At Electrical Apparatus magazine, we cover EASA!

Ninety years young

The Electrical Apparatus Service Association will celebrate a milestone anniversary when it convenes near Washington, D.C., June 24-27

By Kevin Jones, EA Senior Editor

The Electrical Apparatus Service Association turns 90 years old this year, and the organization plans to mark the occasion with a birthday bash at its annual convention this June. The theme of this year’s convention: “Together Towards Success!”

The convention is being held June 24-27 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., about a 20-minute drive south of Washington, D.C. The convention will offer much of what members have come to expect, with a few details tweaked here and there in response to member feedback to make what’s already a popular event even better.

In a recent issue of the association’s Currents newsletter, EASA chairman Sid Seymour wrote that the convention will be noteworthy for its diversity. “The 2023 Convention & Solutions Expo will be diverse in its programming, exhibitors, attendees, and entertainment,” he wrote. Variety, he said, will be found not only in the “great technical, sales, and management sessions” but also in the networking with friends and peers, the 90th anniversary birthday bash, and the results of research about end users that will be reported during the convention.

More than 130 providers of products and services are expected to exhibit at the convention’s Solutions Expo. Chairman Seymour said that last year’s convention attracted attendees representing more than

500 service centers and 32 countries and that more can be expected this year. “It will be difficult to find a more diverse audience in the electromechanical profession,” he proclaimed. And then there’s nearby Washington, D.C., a city that’s about as diverse as it gets when it comes to the attractions, both historical and contemporary, that can be found there.

Breakfast on your own

This year’s keynote address is to be delivered by Connie Podesta, a psychologist who specializes in sales strategies, leadership, and identity branding. The title of her address appears to have been tweaked to fit the convention’s theme: “Together Towards Success! Really? But Life Would Be Easy If It Weren’t for Other People.”

There will be no breakfast served before the keynote address, and the session will depart from long-standing tradition by being open to all convention attendees, not just to those who have paid for a meal ticket. In fact, there will be no breakfasts served during the convention at all, apart from a Women of EASA Networking Breakfast that’s scheduled for Sunday morning.

Jettisoning breakfasts is part of the “diversity” that chairman Seymour spoke of. “To be more inclusive, EASA will not be serving breakfasts during the convention,” EASA notes, the women’s breakfast notwithstanding.

Why? During the business meeting at the end of last year’s convention, a member commenting from the floor objected to the practice of presenting the EASA Award during a breakfast that not everyone had a ticket to attend. Apparently, other members had raised the same objection. Therefore, “All attendees and exhibitors may now attend our

As at last year’s convention, attendees at this year’s EASA Convention can expect a full slate of educational sessions on a variety of topics.

keynote general session on Sunday, and all members may attend the annual business meeting on Tuesday,” according to EASA.

Concurrent conference sessions

As in EASA conventions of recent years, the conference sessions will be dominated by technical matters, with sessions on management, sales, marketing, and family business rounding out the program. The presence of two sessions on family business, compared especially with the 14 sessions devoted to technical subjects, doesn’t itself indicate an emphasis on the subject, but merely breaking out family business into its own category bespeaks an acknowledgement of the importance these days of business ownership succession.

The sessions on family business merit special mention. Thomas Deans of Détente Financial, making a return appearance at this year’s convention, is scheduled to present a session on succession planning on the Saturday before the official opening of the convention. The following morning, he will facilitate two sessions, each with representatives of three EASA member companies talking about their experience in business transition. (A special note from EASA: These two sessions will not be recorded.)

For the first time we at Electrical Apparatus can recall, the conference sessions at this year’s convention, when laid out on a grid, resemble the “tracks” one would see at a larger conference. On both Monday and Tuesday morning, six sessions will be occurring at any given time, with each of the initial sessions followed by a session in the same subject category. If you think six concurrent sessions sounds like a lot to cover, you’re not alone. Some convention attendees have complained in re-

cent years about the scheduling of multiple sessions at the same time. Taking it all in on your own can be difficult, if not impossible, unless you’re unusually nimble.

The practice of jamming all sessions into the morning hours came about because companies paying to exhibit in the expo hall, which traditionally opens at noon, complained in previous years that afternoon sessions were keeping attendees away from the expo hall.

EASA, caught between members who wanted to attend as many sessions as possible and exhibitors who figured they had paid to have a captive audience, resolved the dilemma by making video recordings of all sessions available on the EASA website within days of the convention’s conclusion. The posting of these videos began in 2020, when the convention was virtual. The continuation of this practice is but another example of policies adopted during the pandemic that have been retained because they brought unanticipated benefits.

A concentration on the technical

Many of the technical sessions at this year’s conference will lean toward the fundamentals, which means the convention would be an ideal place to

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send employees learning the trade who have also earned a trip to an interesting locale. Most of the technical sessions are to be conducted by EASA technical support specialists.

Those specialists are scheduled to present the ever-popular Open Tech Forum on Sunday morning, so attendees are encouraged to come prepared to ask questions. This is the annual opportunity to take those pesky problems you’ve spent months puzzling over and bring them to the attention of experts who may have the answers.

A few fundamental matters will be addressed by EASA technical support specialists Tom Bishop and Chuck Yung when they offer presentations on winding verification and vertical motors respectively. Bishop plans to discuss the need to verify as-found

data before proceeding with a rewind, while Yung anticipates concentrating on bearing combinations in vertical motors.

More narrowly focused presentations will be offered by technical support specialist Mike Howell and EASA pump and vibration specialist Gene Vogel when they take a close look, in consecutive sessions, at fractional-slot concentrated windings and close tolerance fits in pump repairs.

EASA staff members won’t be the only ones giving technical presentations. Ed Spence of Machine Instrumentation Group is lined up to provide an update on the use of artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things in condition monitoring, while the leveraging of new technology will be addressed by a panel of four representatives of suppliers to the industry. Another panel of three will share business and technical tips.

Technical support specialist Carlos Ramirez will have a busy two days as he presents sessions in Spanish on fundamental topics: motor disassembly, motor storage, and the basics of a-c motor redesign. He will also present an open tech forum in Spanish.

Management and sales

The keynote address won’t be the end of responsibilities for Connie Podesta. She’s also lined up to give two presentations on Sunday morning, one on leadership and the other on communication. Her second presentation will coincide with another session, presented by a panel of four, about emerging opportunities in the motor service industry.

On Monday morning, there will be two “peer-to-peer” management sessions held consecutively, one an open management forum with a four-person panel and the other about using an “operating system” to “get better results,” presented by a panel of three.

At a time when many owners of service companies are thinking about selling — and the finance guys have “discovered” the electromechanical industry — a session presented by Glenn Tofil of England & Co. should be of particular interest. Its title says it all: “Why Are You Getting So

Many Calls/E-Mails from Private Equity Investors and Bankers?”

The art of sales — as well as managing the people responsible for making the sales — will be the subject of several sessions concentrating

The Solutions Expo at the EASA Convention is a lively marketplace where vendors meet face-to-face with customers and potential customers.

transformers, etc. Various control

on the practical aspects of pitching products and services. Rob Jolles of Jolles Associates is scheduled to conduct a workshop about “customercentered selling,” the approach whereby one seeks to fulfill specific customer needs.

Jolles will also present two other sessions, with the promising titles of “No More Order Taking!” and “The Art of Urgency.” Managing a sales team will be addressed in a session presented by the now-retired Ron Keppel of Illinois Electric Works.

Completing the sessions on sales and marketing will be a discussion about using LinkedIn to forge company and personal brands. It will

be conducted by Crystal Bristow of Jenkins Electric, Kelley Fujino of Lubbock Electric, and Justin Hatfield of HECO.

Side trips and social gatherings

Some people come to the EASA convention as much for the networking and sightseeing as for the education, and this year is certain to be no different.

At 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, all are welcome to attend the 90th Birthday Bash in the expo hall. This will come immediately after the official end of exhibit hours. Similarly, a happy hour will be held from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, the final day of the convention, when many people have already begun heading home.

With the nation’s capital only 20 minutes away, it’s only natural that arrangements for side trips to historic sites should be made. On Saturday and Monday, there will be a shuttle bus running periodically between the convention center and the National Mall, where attendees will have the option of visiting any of the many sights clustered there. (For more about what to see and do in the Washington area, see EA Managing Editor Charlie Barks’s article “Let’s capitalize” beginning on page 28 of this issue.)

Complete information about the convention may be found at https://easa.com/convention. EA

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.

HPA-5010FC1 0-50kV @ 10kVA

HPA-1010 FC3 10kV @ 10kVA

HPA-055FC1 5kV @ 5kVA

0-200kV @ 20kVA Ideal Model

Motor Rewind / Repair Facilities

100kV @ 10kVA

Last year’s convention attracted attendees representing more than 500 service centers and 32 countries. Even more are expected this year.

— Electrical Apparatus photos by Kevin Jones and copyright 2023 by Barks Publications, Inc.

Background photo: The U.S. Capitol rotunda, construction of which was begun in 1818 and completed, under the direction of Charles Bulfinch, in time for a visit by the Marquis de Lafayette in 1824.

— gary718 / Shutterstock photo

Background photo: A view from the Lincoln Memorial across the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool towards the Washington Monument. The steps of the Lincoln Memorial have been the setting of several historic events, including Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963. — Yaya Ernst / Shutterstock photo

The latest in electrical apparatus service and repair

The newest and best the industry has to offer will be on display at the 2023 convention of the Electrical Apparatus Service Association

By the Electrical Apparatus staff

A couple of thousand people involved in providing electromechanical service sales to the industrial sector will descend on National Harbor, Md., June 24-27, for networking, education, and fun. This year’s convention of the Electrical Apparatus Service Association appears set to bring together an industry that’s adjusting to change and proving resilient under economic conditions that are sometimes challenging.

