Why buy Katko?

For over 60 years, we have been giving our customers two basic reasons to buy Katko products.

1. First, our switches are safe. Not just 'safe' but independently tested, verified and meeting-all-possible-standards safe.

   The reality of load break switches and switch fuses is that they are used infrequently, and sometimes in an emergency. When they do come to be used, it is vital that they perform and perform without question.

   We would love to say that all the switches on the market can be said to produce that level of safety but sadly they can't. And sometimes there are dire consequences when a "maintenance switch" or an "isolator switch" are put to the test in the real world.

   All Katko's safety switches are tested to the most stringent standards. If you purchase our products, you know you are getting a guarantee of quality, every time.

2. The second reason we tell our customers that Katko products are a cut above the competition is ease of installation.

   We are constantly redesigning and improving our switches to make them as easy to use and to install as possible. Those who install our products rarely face a simple task: sometimes they have a confined space in which to work; sometimes the same switch needs to be installed in a range of different locations in the same plant; sometimes so many switches need to be installed that even the smallest unnecessary step takes up hours of time when repeated over and over again.

   We have been listening to our customers for decades and redesigning our switches to match their needs. As a result, you will find that Katko switches are easy to handle, simple to install, flexible and built with the user in mind.

   You will save countless hours of your time choosing a product that has been built to serve you the user. Just one example of this ease of use is presented in a video below.

There are other reasons to buy Katko products. For one, we always have our products tested by independent, accredited testing institutes.

As a result we have a wide range of independent test certificates that demonstrate compliance with national and international standards developed across the world. We make these readily available to our customers and in fact you can download them from our Certificates page.

But doesn't every switch on the market comply with these standards? Sadly not. Don't take our word for it: before you put in an order with another company, ask them to supply evidence of their compliance with national and international standards. They should have a certificate that they can easily and quickly supply to you. Independent testers are also always happy to verify their work, so call them and ask.

Katko has has over 60 years of experience in the design and manufacturing of Load Break and Fuse Switches.

We use only the most up-to-date materials, producing the highest quality switches at a competitive price and with the widest possible range to suit all customer needs.

SAFETY SWITCHES

At Katko we do not call our range "maintenance switches" or "isolator switches" for the specific reason that they are SAFETY SWITCHES.

Why are they so safe?

All of our Safety Switches have a door interlock system, which not only prevents the cover from being removed when the switch is in the "ON" position, but also when the switch is "PADLOCKED OFF".

To be fair, most of our competitors also have an interlock in the "ON" position, but we believe Katko is unique in having an interlock in the "PADLOCKED OFF" position. When the switch is padlocked off, we have to assume that the person who fitted the padlock does not want anyone to interfere with the switch – but unless you have the Katko Safety Switch, the cover can be unscrewed and removed, leaving the switch vulnerable to tampering.

Video: Here is a quick, two-minute video that shows how our interlocking system provides additional safety and security.

Katko switches are mounted inside enclosures made of various materials
to suit specific applications: ABS, Polycarbonate, Aluminium, Steel and Stainless Steel. The minimum IP rating for all enclosures is IP65.

The switches inside the enclosures are Load Break Switches, not no-load isolators. The standards give the following utilisation categories:

No-load isolators have a utilisation category of AC-20.

Katko switches have ratings of AC-21, AC-22 and AC-23 for each switch. As AC-22 is the most commonly used, Katko uses this rating as the basis for parts numbering. For example, the KEM 316 is a 3-pole 16A switch with an AC-22 rating. The AC-21 rating of KEM 316 is 25A, and most our competitors use code 325 for a corresponding switch.