Association Newswatch: EASA convention proves popular with Canadian companies

It wasn’t a typical trade show, especially for Chicago. Children strolled the aisles with one or both of their parents. There was lots of camaraderie among families and friends around the exhibits. But this was no consumer event. It was the trade show at the annual convention of the Electrical Apparatus Service Association (EASA), the St. Louis, Mo., based organization for those working in the field of electrical systems installation, service, maintenance and repair.

The June 24-27, 2001, convention offered special rates for youths and teens, and featured a dedicated centre where the children of delegates could meet and make new friends. The convention is purposely scheduled for after the end of the school year.

Despite the convention’s focus on family, there plenty of business and technical sessions for the 3,099 delegates. Topics included succession planning, benchmarking financial performance, assisting customers with repair/ replace decisions, employee retention, recent advancements in predictive maintenance technologies, using thermography, and many more. Over 180 exhibitors participated in a concurrent trade show, which featured a wide range of electrical components and systems.

Michael J. Stewart of Stewart’s Electric Motor Works, Inc. Orlando, Fla., was installed as EASA’s chairman of the board for the 2001-2002 administrative year.

EASA drew delegates from all across the U.S., as well as many from Canada. Truly an international event, it attracted delegates from these countries as well: Australia, Brazil, Cameroon, Chile, Ecuador, England, Ghana, India, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Trinidad & Tobago, and Venezuela.

EASA’s next convention takes place June 16-19, 2002, in Cincinnati, Ohio. For details, contact the association at 314-993-2220, fax 314-993-1269, or visit www.easa.com.

Canadian attendees included: Adwel International, Toronto, Armstrong Pumps, Toronto, Ampro Electric, London, Ont., Andarr Industries, Edmonton, B+B Dynamo & Armature, Winnipeg, Benshaw, Listowel, Ont., Brook Crompton N.A., Toronto & Montreal, Cabone of America, Toronto, Duncan Electric Motor, Duncan, B.C., Electrowind, Guelph, Ont., Elektro Drive Systems, Mississauga, Ont.

Enterprise D’Electromecanique Delstar, Montreal, General Electric Co., Calgary, Grant Electric Ottawa, Ottawa, Industrial Electric Motors (Lebo), Montreal, Iris Power Engineering, Toronto, Kadon Electro Mechanical Services, Calgary, Lafert N.A., Mississauga, Larry Electric Motor Service, Peterborough, Ont. Les Enterprises Electriques L.M., Montreal, Mahon Electric, Thunder Bay, Ont., Monelco, Windsor, Ont., Motion Electric Motor Services, Mississauga, Nexans Magnet Wire, Markham, Ont., O.G. Moteurs Electriques, St. Cyrille de Wendov, Que.

Paisley Products of Canada, St. Laurent, Que., Pulsar (VMD), Laval, Que., Scona Electric, Edmonton, Sherwood Electromotion, Woodbridge, Ont., Siemens Westinghouse, Burlington & Sarnia, Ont., Soper’s Supply, Edmonton, Standard Electric, Mississauga, Toshi Electrical Industries, Edmonton, Trade-Mark Industrial, Kitchener, Ont., Universal Rewind, Edmonton, V.J. Pamensky Canada, Toronto, Waffle’s Electric, Windsor, Ont., and Western Form Coils, Edmonton.

Motor industry clamps down on energy usage costs

A consortium made up of motor industry manufacturers and service centres, trade associations, electric utilities and government agencies in the United States kicked off the Motor Decisions Matter campaign at the EASA convention to encourage the use of sound motor management and planning as a tool for cutting motor energy costs and conserving energy in industry.

The campaign sponsors are promoting and providing tools that enable commercial and industrial customers to develop a motor plan, with the assistance of their local distributor, repair centre or utility representative. A motor plan addresses common motor decisions before equipment failure, which ensures motor availability, reduces downtime, and lowers energy costs.

Energy represents over 97 per cent of total motor operating costs. In large industrial plants, such as steel plants, motor energy costs can well exceed $1 million annually. The U.S. Department of Energy says greater attention to motor system management can reduce motor energy costs by as much as 18 per cent, while helping to boost motor productivity and reliability.

Motor Decisions Matter is promoting best-practice motor management to industrial and commercial customers because it can also help increase the reliability and quality of motor-driven processes and reduce plant operating costs.

The campaign’s message is good news for motor distributors and service centres because it will likely expand the market for premium efficiency motors and motor-related services. Electric utilities are also interested in this message because it will help save energy and reduce peak demand while providing value to their customers.

Research has shown, however, that many motor decision-makers are not aware of energy efficient motors, or their benefits, said Ted Jones of the Consortium for Energy Efficiency, a campaign sponsor. According to a recent study, only 19 per cent of personnel at U.S. industrial facilities were aware of premium efficiency motors and only 11 per cent of customers reported having written specifications for motor purchases, with only two-thirds of these customers including efficiency in their specifications.

“We want corporate and plant managers to realize the financial and performance benefits of sound motor management, which includes proper motor planning, evaluation and analysis, inventory, procurement and repair,” Jones said.

“By addressing the motor decision-making process, businesses can more effectively capture energy savings in the motor replacement market, while also taking advantage of the savings potential of proper motor repair, sizing and management.”

The campaign targets three key audiences: executive level managers; maintenance, repair and operation (MRO) employees, plant managers and engineers in industrial markets; and distributors and repair firms.

The maintenance repair and operation and plant level audiences are responsible day-to-day for effectively and efficiently running their facilities. If a motor management plan is not in place, the result is often quick, price- and availability-based decisions, rather than an efficient, thoughtful, and proactive plan that reduces panic and poor decision-making.

It is expected that the senior executive level audience — motivated by the opportunity to reduce cost and help the environment — will influence the MRO and plant audiences to consider developing a plan.

The distribution and repair firm audiences will help provide quality planning and repair services, which will help them build their businesses.

The campaign consists of several components to increase general awareness for the program and assist the target audiences in developing a motor management plan:

A Web site (www.motorsmatter.org) which includes information about the campaign, and links to campaign sponsors.

A Motor Management and Planning Kit, which includes a checklist of steps to get started on developing a motor plan; links to on-line resources to get more information about motor planning; and campaign information on the importance and opportunity associated with motor management and planning.

An e-mail direct marketing promotion targeting distributors.

News releases on new program components and customer success stories.

Most aspects of the program are applicable to Canadian operations as well. For complete details, visit www.motorsmatter.org.MRO