The convention will be held at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center, about a 20-minute drive south of Washington, D.C., in an area with plenty of interesting restaurants and retail shops.

In last month’s Electrical Apparatus, we previewed the conference side of the convention, which this year will offer sessions on marketing, management, technical matters, and family business. There will also be numerous social and networking events. Our May issue also looked at this year’s venue, which, given the venue’s proximity to the nation’s capital, will offer no shortage of interesting side trips to local attractions.

This month, as Electrical Apparatus does each June, we look at a number of companies that have reserved space in the exposition hall and see what they’re planning to feature. The exhibitors you see on the following pages constitute a snapshot of the industry. These exhibitors will be promoting

the products and services that matter most to members of the association and the industry the association represents, from new motors and custom laminations to testing and maintaining systems in the field.

Electrical Apparatus invited all of this year’s exhibitors to let us know what they’re going to be featuring at their booths, but we didn’t hear back from all of them. What you see here is a sampling of what’s going to be displayed at the expo, and while this preview might prove most valuable to people planning to attend the event, it should also be of interest to anyone who wonders where the industry’s priorities lie these days.

Several of the staff members of Electrical Apparatus magazine will be at the convention too, at Booth 522, and we invite one and all to come by and introduce themselves.

We’re always interested in learning what our readers are up to, and who knows? We just might make you famous. — The Editors

Many of the people and exhibitors present at last year’s EASA Convention in St. Louis — a view of which is shown above — will be coming to this year’s convention in National Harbor, Md.

— Electrical Apparatus photo by Kevin Jones

Bearings for demanding motor applications

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 bene ts as well as best bearing practices. The company will also hold a ra e.

Insulating laminates and resins

Isovolta, Inc., plans to feature its laminate products, such as Nomex-Kapton-Nomex, NMN, and DMDs. The company will partner with AEV, Inc., now part of the Isovolta Group, and will feature AEV’s full line of resins and liquids. Isovolta tells us its sta is looking forward to building relationships with EASA members.

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At NTN Bearing’s booth at the 2022 EASA Convention (left to right): John Marshall, territory manager, Rick Rembis, new business development manager, and Scott Eiss, vice president of industrial aftermarket sales.

An example of Isovolta slot liners for motors.

Monitoring for power and utility companies

Cutsforth, Inc., plans to feature its “vast and growing array” of monitoring solutions for the power and utility industries. These include EMI monitoring, motor current signature analysis, vibration monitoring, thermal imaging, and more, all of which may be monitored through one platform, InsightCM. The staff at Cutsforth is excited to introduce the company’s new electric signature analysis solution to complement its motor current signature analysis system. Also, there will be a drawing for a $100 Amazon gift card. Says the Cutsforth staff, “We look forward to seeing you there!”

Look for company representatives Steve Furedy and Steve McAlonan at the show.

High-quality a-c/d-c form-wound coils

Stimple & Ward Co./S&W Wire Co. tells us that they’re excited to be returning to the EASA 2023 convention after a three-year absence. The companies will bring their usual display of highquality a-c/d-c form-wound coil examples along with accompanying literature. S&W Wire will display examples of its magnet wire serving and distribution capabilities. Representatives from both companies will be present for the entire show.

New investments and more motor inventory

The folks at WEG Electric Corp. are inviting EASA partners to learn more about the company’s ability to supply a motor, gearbox, and drive as a single solution. “No need to work with various suppliers,” the company promises. During the convention, WEG representatives will be available to talk with visitors about the investments WEG is making to expand production capacity and increase its inventory of MV motors TEFC and WPII, as well as MV soft starts with NEMA 12 and NEMA 3R enclosures.

WEG Electric Corp. will highlight its broad capabilities in the manufacture of motors, gearboxes, and drives.

WEG representatives will be prepared to show EASA partners upgrades to the company’s Motion Fleet Management (WEG Digital Solutions) for online monitoring of industrial assets “and how together we can help our mutual customers increase their efficiency and reliability.”

“And of course,” WEG adds, “we would love for our partners to join us in our booth and have a beer from our famous ‘WEG keg’ and join us Monday night for our even more famous WEG hospitality event.”

Steve Furedy

Steve McAlonan

Condition monitoring instruments

The folks at Erbessd Instruments tell us they’re excited to showcase their full suite of condition monitors designed to reduce downtime and increase return on investment. Erbessd Instruments experts will be available to demonstrate the company’s portable vibration and balancing solutions, video deflection technology, and the Phantom family of sensors. Visitors are invited to stop by for hands-on demos, giveaways, and answers to questions about the company’s products and services.

The company will also be introducing its energy consumption monitoring module for electric motors as well as its IR camera for monitoring MCC buckets. Erbessd plans to give one DragonVision video deflection license — a $4,000 value — to one lucky person who stops by and registers for more information.

Electric motor repair and laser cladding

Alabama Laser will be featuring its laser cladding, a process used to deposit a layer of material to a surface to repair shafts and keyways on electric motors. In comparison to heat-inducing technologies (conventional plasma weld overlay, MIG, TIG, or sub arc welding), laser cladding employs low heat, which is said not to affect the concentricity or cause warpage of the shaft. After being clad, the repaired area may be post-machined back to print specification.

Unlike metalizing processes that produce a mechanical bond that can flake off, the durable clad produced with lasers is a metallurgical bond that won’t flake off during assembly or in process, according to Alabama Laser. Laser cladding also allows alloys to be added to strategic areas on the shaft to eliminate problems.

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Laser cladding by Alabama laser.

Members of the Erbessd Instruments U.S. team (left to right): Chris Keniston, Allyssa Daniels, Aurora Mangiacasale, Theresa Girard, Megh Howard, Miranda Olsen, and Dr. M. David Howard.

transformers, etc.

Various control

New vibration training courses

The Vibration Institute’s past president, Bob Sayer, will be presenting a half-day workshop on Saturday, June 24, titled “Vibration Diagnostic Methods and Corrective Strategies for Machine Reliability.” The company — which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year — will also have an exhibitor booth.

The Institute offers programs such as education, training, certification, and opportunities for exchanging technical knowledge, information, procedures, and data that are offered through meetings, publications, formal training, and networking.

The company launched its CAT II training course “Basic Machinery Vibration” online at the end of 2022 and added a “Vibration Analysis Overview” course for those who would like to expand their knowledge in vibration without the complexity of a full course or certification. The Vibration Institute also has a number of promotions going on with training courses and membership all year in celebration of the 50th anniversary.

Strand brazing in motor production

The company eldec LLC wants to remind us that brazing flat copper wires for electric motors is complicated and that making a high-quality joint without damaging any insulation that has already been fitted “can be challenging.”

Using a medium-frequency power supply from the company fitted with a boom arm for support and balance and a brazing pistol to hold the workpiece-specific induction coil, flat wires can be brazed repeatedly and precisely without operator fatigue or damage to adjacent insulation, according to the company.

High speeds used in induction brazing reduce the amount of heat that would normally be transferred to the insulated area, and the boom arm reduces the amount of weight the operator holds. The reproducible process delivers consistent and high-quality brazed joints, according to the company.

The company’s support doesn’t end with recommending the power supply. It also designs and custom-manufactures all of its induction heating coils for each application and will work with customers to optimize their production processes.

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.

HPA-5010FC1 0-50kV @ 10kVA

HPA-1010 FC3 10kV @ 10kVA

HPA-055FC1 5kV @ 5kVA

HPA-20020FC3 0-200kV @ 20kVA

Ideal Model for Motor Rewind / Repair Facilities

100kV @ 10kVA

A class conducted by the Vibration Institute.

eldec strand brazing.

Part of the Spring Point team in the company’s booth at the 2022 EASA Convention in St. Louis, where Spring Point launched the Pricing Analyzer. Present were (from left to right): Sara Bouldin (training and support specialist), Mike Gomez (quality manager), Jamie Stultz (co-founder and CIO), Yue Chen (software engineer), John Dolson (software developer), Roy Richard (The Generalist), and Troy Locke (co-founder and CEO).

New ownership, the same reliability

WorldWide Electric Corp. informs us that “customer centricity and strong growth over recent years” attracted AEA Investors, a private equity firm, to purchase WorldWide in late 2022. The new owners “will continue to invest to drive future growth,” according to WorldWide. The coming months will see WorldWide Electric expanding its workforce to ensure a high level of customer service. The company also plans to expand its portfolio of products to meet market demand and invest in operations

On Sunday at 2:10 p.m. in the New Solutions Theater, Spring Point Solutions will be presenting its new Spring Point App for IOS and Android. This product is designed to give technicians the ability to access their jobs, view and take pictures, review technical documents, and perform tasks using Spring Point’s QM Wizard application. The company’s Mobile Time Clock app also allows technicians to interact with QM Wizard while tracking time for job costing.

“Our team loves catching up with our more than EASA customer base while demonstrating our products to anyone interested in improving their work flow processing and profitability,” Spring Point declares. “We will be demonstrating our suite of products, which include MotorBase, QM (quality management) Wizard, CRM, EM (equipment manager) and Storage, Customer Web Portal, and Spring Point Connect.” The latter includes Credit Card Connect, AP Connect, Storefront Connect, Sensor Connect, and Supplier Connect.

to ensure a reliable distribution network that provides equipment quickly to its customers.

