Get ready for EASA!

Electrical Apparatus

More than Motors

Hello, EASA 2025 exhibitors!

Electrical Apparatus covers the Electrical Apparatus Service Association like no other magazine!

Advertisers in our June, July and/or September issues qualify for --

• June EASA preview - FREE 2” ads!

• July EASA exhibitors - FREE editorial previews!

• September EASA report - FREE photos of your exhibits!

• Digital and at-show promotions from February through September!

Closing dates are earlier this year .Email me now for details- We want to include you!

Barbara Barbara Wachter

Advertising Director

barbara@barks.com 312-626-2316

See examples from last year!

EASA 2025?

THE JUNE ISSUE

Special 2” ad section

3 Listing our EASA exhibitor advertisers

Advertisers in our June, July or September issues qualify for FREE inclusion in this well read, “keeper” June EASA issue. Check out our 2” section - sign up NOW to be sure to be included!

Again this year --

A “See Who’s Exhibiting at EASA 2024” flipbook of the 2” section will be promoted in our E-news and social media acounts as insertions are placed and throughout September. Sign up early to make the most of this excellent esposure!

EASA show preview

7 Telling our readers what to expect

Last year’s “Vegas’s special powers” previewed the fun EASAns could expect to find in one the country’s entertainment capitals, as well as its scenic marvels. This year in Nashville is sure to be equally riveting and exciting!

THE JULY ISSUE

Annual

EASA Exhibitors section - our biggest issue!

9 The latest in electrical apparatus service and repair

All EASA exhibitors qualify for editorial consideration in this well read section. Your ad in the July issue is an ideal way to establish your brand primacy and bring extra attention to your booth and convention offers.

THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE

Show reports

27 Wrapping up show highlights

With first person reporting from the show conference sessions, last year’s “An industry in flux” reported on critical roles in a transitioning industry.

35 Efficiency, meet stability

Standouts from the New Solutions Theater..

The

EASA convention in photos

36 The view from the show floor

Lively photos taken at booths, conference sessions, keybotes, ribbon cuttings and more. This is always a keeper issue that attendees and others treasure.

EASA Booth 715

Vegas’s special powers

Odds & ends to consider during your free time in the famous Nevada oasis

By Charlie Barks, EA Managing Editor

Las Vegas has been defined by glowing lights since its founding. But how does this oasis in the desert, miles from other major urban hubs, source its electrical power?

Most of you already think you know the answer, right? The Hoover Dam, the American engineering staple, for which appropriations were approved and construction began in 1930. However, this is a common misconception; while the Hoover Dam has always been capable of supplying power, it hasn’t always directly supplied Sin City. In fact, the first time direct Vegas power was derived from the Dam was in 2017.

The dam was dedicated in 1935, and the hydroelectric generators went online in 1937. In 1947, Congress officially “restored” Hoover’s name to the dam, after FDR’s Secretary of the Interior tried to remove it. Hoover Dam was built for a cost of $49 million (approximately $760 million adjusted for inflation). The power plant and generators cost an additional $71 million. The sale of electrical power generated by the dam paid back its construction cost, with interest, by 1987.

Today the Hoover Dam controls the flooding of the Colorado River, irrigates over 1,500,000 acres of land, and provides water to more than 16,000,000 people. Lake Mead supports recreational activities and provides habitats to fish and wildlife. Power generated by the dam provides energy to power over 500,000 homes. The population of Las Vegas is roughly 750,000. The Hoover Compromise still governs how the water is shared.

If you’re planning to attend this year’s convention of the Electrical Apparatus Service Association, being held at Caesars Forum and Harrah’s Las Vegas June 24-26, then a visit to this industrial powerhouse is worth the time.

Did you know? Las Vegas is one of the country’s largest cities currently powered by renewable energy. Las Vegas began its renewable energy project in 2008, reducing electricity usage through sustainability programs and installing solar panels on city buildings. Overlooking the Hoover Dam, visitors will see more than just a spectacular view of Lake Mead and the surrounding canyons. They’re getting a firsthand look at how Las Vegas is powered.

A return to a popular destination

This year’s EASA convention will take place in Vegas for the second time in six years (five in terms of physical venues, given that the 2020 convention was virtual). More information about the convention is at www. easa.com. As always, we’ll try to compile some options here for what’s accessible from the EASA home base during your stay. For these purposes, we’re using the Harrah’s Casino and Resort as a reference point.

The Hoover Dam may not have powered Las Vegas’s early growth, but this engineering marvel is still well worth a visit.

Las Vegas National Golf Course ($100-$170) is 3.4 miles away (not a walk you’re going to want to take, and only a 13-minute ride) from Harrah’s, and it’s the best option for golf in the immediate area. That is, unless you’re willing to splurge for Wynn Golf Club ($600 per person), which is less than a mile walk away . . . in which case we hope you’re locking down a major deal on the course!

If you get there early for the weekend, there are music and entertainment options galore. These include, but are not limited to: Lady Gaga, the Blue Man Group, Dead & Company, and Megan Thee Stallion — all before the start of the actual convention, so pace yourself if you dare to pursue any of those endeavors. During the convention days, it only continues: Daryl Hall and Elvis Costello are at the Fountainbleu on June 23; there’s a highly reviewed Michael Jackson Tribute Show (MJ Live) on June 25; Soul of Motown, Lionel Ritchie, and Garth Brooks will all be performing June 26.

For a fun alternative only a 20-minute drive away, EASA attendees might consider the Neon Museum (770 Las Vegas Blvd. North) which offers “full glow” guided tours at night. Tickets are fairly pricey ($45). Your ticket includes admission to The Neon Museum, a 45-minute guided tour of the Museum’s Neon Boneyard, and the very popular augmented reality experience called “Brilliant! Jackpot.” Admission $45 for adults, $22.50 for youths 7 to 17, and free for children 6 and younger.

Sports and spectacles

Sporting events are surprisingly scarce on EASA weekend for a city that’s added two pro teams in the last five years (and will add a third in a few more), but if you get there early, you have options. The WNBA’s Las Vegas Aces host the Connecticut Sun at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, June 21, at Michelob Ultra Arena, and Las Vegas Lights, the city’s Major League Soccer club, is hosting a game June 22 against Memphis at Cashman Field (850 N. Las Vegas Blvd.) starting at 6:00 p.m.

Lastly, one of the newest, boldest attractions in Vegas is the MSG Sphere, which opened in 2023 and

is considered a state-of-the-art entertainment venue. The Sphere Experience with Darren Aronofsky’s Postcard from Earth will be running every day of this year’s EASA convention. Tickets for the Sphere start at $79. I suppose Vegas ain’t cheap.

As always, our staff is looking forward to seeing you all at EASA this year and catching up with our readers, advertisers, and friends. See you on the Strip! EA

Sphere is one of the more recent additions to the Las Vegas cityscape.

Fremont Street is a popular alternative to the Las Vegas Strip.

On display in Vegas

Highlights of the products and services to be showcased at this month’s convention of the Electrical Apparatus Service Association

By the Electrical Apparatus sta

If it’s June, it must be EASA. This annual rite of summer, familiar to many EA readers, will get fully underway June 24-26 when members of the Electrical Apparatus Service Association convene at Caesars Forum and Harrah’s Las Vegas.

Equal parts trade show, educational conference, networking event, and reunion, the EASA Convention brings together vendors and customers to share their knowledge, have a few laughs, and perhaps close a deal or two. Las Vegas offers many side attractions, many of them covered last month in the article “Vegas’s special powers” by Managing Editor Charlie Barks.

On this and 17 pages following we bring you previews of many of the products and services that exhibitors have told us they plan to feature at the EASA Solutions Expo. Our hope is that even readers who don’t plan to attend the convention will nd value in these summaries of what’s new in the electromecnanical service and sales industry.

Motor tester and winding analyzer

This year at the EASA Solutions Expo, Electrom Instruments will demonstrate how it continues to miniaturize the iTIG motor tester and winding analyzer. The company will be showcasing its new 6-12 kV and 15 kV motor tester, “now smaller than ever with a significant reduction in size and weight from previous generations,” according to Electrom. The company says the tester is suitable for both inshop use and field testing. The entire iTIG product line will be on display in the Electrom booth. “Expo visitors are encouraged to stop by to see just how small these new testers really are,” Electrom says.

Electrom Instruments now has a motor tester and winding analyzer that’s smaller than ever and easily transportable into the field.

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Distributor of motors and drives

ESR Motor Systems, Inc., a distributor of new motors and drives for commercial and industrial clients, is set to showcase its diverse product line. The company prides itself in maintaining a comprehensive inventory of top-tier brands and essential tools for basic modifications across all its warehouses. In the past year, ESR Motor Systems has expanded and enhanced its operations across its six locations. Notable changes include the introduction of innovative motor storage and the acquisition of tools for basic motor modifications. ESR Motor Systems’ president, national sales manager, a national inside sales member, and the e-commerce product manager will all be present during the Solutions Expo.

Coils, poles, magnet wire, and more

Coral Coil, part of the Coral Group of companies, has stateof-the-art capabilities at three manufacturing facilities and two repair shops. The company calls itself “a one-stop solution provider for all your rotating electrical machine needs.” Having grown “quite substantially in the last years,” Coral Coil plans to highlight several products and services at Booth 738, including diamond coils 400 V up to 16 kV, bars from 11 kV up to 22 kV for air- and water-cooled systems, plus rotor coils, poles, and magnet wire. On the service side, Coral Coil offers reverse engineering, power increase, and on-site rewinding of power and hydro generators. The company says it has more than 150 rewinders.

Laser machine for high-end laminations

Benefitting from many years of experience in developing and manufacturing laser cutting machines, Stiefelmayer has developed a line of application-specific machines to ensure the highest precision and dynamics standards for stator and rotor laminations. Modern technology in laser, carbon construction, and dynamic motors creates a laser machine capable of high-end motor laminations, setting new industry standards.

At the EASA Solutions Expo, the company plans to have these machines on full display. The Stiefelmayer laser machine is particularly well adapted to cutting precision shapes in thin substrates, including electro-steel, stainless, copper, and brass, according to the company. Motor laminations are a specialty, and this fact, the company says, matches the drive for EVs in the U.S. auto industry.

Stiefelmayer will be displaying its laser-cutting machines, which are well suited to producing motor laminations.

