NOW AVAILABLE IN COLOR!

EASA recently completed a significant revision to the “Root Cause Failure Analysis” seminar manual.

The manual is available for purchase in the online store.

PRINTED COLOR BOOK DOWNLOADABLE PDF PRINTED COLOR BOOK & PDF

DISCOUNTED BLACK & WHITE COPIES REMAIN!
A limited quantity of black & white books are still available at DISCOUNTED PRICES while supplies last! If you have already purchased a black & white manual and are interested in the color version, please contact EASA Customer Service (+1 314 993 2220).

PRINTED BOOK

For this second edition, the manual has been reorganized and updated with new information including a new approach to methodology, new case studies and a new section covering synchronous machine failures. This could not have been done without many contributions from EASA members and the Technical Education Committee. 

The all new “Root Cause Methodology” section goes into great detail explaining that effective root cause failure analysis must take place within the context of a practical problem-solving methodology or framework. It covers a modified Plan-Do-Check-Act process that emphasizes the importance of planning and the related problem-solving methodology components. This section also explains A3, a high-level reporting tool that is very effective for problem solving.

In addition, besides a systematic approach to problem solving, root cause failure analysis of motors and motor systems requires familiarity with contributing factors attributable to various kinds of applications, environments and industries. This includes how various stresses can affect motor components and the reciprocal impact the motor system may have on the motor. This section includes a table with a detailed summary of motor stresses. 

There also is a new section on “Synchronous Machine Failures” and an expanded “Case Studies” section. Readers are guided through eight case studies.

With 328 pages, the book provides extensive information, including a wide range of failures, the likely causes listed, and the methodology for confirming the probable cause of each failure. 

Members may purchase a printed manual and/or a PDF download. The printed manual is in black and white, while the download shows most of the failure photos in color.  

Sections in the manual include:

• Root Cause Methodology (all new)
• Bearing Failures
• Stator Failures
• Shaft Failures
• Rotor Failures
• Mechanical Failures
• DC Motor Failures
• Synchronous Machine Failures (all new)
• Accessory Failures
• Case Studies (expanded)
• References

EASA’s International Board of Directors will meet on February 20, 2021. Members with questions or proposals should contact their regional director.

You may find your regional director by viewing the Board of Directors list or visit your chapter's page on easa.com.

The formal designation and full title for this standard that was published in April 2020 is, “CSA C392:20 Testing of Three-Phase Squirrel Cage Motors During Refurbishment.” This is the second edition of the standard and supersedes the previous edition published in 2011. The standard focuses on the identification of those tests that help to determine whether the efficiency of a motor is maintained after it is “refurbished,” without requiring a motor efficiency test.

Changes have been made throughout the standard. Test procedures have been reorganized for clarity. Requirements have been updated to reflect current capability of test equipment. Of particular interest to service centers is a new Annex that describes a method using algorithms to estimate partial and full-load efficiency based on no-load tests.

The detailed descriptions of the tests to be performed make this standard very useful as a reference and a how-to document for any service center, not just those in Canada. These are the key tests that should be performed to help verify that efficiency has been maintained during the rewind and repair processes. These key tests are stator winding resistance, stator core magnetic circuit (laminations) test, rotor test and no-load and inspection test. The individual clauses for each of these tests provide the purpose of the test, a flowchart of the steps in the test, test description and procedure, calculations and analysis of the results.

EASA Senior Technical Support Specialist Tom Bishop, P.E., and Frank Conci of EASA member firm AC Motor Electric Ltd. in British Columbia were members of the CSA subcommittee that oversaw revision of the standard. The 75-page standard document can be purchased from CSA at go.easa.com/csa.

PURCHASE THE STANDARD

ST. LOUIS -- The Electrical Apparatus Service Association (EASA) will hold its Annual Convention and Exposition June 14–16, 2020, at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center in Nashville, TN.  The theme for the 2020 Convention is “Gain the Advantage.”  

Discussing the theme, EASA Chairman of the Board, Mr. Brian Larry, said, “This is the highlight event of the year for so many EASAns, and I believe we are better business owners and a stronger industry for having participated. Every year, I look forward to seeing my industry peers from around the world, connecting with suppliers and attending the training.” 