The company expects business as usual at the EASA Convention but will be showcasing multiple new products, including a remote operating module. Visitors to WorldWide’s booth will be able to learn how to control their field equipment from their phones. A line of new parallel-shaft helical speed reducers, stainless-steel close-coupled pump motors, general-purpose world drive variable frequency drives (WDG2 series), and positive displacement pump cabinets and panels will be featured.

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New resistance temperature detectors

The Gund Co. (right) will be introducing new copper and nickel resistance temperature detectors at this year’s convention. The company also plans to feature its G-Flex meta aramid paper YT510. The RTDs are used to measure temperature continuously within the stator slot to detect hot spots and monitor other signs of machine health to prevent downtime. The RTDs are commonly installed in hydro and wind generators and large electric motors.

The company says its G-Flex Meta Aramid paper YT510 offers high inherent dielectric strength (more than 20 kV/mm), mechanical toughness, flexibility, and resilience. Manufactured from 100% aramid fibers, G-Flex is recognized by Underwriters Laboratories as a 210°C insulation, has full UL approval, and carries a VTM-0 flame rating.

On hand will be industry professionals discussing products and applications, showing and distributing various product samples, and discussing market trends. The Gund Co. will hold a raffle each day of the show.

New models of winding analyzers

Electrom Instruments will be introducing additional iTIG IV series winding analyzers. New and on display will be the 6 kV through 15 kV models, which feature a smaller form factor than previous generations of the product. The instrument is extensively vibration- and drop-tested to improve suitability for field testing applications, according to Electrom.

Motor maintenance and repair products

Martindale Electric Co., in Booth 302, plans to showcase its motor maintenance and repair products, which include commutator mica undercutters, commutator grinders, hand tools, rotary burs, and electrical test equipment. The company also offers Diamond D abrasives: commstones, brush seaters, rubber bond cleaning stones, and diamond spatulas.

Victoria Villa, Gund Company application engineer for rotational equipment, explained the company’s products to a visitor at a previous trade show.

Best defense for VFD control panel heat

North American Electric, Inc., will highlight its electric motors, shaftmount reducers, and electric motor control panels such as variable-frequency drives, soft starters, across-the-line starters, and part-wind starters.

The company recently unveiled a newly redesigned Vortex Cooling tunnel, which on the company’s NEMA 3R, 12, 4, and 4X variable-frequency drives can draw ambient air up the back of the enclosure in a separate chamber. According to the manufacturer, this allows for the drive and all the components to stay separated from the heat and other containments, thus remaining cooler and dust free.

In keeping with the Vortex Cooling tunnel introduction, North American Electric will have a drawing for a Dyson air purifier and fan. “With this technology working for you,” North American Electric proclaims, “it is the best defense for minimizing maintenance, downtime, and energy costs.”

Digital phase converters and more

Myung Youn Electronics Co. Ltd. tells us it’s “making a new start with a second leap forward.” Since its establishment in 1973, the company has designed and manufactured products focusing on the needs and satisfaction of customers. As a manufacturer specializing in phase converters, torque motors, and inverter motors, the company has grown into an export company expanding not only in Korea but also around the world.

Based on the digital phase converter that can be made three-phase from single-phases based on high efficiency, the company produces and distributes products such as torque motors based on unique technology that meet customers’ specifications.

A selection of Myung Youn Electronics’ digital phase shifters.

Custom control panel assembly at North American Electric.

Motor bearings and condition monitoring

Schaeffler Group USA plans to present live demonstrations of OPTIME, the company’s new condition monitoring system that’s designed to prevent unplanned machine downtime.

OPTIME monitors all plant assets across entire manufacturing facilities – “seamlessly, automatically, and costeffectively,” according to Schaeffler Group. OPTIME provides 15,000 measurements (based on six different vibration measurements plus temperature at preset intervals) per sensor per year.

The company plans to exhibit a number of other products as well:

X-life single-row angular contact ball bearings offer up to 30% higher dynamic load rating, as much as 50% longer rating life, and up to 10% less friction vs. conventional bearings, according to Schaeffler.

The Heater-Smart and Heater-Basic series of induction heaters offer installation professionals from the electric motor repair industry a broad range of applications well suited for specific requirements.

Vibration monitoring equipment

Hansford Sensors, the manufacturer of high-performance industrial accelerometers, will be showcasing its vibration monitoring products at EASA 2023. These products include 100 mV/g accelerometers and 4-20 mA transmitters, which can be used in a wide range of industries, including marine, paper, wind, and mining, playing a key role in the role of predictive maintenance.

The company will display its vibration monitoring equipment featuring industrial accelerometers and mounting hardware. The Hansford Sensors team will be available to explain to visitors how the company’s products can help with industrial applications. Representatives will be available to explain how the company delivers a combination of “product quality and reliability, prompt delivery, competitive prices, and outstanding customer and technical support.”

Expanding their sales of VFDs in America

Shenzhen INVT Electric Co. Ltd. is planning to showcase its high-performance, low-voltage variable-frequency drives, GD20-UL/GD20-EU/GD350-UL series.

All are designed for the North American market, including HVAC/R, textiles, plastics, food and packaging, printing, chemical, and machine tools. The company also produces its dedicated drive BPD/GD100PV/SPC series for solar pumping applications. These drives support a-c/d-c input and advanced MPPT technology, and they provide “excellent control performance,” according to the manufacturer.

The company is planning to set up an office and warehouse in California to enhance localized operation and offer better service. The company’s sales growth rate outside of China has been reaching around 44% per year. As the company scales up production, it’s building a large production base in Zhongshan City, Guangdong.

INVT claims to be the leading manufacturer in the industrial automation field in China, offering a product line that covers LV and MV drives, servos, HMIs, and PLCs.

Angular-contact ball bearings from Schaeffler.

Danielle Wethington, vice president of sales at Hansford Sensors, plans to be available to answer questions at the company’s booth.

Going strong in Iowa and Florida

BAE Wire comes to the EASA Convention having recently gotten its new location in Iowa up and running “at full speed.” The operation manager there is “hungry for new business and ready to process orders same day,” BAE Wire informs us. In Florida, the company is now doing in-house varnish and resin testing in its new lab. BAE continues to grow by o ering “great customer service and the best available products on the market.”

New critical cooling motor and starter

Toshiba International Corp. will introduce its newest product: the EQP Global Critical Cooling motor, which has the quality and reliability required by data centers, hospitals, and other critical cooling operations, according to the company. These motors are designed to operate in applications, such as fan arrays, where the motors are hard to access. They require minimal maintenance for the lifetime of the machine.

Toshiba’s new EQP Global Critical Cooling motor.

Toshiba will also showcase its outdoor medium-voltage drive, the MTX-2, which has a small footprint, stackable design, and low pro le. The NEMA 4 enclosure is watertight and protects the equipment from dust and dirt, according to the manufacturer.

In the New Solutions Theater on Monday, June 26, at 1:10 p.m., a Toshiba representative will give a presentation on the company’s latest product development, the arc-resistant JK Starter, a medium-voltage starter created with safety in mind.

Turn to page 52 for more EASA Convention exhibitor highlights

BAE Wire’s location in Iowa is now up and running.

Diagnostic testing instruments

Motor Diagnostic Systems will showcase its testing and instrumentation products for electric motors, solenoids, armatures, and coils. New at EASA this year, the company will have a redesign of its MTC2 and plans to present the MTC2 R7 for 2023. “The MTC2 R7 has redefined speed and unmatched performance,” Motor Diagnostic Systems declares. “Come check it out in our booth, #1140!”

Motor Diagnostic Systems is the exclusive North American representative and service center for Schleich GmbH. The company says its instruments measure more data points, providing better information. “By better,” they say, “we mean more reliable and accurate to help you troubleshoot, design, and compare your motors to decrease downtime, save money, and get back to running your business.”

New edition of industry price guide

Our friends at Vaughen’s Price Publishing Co., Inc., are looking forward to seeing everyone in Washington. The company’s 2023 Price Guide Book, along with its website Vaughens.com, will be on display at the booth, and visitors are invited to stop by to see the new Digital Price Guide the company will be releasing soon.

Don Lammers, owner and publisher, and Jason Lammers, Vaughen’s project manager, will be available to take orders and answer questions about any of Vaughen’s products. Vaughen’s has been dedicated to the electric motor and pump repair industry for more than 90 years and looks forward to many more. “We hope to see you in Washington,” Vaughen’s says, “and remember to use Vaughen’s to ‘Put More Profit in Your Price!’”

Motors and motor accessories

Diversitech plans to showcase motors (48-frame all the way to C-frame), capacitors, contactors, belts, pulleys, motor brackets, EC motors, blower wheels, draft inducers, disconnects, whips, indoor air quality, “and much more!” Highlighted will be motors and all the accessories one needs to support customers purchasing motors, such as capacitors, contactors, brackets, belts, and pulleys. The company is introducing free shipping on orders of $1,000 or more, and there will be various giveaways at the booth.

Analyzers for online and offline testing

Megger Baker Instruments will be highlighting its innovative analyzers for motor testing. The company’s comprehensive instruments compile information via online and offline testing. The online test equipment searches for power, torque, overcurrent, load, efficiency, and other problems within a running motor. The offline equipment tests for faults within the windings, coils, or leads. These testers simulate the spikes associated with startup - finding problems that are above operating voltage - allowing time to repair or replace equipment on the user’s schedule rather than that of the machinery, according to the company.

Don (left) and Jason Lammers will be bringing their product display to the 2023 EASA Convention.

Motor Diagnostic Systems’ redesigned MTC2.