“Join us for enlightening discussions with industry experts on laser cutting technology for motor laminations at Booth 944,” Stiefelmayer urges. “Immerse yourself in the showcase of superior motor laminations meticulously manufactured using our cutting-edge laser cutting machine.”

Just one view of ESR Motor Systems’ spacious and well-ordered warehousing.

An aerial view of one of Coral Coil’s manufacturing facilities.

Mechanical seals and maple syrup

Apex Sealing, Inc., at Booth 229, will be displaying information and samples of its cartridge seals: S1, D2PR, WG3, Metal Free, PS, MM, OEM replacements, welded metal bellows, repairs, repair kits, and the company’s full line of other mechanical seals. Apex Sealing’s goal is to provide outstanding service to customers and to have a “mutually growing and profitable relationship.”

On the subject of customer profitability, the company says, “We believe if our customers increase their profitability by using Apex Sealing, they will be back again down the road. We will do everything in our power to lower your costs and increase your profitability as well as enhance your sealing reliability.”

Everything in its business, Apex Sealing says, begins and ends with product quality and technical accuracy. “Product quality is the basis for sealing reliability, which is in turn the foundation for our customer’s success,” the company says. Inventory depth and diversity are also priorities. “We have earned our reputation by having the right seal on the shelf,” Apex Seal tells us. “Although it’s impossible to have every seal for every pump, we have proven to our customers that we can get most sealing solutions on the truck today.”

And then there are “expedited solutions.” If Apex Sealing doesn’t have the right seal ready to ship, the company will build it. “If we can’t build it immediately, we will utilize our network of suppliers to find it,” Apex Seal promises. “If engineered solutions are required, we will provide you with answers ASAP, typically within a day. We are in a ‘right now’ industry, and we take that seriously.”

Apex Sealing will also provide information about its line of submersible seals, mixer seals, barrier fluid, and single- and multiple-spring-component parts. The Vermont-based company urges visitors to “come to discuss cost-e ective pricing, or just drop by for some fresh Vermont maple syrup!”

An end-on view of Haysite’s Dog-Bone composites.

A composites manufacturer’s new line

Haysite Reinforced Plastics became a member of the Isovolta Group in 2018. Founded in 1954, Haysite has been doing composite manufacturing for more than 70 years. It’s a diversified company servicing the electrical, laboratory, transit, municipal, and water market segments. At this year’s EASA Solutions Expo, the company will be introducing the new line of Dog-Bone profiles in 3⁄8 and ½ sizes to start. Headquartered in Erie, Pa., Haysite manufactures compression-molded sheets and profiles of GPO materials. Attendees are invited to visit Booth 933 for details.

Vibration sensor with wireless technology

Ludeca, in Booth 745, plans to showcase its Kappa X wireless vibration sensor. This instrument measures vibration and temperature, combining what the company describes as “unrivaled wireless technology,” replaceable battery, IP69 rated, and a “market-leading 10 kHz FMax fault detection capability” within a compact footprint. Ludeca will also have on display — and will o er live demonstrations of — its laser shaft alignment tools and portable vibration analyzers to #keepit running at the customer’s facility.

➤

An Apex Sealing crew member works on a repair.

A close look at Ludeca’s Kappa X wireless vibration sensor.

Bearings for demanding applications

At EASA 2024, NTN Bearing Corp. of America will be highlighting its Megaohm series of bearings, which are engineered to handle the demands of electric motor applications. Sta will be on hand to educate visitors about the company’s EM bearing features and benefits as well as best bearing practices. The company will also hold a ra e.

APPLES

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Benshaw’s new MVRNX Series medium-voltage soft starter.

A new mediumvoltage soft starter

Benshaw will be introducing its new MVRNX Series medium-voltage soft starter. “Next-level” NX technology “takes motor control into the future” with a generational change in processor speed, protection and monitoring functionality, and communications capabilities, according to the company. MVRNX starters come standard with cyber-secured Bluetooth capabilities, allowing the user to connect safely to equipment through a phone app for shortened commissioning times and seamless troubleshooting. PLC-type architecture allows for easy integration of options to the system, Benshaw says.

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NTN Bearing sta displaying the company’s bearing products at a previous trade expo.

Feature | 2024 EASA Convention Exhibitors

Price guides, both printed and online

Our friends at Vaughen’s Price Publishing tell us they’re looking forward to seeing everyone in Las Vegas. The company’s 2024 Price Guide Book, Online Digital Price Guide, and website Vaughens.com will be on display at its booth.

Vaughen’s recently released Digital Price Guide resembles the printed book but can be accessed from anywhere – shop, home, o ce, or on the road. All visitors to the booth can register to win a free one-year subscription to Vaughen’s Online Digital Price Guide.

Jason Lammers, the firm’s project manager, will be available to take orders and answer visitors’ questions about using Vaughen’s products.

Visitors to Vaughen’s booth can see samples of the company’s price guides, both printed and digital.

Vaughen’s has been dedicated to the electric motor and pump repair industry for more than 91 years, the company says, “and we look forward to many more years of service. We hope to see you in Las Vegas, and remember to use Vaughen’s daily to ‘Put More Profit in Your Price!’”

A view of Cutsforth’s application software for machine condition monitoring.

Software platform for asset monitoring

The folks at Cutsforth, Inc., tell us they’re excited to return to the EASA Convention this summer. The company plans to showcase its electrical signature analysis on its enhanced InsightCM comprehensive platform, an online asset-monitoring platform that “empowers data-driven decisions that improve availability, reliability, and operating costs,” according to the company. InsightCM is application software for condition monitoring with full access to waveforms, multiple sensor technology inputs, enterprise software connectivity, and analytics packages. It’s used by maintenance professionals who need analytics-based reliability assessment, optimized maintenance schedules, online analysis tools, multiple sensor technology inputs, and connectivity to existing enterprise or IoT software. Cutsforth calls InsightCM “an important monitoring technology to have in your toolkit, and it works well in partnership with other solutions.”

Balancing and machine health monitoring

Erbessd Instruments is encouraging convention attendees to stop by Booth 1009 for a live demonstration of the advances the company is making in balancing and machine health monitoring. The Erbessd experts can walk visitors through the company’s full suite of products, which include wireless vibration monitors for every environment, DragonVision — “the video deflection technology taking the industry by storm” — and balancing solutions “so well-tailored we even o er a ‘build-your-own’ system,” according to the company.

EI-Series soft-bearing balancing machines, Erbessd explains, employ a two-run balancing process. Based upon the known mass and geometry of the rotor to be balanced, the balancing grade and quality required, and the known mass and geometry of the EI-Series soft-bearing suspension, EISeries users can balance rotors more precisely, e ciently, accurately, and safely, according to Erbessd.

EI-Series machines can accommodate rotors from 30 kg to 25,000 kg in capacity. Erbessd Instruments is an ISO:9001 manufacturer with sales and support o ces in Mexico, the U.S., the U.K., Canada, France, and India, with distributors in more than 100 countries around the world. “Our patented and user-friendly software eliminates the need to purchase proprietary readers and keeps your data securely in your hands using any cell phone, Windows, IOS, or Android device,” according to the company.

Motor Tester & Winding Analyzer

Permanent-magnet motor technology

Motor manufacturer OMEC is looking to make waves at the Solutions Expo with a display of its latest innovations. At the heart of the company’s exhibit will be its permanentmagnet motor technology, a development that the company says “promises to revolutionize the industry.” OMEC will unveil “solutions tailored for the general industry,” addressing the needs of diverse sectors. The company’s portfolio of low- and medium-voltage motors, now available in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, exemplifies the company’s commitment to “providing cutting-edge solutions on a wider scale,” according to OMEC. A “wealth of information” will be available at OMEC’s booth, and visitors can anticipate a firsthand look at the future of electric motor technology, guided by OMEC’s team of experts.

OMEC is also hinting at some surprises for conferencegoers, promising an immersive experience that goes beyond the conventional expectations of a trade show. “These surprises are poised to captivate and inspire, leaving a lasting impression on those seeking the forefront of innovation in the electrical motor industry,” the company promises.

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Electrom Instruments is proud to introduce the new iTIG IV series motor tester and winding analyzer. Ideal for field testing or shop use, new miniaturized iTIG models provide accurate and reliable testing in a portable case. See what makes the iTIG IV more portable than any previous generation. Scan the QR code to visit the iTIG IV Product Page for complete details.

An Erbessd Instruments balancing tower.

continued from previous page

Engineering and repair

CAM Innovation, a designer and maker of advanced motor and coil manufacturing equipment, plans to showcase its various products and services. The company specializes in heavy-duty electric motor repair, providing machinery for repairing d-c motors. The company’s engineering division designs motor maintenance facilities for global clients. The company also offers a wide range of machines for producing a-c and d-c form coils for OEM and aftermarket customers. CAM Innovation provides such equipment as coil formers, hot presses, wire preparation equipment, and tools to enhance coil shop efficiency and profitability.

Present at CAM Innovation’s booth will be company president Chuck McGough, technical sales specialist Dominic Lizzi, manager of technical services Tom Harris, sales and service engineer Mario Medina, and director of business development Michelle McGough.

Laser classing for shaft and keyway repair

Alabama Laser will feature its capacity for performing laser cladding, a process used to deposit a layer of material onto a surface to repair shafts or keyways on electric motors. In contrast to high-heat-inducing technologies (conventional plasma weld overlay, MIG, TIG, or sub arc welding), a primary characteristic of the laser cladding process is a lower heat input that’s said to reduce effects on shaft concentricity and mitigate shaft distortion. After being laser clad, the repaired area may then be post-machined back to print specification. Unlike metalizing processes that produce a mechanical bond that can flake off, the durable laser clad exhibits a metallurgical bond that won’t flake off during assembly or in service, according to the company. Laser cladding is also said to allow alloys to be applied to strategic areas of the shaft to prevent or delay problems such as wear and corrosion.

It’s no longer just about gambling: Las Vegas welcomes more than 6.5 million business delegates to the city per year

The CAM Innovation crew poses proudly with some of the company’s state-of-the-art machinery.

A demonstration of Alabama Laser’s laser cladding.

Commutators made with ‘uncompromised precision’

ICC International is inviting EASA partners to Booth 914 to see what the company says is the world’s first 3D-printed commutator.

EASA partners will be able to look inside the commutator, see how it’s constructed, and connect with the ICC team – including CEO & president Shawn Lyke and CFO & general manager Tracy Queen. Continuing an annual tradition, the ICC team will also be sharing its signature cocktail, serving up — as the company tantalizingly puts it — “delicious dirty martinis in mini martini glasses that partners can take home and use time and time again!”