The EASA 2020 Convention’s education line-up features a wide-ranging program designed to address all areas of the electromechanical sales and repair business. More than 25 education sessions focus on technical, sales/marketing and management topics, including open forums on technical, management and emerging technology trends. New this year, EASA also offers a one-day intensive sales seminar option aimed at elevating sales management and strategy.

This year’s featured keynote speaker, Kevin Brown, will kick off the EASA 2020 Convention by bringing his message of The HERO Effect® and challenge attendees to show up every day and make a positive difference at work and in life. Brian Beaulieu of ITR Economics returns to EASA to provide a review and outlook of the economy and its impact on the electromechanical industry.

The EASA Convention promotes the three-day Solutions Expo where the industry’s leading manufacturers and service providers showcase the latest developments in electric motors, drives and controls, generators, and other equipment, as well as services to the electromechanical industry. More than just a trade show, the EASA Solutions Expo provides the setting for attendees to broaden conversations with exhibitors and discover ways better to position themselves as total solutions providers to their customers.  

“Attendance at the EASA 2020 Convention is open to all, both members and non-members,” said Linda J. Raynes, CAE, EASA President and CEO. “The technical program is a unique opportunity for plant engineering and maintenance personnel to learn about the latest practices to improve their operations and reduce downtime. Plus, the excitement and passion of those in attendance propel the industry forward.”  

For the complete program, exhibitor listing and to register, visit www.easa.com/convention.

The Electrical Apparatus Service Association (EASA) is an international trade organization consisting of more than 1,800 electromechanical sales and services firms in nearly 80 countries. Through its many engineering and education programs, EASA keeps members up to date on materials, equipment and state-of-the-art technology related to sales, service and maintenance of motors, generators, drives, controls, pumps and other electromechanical equipment. 

Liz Peuster, CAE, has been promoted to Marketing & Communications Manager and will oversee the development and execution of EASA’s many marketing strategies. Tyler Voss will work with Liz on expanding EASA’s membership development and other outreach efforts as Membership & Communications Specialist.

Finance Manager Ben Spirk, CPA, has been promoted to Finance & Member Services Manager in coordination with a review of staff structure, titles and the member experience.

“For many years, EASA used the title ‘customer service specialist,’” said President & CEO Linda Raynes, CAE. “We believe ‘member services specialist’ is much more appropriate. In that role, Nancy Kemper and Giovanni Bacilieri do an outstanding job of assisting our current and prospective members in many ways, including event registrations, processing orders, answering questions about membership, EASA’s website and much more. Fulfillment Specialist Larry Zanders is another key member of the team, as he is often the person answering the phone and ensures your membership materials and orders are shipped quickly.”

“Last but not least”, Raynes said, “we are pleased that Randy Joslin has agreed to stay on staff in a part-time role to assist with new member administration and related tasks as Membership Processing Coordinator.” 

These changes better position the EASA HQ team to provide EASAns with an exceptional membership experience.

Full staff listing

Brian Larry
EASA Chairman of the Board
LArry Electric Motor Service, Ltd.

Despite not gathering as a group in Nashville as we’d planned, EASA put together an event positioned to provide you with some of the value you would have gleaned at the EASA 2020 Convention.

Many of the technical, management and sales/marketing sessions will be presented to us in an online format. We’ve coined the event “Gain the Advantage: EASA 2020 Reimagined” as a nod to how many of us have ‘reimagined’ how we live and work in our current world. As a special bonus, all EASA members can attend the online event at no additional charge! I hope you will take the opportunity to “Gain the Advantage” for yourself as well as your team.

This new format will allow you to experience some of the incredible educational content you expect from EASA. Our general session will explore the latest EASA/AEMT research on whether premium efficient motors can be rewound without degrading efficiency and reliability. Brian Beaulieu from ITR Economics will present an economic outlook (something I know we are all very interested in right now). You can also participate in technical content presented by EASA engineers and sessions from thought leaders including Mike Weinberg. The schedule is available online.

