ruled out. Illustrations are not binding.
DS509/E/0213
© Copyright 2013 DEHN + SÖHNE