While they enjoy their martinis, visitors can drop o their business cards in the ICC ra e box for a chance to win a Yeti cooler; four winners are to be chosen.

ICC International will be sponsoring the Women of EASA networking reception from 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on June 25, an event to be facilitated by Jan Schmidlkofer of K&N Electric Motors, Inc., Spokane. ICC calls this ticketed session “a great opportunity for the women of EASA to connect and discuss how to recruit more women to the industry.”

Introducing a new motor warehouse

Heartland Motors of Smyrna, Tenn., a new EASA member, is eager to tell people about its new warehouse. The company specializes in stocking motors that aren’t stocked by manufacturers. Currently available are new GE, IEEE 841 MV motors 200-600 hp, 2, 4, and 6 pole. The LS, L, and LL shafts are in stock as well, with all ratings covered, along with new TWMC custom motors. The standard GE MV catalog 841 products are also in stock, with Inpro Seals DE and NDE and 66-month warranty or five years in service.

The company can help with GE Vernova out of Brazil, including parts and d-c brushes. “We are proudly selling Siemens, which is now Innomotics, as well as TWMC, USEM, and WEG,” Heartland Motors informs us. “We are happy to provide pricing against repair for you or just try to save you some money. We also have an extensive library of drawings that we are happy to share with all EASA members upon request.” Perhaps most importantly, they enjoy their work: “At Heartland Motors we love what we do, and we are willing to help you for free and for fun!”

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A 3D-printed commutator? You can have a close look at one at the booth if ICC International.

Joey O’Day of Heartland-Motors.com and his fiancée, Nicole, will be working the booth of Heartland Motors, a new EASA member company.

A sampling of standards and other publications from the InterNational Electrical Testing Association.

Essential electrical testing guidance

NETA – The InterNational Electrical Testing Association tells us it’s proud to support EASA and participate in the upcoming convention and Solutions Expo.

The association is inviting attendees to visit NETA, an ANSI-Accredited Standards Developing Organization that creates and maintains standards for electrical power systems commissioning, acceptance testing, maintenance testing, and certification of electrical testing technicians. The association says it’s committed to advancing the industry through educational conferences and on-demand training courses.

The association adds, “Be sure to stop by NETA’s EASA Solutions Expo Booth 430 to peruse the latest in top-tier industry publications, receive discounts on NETA’s training library of on-demand courses, and learn more about NETA’s EPIC 2024 and PowerTest25 Conferences.”

Motor testing and instrumentation

Motor Diagnostic Systems, or MDS, offers testing and instrumentation for electric motors, solenoids, armatures, and coils. The company is also the exclusive North American representative and service center for Schleich motor testers. New at the EASA Solutions Expo this year: MDS is expanding its MTC2 R7’s capabilities and is accepting pre-orders for a larger, more capable stand-alone tester that can measure voltages of 25 kV, 30 kV, 40 kV, and 50k V. Stand-alone here, according to the company, means there’s no need to purchase any additional benchtop instruments to operate the equipment.

The MTC2 R7 Power Pack is built in a robust, easily transportable housing, complete with large castors, making relocation easy, according to the company. A large monitor, including a mouse and keyboard, is mounted on the housing itself, enabling ergonomic operation. All connections are located at the back of the tester, including a cable winder for winding up all test leads after use. An additional shelf allows for accessories, such as Kelvin clamps and foot switches, to be stored as well.

Motor Diagnostic Systems’ MTC2 R7.

Software for analyzing pricing

Spring Point will be showcasing its Spring Point Suite software, now in use at more than 200 motor shops. The company, exhibiting at Booth 367, will demonstrate MotorBase, QM Wizard, CRM, Pricing Analyzer, and more.

The company will be launching a new fully based tool, called the Pricing Analyzer, at 1:50 p.m. on Tuesday, June 26, in the New Solutions Theater.

The Pricing Analyzer will find comparative repair pricing across all EASA regions based on thousands of “reliable, actual, and valuable records,” according to Spring Point. The company recently hired a support specialist, QM analyst, quality assurance tester, and chief technology o cer to help lead the company globally. The company also hired a new development firm.

Spring Point, the company tells us, was acquired by ABB at the end of 2023. Spring Point says this new corporate ownership will provide the company with more resources and technical expertise to support customers “now and in the future.” Spring Point will remain a separate legal entity within the ABB group, allowing the company to continue to react with the same quickness and agility customers have come to expect while also providing an even greater level of data privacy.

Magnet wire, coils, commutators, and more

Electric Motor Coil plans to showcase its newest machinery as well as samples of its magnet wire, coils, and commutators. The company’s booth will be using a second video screen, enhancing its display capabilities. The company will also unveil its latest product o erings, which will include breakthroughs in rotor bar automation.

“We believe that 3D scanning will revolutionize the industry by enabling rapid, precise measurements and angles, transforming the way we approach manufacturing and design,” the company says. “These tools not only enhance our capabilities but also set new benchmarks for quality and e ciency in our sector. We will also be unveiling our new rapid delivery service.”

Electric Motor Coil will be announcing several new additions, which include expanding its manufacturing capabilities to include magnet wire and utilizing materials such as Daglass, Nomex, and Kapton. The company has also invested in a leading-edge 3D printer and 3D scanner technology, “which is pushing the boundaries of what’s possible,” the company says.

The Electric Motor Coil day shift crew receives a visit from Alex Nuttall (in jacket and open-collar shirt), mayor of Barrie, Ontario.

HVI produces many higher kVA AC Test Sets for performing AC withstand testing on all types of electrical apparatus. These include corona free sets for performing partial discharge testing on switchgear, bushings, breakers, motors, linemans safety equipment/accessories, distribution transformers, etc. (Pd equipment not availabe from HVI.) Various control packages are available: simple manual controls, automated and computer interfaceable controls, and fully microprocessor based controls for complete test automation and data collection.

Spring Point is returning to the EASA Solutions Expo under new corporate ownership.

Feature | 2024 EASA Convention Exhibitors

High-efficiency motors in stock

Nidec plans to feature its high-efficiency U.S. Motors brand of electric motors while also focusing on its wide availability of in-stock and ready-to-install motors, including the HolloShaft vertical motor. Also featured will be Nidec’s Super Premium and above variable-frequency drive motors and all-in-one integrated motors and controls, which the company says are “leading the industry with efficiency ratings of IE 4 and IE 5, delivering remarkable energy savings compared to traditional single-speed motors.” Nidec will offer visitors a demonstration of its newest technology, the ID300 integrated drive,

Spin the wheel that’s powered by Lafert

Members of the Lafert crew at last year’s EASA Convention in National Harbor, Md.

The folks at Lafert North America tell us they’re looking forward to “another highly anticipated event in fabulous Las Vegas.” Visitors who are feeling lucky are encouraged to stop by Booth 723 for a chance to spin the wheel — powered by a Lafert PM motor, no less — for a chance to “win some fun prizes.” The Lafert crew will be joined by a special guest from Sacemi to help showcase a range of coolant pumps said to be ideal for machine tools (milling machines, lathes, and drills), glass processing, and printing machines.

Motors for large rotating applications

Innomotics GmbH, the global supplier of electric motors and large drive systems, plans to showcase its Advantage Series of medium-voltage, totally enclosed, fancooled motor design, which is a result of meeting the common application challenges users experience with large compressors, blowers, coolers, mixers, conveyors, extruders, and pumps. The company understands that many industries have common large-rotating applications that are low-spec in nature. “Users also prefer motor suppliers that are capable of delivering standard and customized equipment,” the company says. “Innomotics is one of the few manufacturers today that effectively do both.” Advantage Series is a standard TEFC motor best suited for low specification applications in a wide range of industries.

A motor from Innomotics’ Advantage Series of medium-voltage motors.

Commutators with less environmental impact

Nelco Industries, a European specialist in commutators for d-c motors, is looking forward to meeting with owners and managers of American motor repair shops. The company plans to give a behind-the-scenes demonstration of its workshop through pictures taken by a French artist. Nelco describes itself as committed to being more sustainable, using essentially copper that comes from scraps to produce commutators. Among new products the company is developing is a new slip ring. Nelco has recently expanded and plans to retrofit its machines this year instead of buying new ones, in order to reduce its environmental footprint. This is all in keeping with the company’s larger vision: “We have determined the usefulness of our firm,” Nelco Industries tells us, lies in the objective to “carry the ambition to support the global economy in its ecological transition through our humanity, excellence, and know-how.”

Insulation materials and machines

The Nipon Rika crew at the company’s booth at the 2023 EASA Solutions Expo in National Harbor, Md.

Nipon Rika, the manufacturer of insulation systems, heatdissipating materials, and advanced laminates, is celebrating its 110th anniversary this year. At the EASA Solutions Expo, the company will show visitors how it’s continuing to expand its lines of insulation materials and automated machines for the production of coils and bars. Once again, Nippon Rika will be bringing team members from all over the world, including the U.S., Europe, Japan, and Mexico, to the convention.

Come and meet Helwig’s new president

Helwig Carbon’s newly appointed president, Nitin Kulkarni, and Jeff Koenitzer P.E., chairman of the board, will be presenting new research in a session titled “The Importance of Spring Force on Carbon Brush Function” on Monday, June 24, at 11 a.m. Kulkarni, appointed president of Helwig Carbon this past February, is also a member of the EASA Technical Services Committee. Meanwhile, on display at Helwig’s booth at the Solutions Expo will be the company’s entire shaft grounding lineup, including new EZ MultiFit brackets, and the BPK-Probe, a shaft voltage detection device. Helwig will have engineers on hand to answer questions regarding carbon brushes, holders, springs, and sliding electrical contacts in general.

A commutator from Nelco Industries.

A sampling of high-efficiency U.S. Motors brand motors from Nidec.

Nitin Kulkarni, president of Helwig Carbon, plans to be at the company’s booth and is looking forward to meeting EASA members.

Announcing a new Las Vegas warehouse

Bartlett Bearing Company, Inc., an independent authorized bearing distributor, is using the convention as an occasion to announce the opening of its seventh location, this one in Las Vegas. The purpose of the new fully stocked warehouse is to streamline the company’s distribution network for faster and more efficient service for customers nationwide.

Bearing Co.’s booth at the 2023 EASA Solutions Expo.

“This expansion presents an incredible opportunity to further our presence in the West Coast market,” says Sarah Musser, president of Bartlett Bearing.