Megger’s ADX, the automated diagnostic static motor tester.

Returning this year to staff the Diversitech booth will be (from left to right) Joey Laminack, Neal Reeves, and Carmen Garcia.

Laser cutting and design service

Superior Services LLC will be displaying its laser cutting and design service at this year’s EASA Convention. Representatives of the company will be on hand to explain how the company utilizes its state-of-the-art equipment, and a variety of sample laminations will be on display.

Superior Services’ principal products and services include laser-cut electric motor and generator laminations and cores. The company stocks a wide range of electrical steel, mild steel, and aluminum. Principal products include stators, rotors, armatures, pole pieces, and transformer laminations.

The company employs a staff with over 25 years of combined experience in laser technology, lamination production, and design. Utilizing advanced equipment and technology, the company’s experienced staff guarantees the highest quality possible, rapid turn-around time, and competitive pricing.

IE5 and permanent-magnet motors

The team at Lafert N.A. tells us they’re enthusiastic about participating in “another exciting EASA event.” The staff is looking forward to engaging with customers and industry peers as well as meeting new people. This year the company is inviting visitors to try their luck at a trivia game for the chance to “climb to the top of the leaderboard.” Prizes will be awarded to the top scorers each day of the expo.

The need for a “cleaner and more sustainable future” is the driving force behind the increased demand for Lafert permanent-magnet motors, according to the company. Sales director Doug Backman will be presenting HPI 2.0 at the New Product Theater on Monday, June 26, at 12:30 p.m. Attendees are invited to join in to learn more about the technology behind IE5 ultra-premium efficient products and how users can take advantage of size and weight reductions of 50% or more “while significantly reducing energy consumption.”

New addition to a core loss tester line

Jenkins Electric plans to feature a variety of new equipment and distribution items this year. The new Jenkins Gen3 Series core loss tester will be in the booth and available for demo. With integration into the Jenkins Gen3 Series motor test system, the new core loss tester is the latest addition to the Gen3 family. Additionally, the company will feature new items from its online store, including Axalta resin, Seymour paints, cleaners and lubricants, standoff insulators, and more.

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. Jenkins Electric offers same-day shipping and no minimums.

New staff members and new mica paper

Nippon Rika, Inc., will have a multinational staff at its booth, including team members from North America, Europe, and Japan. Displaying its new booth for the first time, the company will be introducing its new sales representative and account manager for North America, Kevin Kaufhold. Nippon Rika North America also has a new vice president, Konstantin Kandlbauer, and a new general manager and director of operations, Jon Lipaj.

The company will also be introducing its new KMG mica paper made with glass chops. The paper is backed with poly film with mica and glass chops added. The paper shows high impregnability and has considerably shorter impregnation times without impact on insulation performance, according to the company. This allows the user to optimize the impregnation process and consider resins with increased viscosity.

Mike and Gerry of Lafert are hard at work assembling the company’s products.

A Jenkins Electric core loss tester.

High Voltage’s VLF-34E very low-frequency a-c hipot tester is suitable for testing up to 34 kVac at 0.10 Hz.

High-voltage electrical test equipment

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 info 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.

Representatives 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.

Motors and generators in many sizes

TECO-Westinghouse Motor Co. plans to showcase its extensive line of electric motors and generators. The company offers a full line of induction, synchronous, and d-c machines ranging from ¼ 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 around the world.

TECO also supplies low-voltage motor controls, such as inverters, starters, and contactors. The company has a serviceand-repair team that provides engineering and testing services, renewal parts for Westinghouse and TECO-Westinghouse machines, and large-motor repairs.

Motor shaft grounding rings

Electro Static Technology, an ITW company, plans to showcase its AEGIS shaft grounding ring, which according to the manufacturer is used in millions of motors around the world to protect motor bearings from electrical discharge. The company’s dedication to providing an “effective and lasting solution” that prevents bearing damage, motor failure, and expensive downtime has led Electro Static Technology to be adopted by electric motor users in manufacturing, HVAC/R, transportation, energy, water treatment, electric vehicles, and other commercial and industrial applications.

A mica supplier that’s expanding operations

The Asheville Mica team says it’s “truly excited” to be exhibiting at EASA for the first time in almost 10 years. “We’ve been super busy and growing our team in the past 18 months, with three new technical sales engineers joining,” the supplier of mica and ceramic high-temperature electrical insulation parts tells us. Asheville Mica’s senior expert on all things mica and vice president of key accounts Larry Padrick just celebrated his 40th anniversary with the company. He, along with the company’s inside sales director, Susie Land, is guiding the new sales team.

Asheville Mica is expanding its capability for in-house part production, adding multiple steel-roller dies, a new 125-ton punch press, and a water jet machine to its current workshop.

Experts on testing, consulting, and training

Advanced Energy will be represented by its motors and drives team, which offers expert testing, consulting, and training for motor-driven systems from its internationally accredited test lab. The company is a third-party auditor for the EASA Accreditation Program and offers its own Proven Efficiency Verification program. These programs evaluate service centers to ensure they’re employing practices to maintain motor efficiency and reliability during repairs. To learn more, convention attendees are invited to visit Advanced Energy at Booth 431.

The AEGIS shaft grounding ring will be highlighted by Electro Static Technology.

‘Efficient, sustainable’ motors and controls

ABB will showcase what it calls “efficient, sustainable solutions” at Booth 400. Featured will be products using the latest motor technologies. With increasing usage of controlling motors with variable-frequency drives, Baldor-Reliance’s threephase motors are designed for inverter-duty operation.

Recently ABB has expanded its portfolio of NEMA motors, previously manufactured by Siemens. The new line adds to an existing line of general-purpose, severe-duty, and explosion-proof motors from 1 to 800 hp and extends the company’s NEMA 5013 Frame.

ABB is welcoming Elaine Duraes as the new vice president of marketing and communications for the NEMA motors division. She brings more than 20 years of experience from the HVAC/R, automotive, and IT industries.

Visitors are invited to learn how industrial electric motors make energy more productive. “ABB motors are smart, with ABB Ability smart sensors that analyze the health of the motor for preventive maintenance to extend the life of the equipment,” the company tells us.

Distributor with a comprehensive inventory

ESR Motor Systems, Inc., a distributor of new motors and drives serving commercial and industrial customers across the U.S. and around the world, plans to showcase its various products.

The company takes pride in maintaining a comprehensive inventory of top-tier brands, along with the necessary tools to facilitate basic modifications, across all of its warehouses.

Over the past year, ESR Motor Systems has made strides in expanding and developing its operations at each of its six locations. These changes have included the appointment of a third operations manager, the introduction of innovative motor storage solutions, and the acquisition of tools required for basic motor modifications.

ESR Motor Systems’ president, national sales manager, and one of its operations managers will be available at the booth to talk with attendees about “the unparalleled service, innovative solutions, and exceptional support that ESR Motor Systems can provide,” the company tells us. ESR Motor Systems plans a custom JBL speaker giveaway during the convention.

Motor Test Station!

Manufacturer Support List Continues

Grow

more ..

The Rock Hill, S.C., headquarters of ESR Motor Systems, Inc.

to

... Allen Bradley. B+R. Baumuller. Berger Lahr. Bosch/Rexroth/lndramat. Elau. Fanuc, Heidenhain, Kawasaki, Matsushita, MFE, Mitsubishi, Nachi, Sanyo Denki, Sick Stegmann, Siemens, Sumtak, Tamagawa, Yaskawa, and many

ABB plans to exhibit a number of industrial electric motors of various sizes and horsepower ratings.

Commutator and slip ring specialists

Akard Commutator of Tennessee will display ACTually Compliant sample commutators and slip rings as well as mini-model assemblies to better explain specific advantages of the company’s “Backed by Science!” slogan. Its message is based on ACT’s expertise working with all types and sizes of these products.

The company has added additional CNC equipment focused on rapidly growing demand for competitively priced, top-quality redesign to split-ring, split-hub slip ring units, which Akard says save customers both time and money.

Akard’s one-of-a-kind new custom Mazak CNC mill, which debuted at last year’s EASA Convention, “is truly proving to be a game changer for expedited machining as well as holding extremely tight tolerances,” the company tells us.

Mike, Donna, Camron, Hudson, Pearce, Kevin, Tim, and Melissa are planning to attend the convention this year. Attendees are invited to “come visit with the experts.” There will be drawings for Bristol NASCAR cup race and ACT swag, and this will be the anniversary of Akard’s “proof pudding.”

Insulation, giveaways, and a ‘special guest’

EIS, a long-time sponsor of EASA, will be displaying its full portfolio of products for the motor repair industry. The company’s exhibit, at Booth 601, will showcase EIS, EIS Fabrication Solutions, Midpoint Bearing, and Schoen Insulation Services. There will be products on display, free fabrication samples, and informational and interactive videos. HeatTek, Champlain Cable, and Better Engineering will be joining EIS in the EIS booth. EIS will have giveaways as well as raffles and prizes. The company will host a happy hour during the last hour of the show on Sunday and Monday. Visitors are invited to drop by and have their picture taken with a costumed “special guest.”

Godfrey & Wing offers VPI builds in numerous sizes.

VPI equipment, accessories, and service

Godfrey & Wing, a provider of vacuum impregnation equipment, sealant, and service, is inviting convention attendees to come by Booth 1112 to learn about the company’s VPI technology and state-of-the-art build capability at its Aurora, Ohio, facility. With more than 15 VPI builds currently under construction ranging from 24 to 96 in diameter, the company says it’s “confident we can provide you with your VPI needs.”

