About TOPTRONIC®

Part 1 and 2 of 4

All our R&D is done “in house” by Passionate and Dedicated Professionals. We have unique, State of the Art, R&D facilities not found anywhere else in this industry. For the design of the Electronic Circuitry in our products, we use the latest tools which include: Powerful and Sophisticated Multi-Displays Electronic CAD systems, with Schematic Capture, Simulation, multi-FPGA Design, Software Compilers, Printed Circuit Board with 3D Visualization, etc.

These tools enable us to develop the best reliable technological solutions to solve the world’s electrical testing problems with ease and provide an affordable elegant solution which will last for years to come.

We prototype in our labs using, to name a few, FPGA Development Systems, Microprocessor In-Circuit Emulators, Digital Storage Oscilloscopes, Very High Precision Digital Voltmeters, Logic and Protocols Analyzers, Power Supplies ranging from 1 nano-volt up to 150 kV, Current Generators from 1 femto-amp up to 2000 Amperes, Function and Arbitrary Waveform Generators, Frequency Counters, Temperature Calibrators, numerous types of Decades Boxes (R, L, C), Three Phase Power Generators, Semiconductor Analyzer, Calibrators for all types of Test Equipment, etc.

We are always looking for new techniques and new technologies to develop products that will solve tomorrow’s needs of the Electrical Industry.

Part 3 and 4 of 4

From a very early age, Jacques had always been a passionate electronician at heart with a passion for perfect electronics. While a teenager, he was building radio amateur electronic products in his parents’ home in Belgium and when he was only 16, he was designing his first commercial products, the first world automated tennis table counters (at the time, using discrete components, no microprocessors).

He started a company called JMBavionics in 1990, in South Africa. JMBavionics was supposed to have produced Instruments for recreational aviation but this project never took off and instead, to survive, JMBavionics got involved in manufacturing Spa Controllers and was designing Electronic products for other manufacturers who did not have R&D facilities.

In 1991, still working from his house, the first Fully automated, single button, Digital Electrical Earth Leakage Tester (RCB, GFCI) was born. It was called the BELT-D1. The customer who was to distribute that product was Bowthorpe-Hellermann, (managed by Cliff Rosenberg), known now, as Hellermann-Tyton. BELT-D1 did not go into production, so did not BELT-D2, but soon after, a family of simpler instruments were born. Production started in Jacques’ garage and outbuildings in Alberton North, South Africa.

In the mean time, we designed and manufactured a family of DMM adaptors, more particularly; current source and control loop adaptors for Philips South Africa. They were sold, together, with the Fluke Products during the T&M alliance between Fluke and Philips.

Jacques designed the first Toptronic® logo on Corel Draw and registered the company Toptronic (PTY) Ltd. A complete range of earth leakage testers was designed, TEL1, TEL2, TEL3, 4, 5, 6, 9 etc… and sold, using TOPTRONIC® as our brand. Heavy industries, globally, have been using our products ever since.

1992 was the beginning of a range of products for the testing of electrical installations. Since, the range of our “In-House Developed” products has grown to more than 500 under the Toptronic (PTY) Ltd V1, a factory backed by the then SA Government, was custom built to manufacture our instruments efficiently and keep the quality at its best.

In 1994, we designed the first compact digital electrical network analyzer with unique features, and the first 10 kV graphic insulation tester in the world. In 1995, we were the first to multi-language the displays on Testers.

For a while, we had a range of Audio Distribution Systems (Public Address) and accessories in production. We eventually sold that business in 1997 to focus uniquely on T&M and grow our electrical sales globally.

In 1998, Toptronic® V2, moved to Hong Kong and production transferred to a manufacturing partner in Asia (joint venture). Toptronic® acts as the Test and Measurement Technology Provider and develops the Intellectual Property of the products.

In 1999 we started growing our global presence by adding Australia to our sales. We developed OEM branded products (now over 300). When buying a branded product, chances are that the technology inside could be a “Toptronic” design.

In 2000, a major old (est. 1918) T&M South African Company was liquidated and Toptronic® acquired its IP and re-introduced their products ranges after updating them to international standards. We entered the High Voltage, Voltage Detection and Measuring market with Contact and Proximity Detectors as well as Phasing Sticks.

In 2004, 85 countries had adopted our Toptronic® products as “preferred in the testing of Electrical Installations”. In 2005 we developed Fuse and Faults finders, in 2006, we added some unique features to our growing range of multifunction products, like the MOV and Gas arresters functions. In 2007, we introduced our new family of cable tracers and cable finders.

In 2008, we complemented our ranges with Electric Safety products, Toptronic tools & bags, Small automation for switchboards, switches, circuit breakers and essential cables and installations accessories.

Since 2009, we have been developing a platform (Biesva) to revolutionize the way the Electrical Industry works. Our customers are the force behind our products. We design the Toptronic® products they want to have, and make them work the way they want to utilize them.

2020 was marked by a global pandemic which reshaped everything we do and how we do it. By 2023, we were ready to press the reset button once again, for Toptronic® V3, and deploy our Global Software platform to redefine the way the electrical sector will work in the future.

We only use the latest technology available and are updating our products on an on-going basis. For the development of the mechanical parts, we use 3D CAD systems which permits us to prototype on computer and develop real samples without the need to make molds. We have digitally controlled lathes, milling machines, 3D Printers, etc… in all of our labs. This shortens our development cycle of mechanical parts and helps us to make our products look and feel good at a fraction of the cost it would normally take to develop.

Our packaging, leaflets, user’s manuals, catalogs and posters are designed on our fully equipped Desktop Publishing Systems. All our R&D tasks are concentrated in our labs: Electronics (Hardware and Software), Mechanical, DTP, Translations, Web Design, Certifications, etc. The R&D Team is headed by Jacques M. M. Botte, our founder.

To respond to user’s demands and to be close to our markets, products are being developed in Asia (HKG), South Africa (JNB), Australia (BNE), Europe (BRU) and in the U.S.A (PHX). We invest more than 60% of our revenues into R&D, a level not found anywhere else. Toptronic® is driven by passion about developing the Perfect Electronics.

Together, with you, we can solve the world’s electrical problems and make our planet a better place to live in harmony with technology and quality. Together, we will make it.

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