“We are excited to continue the Bartlett tradition of on-the-shelf inventory and same-day shipping we’ve held since 1951.”

The Las Vegas location has more than 8,000 square feet of combined warehouse and office space. Henry Barragan, who joined the company in 2023, is leading sales efforts out of this new location. “I’m thrilled to be a part of a team who works tirelessly to bring Bartlett’s values to life,” he says.

This year’s convention will also see the debut of Bartlett Bearing’s newly redesigned trade show booth, set up to showcase the company’s “long history of excellence in an inviting and easy-to-maneuver new design,” Bartlett tells us.

A motor shop with several recent upgrades

Representatives from Jasper Electric are coming to EASA 2024 eager to tell visitors about the company’s many equipment upgrades. These include a larger burn-off oven and a larger coil winding machine along with an upgraded dynamometer. With the addition of these improvements, “we hope to better service our customers with cost savings and shorten turn around times,” the company says. Jasper Electric offers a large supply of new motors and has recently expanded by adding new technicians to its staff. For the past four years, the motor shop has been managed by longtime employee Neal Blackburn (pictured here), who brings to the position 35 years of experience as a winding technician. Visitors to Jasper Electric’s booth can expect giveaways on all three days of the convention.

The Caesars Forum convention center is a LEED-SilverCertified, 550,000-square-foot facility with what are claimed to be the world’s two largest pillarless ballrooms

Facility expansions with new capabilities

Pittsburgh Electrical Insulation, exhibiting at Booth 739, has significantly expanded its manufacturing operations with the acquisition of Fibertek’s Electrical Products Division and has since continued its expansion by adding a new storage warehouse in its Pittsburgh location. The company has expanded warehouse space at its Brownsville, Tex., location as well.

In addition to increasing warehousing space, PEI has added new equipment to its in-house manufacturing and converting divisions. This includes four new braiders to increase B-stage surge rope production and a new slitter capable of slitting master logs more than 72 inches in width, “which will greatly enhance their converting capabilities,” according to the company.

PEI plans to have all of its product experts on-site to showcase the company’s expanded offerings of banding tapes, banding films, edging tapes, armor tapes, B-stage surge rope, felts, NMN/DMD/NKN laminates, and solvent-free DMD laminates and wedges. Company representatives will also be available to discuss a variety of insulating and pre-peg papers, mica tapes, and felts (aramid, polyester, polyimide, and Dacron), along with the company’s popular PEI-41 red and black insulating paint.

Core loss testers and supplies

Jenkins Electric plans to feature a variety of equipment and distribution items this year. The Jenkins Gen3 Series core loss tester will be in the booth and available for demonstrations. With integration into the Jenkins Gen3 Series motor test system, the core loss tester is the latest addition to the Gen3 family. The company will feature other items from its online store, including Axalta resin, Seymour paints, cleaners and lubricants, and standoff insulators. The company continues to expand its offerings to the motor repair industry by providing servo repair, winding as a service, transformer winding, and new distributed items to aid shops in their repairs.

Bartlett

You’ll find the cheerful Pittsburgh Electrical Insulation crew at Booth 739.

A Jenkins Gen3 Series core loss tester as spotted in the wild.

Jasper Electric invites EASA attendees to visit the company’s booth and meet motor shop manager Neal Blackburn.

Feature | 2024 EASA Convention Exhibitors

A new vibration analysis tool

VibePro, which describes itself as the place “where innovation meets expertise,” is encouraging EASA attendees to see what’s new at the company at Booth 328. “We’re excited to showcase our new VibePro 10, designed to transform how you approach vibration analysis and equipment maintenance,” the company says.

VibePro plans to demonstrate its VibePro 10 vibration analysis app.

VibePro will provide live demonstrations of its latest services, and visitors to VibePro’s booth will be able to see the company’s latest advancements in action. Staff will be available to answer questions and show how VibePro’s new tools can be integrated into an operation for optimal performance.

Using ultrasound to detect electrical defects

Unexpected and sudden electrical asset failures not only cost millions of dollars a year in downtime but also have the potential to maim and kill, SDT Ultrasound reminds us. Whether we’re talking about substations, transmission and distribution lines, transformers, or motor circuit control cabinets, electrical assets play a key role in practically everything we do in our day-to-day lives or at work. And like most things, we take them for granted until they fail to deliver.

“Thankfully,” SDT Ultrasound says, “partial discharge and other common electrical defects, such as corona, arcing, and tracking, all produce high-frequency airborne ultrasound.” Ultrasound’s ability to detect a wide range of electrical defects is why it is outlined in NFPA70B as a mandatory inspection technology for the condition monitoring of electrically charged assets and systems.

SDT Ultrasound’s products are designed to help do just that. The company plans to feature its full product line: SDT340, 270, LUBExpert, SonaVu, ON-GUARD, ULTRAChecker, and Vigilant.

Hybrid ceramic motor bearings

At this year’s EASA Solutions Expo, Nachi will showcase its cutting-edge products and capabilities tailored for the electric motor repair industry. At its booth, the company plans to highlight its extensive range of products and demonstrate its “unrivaled capabilities to meet the diverse needs of our customers,” according to Nachi.

Highlighted products will include Nachi’s hybrid ceramic bearings, a “revolutionary solution that addresses challenges in electric motor applications,” providing enhanced performance and durability, the company says.

“We remain steadfast in our commitment to maintaining optimal inventory levels to serve our customers effectively,” Nachi tells us. “We’re excited to share Nachi’s dedication to excellence and innovation in the industry.”

of software and hardware tools designed to help manage industrial power systems.

Predictive maintenance goes wireless

Treon, a Finnish company dedicated to advancing industrial innovation by revolutionizing predictive maintenance with wireless technology, this year is introducing a new software tool that streamlines network health management of IoT devices. This, the company says, will complement its industrial offerings, which include sensors, gateways, and services. Treon Industrial Node 6 Ex is a wireless sensor that measures tri-axial vibration and temperature of rotating equipment such as motors, fans, and pumps. It’s ATEX- and HazLoc-certified for potentially explosive atmospheres.

Treon’s measurement capabilities, powered by Treon Aito software, enable seamless data acquisition, edge computing, and easy integration, according to the company. Setting new benchmarks in equipment health monitoring, Treon strives to offer cost-effective solutions through sensors, gateways, and software for large-scale deployment.

Analyzers for online and offline testing

Megger Baker Instruments will be highlighting its innovative analyzers for motor testing. The company’s instruments compile information via online and offline testing. The online test equipment searches for power quality, motor (Ex: rotor bar) load, efficiency, and other problems within a running motor. The offline equipment implements both low and non-destructive high voltage to identify problems missed by low voltage alone. Tests identify faults within the leads and windings, plus insulation-to-ground and turn-to-turn. According to Megger Baker, these testers simulate the high voltages associated with startup, finding problems that are above operating voltage, which allows time to repair or replace equipment on the user’s schedule.

Treon plans to spotlight its assortment

The Megger Baker ADX 15A motor analyzer.

Sample bearings from Nachi.

Feature | 2024 EASA Convention Exhibitors

Expanding motor manufacturing capabilities

Reuland Electric Motor Co. is eager to spread the news that it’s expanding its operations, with four new or expanded facilities. With more than 85 years of experience, Reuland is known for its ability to engineer and manufacture electric motors for a diverse range of applications, including crane and hoist, moveable bridges and structures, ships and shipbuilding, military, and industrial.

The company is expanding, Reuland says, “in a big way.” Reuland is moving its California operation to three new facilities also in California, each dedicated to a particular aspect of the company’s manufacturing process: foundry operations for producing motor frames and end bells; a separate machining facility for producing shafts and machining all components with full CNC capability; and a separate motor assembly facility for stator core winding, assembly, and testing.

Reuland is simultaneously expanding its Michigan operations for additional capacity. The company’s operations in Howell, Mich., include a specialized lamination, rotor, and stator core-making facility and complete motor winding, assembly, and testing.

A drive technology that’s new to the U.S.

The Wolong team tells us they’re excited about the EASA Conference & Exhibition this year. The company will have a large booth featuring its signature GE motors manufactured in Monterrey, Mexico. And the company will be introducing, new for North America, what it describes as “a proven medium-voltage drive technology utilized well in Europe and Asia” along with a line of Wolong permanent-magnet assisted synchronous reluctance (PM-SYR) motors. PM-SYR motors, the company says, feature very high energyefficiency and power density at lower power ranges with high starting torques. Wolong’s product and technology team will also be on hand to discuss technical details with visitors. Wolong declares that “both new offerings will help shape the future of motors and drives in the Americas and will be well worth your time to see!”

Innovative pump replacement parts

HT Aftermarket Products plans to have its innovative and value-engineered replacement parts on display. This will be the company’s twelfth year in business since attending its first EASA Convention in Nashville back in 2012. Since then, HT Aftermarket Products has sold thousands of its parts to EASA service dealers and distributors nationwide. The company has increased its product line from its complete line of maintenance-free bearing assemblies. Additional offerings include mechanical seal kits, shafts, cartridge assemblies, rebuild kits, impellers, and most recently, seal plates and motor brackets. At the Solutions Expo, HT Aftermarket Products’ staff hopes to familiarize new and existing customers with cross-referencing from OEM parts to its line of parts. But “most importantly,” the company says, the staff looks forward to “thanking our customers for making our business such an overwhelming success.”

Integrated motors, drives, and monitoring

WEG’s Synch+ motors and complementary vector inverters will be among the products on display at the company’s booth.

Motor manufacturer WEG Electric Corp. will be featuring its broad line of medium-voltage motors (TEFC and WeatherProtected II) as well as its large inventory of low- and medium-voltage automation products up to 3,000 hp. The company will also showcase its motor drives solutions, which consist of motor, drive, gearbox, and IoT monitoring. Also showcased will be WEG’s new Synch+ IE5 motors and its IE4 products. Visitors will be able to learn more about new AI predictive modules for WEG’s Motion Fleet Management monitoring system, including WEGsense technology to detect micro mechanical failures and WEGsync technology for synchronized multi-sensor measurement for structural vibration analysis. Customers and convention attendees are invited to enjoy a beer from the famous “WEG Keg” and join the company at its Tuesday night hospitality event.

In

addition to the Solutions Expo and the educational sessions, the convention will offer side trips to Red Rock Canyon, Freemont Street, the Hoover Dam, the Atomic Museum, the Las Vegas Sphere, and the downtown outlet mall and arts district

An example of Reuland’s line of brake motors.