Epoxy impregnating resin for motors

In booth 516, Elantas PDG, Inc., plans to showcase its Epoxylite E 477 Thixo epoxy impregnating resin series for motor repair. The company’s history of innovation has led Elantas to design this material with an increased film build of 4 mil to offer enhanced chemical protection in corrosive environments. Epoxylite E 477 Thixo, according to Elantas, offers lower viscosity and “superb mechanical strength,” significantly contributing to the “safety, reliability, and long life of small or large electric motors.”

EIS will have a variety of demonstrations and product samples.

An Elantas processed stator.

Attendees are invited to visit the Akard booth and meet some of the company’s staff.

The wind-power industry is one of several segments in which Jasper Electric Motors is expanding as a new generation moves into the company.

Motor servicer celebrating a half century

Jasper Electric Motors, Inc., will be celebrating 50 years of gratitude to its customers and vendors for all their support over the decades. The company says it’s looking forward “to the next 50-plus.” The Jasper team is constantly expanding and improving its knowledge and facilities while challenging themselves for better end products.

Recently the company has been doing more hydro and wind for its customers as well as industry e ciency improvements. Jasper Electric has been doing more in green energy and processes and equipment improvement as a younger, third generation comes into business as planned.

At its booth at this year’s convention, Jasper will be providing small gifts with its 50-year logo and holding drawings for gifts such as a couple of Ross reels in honor of Bob and Norma Ross, who started the company.

Automatic random winding machines

In Booth 1043, Samatic will be featuring one of its latest models of automatic random winding machines that it currently o ers repair shops, starting with the popular Model Samatic 2780 and all the way to Model Samatic 5780.

Each Samatic model can handle all of a shop’s a-c and d-c winding needs, accord-

Repair of internal motor components

At this year’s EASA Convention, Advanced Rotors plans to showcase its specialty: 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 has a facility more than 20,000 square feet in area with 70-ton crane capacity and 54inch swing lathe capacity.

Advanced Rotors’ laser team o ers on-site stacking at the customer’s facil-

Reference guide for bearing buyers

Last year, Bartlett Bearing Co. debuted its rst brochure in nearly a decade. This year the company will introduce its rst Reference Guide, a pocket handbook for industry professionals to use when they need a quick reference. Looking for mounting ts? Check in the Reference Guide, Bartlett Bearing suggests. ABMA Interchanges? They’re in the Reference Guide too. A decimal equivalent chart? Reference Guide.

The company will have physical copies of the guide available at the show and will share a digital version the week before the show. Product-wise, Bartlett Bearing will be displaying a bearing heater as well as popular products from such manufacturers as NTN, SKF, Timken, and Schaefer.

The entire Philly-based team will be at the Bartlett booth this year, including Mike Pulley, Sarah Musser, Vic McDevitt Jr., John Conway, Pat Ullman, Mike Schubert, Nick McDevitt, and Stephanie Ford. There will also be a ra e. To take a shot at winning, visitors are invited to leave their business cards with one of the team members and cross their ngers.

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ing to the company. “The time saved and the highest-quality winding with our patented tooling are major money savings for the shops,” Samatic says, adding that more than 3,500 shops use Samatic machines “daily and awlessly.” The company o ers ve di erent sizes because service operations nowadays are seeing bigger motors and bigger generators, requiring them to move up their capability in size and torque.

ity. Quality control includes a coordinate measuring machine, hysteresis testing, Franklin testing, and core loss testing, as well as calibration of all instrumentation. Engineering services for redesign are also available.

The company’s sta is “very excited about our recently added 10,000 square feet of stacking department space as well as our one 40-ton crane.”

Also, while the company has always o ered custom delivery services, Advanced Rotors is now able to provide custom pick-up and delivery with a hauling capacity of 48,000 lbs.

New and expanded motor product lines

There are “many exciting things happening with Wolong in North America,” the company tells us. Wolong is introducing new products and expanding ratings for some of its existing lines. The company plans to showcase a new line of stocked general-purpose motors along with the latest super-efficient permanent-magnet and electronically commutated designs up to 10 hp. The company will also be bringing its a-c and d-c displays and conducting some motor training right in the booth.

GE Wolong’s booth layout this year will be open, in a large island space, so it will be easy to see all displays from three sides. One long wall will showcase the company’s global footprint and business capabilities, while a hanging banner will advertise the Wolong family of brands.

“We at Wolong prioritize customer hospitality,” the company informs us, “so visitors to our booth will enjoy freshly brewed coffee, phone charging ports, bottled water, and snacks as we discuss their business challenges.”

Motor brushes, springs, and holders

In Booth 929, Morgan Advanced Materials will feature its highly engineered and maximized performance brushes, springs, and holders for all types of motors and generators. The company offers a robust Profiler (MS PRO14) for measuring TIR on slip rings and commutators. Also, grounding holders and brushes for containing currents to protect bearings, and several variations which can easily and economically be obtained. Morgan offers engineering consultation as well as products designed for difficult applications. The company does complete manufacturing, from raw materials to finished product, with a grade portfolio ranging from carbon and graphite to metals (copper and silver).

According to Megger, the company has been “reducing failures and improving the life of valued motors and generators for industry for over 125 years around the world.”

IoT-enabled predictive maintenance

Predictive maintenance specialist relayr has been working to bring new developments to Skyler – the company’s “end-to-end, IoT-enabled predictive maintenance solution.” The company says the product empowers users to energize service businesses by offering new service packages with unique warranties. Its success, according to the manufacturer, is based on three principles: Skyler makes it easy to get up to speed fast; the product is designed and supported by experts; and it’s “the most complete end-to-end solution for rotating equipment.” According to the U.S. Dept. of Energy, average return on investment is up to 10 times higher in predictive versus preventive maintenance, while downtime is shown to be reduced by up to 35%. “That’s why we recommend exploring innovative ways of approaching the predictive maintenance topic,” the company says.

Innovations in carbon brushes

Helwig Carbon Products, Inc., will be showcasing its latest innovations within its carbon brush, brush holder, and shaft grounding product lines. New demos, displays, and product samples will be available for all attendees.

The company has developed a specific shaft grounding kit for main shaft bearings in wind turbines that is now OEM-approved. Helwig also has new universal, single-bolt mounting brackets for its BPK product line.

Product experts will be available at Helwig’s booth to give demonstrations of the BPK-Probe shaft voltage detection device, as well as the company’s MultiFit bracket mounting system, toeto-toe brush holders, and premier carbon brush grades.

Helwig Carbon Brushes will offer demonstrations of its shaft voltage detection device.

Just a couple of the many products offered by GE Wolong.

This end-to-end predictive maintenance system from relayr can help reduce downtime and improve return on investment, according to the company.

Expanded lines of electrical insulation

Three years ago, Pittsburgh Electrical Insulation significantly expanded operations with the acquisition of Fibertek’s Electrical Products division. The company has since continued its expansion by adding a new storage warehouse in Pittsburgh and expanding its warehouse in Brownsville, Tex. PEI is exhibiting at EASA this year in Booth 934.

PEI has also added new equipment to its in-house manufacturing and converting divisions, including two new braiders to increase B-stage surge rope production and a new slitter capable of slitting master logs more than 72 inches in width.

The company plans to have all of its product experts on-site at the EASA Convention to showcase its expanded lines 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. There will also be a variety of insulating and pre-peg papers, mica tapes, and felts (aramid, polyester, polyimide, and dacron).

Innovative pump replacement parts

Once again, HT Pumps plans to have its innovative and valueengineered replacement parts on display. This will be the company’s eleventh year in business since its first EASA Convention in Nashville back in 2012. Since then, HT Pumps has sold thousands of its parts to EASA service dealers and distributors nationwide. The company has also increased its product offering 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 convention, HT Pumps staff hopes to familiarize new and existing customers with cross referencing from OEM parts to our line of parts. But “Most importantly,” the company says, “thanking our customers for making our business such an overwhelming success.”

Serving as the voice of the industry

Last but not least, several members of the staff of Electrical Apparatus magazine will be at the EASA Convention, in Booth 522, to answer questions about advertising, editorial, and subscription matters.

For 40 years, ICC has been providing commutators and slip rings for large industrial motors.

Forty years of commutators and slip rings

2023 marks the 40th year ICC International has been manufacturing “compression-seasoned” commutators and slip rings for large industrial applications, including those in the mining, metals, and paper industries. Compression seasoning refers to a process by which copper and mica segments are compressed to their minimum diameter. The segments are mechanically and thermally locked in place so nothing can move in either direction. Individual pieces effectively become a solid piece of metal.

ICC specializes in emergency turnaround and technical consultation. The company is also a distributor of GE motors and parts. Visitors to the company’s booth are invited to ask ICC representatives about compression seasoning and pre-undercutting.

Electrical Apparatus magazine is known as the voice of the electromechanical service and sales industry, reaching more than 18,000 readers per month to deliver the news and in-depth information readers need to run their businesses successfully.

But that’s only a segment of the magazine’s readership. EA also reaches thousands of readers among manufacturers, contractors, electric utilities, engineering and consulting firms, and educators.

At the convention, subscribers will be invited to stop by the booth to confirm that their subscription information is up to date. They’ll also be invited to tell the EA editors what’s new at their companies, because Electrical Apparatus is constantly looking for news to report and interesting companies to write about.

Marketers are invited to come by as well, to learn how Electrical Apparatus magazine can deliver their messages to the readers who are in a position to buy. Electrical Apparatus offers a number of advertising programs, with reduced pricing, value-added benefits, and rate protection for advertisers with frequency contracts. EA

A few samples of HT Pumps’ product offerings.