I also invite you to explore the virtual expo and engage with the companies that planned to exhibit at the Solutions Expo. Check out the expo on EASA’s website with the exhibitor list, company descriptions and contact information. We sincerely thank these companies for their steadfast support of EASA and the Solutions Expo.

As an EASA member, you can register for free!

LEARN MORE & REGISTER

EASA members support the infrastructure of the world. As an increasing number of states and communities institute stay-at-home orders in response to the COVID-19 health crisis, know that these decrees make exceptions for workers in federal critical infrastructure sectors, including the electromechanical repair, service and sales industry. 

Please reference these two resources: 

• Critical Infrastructure Sectors according to CISA (Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency)
• Memorandum on Identification of Essential Critical Infrastructure Workers during COVID-19 Response

While these are guidance documents only, they are not law. However, they should provide you with the support you need should you receive questions regarding your business operations.

Of course, good practices in hand-washing and cleaning practices continue to be at the forefront of all recommendations, as well as staying home when sick.

Thank you to EASA Chairman-Elect Jerry Gray of Sloan Electromechanical Service & Sales, San Diego, CA, for providing the above referrals so we could inform you promptly.

EASA is very pleased to announce that Matthew Conville, P.E., has joined EASA’s Staff as a Technical Support Specialist.

Conville previously worked for 12 years at FLANDERS, Inc. in Evansville, Indiana. There he held various positions, including:

• Electrical Engineer for Manufacturing and Repair Service Centers, where he provided field engineering support for electric machines; designed and performed complex engineered factory acceptance tests for large and very large DC and AC rotating equipment; root cause failure analysis (RCFA) on power-driven systems and their supporting power distribution systems; and technical training on rotating equipment and NFPA70e standards.
• Regional Service Centers Engineering Manager, where he oversaw 10+ engineers providing systems integration solutions. These solutions ranged in size and scope and often required engineering studies for feasibility, cost savings and payback.
• Continuous Improvement Principal Engineer, where he provided support and oversight in product quality, process flow, repair standards, design and/or validation of design of large and very large DC and AC rotating equipment, their power and control systems; and RCFA and troubleshooting to solve complex problems for end-users. He has also been a presenter at the Association for Iron & Steel Technology (AIST) trade show and others.

Conville has a bachelor’s degree in engineering with an emphasis in rotating equipment and power distribution and is a registered professional engineer. Because of his past work, he is very familiar with EASA and the industry, as well as NEMA, IEC and EASA standards.

“With his strong background in rotating equipment, what powers them, how they need to be controlled, and his experience and willingness to teach, Matthew is an excellent addition to our team,” said President & CEO Linda Raynes, CAE. “Among his many duties will be direct technical support to our members; writing newsletter and trade press articles; seminar, webinar and convention presentations; training development; industry representation and more. We very much look forward to the work Matthew will do on behalf of EASA and its members.”

“It was a very difficult decision to leave a great company like FLANDERS after so many years,” said Conville. “When I saw that EASA was looking to expand its tech support staff, I pondered it for months and ultimately couldn’t resist the opportunity to work with the EASA team and do what I can to advance our industry.”

Rob Boteler
Confluence Energy, LLC

The United States Congress passed long-awaited energy legislation as part of the economic stimulus bill approved in late December 2020 (Division Z in the bill). The energy bill has two distinct areas that will affect EASA members.

The first includes several sections that will create opportunities for EASA members through their effect on customers and markets. These sections provide incentives, programs and grants for various customer groups, including schools, commercial buildings, water utilities, microgrids, renewables, technology commercialization, industrial businesses, smart manufacturing, agriculture, data centers, technology transfer and research projects. The breadth of these programs and the associated funding should create opportunities for many years to come for the motor and drive community. In general, the act seeks to create a long-term path to address decarbonization. The bill looks to reduce fossil fuel use through electric devices powered by renewable sources, thus creating opportunities for companies that sell and repair electric motors and controls.

The second opportunity is found in the motor and drive incentive section of the bill (1005) and provides a much more specific motor and control program.