Visitors to Wolong’s booth can expect to see the company’s GE motors along with a drive technology being introduced to North America.

A sample of HT Aftermarket’s broad assortment of replacement products.

Integrated motors, drives, and controls

Toshiba will highlight its comprehensive suite of integrated products, including motors, adjustable-speed drives, controls, and industrial automation. One notable highlight will be the introduction of a new standard offering for Class II, Division 2 hazardous locations on EQP Global SD, 840, and 841 low-voltage motors. Previously available only as a modification, this feature will now be readily accessible for stock motors, “enhancing customer convenience and accessibility,” according to the company.

The standard nameplate will continue to bear the Class I, Division 2 rating, providing comprehensive hazardous location compliance across the general-purpose product lines.

Toshiba is also announcing an expansion of its manufacturing capacity for motors in the 400 and 440 frame sizes, ranging from 50 hp to 200 hp. The purpose of this initiative is to reduce lead times, mitigate manufacturing delays, and uphold operational continuity, providing timely access to high-quality, highperformance motors. Visitors can explore the mechanical provisions integrated into the 449 frames, such as bearing RTDs, vibration monitoring, and auxiliary box provisions. The company says this design streamlines modifications and customization processes.

As part of its commitment to innovation, Toshiba will unveil its latest 15” HMI display integrated with the V200 Micro PLC, designed to facilitate enhanced user interaction and control. Attendees will have a firsthand look at the MTX2-15 medium-voltage drive, which has a robust enclosure and cooling system tailored for outdoor applications, alongside Toshiba’s rugged IEEE 841 low-voltage motor.

World-class motors, controls, and gearing

WorldWide Electric promises to be putting on a big show at the EASA Solutions Expo and bringing some of its “favorite friends.” Among these friends will be Louis Allis, a specialty electric motor manufacturer that offers “solutions to large-motor and custom-motor needs.”

Louis Allis specialty electric motors are known for meeting the more rigorous standards required for industrial applications. Also represented will be North American Electric, a brand known for offering competitively priced electric motors, controls, and gearing while operating a world-class UL508Acertified facility for motor controls production in Hernando, Miss.

WorldWide will offer a preview of its new WorldDrive N750E series of variable-frequency drives. The company will also showcase its new VFD Bypass Panel — “a game changer for building control solutions,” as WorldWide describes it. “You can always bet on seeing the quality products you’ve come to trust, working every day across the industries you serve,” the folks at WorldWide say.

Bringing

March Madness to the expo

Techtop says it’s “bringing the madness at the EASA 2024 Convention in Booth 901” and “we can’t help but turn heads with a newly designed booth with a March Madness college basketball theme.” Attendees are invited to watch Team Teachtop demonstrate how the combination of a Techtop motor and a Varvel Gearbox can produce “the perfect autoretrieval of a basketball.”

Techtop says it will be “going toe to toe with the Elite 8 of the electric motor industry, so keep an eye on the bracket board to see who walks away another year with the Championship of Quality Products and Features.” Visitors will be able to see cross-sections of stainless-steel, aluminum three-phase, and aluminum singlephase motors. “We will be tossing out some booth-themed giveaways as long as you can hit us with your best shot and make it count,” Techtop adds, “and of course, we are excited to continue our EASA-themed T-shirt giveaway.” This will be the first demonstration of Techtop’s newly released XR3 product line. “Techtop has a lot to share at this year’s showcase, and we are privileged to be sharing this at the EASA Convention.”

As Techtop returns to the EASA Solutions Expo this year, visitors can expect to see samples of the company’s motors and also score some swag.

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WorldWide Electric returns to the Solutions Expo with some familiar brands along with a preview of some new variable-frequency drives.

Just one example of Toshiba’s many motor options.

Feature | 2024 EASA Convention Exhibitors

A new addition to a NEMA motor line

ABB plans to launch the latest addition to its ABB NEMA Motors product portfolio on June 24 during the convention. The new DP200 Crush+ is manufactured to exceed industry expectations for severe-duty motors with IP65 protection, Class H insulation, and high Design A breakdown torques. What sets this motor apart, according to ABB, is its flexibility, which allows for F1/F2/F3 conduit box changes to be done in the field.

ABB will also unveil the next evolution of a-c induction motors with Baldor-Reliance SP4 — motors that achieve NEMA Super Premium efficiency independently of a drive — as well as an improved FoodSafe SP5+, which has the same rotor design as the EC Titanium motor in an IP69 washdown, stainless-steel housing. ABB is inviting attendees to visit Booth 509 to “experience the latest innovation from the first name in industrial electric motors” and to “talk to motor experts to learn how your operation can ride the wave of innovation and sustainability.”

Essex Brownell offering an online discount

Essex Brownell comes to the convention with a simple message: “Everything we sell is in everything you do.” A special online-only discount code awaits those who visit Essex Brownell’s exhibit. Senior leadership will be on hand to discuss how “industry-leading service is a pathway to a mutually beneficial partnership” that goes beyond just products to offer custom solutions for individual needs. The Essex Brownell team will also promote a new website with enhanced functionality that allows users to order products at their convenience, 24/7. The platform ensures “a seamless and efficient purchasing experience,” according to the company, empowering customers to access the supplies they need whenever they need them.

Essex Brownell has recently opened an 85,000-squarefoot distribution center in Reno, Nev. — a strategic expansion that allows the company to serve customers across the U.S. better, ensuring faster delivery times and improved efficiency. Essex Active, the company’s internal conversion and fabrication brand, “can create tailor-made solutions that redefine what it means to be customer-centric,” according to the company. “From wedges to custom slitting, Essex Active aims to make even your toughest problem a seamless endeavor.” Essex Brownell is inviting participants to visit Booth 529 for the chance to receive exclusive discounts and explore the extensive range of products and services.

Encoders — and games of chance

Avtron Encoders will be showcasing its American-made encoders, known for their innovation, durability, and reliability. “And since it’s Vegas, baby,” the company says, “we’ll have some games of chance in our booth, so stop by Booth 947!” Foremost among items on display will be what the company considers its latest breakthrough: the HS35X magnetic encoder. This model, according to Avtron, sets “new performance standards” with advanced magnetic technology, IP66 protection, and self-diagnostic LED technology, “all in a classic 3.5” housing.” Each customer’s unique needs “deserve tailor-made solutions,” the company says. “We take pride in offering customized encoder solutions for a diverse range of industries. Our focus on robustness and reliability remains unwavering, ensuring that your operations run continuously, even in the most demanding applications.”

Avtron is also announcing the expansion of its “Made in America” footprint. “By investing in additional resources and prioritizing onshoring with American suppliers, we aim to foster growth, create jobs, and contribute to the local economy,” the company declares. “Your trust in our products fuels our dedication to delivering quality, right from the heart of America.”

VLF 0.10 Hz high-voltage testing

High Voltage, Inc., will display its high-voltage test equipment for testing motor and generator coils, windings, OEM fabricated parts, terminations, and cables. Both high-voltage a-c and d-c voltage output instruments will be shown, including VLF 0.10 Hz a-c hipots.

The company will also be introducing its “Select Your Hipot Help Desk” to the Knowledge Center section of its website. Customers are invited to find all the information they need to learn how to test rotating machinery with a-c voltage using VLF 0.10 Hz hipots, parallel resonant systems, or conventional 50/60 Hz test sets.

High Voltage, Inc., plans to display a variety of high-voltage test instruments for coils, windings, and other electric motor components.

Representatives from the company will be available to explain the IEEE 433-2022 standard and a-c testing of rotating machinery. Revised from the 1974 original, this standard defines using VLF 0.10 Hz a-c technology for overvoltage a-c withstand, tan delta, and partial discharge testing. Visitors will learn the standard, the tests defined, the equipment needed, and the methods used.

ABB’s new DP200 Crush+ motor.

Essex Brownell’s new distribution center in Reno, Nev.

Avtron Encoders staff work the company’s booth at a previous trade show.

Laser-cut laminations for cores and poles

Laser Technologies, a source for turnkey reverse engineering and restacking of stator cores, rotor cores, armature cores, and d-c poles, plans to showcase its various services. Laser Technologies offers laser-cut laminations and full core assembly for stator and rotor cores, pole assemblies, and vent/finger plate assemblies. The company has fully processed electrical steel in stock and can refurbish customersupplied laminations with C5 coating. Its 168,000-squarefoot facility has 20 laser-cutting machines and 10-ton crane capacity. For more than 35 years, Laser Technologies has added value through in-house services and state-of-the-art equipment that make possible fast turnaround to the customer’s exact specifications, according to the company.

HVAC/R components and parts

DiversiTech Corp. is a manufacturer of equipment pads and a manufacturer and supplier of components and related products for the heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and refrigeration industry. In 2021, DiversiTech purchased Packard to round out its products in electrical and replacement parts. Diversitech’s offerings of HVAC/R electrical parts include: motors, capacitors, contactors, transformers, pulleys, belts, draft inducers, fan blades, blower wheels, and more — all of which “can be the perfect addition to your store,” the company says. Diversitech offers free shipping on any order over $1,000 and prides itself on quick turn times for orders.

This year’s convention is expected to host 163 exhibitors, 20 of them firsttimers, along with a total of 31

educational sessions and four networking events

‘Significant investments’ in insulation

ELANTAS PDG, Inc., and Von Roll USA, Inc., tell us they’re excited to exhibit together at the EASA Solutions Expo for the first time this year, following the recent acquisition of Von Roll by ELANTAS, announced in August of last year. The integration of Von Roll into ELANTAS “unlocks vast opportunities,” according to a joint statement, an occasion marked by “significant investments signaling our commitment to growth and excellence in the field of protection and electrical insulation.” They will be presenting their “combined and comprehensive product portfolio,” which includes resins and tapes for both low- and highvoltage applications.

Laminations and rotor services

Advanced Rotors plans to showcase its laminations and rotor services. The company has three 4,000 kW fiberoptic laser cutting machines along with dual-head five-axis waterjet cutting services. Its 24,000-square-foot laser facility has a coil line for more efficiency and less material waste. Advanced Rotors’ laminations are M19 grade electric steel, double-coated with C5 core plate insulation.

