From the early 1960's CBI began to invest in its own product development. this resulted in locally developed sensitive residual current devices, a range of miniature circuit breakers and , more recently, moulded case circuit breakers utilising the Magnetc-Magnetic operating principle. These products were specifcally suited to South Afican industrial and residential conditions which are encironmentall more demanding than in many other countries.

CBI has at its disposal a sub stantial design and development capability. Approximately 4% of the staff is employed in the R&D department and are highly skilled professional engineers, technologists and technicians who umdertake pioneering work in breaker technology supported by well equipped laboratories and a modern tes centre capable of testing circuit breakers to fault levels of up to 65KA AC and 30KA DC.

Where fault level testing atcurrents above 65KA is required, CBI is able to use the internationally recongnised facilities at the South African Bureau of Standards.

Many national design awards won by CBI engineering teams over the last two decades are testimony to their achievements in circuit breaker technology and over 100 patents registered both locally and internationally have been granted.

Within the engineering division at CBI, scientists undertake reseatch into Magnetic-Magnetic breaker technology, thus ensuring that CBI maintains its leadership in this field.

Based on a long tradition of earth leakage(RCD) protection (initially power independent and subsequently of the electronic type), it is obvious that CBI continues to direct funds into this area so as to maintain its leading postrion internationally.