James “Jim” Allen Bryan, an EASA Technical Support Specialist from June 2010 through February 2018, passed away at his home in Glen Carbon, Illinois, on Tuesday, April 12. He was 71. In addition to his extensive knowledge of electromechanical repair and maintenance, he was well known for his sense of humor and positive attitude.

He is survived by his wife, Debbie; two daughters, Elizabeth (John) and Virginia (Apollo); four sons, Nathan (Tamara), James, Jr. (Kelly), Carl (Amanda) and Patrick; and 14 grandchildren.

Before joining EASA, Jim worked for more than 20 years at Emerson Motor Company (now Nidec Corporation) in St. Louis. Even before starting as an EASA employee, he was no stranger to EASA and EASA members. Before joining EASA as an employee, he had served as a volunteer on EASA’s Technical Services Committee.

“The time I spent with EASA has been rewarding,” said Jim in a 2018 Currents article announcing his retirement. “The family atmosphere permeates the organization from members, volunteer leaders and staff because of the really good people involved throughout. Thanks to all.”

EASA President & CEO Linda Raynes, CAE, noted that just knowing Jim improved the lives of those he met and worked with over the years. “Jim was a friend and teacher to many in his personal and professional life. He will be missed.”

Revisit some of Jim's many excellent technical contributions in the EASA Resource Library.

Due to Adobe Flash Player’s official end of life scheduled for Dec. 31, 2020, EASA updated and replaced the interactive PDF version of this product with an online-only HTML5 version. This training will now stream directly from EASA’s website — no installation necessary! You only need a modern web browser and audio playback capability. Support for the PDF version of this training will be end ing soon.

If you have already purchased this product, or plan to purchase it, all employees associated with your company will automatically get access to this training as long as they have an EASA account on the website. A company’s primary contact can easily add new employees by logging into go.easa.com/roster. If an employee leaves your company, the primary contact can simply return to the same page, remove the employee from the company roster to prohibit access to the training (as well as all member-exclusive resources). If you have not recently reviewed your roster, this is the perfect opportunity to do so!

LEARN MORE ABOUT THIS TRAINING

Ron Widup
Marketing + Industry Awareness Committee Chair
Shermco Industries

The mission of EASA is to help members enhance their performance and achieve greater levels of success. Each member of the Marketing + Industry Awareness Committee is keenly aware of this, and it is that very mission that guides our decision-making processes.

We have an ongoing Industry Awareness Campaign, and at our meeting each year, we analyze the results we have achieved by securing EASA-authored articles in the trade press. 
EASA collaborates with editors of trade publications to provide articles written by EASA's technical support team, focusing on their readers' topics of interest. We primarily work with publications that target the end-user market (your customers). The primary audience is typically plant engineers and maintenance personnel. Other audiences include purchasing, general management, consulting engineers, electrical contractors, facility managers and design engineers. 

Trade press editors continue to hold our content in high regard and consider EASA "The Electro•Mechanical Authority." 

As a member, you benefit from these industry awareness efforts as the coverage reinforces your reputation as a total solutions provider in the electromechanical sales and service industry. 

By the Numbers
Trade media feature articles totaled more than 746,000 media impressions from August 1, 2019, to July 31, 2020. This is an increase of 10 percent over the prior year.

Nine articles authored by EASA’s professional staff appeared in the print editions of six different industry trade magazines. These nine articles resulted in more than 579,000 total media impressions. Five trade industry publications published EASA content in their digital media e-newsletters, resulting in nearly 167,000 impressions. Much of this content is available online in the searchable content of websites hosted by most industry trade magazines, including Plant Engineering, Efficient Plant, Plant Services and EC&M. 

Since 2002, more than 250 EASA-authored articles appeared in 45 separate industry trade publications and related digital platforms, resulting in more than 12.2 million media impressions. 
IMPORTANT! Keep an eye on EASA's website and social media. EASA shares these articles, podcasts and online events as they happen. Use them to share expert-level content with your customers. 

Several trade publications partner with EASA and provide bartered advertising space in their digital and print media. EASA leverages this opportunity to promote the use of EASA members to your customer base.  