EASA looks ahead

This year’s convention of the Electrical Apparatus Service Association was buzzing with talk about emerging technology and recruitment

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

ST. LOUIS — Home sweet home. More than anything else, that was the overarching theme of the 2022 convention of the Electrical Apparatus Service Association, held here at America’s Center June 26-28. A reunion would’ve been special anywhere, but it felt right in St. Louis, the home of the association itself and the site of four previous conventions.

But as closely as this convention outwardly hewed to tradition, much of the focus was on the future, as speakers, attendees, and exhibitors turned their attention to such things as the Industrial Internet of Things, recruiting new employees, supply chain challenges, and an economy struggling to emerge from pandemic-era doldrums.

During the Sunday morning kickoff breakfast, outgoing chairman Tim Bieber of D-Electric, Inc., Quakertown, Pa., talked about how members had to “recalibrate, realign, and refocus” in order to adjust to a new post-pandemic normal.

“The pandemic had a permanent effect on our workplace,” Bieber said — an assessment few would probably disagree with. He spoke in particular about the workforce and made a pitch for the conference sessions and the Solutions Expo that were set to begin a few hours later. There were 19 new exhibitors at the expo this year, he said — a sign of the convention’s vitality.

In addition to talking about workforce development, Bieber mentioned the importance of learning from one’s peers. The convention, he said, is the perfect place to do this.

A mirror held up to the industry

In what has become an annual rite at the EASA Convention, Michael Marks of Indian River Consulting Group, Melbourne, Fla., presented results of a survey of EASA members that document the state of the industry today and point members to opportunities for growth.

“There are some really interesting opportunities for growth in this thing,” said Marks, referring to the

report, which he encouraged all EASA members to download and study.

One fundamental development is the range of motors that it makes more economic sense to repair than to replace. The “throwaway motor threshold,” Marks said, was 10 hp in 2013 but is 25 hp now. In that same span of time, the percentage of customers with motor policies has dropped from 25% to 15%. Meanwhile, the typical shop’s revenue mix is slowly shifting to services over sales — part of a pattern that sees a constant ebb and flow from one to the other. “Motors are becoming commoditized,” Marks said, “but not all motors.”

Tim Bieber

Michael Marks

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EASA Award presented to a U.K. team

During the convention’s kicko breakfast, past chairman Jerry Gray presented this year’s EASA Award to Carol and David Gri n (above) of CPM Engineering, Ltd., Manchester, U.K., who were cited for their tireless service to the association, particularly to the European & World Chapter, of which their firm is a member.

Both were seen participating in the various events over the next few days, but David didn’t have much time to rest on his laurels; he was one of the panelists on an open panel the next day discussing the Industrial Internet of Things.

The EASA Award — EASA in this context stands for Exceptional Achievement Service Award — recognizes individuals (this year a pair of individuals) who have provided exceptional service to the electrical apparatus sales and service industry.

The award has been presented each year (except 2020) since 1997. Recipients have included Electrical Apparatus Engineering Editor Richard Nailen and past EA contributors Sam Heller and Jim Anderson.

Another trend that resembles a tide going in and out is the shifting of focus from multiple areas and reconcentrating on a business’s core. The industry is currently in a phase of concentrating on the latter.

Marks said the survey reveals that a company doesn’t need to be big to be pro table or small to be unpro table. “There are high-pro t EASAns in every category” based on EBITDA measured in size quartiles, he said. “There is no correlation between EBITDA and size.”

Many EASA member rms that are high-pro t are involved in EASA’s Roving Chief Executives Program, an arrangement under which non-competing owners and managers meet periodically to exchange ideas, Marks said. Interestingly, when being interviewed for the current survey, owners of high-pro t EASA companies tended to bring up the Roving CEO Program on their own, without prompting.

Marks said that the best practices for achieving high pro t are: sustaining positive cash ow, avoiding debt, building a pro le of the ideal customer, having an under-50 successor on sta when you exit, and participating in EASA’s Roving Chief Executives Program.

If all the high-pro t companies are in a Roving Chief Executives group and you’re not, “you’re

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EASA CONVENTION continued from previous page

missing something,” Marks said. As for building a customer pro le, “You should have a one-page description of your ideal customer.” Not all revenue dollars are created equal, he said.

Great ideas about management

In a standing-room-only session about “great ideas” for service shop owners and managers, four executives of EASA member companies took turns presenting tools and strategies their companies have used to strengthen the performance of their operations.

Paul Gullickson of L&S Electric in Wausau, Wis., described how his company uses the Entrepreneurial Operating System, a set of concepts and practical tools used by more than 130,000 companies around the world “to clarify, simplify, and achieve their vision.”

The strategy begins with seeing one’s company as being divided into six components: vision, people, data, issues, process, and traction.

Vision involves “putting the right people in the right seats” to help a company achieve its vision. They do this with data, resolving issues so the vision can be brought “down to the ground” and made real — which is traction.

Dale Hamil of Illinois Electric Works of Granite City, Ill., provided “hints on how to grow your business,” o ering a list of dos and don’ts for incentivizing the performance of salespeople.

Hamil also warned against buying “labor-saving devices” that don’t actually save labor. He also recommended opening new markets by investing in equipment that can enable one’s operation to do more: higher-capacity cranes and hoists, bigger doors, higher ceilings, and so forth.

Tools and techniques for making intangible concepts visual for technicians and customers were laid out by Blake Parker of Hi-Speed Industrial Service of Millington, Tenn., who demonstrated that when explaining the sling angles used when lifting objects in the shop, a picture is worth a thousand words.

“Most of us have seen sling angle charts, but does it resonate?” his presentation asked. After showing a chart consisting of raw numbers purporting

An economical and reliable system for machine monitoring

Among exhibitors making presentations at the New Solutions Theater during the EASA Convention was Schae er Group USA, Inc., whose condition monitoring manager for the Americas, Frank Mignano, explained the company’s OPTIME line of hardware and software tools for condition monitoring.

The OPTIME system, recommended for use on rotating machines operating at speeds of 120 RPM to 5000 RPM, are said to be up to 50% cheaper than manual monitoring with handheld measuring devices. Using the system, hundreds of rotating machines can be monitored “for just a few cents a day,” according to the company, and an accompanying digital service provides professional diagnosis based on “expert algorithms and machine learning.”

The OPTIME system consists of three primary elements: the battery-operated sensors, which record vibration and temperature data; the gateway, which receives the data and transmits it to the Cloud; and the digital service, which subjects the data to automatic analysis based on “Schae er’s extensive rolling bearing knowledge and condition monitoring expertise.” Results can be viewed on a smartphone app or on a web-based dashboard.

The OPTIME system wasn’t the only product line Schae er was exhibiting at the convention. At its booth, the company was also showing and demonstrating its CONCEPT automatic lubricators and its LubeAdvisor mobile app, along with a portfolio of rolling and plain bearings.

to show that a hoist’s load increases along with the angle of the sling, Parker showed several photos of actual hoists and slings in use along with digital meters showing their load capacity. Such visual aids are better than mere charts to help a customer or employer get his head around the physics involved.

Sticking together in a competitive world

For once, let’s all stop competing for every second of the day. It’s a liberating thought even without context, but Please turn to next page

The face of an industry’s future

Watching some of the sessions at this year’s EASA convention from the back of the room, it was difficult to miss the preponderance of gray heads. The difficulty of persuading young people to enter the business is often commented upon, but it becomes visually apparent when EASA members gather in person.

That’s why it was refreshing to see Joseph Van De Wiele, 26, of Interstate Electric Corp., Sand Springs, Okla., talking animatedly and knowledgeably with EASA technical support specialist Carlos Ramirez between sessions one morning.

Joseph has been with Interstate Electric for about two years, he told EA. He previously worked on starter generators for aircraft, so he already had sound knowledge of electrotechnology prior to joining the family firm. “This is actually my dad’s shop,” he said, referring to Interstate Electric. The company, founded by Joseph’s grandparents, is situated near the Arkansas River in a suburb west of Tulsa.

Joseph’s previous employer, Honeywell, was moving the operation where Joseph worked to Mexico. Not wanting to “go down with the ship,” as Joseph put it, he decided to take a job at the family firm.

Service company owners and managers who bemoan the absence of young people in this industry would do well to listen when a 20-something like Joseph speaks his mind on the subject.

When asked what’s most attractive about working in this industry, Joseph responded, without hesitation, “job stability.” Like many service companies these days, Interstate Electric counts municipalities among its customers. “No matter what, you always need pumps,” Joseph pointed out. It’s a market that will never go away because, as Joseph said, “You’ve always got to flush your toilet.”

EASA’s European members think it can realistically be applied to business.

That’s the message that came through in a session titled “European Market Trends,” in which Frederic Beghain of EASA Region 9, Bertrange, Luxembourg, and Derry Sheehan of Avonmore Electrical Co. Ltd., Mallow, County Cork, Ireland, emphasized the benefits of non-competing peer-to-peer groups that have seen success in Europe.

“You can’t open up and be trustworthy with someone you’re competing with,” Sheehan said. “Create a network within the EASA network; it’s not [just] me, it’s the tech, it’s the balancer, it’s the winder” who open a door of possibility to improve your business and operations, he said.

As with any collaboration, “exchange of ideas” — that frustratingly repetitive term for the task-oriented among us — was deemed important to the P2P construct. The session covered the benefits of “second opinions” within this framework — a bit more applicable. Many EASAns think of motors — and rotating equipment in general — as a patient . . . and their company as the doctor. For high-stakes jobs, it’s worth having a second opinion.