Advanced Rotors’ specialty is repairing the internal components of electric motors, which consists of repairing and manufacturing rotors, stators, armatures, wound rotors, pole pieces, shafts, and bar kits. The company does all this in a 20,000-square-foot facility with 70 tons of crane capacity and 54-inch-swing lathe capacity. Advanced Rotors’ laser team offers on-site stacking at the customer’s facility. The company recently added 10,000 square feet of stacking department space, a 20-ton crane, and a 40-ton crane. New offices are being added this year.

At the end of 2023, Jason Phillips joined Advanced Rotors as general manager. He has worked in machine shops since 1999 and in field service management since 2008. He brings to the company plans for additions and improvements to the company’s operations.

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Jason Phillips, the new general manager at Advanced Rotors.

Impregnating resins from ELANTAS PDG.

A Diversitech Titan Pro motor run capacitor.

Before (left) and after views of a motor core with laser-cut laminations provided by Laser Technologies.

Feature | 2024 EASA Convention Exhibitors

Commutators and slip rings

Akard Commutator of Tennessee plans to display sample commutators and slip rings as well as mini-model educational assemblies such as tiny split rings and splithub slip rings. Company representatives will be available to explain the phrase “When you know the difference!” as seen in the company’s marketing messages.

Featured at the company’s booth — #645 — will be high-performance V-ring-type commutators accompanied by “ACTual G-Force Certification” of centrifugal testing results. These results list specific Gs at a minimum of 300 degrees F, “proving stability well above normal operation parameters based on nameplate maximum speed ratings,” according to Akard.

Guests at Akard’s booth will be invited to enjoy a helping of ACT’s 30th anniversary of EASA membership “proof pudding” and “spin ACT’s wheel” for prizes, including personalized ACTion Waterjet-produced copper nameplates and other ACT swag.

Simulated demos of motor testing

Phenix Technologies will once again showcase its newly designed tradeshow booth that debuted last year at National Harbor, Md., featuring an expanded layout of various products and services used for motor testing. The company plans to offer simulated demonstrations of motor testing products as well as core loss testing software. Phenix sales representatives will be available to address motor testing application and servicerelated questions.

Phenix will be unveiling a new motor test set platform that incorporates the benefits of accurate data logging with streamlined controls.

The company recently added new sales as well as operations site leadership with a combined 50 years of experience in the electrical industry.

Phenix recently designed and built a custom-designed motor test set for a customer with what the company described as “very particular needs”. A specialized test panel was designed to perform four specific tests, including standard no-load testing, custom three-phase locked rotor, singlephase cogging, and single-phase locked rotor testing.

VPI equipment made to custom needs

Godfrey & Wing/Imprex has more than 50 years of experience designing, manufacturing, and servicing VPI equipment ranging from 12” to 15’ in diameter. With hundreds of VPI systems installed around the world, Godfrey & Wing continues to help global manufacturers such as Nidec, Komatsu, and others. EASA convention attendees are invited to visit Godfrey & Wing to learn about the company’s partnership with Essex, along with its recent expansion with the purchase of Henkel’s Loctite Impregnation Services locations in Muncie, Ind., and Irapuato, Mexico.

Motors, generators, drives, and controls

Teco-Westinghouse Motor Co. plans to showcase its line of induction, synchronous and d-c machines available from 1/4 hp to 100,000 hp (0.2 to 74, 571 kW). The company’s products are used to drive pumps, fans, compressors, rolling mills, grinders, crushers, and a variety of other rugged applications in the petroleum, chemical, pulp-and-paper, mining, marine propulsion, steel, electric utility and other industries throughout the world.

In addition to motors, Teco-Westinghouse supplies lowvoltage motor controls such as inverters, starters, and contactors. Aso offered are medium-voltage variable-frequency drives that can include input/output switchgear, synchronous transfers, and MCCs with E-houses. The company has a service-and-repair team that provides engineering and testing services, genuine renewal parts for Westinghouse and TECO-Westinghouse machines, and large motor repairs.

Protection against shaft voltage discharge

VFD-induced shaft voltages discharge through motor bearings and can destroy them in as little as three months, Electro Static Technology, manufacturer of the AEGIS grounding ring, reminds us. Motor repair shops are often blamed if this problem recurs after a motor repair. Motor manufacturers also suffer blame since motor users often don’t understand the connection between VFDs and bearing damage. They erroneously believe it to be the result of mechanical wear rather than electrical discharge. Electro Static’s AEGIS rings are designed to protect bearings, and ultimately motors, from these discharges. At the EASA Solutions Expo, company representatives will be available to show exactly how this damage occurs and “how our products make you the reliable choice for your customers by protecting motors for the L10 life of their bearings.” EA

AEGIS grounding rings from Electro Static Technology.

VPI tanks from Godfrey & Wing/Imprex.

The Akard Commutator crew is looking forward to meeting EASA friends both old and new.

One of Phenix’s motor test systems.

An industry in flux

Attendees at the EASA Convention were reminded of the critical role they play in a transitioning industry

By Charlie Barks, EA Managing Editor, and Kevin Jones, EA Senior Editor

LAS VEGAS — Three things you can’t do too much of at a convention of the Electrical Apparatus Service Association: Walk, listen, and laugh. Let’s be honest: The walking thing is up for debate. For the 2024 edition of the annual EASA Convention & Solutions Expo, held June 23-26 at Caesars Forum & Harrah’s Las Vegas, there was plenty of walking to be done, as exhibitors and attendees braved heat as high as 110° — or avoided it by using the indoor passage from Harrah’s Hotel and Casino to the show floor and session rooms at Caesars Forum.

Major themes at this year’s show included sales, recruiting, and the valuable position of EASA members in a transitioning industry. Other micro-themes included the importance of relationship-building, the arrival of new players in the shaft-grounding business, the recognition of “power density” as an attribute not only of electric vehicle motors but also of industrial motors, and the emergence of IE6, or “hyper-efficient,” electric motors.

Following a familiar pattern, the conference program was divided into management, marketing, and technical sessions. Some of the highlights are described here. You can see more photos from the convention on pages 31-33.

Sales and recruiting

Jeff Bajorek of Parabola Consulting (Novi, Mich.) and Chris Czarnik (award-winning speaker, trainer, and

Preston Thompson of Megger Baker packed the room on the first day of the EASA conference in a talk about motor testing fundamentals. Sessions on testing appeared to attract larger-than-average audiences.

author of “Winning the War for Talent”) accounted for a bevy of animated conversations during their multiple sessions.

Bajorek’s “Tapping into Your Sales Superpower” offered a look at his own background in a profession he was initially “ready to be done with a year into.” He engaged the audience by asking about their own experiences, discussing what it means to not be too “sales-y” by showing integrity from a sales position. Personable and motivating at the same time, Bajorek’s “You Don’t Have a Closing Problem” aimed to pinpoint sales hindrances well before “closing,” which included problems that can be addressed in pipeline, preparation, messaging, and decisionmaking.

Jeff also moderated a Sales Open Forum, which featured great sharing of ideas, and one of the better quotes of the convention in response to a precarious conversation: “While we’re on that question, I’d like to first discuss religion and politics as well.”

Czarnik, a self-proclaimed “loudmouth from Appleton, Wisconsin” could indeed be heard from the room next door at times, but he was equally effective. In “Changing the Way You Recruit Forever,” the energetic author led an exercise where the gallery searched job sites for their own company — first without typing in the company name, next including it. He stressed not to blame job seekers, articulating that most prospects are more likely unable versus unwilling, and emphasizing that money is not the skeleton key. “Changing jobs is an emotional decision, not a financial one,” he said. “The U.S. government is having trouble hiring TSA agents and postal workers . . . and they can print their own money!”

Jeff Hewitt and his wife Wendy at the Synsun booth.

Czarnik powered through technical difficulties with his primary example at the end of this session, which centered around a Snickers marketing reference: did you realize they haven’t included the actual name of the candy on the wrapper since 2012? Many of us didn’t.

Plenty of networking

Another takeaway from this year’s convention was the diversity of networking among professionals from various corners of the industry and its adjacencies. From Sarah Bouldin, Software Training & Support at Spring Point Solutions, who was excited to showcase the Portland, Me., company’s latest software platforms, to Ray Douglas of Mersen, who seemed to be everywhere on the floor engaging in friendly conversation, this year’s convention had a little bit of everything.

Tyler Voss of EASA was always available for help at the registration desk and near the expo entrance. New companies made just as profound of an impact; take Jeff Hewitt (photo, facing page) of Synsun — a former politician with an impressive record and network and not your typical archetype for an industrial convention. “You can’t have freedom without prosperity,” Hewitt advised after explaining Synsun’s highefficiency motors.

Familiar names and faces were peppered throughout the convention schedule as well. They included EASA mainstay Jerry Peerbolte, who provided industry insights at Tuesday’s opening session. This involved plenty of useful statistics, prominent among them a figure showing that electric motors currently account for at least 46% of the world’s energy use and that 80% of motors today operate “direct,” without a drive attached.

Market mentality

Peerbolte noted that pumps, fans, and blowers still make up the bulk of motor applications, in both the industrial and commercial sectors. He also mentioned that ABB forecasts the number of motors will double by 2040. “Energy costs are skyrocketing abroad,” Peerbolte noted, adding that “the utility

industry is preparing for as much of a tripling of electricity demand by 2050.”

When it came to the sustainability angle, Peerbolte offered up a United Nations report with reluctance, saying “You’re probably thinking, what do they know about motors . . . do they know an amp from a volt?” He cordially said he still appreciates the UN’s research, but his salient point here was that “no other channel has the relationship/tech experience” that EASAns do, currently placing them in the “best position” to facilitate needs and services and deal with efficiency challenges, despite not being able to make regulatory decisions such as government mandates. “EASAns have been in the recycling business forever,” he continued. “Maybe they don’t brag about it, but they’ve been practicing it for a long time.”

This was followed by a panel including reps from Relayr and ABB who addressed concerns raised by audience members. One question that stood out from the gallery: “We’re still not

Please turn to next page

While earnest discussions about motor testing and maintenance practices were going on in nearby conference rooms, EASA guests were given the opportunity to try on the outfit of a classic Las Vegas showgirl.

addressing the problem of supply. How are we addressing the power grid handling these heightened efficiency standards. . . . What, if anything, is being done?” The panel agreed that this is a priority, problem, and challenge for the industry, with one member noting that most infrastructure is still dated from the 1970s and needs to be updated to enable the power grid to handle heightened efficiency standards.