Industry Representation
Another key element of EASA's Industry Awareness Campaign is industry representation. This includes presentations by EASA before other "publics" such as other Associations, industry groups, utilities, governmental agencies and end-users. Since 2001, there have been nearly 100 presentations put forth on behalf of EASA.

EASA's engineering team represents your interests on multiple standards-making bodies and similar groups! See a summation of these efforts at go.easa.com/representation. 

Please know we are here for you, and if there is anything we can do to improve our mission please let us know – and if you haven’t already, make sure you follow EASA’s social media feeds on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook.

Media Features — August 2019 – July 2020 

Print Media 

• Control Engineering — Circulation: 70,280
  • “Insights: Think Again – IIOT Avoids Downtime” — August 2019
• Electrical Business  — Circulation: 20,300
  • “Increasing Motor Reliability” — February 2020 
• Empowering Pumps — Circulation: 25,000
  • “How Up-Thrust Occurs in Vertical Turbine Pumps and Provisions to Control It”  — June 2020
• Plant Engineering  — Circulation: 60,037
  • “How to Deal with Wet or Flooded Motors” — October 2019 
• Plant Services  — Circulation: 70,019
  • “Perfect Fit: Why Permanent Magnet Motors and Reluctance Motors are Finding Increased Industry Application” — May 2020 – Front Cover Story 
  • “Best of Plant Services 2019: Get Your Bearings” — December 2019 
  • “Get Vertical: Converting Motors from Horizontal to Vertical Mount” — October 2019
• Pumps & Systems — Circulation: 96,783
  • “Making Shaft Lift Adjustments in Vertical Turbine Pumps” — June 2020 
  • “Techniques for Detailed Screening of Vibration Data” — December 2019

Digital Media

• Electrical Construction & Maintenance E-Train  — Circulation: 52,816
  • “EASA Announces Spring Educational Seminar Schedule” — November 14, 2019 
• Electrical Construction & Maintenance MRO Insider — Circulation: 45,172
  • “EASA Presents Service Award at Annual Convention” — August 20, 2019 
• Plant Engineering Plant Mail
  • “Your Questions Answered: Right Sizing Pumps with VSDs” — December 18, 2019 

Digital Events 

• Plant Engineering
  • “Right-Sizing Pumps with Variable-Speed Drives”
    Webinar presented by Gene Vogel, EASA Pump + Vibration Specialist — November 14, 2019 
  • “Introduction to Motors and Drives”
    Online training series including materials from prior Plant Engineering webinars featuring Tom Bishop, P.E., EASA Senior Technical Support Specialist, and Gene Vogel content. 
• Empowering Pumps
  • “#Knowledge Shared” video series
• Pumps & Systems 
  • Podcast: “EASA Recap with Gene Vogel, Talking IIoT and More” — July 2019

Make accepting credit cards simple, efficient for your customers and profitable for your service center.

EASA has partnered with Service First Processing (SFP)* to bring you a program that will reduce the cost of credit card processing and improve your level of customer support. As an added benefit, you can add money to your bottom line!

Credit card processing fees can add up quickly. SFP will reduce the cost of your monthly credit card processing expenses through lower processing costs. Plus, 10 percent of the net processing revenue SFP generates from your account is rebated back to you on an annual basis!

SFP offers a 60-day trial and provides the equipment and training you need to be successful.

Call +1 855 632 9862 to start saving!

MORE DETAILS

*This benefit is currently available to members in the US and Canada only.

A new version of the Principles of Medium + Large AC Motors manual is now available to address applicable IEC standards and practices. It was developed by industry experts in Europe along with EASA’s engineering team. (The Principles manual, 2nd edition, based on NEMA standards, remains available as a separate document.)

The IEC manual includes drawings, photos and extensive text and documentation on AC motors, including how they work, specific information on enclosures, construction of components and applications. Many of the principles included apply to all AC motors, especially those with accessories that were associated with larger machines in the past (such as encoders, RTDs, thermostats, space heaters and vibration sensors).