Sheehan gave examples of groups created within EASA’s Roving Chief Executive program, consisting of several companies, each with different assignments

Joseph Van De Wiele

EASA CONVENTION continued from previous page

and areas of expertise. This process, Sheehan said, must be initiated by owners and/or managers. It wasn’t a ringing endorsement, but he considered such cooperation within the U.S. “possible.” (The fact that he emphasized an “expert-to-expert, noncompeting” framework in the birthplace of ruthless capitalism might have something to do with that lukewarm outlook.)

Session attendees followed up by mentioning similar attempts, or in-the-works collaborations within EASA’s current U.S. leadership. The conclusion was that there might be some hope for more cross-industry assistance, even if we can’t realistically hope to eclipse our competitive natures.

The thing about the Industrial Internet of Things

Members of EASA’s ad hoc committee on emerging technologies gathered for a question-and-answer session in which they talked about challenges to the adoption of the Industrial Internet of Things, how to help customers implement IIoT, recruiting people who are skilled with IIoT technology, and data security.

The panelists were (from left to right in the photo above left): David Griffin of CPM Engineering Ltd.,

Surge comparison testing explained

In one standing-room-only session, Jacob Beck of Electrom Instruments explained the fundamentals of surge comparison testing and their results — why the tests are important, problems a surge test can and cannot find, types of surge tests, whether or not surge tests are destructive, and how to interpret results.

Problems a surge test can find, Beck said, include weaknesses and shorts, wrong turn counts and coil connections, and weaknesses to ground. Things they can’t find include resistive connections, wronggauge wire in a coil or feeder cable, and partial blowout of multi-wire random-wound coils.

Beck then ran through several sample tests, doing a phase-to-phase comparison, a pulse-to-pulse comparison, and turn-the-rotor phase comparisons.

In summary, Beck said, a surge comparison test is “the only test that identifies turn-to-turn insulation weaknesses at elevated voltages, the precursor to most winding failures.” It can find weaknesses before a catastrophic failure, and the results of the tests are “generally easy to interpret with few false results.”

Manchester, U.K.; Lloyd Clark of Blue Ridge AI, Winchester, Va.; Bjorn Mjaatveit of EMR Consulting AS, Bergen, Norway; Thomas Shardt of Nidec Motor Corp., St. Louis.; and Michael Huber of American MTS, Monroe, N.C.

“This technology is kind of like the Wild West,” said Griffin. His business, CPM Engineering Ltd., decided it wanted to get into IIoT “fairly early,” he said. First they went to customers who were eager to get involved — the “low-hanging fruit.” Then they went to customers who were doing IIoT with competitors. The third category has proven the most difficult to bring onboard: customers who aren’t particularly inclined to implement IIoT in the first place.

At the moment, there’s “no one dominant player” in the market, said Clark. The adoption rate is “much below our expectation,” added

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The session on surge comparison testing, presented by Jacob Beck of Electrom Instruments, drew a standing-room-only audience.

Members of EASA’s ad hoc committee on emerging technologies fielded questions about the Industrial Internet of Things.

Shardt. Interest “comes in waves,” and “there’s a lot of room to grow,” he said. The reason the adoption rate is so low? “The repair industry is conservative,” offered Mjaatveit.

Big firms like Amazon and Google are great at data management and selling hardware, the panelists agreed, but service firms have the edge in helping customers put IIoT sensors in practice. “I think there’s a big opportunity in integration,” said Clark. “That last mile of integration is important.”

“More and more customers ask for performance contracts,” said Mjaatveit — that is, agreements that guarantee certain outcomes, not simply services. For this you need data, “but the problem is, what is valuable data?”

Asked about generational differences among those most adept at implementing IIoT technology, Mjaatveit said that if this industry hopes to recruit young people, it needs to embrace new technology.

“If you look around the hall here, the average age is somewhere between 90 and 120,” Mjaatveit said to laughter. “We need this to be attractive to younger generations.”

Clark recommended getting a good “user interface/user experience guy” who can “sit side-saddle with some of those end-users” when de-

Inspiring others to be of service

Every EASA Convention begins with an inspirational speaker, and this year’s speaker certainly lived up to expectations. He was John O’Leary of St. Louis, a man who has made it his mission in life to inspire others to lead lives of purpose and service to others.

O’Leary’s story began in 1987, when, as a child, he saw some older boys igniting gasoline on the pavement and thought it looked like a cool thing to do. O’Leary tried it, but the flames ignited the fumes of a nearby gasoline container, which burst into flames, engulfing him. O’Leary ended up with burns over 100% of his body and both hands disfigured.

When O’Leary’s father arrived at his bedside in the hospital, he said, “I have never been so proud of someone before. I love you, and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

Thus began a close bond between O’Leary and his father, who continues to inspire O’Leary.

O’Leary’s father had spent his entire adult life building a successful business, and then a halfdozen years ago he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Everything he had built was slowly taken away. And yet, in spite of all the setbacks, he continues to exude joy, O’Leary said.

O’Leary’s father has been a mentor and an inspiration, but O’Leary is fortunate in having had another mentor as well, in the person of someone familiar to St. Louis baseball fans.

One day not long after the accident, as O’Leary lay in bed in the hospital, he heard a voice say, “Kid,

signing an interface in order to understand their needs. Different interfaces could be designed for different generations.

Huber said that some plants won’t allow data to be sent out of their facilities; they don’t trust the Cloud. “I think that’s going to become more and more of an issue.”

Shardt, however, reported a different experience. “I can honestly say that over the past two years, I haven’t had this discussion once.” Previously the question would periodically come up, but “we expect data security today.” Confidence in data security is “a mindset,” Shardt said.

A pump guy’s take on the Internet of Things

In one session, EASA pump and vibration specialist Gene Vogel stepped out of his traditional role as EASA’s pump guy to talk about smart motors and the Industrial Internet of Things. How far has the

wake up, wake up. You are going to live. You are going to survive.”

O’Leary looked up and saw Jack Buck, the legendary radio announcer, voice of the St. Louis Cardinals, and a hero to O’Leary, a die-hard Cardinals fan. What transpired over the next few years, O’Leary said, “left me on fire for life.”

Jack Buck, as it turns out, was in the habit of ending each day with meditation that concluded with the question, “What more can I do?” He had heard through the grapevine about this young kid, a St. Louis Cardinals fan, who was lying in the hospital horribly burned and decided to visit him one morning.

But Buck’s first visit wasn’t his last. He came back the next day and said, “Kid, wake up. You are going to live.” Then he came back the next day . . . and the next, and the next. Buck came to O’Leary’s bedside every day for five and half months.

When O’Leary was finally able to leave the hospital, Jack Buck brought him downtown for a Cardinals game, but it wasn’t just any game. The day was declared John O’Leary Day, and O’Leary got to help broadcast the game (which was a match-up between the Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Pirates.)

Still, each evening, Jack Buck continued asking himself, “What more can I do?” So he sent O’Leary a baseball signed by Ozzie Smith, the great Cardinals shortstop, with a note attached that said: “If you want another baseball, write me a thank-you note.” The young O’Leary didn’t know it, but this was intended to motivate him to try to use his hands. O’Leary managed to write and send a thank-you note; soon he received a baseball signed by none other than Hall-of-Famer Stan “The Man” Musial. But that wasn’t the end. Many more signed baseballs followed, and many more thank-you notes were sent. Altogether, O’Leary received 60 of the collectible trophies. Some years later, when Jack Buck was recognized by the Baseball Hall of Fame, he gave John a crystal baseball inscribed with the message, “Don’t drop it.”

According to O’Leary, the reason Jack Buck is a legend in St. Louis is because he asked himself at the end of each day, “What more can I do?” It’s a question that O’Leary has learned to ask himself frequently, and he has dedicated his life to urging others to do so as well.

John O’Leary brought his story of hope to a rapt EASA audience.

technology come in this industry, and where can we expect it to go?

In the electromechanical service industry, the Industrial Internet of Things has the potential to play a role in machine condition monitoring — specifically, watching for and compiling data about vibration, temperature, and motor current, Vogel said. While IIoT won’t change the way you wind a stator or repair a bearing, it might determine whether or not you get the motor to repair in the first place, he said.

There’s nothing new about monitoring motor current amplitude, analysis of motor current, vibration monitoring, or temperature monitoring, Vogel said. What is new is the emergence of wireless sensors for all of these tasks, a Cloud in which to store data, and artificial intelligence with which to analyze the massive amount of data accumulated.

Vogel predicted that motors will still fail as a result of such things as moisture contamination of windings and improper lubrication or over-tensioning of belts. What will change is that some predictive maintenance monitoring will be replaced as geographic restrictions are eliminated by IIoT.

Speaking of so-called “smart” motors, Vogel predicted that their adoption is “not going to be an explosion, but it will grow.” Factors affecting their growth will include competition from “universal” IIoT systems as well as the learning progress of artificial intelligence. A decision by a motor manufacturer to make IIoT capabilities standard rather than optional “would be a game-changer,” he said.

Of vertical pumps and more

In a session called “Tips & Tricks of Vertical Pump Repair,” Gene Vogel resumed his pump guy role, offering a presentation that’s always a hit at EASA conventions. This year, Vogel had as big an audience (and perhaps more interruptions) but remained as measured as ever as he “picked out some vignettes” from the class he teaches under the same title.

Vogel’s session was designed to cover vertical turbine pumps, but an eager

audience led to a more elastic conversation that Vogel moderated brilliantly.