More than your traditional bucket list

In the convention’s keynote session, Sebastian Terry, author of 100 Things: What’s on Your List?, raised the idea of a “bucket list” to a new level, urging his EASA audience to consider taking on challenges that push the limits of their comfort zones and tap into previously unknown personal potential.

Sebastian was 25 years old when he learned that his friend Chris had died tragically. Sebastian asked himself: If he knew he was going to live only until the age of 24, how would he live his life? Chris had lived a life apparently true to himself. Could Sebastian do likewise? Sebastian decided he wanted to change, so he began jotting down a list of things he wanted to accomplish.

Some of these things may have struck others as odd. They included living on a desert island, visiting an inmate on death row, and spending time homeless on the streets. “These ambitions and dreams just spilled onto this bit of paper,” Sebastian recalled. He dropped everything and began pursuing his goals one by one.

Sebastian felt “a tremendous sense of accomplishment” as he began checking items off his list. He has been doing this now for 15 years. Among the lessons he has learned: “We all, as individuals, have a profound impact on the people around us,” he said.

From these and other exploits, Sebastian has learned that by setting meaningful goals and methodically pursuing them, we can become the best person we can be.

Myths about motor testing

The importance of motor testing is increasing among users, according to Preston Thompson of Megger Baker Instruments, Fort Collins, Colo., but misunderstandings about motor testing persist. Chief among them are the erroneous beliefs that voltage is too high, insulation can’t handle the testing, a good insulation test necessarily indicates a motor is “good,” that hipot and surge testing “destroy” motors, and that insulation resistance and insulation breakdown are somehow related.

Thompson explained to a standing-room-only EASA audience several types of tests — insulation resistance, dielectric absorption ratio, polarization index, and hipot — and pointed out that the value of these tests is backed by many industry standards and years of practical application. In spite of rumors to the contrary, “a predictive maintenance program using static testing can reduce in-service motor failures, thereby saving time, resources, and money,” he said. The greatest challenge may lie in convincing customers of this truth.

Recommended motor repair practices

In one of several sessions conducted in Spanish, EASA technical support specialist Carlos Ramírez discussed best practices for motor repair and modifications. In this presentation — which was adapted from a paper originally published by fellow EASA technical support specialist Tom Bishop — Ramírez covered stator core repair, rewinding, mechanical repairs, ventilation modification, and design changes.

Stator core repair has been a concern since the early ’90s, Ramírez explained, but high temperatures endured by the core plates of laminations reduce this problem. It’s good practice to avoid potential damage by adjusting the burn temperature to no more than 360°C. If overheating is detected, a water spray system can ensure that there’s no degradation.

Keynote speaker Sebastian Terry enthralled the EASA audience with anecdotes about his audacious adventures.

Core testing should ensure losses don’t increase more than 20% during the process, Ramírez said. If testing or visual inspection reveals damage, the core should be repaired before rewinding. After the core has been repaired, it should be tested again before rewinding.

Increasing the wire gauge can improve varnish penetration and adherence, enhancing heat transfer and reducing air gaps between wires. However, Ramírez warned, if wires are too tight in the slot or excessive force is applied, the wire and slot insulations can be damaged.

Ramírez o ered several other useful pointers. Mechanical repairs should ensure that replacement bearings are equivalent. Open to closed changes increase friction losses. Incorrect installation can damage bearings and generate noise. It’s good practice to keep open bearings that are installed by manufacturers. Ventilation issues o er few opportunities to improve e ciency by changing a fan or ventilation system. Reducing fan size or air ow lowers ventilation losses but increases winding heating. An inadequate fan cover can reduce air ow.

Very low-frequency a-c high-voltage testing

“Motors and generators, like most other types of electrical apparatus, should be tested in the best manner possible to verify their a-c voltage operating integrity,” Michael Peschel of High Voltage, Inc., said in one presentation. “Other tests, including some using d-c voltage, are ne and needed, but none are a substitute for proper a-c withstand testing and a-c voltage diagnostic testing.”

how to determine how much power a test requires and how to select a very-low-frequency model for hipot testing.

The e ect of spring force on carbon brushes

In a presentation on the importance of spring force on the function of carbon brushes, Je Koenitzer and Nitin Kulkarni, both of Helwig Carbon products, emphasized the critical role spring force plays in optimizing the performance and longevity of electrical systems, particularly in rotating machinery.

Unfortunately, these insights into motor testing are unknown to many. Some users, Peschel said, use d-c voltage tests even for withstand and proof testing. Some use a-c voltage testing, depending on the kVA needed. And some perform no overvoltage testing at all.

It’s an oversimpli cation to say that a-c testing is destructive while d-c testing isn’t, Peschel said. Direct current may not cause failure during testing, but this is true only if the operator is watching the current meter for tip-up and turns o the voltage in time.

After describing the di erent ways in which alternating and direct current a ect our choice of tests and the manner in which we carry them out, Peschel described several tests, including a-c withstand testing, partial discharge testing, and tan-delta testing. He also explained

Carbon brushes serve as conductive components that facilitate the transfer of electrical charges between moving surfaces, Koenitzer and Kulkarni explained. Initially composed of copper, these brushes evolved to use carbon due to that element’s lower friction and adequate conductivity.

Early rotating electrical machines lacked spring force on brushes, leading to concerns about friction and wear, the speakers said. The introduction of spring force was pivotal as it minimized visible arcing and excess heat, thereby extending brush life and enhancing e ciency.

Various types of springs — such as helical coils, torsion, and constant force — are employed to maintain consistent contact pressure as brushes wear down, Koenitzer and Kulkarni explained. Factors a ecting spring performance might include load, speed, vibration, or environmental conditions. Practical recommendations mentioned by the speakers included using high-quality springs, proper installation techniques, and regular inspection for wear and

Michael Peschel of High Voltage, Inc.

No-load testing and bearing temperature

In a presentation titled “No Load Run Bearing Temperature Criteria,” Blake Bailey of designmotors — who’s profiled in this month’s “EA reader profile” beginning on page 35 — emphasized the critical role no-load testing plays in ensuring the reliability of repaired motors before they’re returned to service.

This testing, also known as uncoupled run testing, involves running the motor without load to detect any issues post-service, Bailey explained. A comprehensive approach includes visual inspections and various electrical tests before conducting the no-load test, which measures parameters like input voltage, current, and RPM.

tear. Springs should be replaced after several brush changes to ensure consistent performance.

Diagnosing rotor cage faults

EASA pump and vibration specialist Gene Vogel, along with Noah Bethel of PDMA Corp., discussed various methods of diagnosing faults in induction motor rotor cages. In their presentation, the speakers emphasized the importance of both offline and online testing techniques. When a motor is removed, methods like single-phase testing on reduced voltage may be employed, they explained, while for in-operation diagnostics, vibration analysis and motor current signature analysis, or MCSA, are brought into play.

Vibration analysis involves regular data collection and trend analysis to detect rotor cage faults, they said. Key indicators include specific fault frequencies, modulation frequencies, and such trends as increasing amplitude or deviations from expected RPM and load conditions. The analysis presented by Vogel and Bethel related these vibrations to the motor’s electrical characteristics.

Unlike vibration analysis, MCSA utilizes the motor’s current spectrum to detect anomalies. It examines the stator current for indications like pole pass frequency (Fp) sidebands around the line frequency, which can signal rotor bar defects. Vogel stressed the need for longitudinal data to distinguish normal variations from developing faults, highlighting the sensitivity of MCSA in early fault detection.

While Vogel provided a comprehensive overview of vibration and MCSA methods, Bethel expanded on rotor analysis techniques. He detailed six independent methods, including average inductance trending, inrush/start-up tests, and current demodulation. Each method offers unique insights into rotor health, Bethel said, from detecting broken rotor bars through inductance changes to identifying rotor defects via demodulated current spectra and harmonic analysis.

Bearing temperature is a crucial metric during these tests, monitored closely against industry standards and historical data to establish acceptable limits, Bailey said. He discussed various standards, such as NEMA MG 1 and IEEE 841, that outline maximum allowable bearing temperatures, although these maximums are typically based on full-load conditions. For no-load tests, practical considerations dictate shorter testing durations due to economic and efficiency reasons — although extended testing may be necessary for large or slow-speed motors.

Practical considerations Bailey outlined included the impact of grease fill, shaft fits, and end bracket tolerances on bearing temperature. Proper maintenance practices and adherence to manufacturer specifications, as detailed by organizations like EASA, are crucial for optimizing motor performance and longevity, Bailey said.

How and when to lubricate motor bearings

EASA technical support specialist Tom Bishop, in a presentation titled “Electric Motor Bearing Lubrication Frequency and Quantity,” examined critical factors for optimizing the lifespan and performance of electric motor bearings through proper lubrication. Bearing failures are understood to be the primary cause of motor and generator failures; to mitigate the risk of these failures, service centers are encouraged to provide end-users with sound advice on the frequency of bearing lubrication.

Grease is defined by ASTM International as a product composed of a thickening agent dispersed in a liquid lubricant, often with additives for special properties, Bishop explained. Grease formulated for this purpose consists primarily of oil, thickener, and performance-enhancing additives. The frequency of re-lubrication is influenced by such factors as operating temperature, motor shaft speed, bearing type and size, load, hours of operation, environmental

EASA CONVENTION continued from previous page

Much-welcome refreshments awaited attendees between educational sessions.

— Photos by Kevin Jones and Charlie Barks and copyright 2024 by Barks Publications, Inc.

Founded in 1973, by Bob Ross, Jasper Electric has provided quality motor and rotor repair by being on the cutting edge of technology and using high-quality materials, such as Ml 9 electrical steel. Handling large and small motors alike, we are the future. We have almost every tool needed to repair or rebuild your rotor and stator. Most motors we repair will run as efficiently if not better than when they were new from factory. Our personnel allow us to work smoothly while giving our customers a peace of mind.

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Feature | EASA Convention 2024

EASA CONVENTION continued from page 26

conditions, and vibration levels. Precise intervals are determined with graphs correlating motor RPM, bearing dimensions, and hours of operation under different environmental severities. Guidelines for determining grease quantities are provided on the basis of bearing dimensions (outer diameter and width), ensuring optimal lubrication without overapplication, which could lead to bearing damage.

