SKB EP LLC – 35 years of innovation!

The reliability of power systems heavily relies on the timely detection of defects, the implementation of predictive maintenance, and strict compliance with operating parameters. In this context, Russian developments are becoming increasingly valuable as they help reduce the industry's dependence on imported solutions. One of the companies developing such technologies is SKB EP LLC, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary in 2026.

SKB EP was founded in 1991 on the basis of the Melentiev Energy Systems Institute of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences by a group of researchers who preserved their scientific and practical traditions during a period of economic transformation. From the very beginning, the company has focused on solving specific engineering challenges in the electric power industry, ranging from the development of diagnostic instruments to the creation of methodologies for their application under real operating conditions. Today, the company’s headquarters are located in St. Petersburg, while its manufacturing facilities are based in Irkutsk, creating an effective combination of scientific expertise and industrial production.

Diagnostics as the foundation of reliability

The development and manufacture of control and diagnostic instruments for high-voltage equipment, including circuit breakers, transformers, and on-load tap changers (OLTC), remains one of SKB EP's key directions. All products are based on principles established as early as the 1990s: a practical approach, an intuitive interface, a high degree of automation, and resistance to external influences.

Using the SKB EP equipment makes it possible to:

• detect defects in their early stages, before they reach a critical state;
• reduce the possibility of unscheduled shutdowns by 30–50% (according to operational reports);
• optimize maintenance and repair costs by transitioning from scheduled to predictive maintenance;
• extend equipment service life by 15–25% through precise monitoring of its technical condition.

Product line and compliance with standards

The company's product line includes certified devices that comply with GOST, IEC standards and the technical regulations of the Customs Union. The products also hold CE certificates and are listed in the State Register of Measuring Instruments of the Russian Federation and a number of CIS countries.

SKB EP’s key solutions:

• PKV/М7 and PKV/М15 - devices for measuring time, travel, and speed parameters of circuit breaker moving contacts;
• DCRT-200 - an instrument for monitoring the condition of arcing contacts in SF6 circuit breakers;
• МIКО-21, МIКО-10, МIКО-2.3 - micro-ohmmeters for contact resistance measurement of welded, brazed, and bolted joints;
• МIКО-7МА, МIКО-8МА, МIКО-9А - milli-ohmmeters for DC resistance measurement of windings in transformers, generators, and electric motors;
• PKR-2М - instruments for diagnosing OLTC of power transformers.

Product line development

In its anniversary year, the company continues to expand its product line and is preparing to launch a number of new developments:

• PKV/М17 и PKV/М17М - devices for monitoring and diagnosing high-voltage circuit breakers rated from 6 to 500 kV, providing simultaneous measurements across 3 poles and up to 6 breaks per pole;
• МIКО-12-25А и МIКО-12-50А - milli-ohmmeter with test currents of 25 A and 50 A for operation in facilities with high inductance;
• МIКО-1М-50А, МIКО-1М-100А, МIКО-21М и МIКО-22  - an updated line of micro-ohmmeters with expanded capabilities.

Export potential and international recognition

Despite geopolitical and logistical challenges, SKB EP products are successfully supplied to more than 23 countries, including Uzbekistan, China, Thailand, Vietnam, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, and Ecuador. Export sales demonstrate not only the compliance of the products with international requirements but also their competitiveness in terms of price, quality, and reliability compared with international alternatives.

Manufacturing expertise and customized solutions

The company's own manufacturing capabilities enable SKB EP not only to produce standard products but also to implement engineering projects tailored to individual customer requirements, including:

• manufacturing metal components with complex geometries;
• producing high-precision current-measuring shunts;
• applying additive manufacturing technologies in the development and production of new products;
• developing and manufacturing spare parts for circuit breakers using proprietary engineering methods.

Educational initiative: developing professional expertise

SKB EP considers power system reliability to be the result not only of advanced technologies but also of highly qualified professionals. In 2022, the company obtained a license to provide educational services in Russia and regularly conducts professional development courses for engineering and technical personnel of power companies. The training programs cover both the theoretical foundations of diagnostics and practical work with the company's equipment. Training is available in both on-site and online formats, with participants receiving official certificates

Cooperation with educational institutions

SKB EP is expanding its collaboration with specialized universities and colleges, helping students develop practical skills in the field of high-voltage equipment diagnostics.

The company equips educational laboratories with modern diagnostic equipment and develops methodologies and laboratory work scenarios based on real-world operational cases. This approach effectively transforms academic knowledge into practical skills.

Over the past 35 years, SKB EP LLC has evolved from a research laboratory into a mature, technologically independent manufacturer capable of addressing complex challenges in the electric power industry – from the development and production of diagnostic equipment to the training of industry specialists. The company demonstrates that Russian developments in the field of power diagnostics not only successfully compete with foreign analogues, but often surpass them in terms of functionality, adaptability, and affordability. Amid the transformation of energy infrastructure and growing demands for the reliability of power systems, SKB EP’s experience serves as a compelling example of the successful implementation of a strategy for technological sovereignty.