The presentation was sprinkled with nuggets of technical wisdom like “just because it doesn’t stink doesn’t mean it’s not contaminated,” a reminder to use all our senses when assessing pump condition.

Tangential discussions touched on things like deep-sea submersible pump repair and whether you’d need a diver or not for such a job.

Refreshingly, Vogel updated his audience by confirming that a number of the basics remain the same. When decontaminating a pump, use bleach; steam-clean with the right soap; soak in a caustic tank; sandblast corrosion off when necessary . . . rinse, repeat.

One participant suggested Hotsy pump repair kits for especially tricky jobs. Terminology for impeller housing was clarified also. Whether one bowl or three bowls, it’s still referred to as a “bowl,” just the multi-stage variety. Reservoir and sump are considered interchangeable terms. Submersible pumps, though not the intended topic of discussion, were also touched on.

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Good salesmanship is all about empathy

“We need to remember that we rise or fall to the expectations others have for us,” said Paul Reilly of Tom Reilly Training, Inc., Chesterfield, Mo., during a session on “value-added selling.” If we under-promise, we “live down to expectations.” He followed up that adage up with one of several catchy phrases he offered during his session: “What’s your value-add-itude?”

“When we go through tough times, sometimes we go through it; sometimes we grow through it,” Reilly said. To illustrate his point, he told his audience about a salesman named Andrew who’s diabetic and sells insulin pumps. When Andrew sees the parents of a diabetic child, he sees his own parents. In this way, Andrew finds empathy for the buyers of the products he represents.

If it can work for Andrew, “it can work for the rest of us,” Reilly said. One of the secrets to effective selling is the ability to go into a meeting with a customer seeing things through the customer’s eyes. True empathy is what it often takes to close the deal.

Siemens presents a new product search tool

Over the course of the expo, several company representatives took the stage at the New Solutions Theater to describe their latest products and services.

At one of these presentations, Matt Shelby, product manager of tools and systems for Siemens, introduced the company’s new Product Configurator, an online tool designed to select from among all of Siemens’ drives and motor lines. Motors, gear motors, and drives are included in the database.

Shelby explained that this is a new iteration of an established product-search database. This version, on a new platform, is much faster than its predecessor, he said, and it can be used on a phone, tablet, or PC.

If you’re at a customer’s site, you can use the tool to find a drive that’s right for an application and download all the specs and documentation. The app has automatic price updates, and the user can define parameters or start with the desired outcome. Search results can be filtered with keywords or, if you happen to have them, option codes.

Such pumps generally cost more money, and “when it fails, it’s done,” as Vogel put it.

Speaking of bearing grease and other topics

During this year’s Open Tech Forum, a couple of dozen audience members took the opportunity to ask EASA’s five technical support specialists about challenges that have arisen back at their own service companies.

A good portion of the two-hour discussion was devoted to motor bearings and their maintenance. One audience member described trying to educate customers who have converted over to “button bearings,” which, in the audience member’s experience, customers often don’t grease properly.

Another audience member talked about Polyrex, a grease made by Mobil that’s becoming difficult to come by because of supply chain problems. “If you have a pallet full, don’t sell it to just anyone who comes in.” Offered another member of the audience, “It’s easier to obtain Poly-Rex in a five-gallon pail” than in other quantities.

Yet another member of the audience offered that his company has some “old heads who say that bearings don’t need to be relubricated,” when informed opinion says otherwise.

Other suggestions followed. If a customer says he doesn’t want a motor’s bearings greased, replace the bearings with enclosed bearings, but warn the customer of the resulting speed limitations. Better yet, ask the customer why he doesn’t want his bearings greased. There may be an underlying problem that can be addressed — or the customer may simply need to be educated about the value and necessity of regreasing bearings.

Yucking it up over grim economic news

The mood at the convention was so upbeat that even the grim news was delivered with wit and received with laughter.

During a luncheon on the final day, a presentation called “The PostPandemic Industrial Economy & How To Plan” concluded the proceedings. And in a time where people could use a laugh — especially when it comes to economics — boy, did Chris Kuehl provide the sardonic wit for the moment.

Precision machining for OEMs or shorter runs

Precision machining of motor shafts is among the services offered by Ningbo Save Technology Co. Ltd. of Ningbo, China, a company that was exhibiting for the first time at this year’s EASA Convention.

With more than 20 years of experience in the manufacture of machined components, the company provides complex, high-precision turning parts in flexible quantities from a broad range of materials, including carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass, and various kinds of plastics.

Ningbo Save Technology can provide quantities ranging from short runs to larger quantities for OEMs. Based on past experience, it takes 45 days for the company to ship machined parts to the U.S. and two months to produce parts, according to the company.

At Ningbo Save Technology, they like to say that “there is no such thing as ‘good enough’ — each member of our team consistently looks for a better, faster, and more efficient way to deliver success.”

The company’s website is at www.sosavetech.com.

Kuehl, the chief economist at Armada Corporate Intelligence of Lawrence, Kan., broke the ice with stories of his days in Soviet studies. “I wanted to study the evil empire, then the idiots went out of business [in 1990], but now the Cold War is back, so I’m relevant again,” he said. He coupled that geopolitical insight with an ever-popular self-deprecation of his profession: “I’m an economist who talks to accountants — we’re bad at our job.”

This segued into a description of what Kuehl has been up to lately, which he said is mainly “talking people off the ledge.” He cautioned that within the media, economics is viewed as “boring,” so economists “have to make it frightening.”

Kuehl continued by mentioning that the supply chain crisis is creating distrust, but that one bright spot is America’s reshoring effort, which has driven investments of $1 trillion this year alone and “probably another trillion by the time the year is out.”

Digging into the semantics of the words inflation and recession, he advised people to take the Consumer Price Index with a grain of salt. “The problem with the CPI is that it’s based on this mythical basket of goods” and that generations spend differently, Kuehl explained, adding that the

Inside Ningbo Save Technology’s manufacturing facility. — Ningbo Save Technology photo

Matt Shelby of Siemens

Commerce Dept. is responsible for releasing the CPI, whereas the Federal Reserve “pays no attention to the CPI at all.”

In summation, Kuehl said, economists like himself consider the CPI to be accurate but slow — a wider issue with data in general, which is usually fast or accurate but usually not both. The inflation we’re currently experiencing “is an energy sector inflation,” Kuehl specified. He admitted the situation is dire and that it undeniably stems from the Russo-Ukraine War. He encouraged the crowd by noting that people aren’t using credit cards yet, as would normally happen with a grievous inflation rate — another moderately promising sign.

As mentioned, Kuehl made the often boring topic of economics feel fun and informative, even under the specter of a dire outlook. “This is the sixth year in a row that adult costumes have outsold children’s,” he mentioned as a note to Halloween becoming the second largest American spending holiday after Christmas. Black Friday, he says, is now “Blackvember,” an entire month of spiked spending.

Regarding the work-from-home wave that took the nation by storm over the past few years, Kuehl stressed that it varies by industry. The electrical apparatus service industry is not a remote industry. “Accountants love remote,” he quipped. “If we had personalities, we wouldn’t be accountants.”

Digital phase converters for the U.S. market

Among this year’s exhibitors at the Solutions Expo was Myung Youn Electronics Co. Ltd., an electronics manufacturer with U.S. sales based in Marietta, Ga. The company has brought to the U.S. market a line of digital phase converters that it says enable the user to run three-phase motors from single-phase power more efficiently and economically than other brands.

The company describes its product as “a digital-type phase converter that can be used for various machines at your workshop and home.”

Lee Sung Youn, the founder and president of the company, and John Koh, sales director, told EA that the DPS brand phase converters offer a “very low” failure rate and “excellent” start-up torque. The converters are designed to be small in size, easy to install, and competitively priced. Recommended applications include compressors, three-phase motors, food-processing machines such as stirrers, hoists, hydraulic motors, and table-top drills. “Our DPS will be a very excellent item for your threephase motor,” the company says.

Kuehl said the oil sector is “fairly flexible” despite uncertain geopolitical factors such as the U.S.’s relationship with Saudi Arabia. (The latter’s neighbor, the United Arab Emirates, is an American-trained leader, Kuehl said, which other Persian Gulf states opposing the Saudis are beginning to rally around.)

“I’m from Kansas, and even when we had oil crises, we weren’t buying Priuses unless it was to throw it in the back of a pickup truck as a spare,” Kuehl said to swelling laughter. EA

A Myung Youn digital phase converter

Representatives of Jasper Electric of Jasper, Ala., were at the expo to explain the company’s rewind and repair of industrial and agricultural motors.

The folks at WorldWide Electric brought along samples of some the motors it manufactures to explain the company’s products and services to attendees.

The time between educational sessions was a perfect opportunity to grab a cup of coffee and catch up with old acquaintances or meet new people.

Where buyer meets seller: The Solutions Expo is a classic marketplace where buyer and seller meet face to face.

EASA technical support specialists Chuck Yung (left) and Gene Vogel discussed a fine point prior to the Open Tech Forum.

A delegation from Myung Youn Electronic Co. Ltd. was prepared to dine and learn at the convention’s kickoff breakfast.

Breakfast at the convention is a time to learn and to connect.

Recognized industry authority Austin Bonnett, a longtime fixture at EASA conventions, took in the back-and-forth discussion at the Open Tech Forum.

Angie Frederick (center) of T. Frederick Electric Motor Repair with children Chance (left) and Sidalee, who had made the rounds at the expo and collected plenty of swag.

It was standing room only at the Great Ideas session, which presented a number of suggestions for service company management.

— Electrical Apparatus photos by Charlie Barks and Kevin Jones