Parting words

EASA president and CEO Linda Raynes led off the closing meeting, where she encouraged use of the association’s Online Learning Library and reminded members to participate in the organization when possible. To conclude matters, Paul Rossiter was appointed EASA’s chairman for the 2025-25 administrative year. The next EASA convention is to be held July 19-22, 2025, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville. Watch for information at www.easa.com. EA

Newer entrants in the shaft-grounding arena

One trend evident at this year’s EASA Convention was the proliferation of options for grounding motor shafts to defend against stray voltages caused by variable-frequency drives. Electrical Apparatus visited two companies new to the EASA audience to learn about what they’re offering.

Andy Kveps, president of Aaki Corp., explained how his company — originally established to produce hardware and software primarily for the oil and gas industry — got into the shaft grounding business.

“We basically fell into the business,” Kveps explained. “In the course of doing product development for another product we have, I was working with a local motor repair shop who asked me if we could solve a problem they were having with bearing fluting and frosting, as the solutions out there did not really meet their needs. We worked closely with them, listening to their challenges and over the course of a year developed what is now our motor shaft grounding module mini,” or MSGM.

The basic design, at its heart, is simple, but the ecosystem that the MSGM lives in is a bit more complex. “The customer didn’t really get it or understand why they needed it,” Kveps continued. The MSGM seemed like an extra cost. “Here is a customer buying a perfectly good VFD with all the latest bells and whistles, marrying it to an inverterduty motor that they paid extra for so it would work with this VFD, and putting the whole thing into an application that had been running for years. So why do they need yet another thingamajig bolted to the motor?”

Motor repair shops are in a difficult position. They’re typically short on manpower and skilled labor, and it’s getting worse for most of them. Mounting an MSGM required people who could drill and tap a hole, straight, and in the right spot, and this was being done on a motor that could be worth $5,000 or more.

Get it wrong and there will be extra holes in the motor. Mess it up a bit more and a motor repair shop could be looking at some real costs, both in money and reputation. There’s a lot of risk to installing this part and, to some, little perceived value, and installation of one of these modules needed to be easy and foolproof.

So Aaki took what had been learned and developed an MSGM that did the job (it’s been in production for over six years now). The device

has features that make it easy to install and maintain.

“Over the years, our customer base has grown, and we now have this system being used and designed into everything, from Ferris wheels to EV race cars, autonomous vehicles and sea, air and spacecraft,” Kveps explained. “As we work with our customers, we’re continually making changes to our lineup and adding new features. We are, after all, an engineering design and innovation company at heart, and solving industry challenges is what we live for.”

Aaki isn’t the only company looking to get its message across to the EASA audience. EarthringsUSA of Elgin, Ill., which markets the Earthring, a product of Wyko Industrial, although not new to shaft grounding, was new to the EASA Convention.

The bearing-protection rings produced by EarthringsUSA “consist of very thin micro-fiber that redirects shaft currents and provides a reliable, very low-impedance path from shaft to frame, which bypasses the motor bearings entirely,” the company explains. “The earthing ring is attached to the electric motors bearing housings.”

Once installed, the rings require no maintenance, according to the company. Unlike conventional shaft grounding brushes, the ring’s conductive microfibers work with virtually no friction or wear. The rings are said to be unaffected by dirt, grease, or other contaminants and last for the life of the motor, regardless of motor speed.

In overseas trials, the results show surface wear of less than 0.001 inch per 10,000 hours of continuous operation, and no fiber breakage after 25 million direction reversals, the company says.

For almost a decade these earthing rings have been extensively used in the U.S., the U.K., and more recently in Australia. The rings are seen as a solution to the problem of stray voltages as well as insurance against unforeseen problems.

During changes in load conditions and during adjustments to their drive parameters, it was found that many motors exhibited increased shaft currents after their most recent repair. This is why it’s termed “The Ghost”, since it can never be determined when its effects will drastically increase and rapidly destroy bearings. It is of utmost importance that industry protect itself against this so-called “Ghost,” especially in their critical motors.

Earthing rings of both standard and custom designed sizes can be manufactured and supplied anywhere in the country within 24 to 48 hours, according to the company. Due to the massive increase in the use of variable speed drives, shaft current bearing failures are one of the fastest growing problems on electric motors in the world. — Charlie Barks

Andy Kveps, president of Aaki Corp.

An installed shaft grounding ring from EarthringsUSA

Efficiency, meet sustainability

By Kevin Jones, EA Senior Editor

Several things about the New Solutions Theater at this year’s EASA Convention stood out. Of the nine presentations, fully a third were about motors from ABB. Several representatives of motor manufacturers mentioned “power density,” a motor attribute traditionally associated with electric vehicles, not industrial motors. There were also indications that IE6 or “hyperefficient” motors are increasingly being considered feasible. And the two highest priorities of motor designers appear these days to be greater efficiency and sustainability. Herewith, the skinny on this year’s New Solutions Theater participants:

A testing specialist is moving into vibration

The news from Megger Baker is that the company, having acquired vibration specialist Diagnostic Solutions Ltd. earlier this year, is poised to get into machine vibration testing and monitoring in a big way. Tom Scott, formerly with Diagnostic Solutions, performed a live demo of the Vib Mate app, which detects vibration, reports it, and generates a vibration report that can be printed out as a PDF.

A motor with higher power density

In the company’s first of three presentations, Robert Boyce of ABB introduced the company’s SynRM IEC low-voltage motor, a machine with “extreme power density” that’s available in the IE4 and IE5 efficiency classes. The SynRM line “is not as new as we’d like it to be,” Boyce said, because it’s a combination of technologies previously developed. Still, refinements of the line continue to be made.

Pushing the limits of efficiency

WEG Electric Corp. is another manufacturer that’s taken a preexisting motor line and made higherefficiency versions available. Dale Basso of WEG presented the company’s SYNC+ line of motors, which combine the features of WEG’s synchronous motors with premium efficiency up to 1500 hp. The W23 SYNCH+ motor, introduced at the beginning of this year, comes in the same sizes as traditional induction machines but with even higher efficiency.

Miniaturized motor testing

We heard from Electrom Instruments that the company is pushing the limits of motor testing miniaturization. Electrom’s Jacob Beck introduced the iTIG IV, which he said may be the

smallest 12 V tester on the market. The iTIG IV represents a reduction of 58% in volume and 28% in weight. Coming soon from Electrom, Beck said, is a “very small” 15 kV tester.

Vying for the lead in energy efficiency

A new line of IE4 asynchronous motors was introduced by Ron Csermak of Lafert North America, who said the company has positioned itself as “a leader in energy efficiency.” Csermak was the third representative of a major motor manufacturer to take to the stage and refer to power density along with higher efficiency.

Highly efficient motors made to order

In ABB’s second presentation, Chris Stockton, the company’s North American product and technology manager, introduced the new ABB RXT Series of Reliance legacy motors, which are produced to customer specifications, modified, and engineered to order, with both NEMA totally enclosed and open-frame options available. The designers used advanced simulations to attain higher efficiencies; reduced hot spots in windings, according to Stockton, contribute to longer life.

Motor service pricing is now online

Drawing the largest audience of all nine presentations at the New Solutions Theater was Troy Locke of Spring Point Solutions, who took to the stage to announce that the company’s pricing analyzer is now fully web-based. Spring Point’s software “brings the multiple aspects of an industrial apparatus sales and service company together in a comprehensive system uniquely designed for the industry,” as the company puts it.

Squeezing out yet higher efficiency

In ABB’s third presentation, Brandon Canclini introduced the Baldor-Reliance SP4, a “super premium efficiency” motor that he said takes the Baldor-Reliance a-c induction motor design and improves on it by reducing motor losses by an additional 20%. In keeping with the theater’s unofficial theme, he referred to ABB’s “commitment to efficiency and sustainability.”

An

IoT-connectable

soft starter

Wrapping up this year’s New Product Showcase was Nick Suto of Benshaw, Inc., who introduced the motor control manufacturer’s new MVRNX Series, a medium-voltage soft starter with builtin connectivity that offers versatile starting and stopping options as well as customizable protection. It offers several control modes and even has seismic ratings for use in regions that are prone to earthquakes. EA

ABB’s SynRM motor

ABB RXT motors

ABB SP4 super premium efficiency motor

Benshaw’s MVRNX mediumvoltage soft starter

Electrom’s iTIG-IV

Lafert asynchronous IE4 motor

Megger Baker’s Vib Mate app

Spring Point’s Pricing Analyzer

WEG’s W23 Sync+ motor

Feature | EASA Convention 2024 in photos

The morning of Day 1 of the convention brought conventioneers together for breakfast prior to the education sessions.

By the end of the convention, Luke Stump, son of EMS’s Cory Stump (Hilo, Hawaii), had mastered Techtop’s hoops contest. He also had his own group of fans.

Techtop’s Angela Cooper is always a vibrant, friendly presence at her own booth. Here, she finally gets a break to participate in Hyundai’s arrow throw contest.

Happy Hour was loosely defined at EASA’s Solutions Expo, courtesy of setups like WEG’s classic motor tap.

— Photos, except where otherwise credited, by Charlie Barks and Kevin Jones and copyright 2024 by Barks Publications,

During the convention’s keynote session, EASA president and CEO Linda Raynes introduced regional directors from around the world.

Feature | EASA Convention 2024 in photos

Continued from previous page

The audience was entertained and enlightened during the keynote session presented by author

(See page 24 for a description of Terry’s presentation.)

Sebastian Terry.

The Open Technical Forum gave attendees the opportunity to lob questions at EASA technical support staff (from left) Chuck Yung, Tom Bishop, Mike Howell, and Gene Vogel.

Recent “EA reader profile” subject Mario Lenaro (left) and Hernan Arismendi, executive manager at OMEC America, paid a visit to the Electrical Apparatus booth.

Peter Jaeckel, a mechanical engineer at Asheville Mica Co., made the most of his time in the exhibit hall.

In keeping with the spirit of the Las Vegas setting, the exhibit hall offered numerous contests and games of chance.

The Superior Services (Hanceville, Ala.) team (from left): Jessica Mount, Virginia Ramsey, Tanner Plummer, Joyce Bradford, and Jeff Bradford.

This year’s Exceptional Service Achievement Award was presented by past EASA chairman Sid Seymour (left) to John S. Allen for Allen’s service in helping to develop influential standards.

Kevin Koenitzer of Helwig Carbon Products brought along a few of the company’s products — and not a little swag.

Helwig Carbon Products photo

Representatives of HD Hyundai Electric were available and eager to talk to visitors about the company’s expertise in power transmission.

It’s anybody’s guess how many new acquaintances were made and how many deals were closed over the course of the convention.