While the manual covers horizontal and vertical squirrel-cage induction motors in the 37 to 3700 kW (300 to 5,000 hp) range, low- and medium-voltage, most of the principles covered apply to other sizes as well. This manual focuses primarily on IEC motors.

LEARN MORE

Digital training tools are more important than ever.

With that in mind, EASA announces a limited time offer on “How to Wind Three-Phase Stators.” Purchase this interactive training tool for only $237US (40 percent off)!

Trainees experience animated demonstrations, videos and assessments while learning the principles and techniques necessary for success. As many members have found, even the experienced winder will learn from this training.

With the ability to start and stop as needed, this interactive software makes the perfect addition to your training plan.

LEARN MORE

Linda Gladden has joined the EASA staff as Marketing & Communications Manager. She replaces Liz Peuster, CAE, who left EASA for another career opportunity.

Ms. Gladden is a communications leader with 19 years of experience building communications teams in the association and public pension arenas.

Most recently, Ms. Gladden wrapped up work as a Media Specialist for the U.S. Census Bureau. Since 2019, she focused on working closely with media outlets in Missouri and Arkansas, who helped spread the message about the importance of the 2020 Census.

As a Director of Communications and Marketing for a national dental association, Linda led the development of a strategic $7 million advertising and public relations campaign, managed budgets and vendors, and led several cross-functional teams. Her communications team consistently won All-Media Association Trend Awards between 2003-2016.

Ms. Gladden has taught at both the secondary and college level and has worked in a variety of roles in both university and college environments. Teaching is where she honed her writing skills, learning that reaching one’s audience is key to engaging students and readers.

“We are delighted to welcome Linda to the EASA team,” said EASA President & CEO Linda Raynes, CAE. “She is known for looking at the big picture and developing creative strategies to enhance a brand, provide solutions, and connect with audiences. I am confident Linda will do a great job for our Association and its members.”

Linda holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri School of Journalism and an M.Ed. from the University of Missouri College of Education.

Members who take advantage of the many benefits available at www.easa.com already know how valuable it is. It is filled with a vast amount of information and resources – from technical to safety to management. It has grown steadily in value and content over the years.

And now, the website has taken another giant leap with distinctive new functionality and features.

As with the previous website, you’ll need to log in to access the excellent material available only to members. If you need help logging in, you can attempt to retrieve your credentials online or you can contact EASA at easainfo@easa.com. 

One of the first things you’ll notice on the website is the ease of reviewing many of the materials simply by holding your computer icon over the main topics at the top of the home page. The new “mega menu” provides quick access to membership information; a member locator; technical, management, marketing and safety resources; training; accreditation; convention information; and chapter events and details.

Technical support, EASA’s premier benefit, is even easier to access. After logging in, look for the green “Support” icon in the upper right corner. Hovering over it gives members quick access to submit technical support requests, access to the "Resource Library," the Technical Manual, ANSI/ EASA AR100, software tutorials and troubleshooting, and the warranty repair report forms.

The site’s search capabilities have been greatly expanded, too. And the "Resource Library" may look familiar, but new tools have been added to help you find information more quickly. In addition, almost every article has now been converted to an online format so you no longer need to download an article to read it … although that option is still available, too.

Another change: “My EASA” is now “My Account,” and you can access it in the black utility menu at the top of any page. Here you can:

• Review your account information
• Update personal profile information
• Manage your communication preferences
• Find and print invoices for past purchases
• Retrieve downloadable products you’ve purchased
• Find information about your volunteer committee and chapter service
• Change your username and password
• Renew your company’s membership

Primary contacts especially will want to become familiar with the “My Account” portion of the website. Here they can also update company profile information, add/edit/remove employees from the company roster, and if needed, assign a new primary contact.

The best way to learn about the many new features of the website is to spend time there and see for yourself the many new and expanded features.

Harlen R. Fricke, 86, of Minneapolis, Minnesota, passed away on August 10. He was past owner of Electric Motor Repair, Inc. in Minneapolis and served as E ASA’s Chairman of the Board from 1987-1989.

Survivors include his children Tom Fricke and Cynthia Tingle; 7 grandchildren; 8 great grandchildren; his companion, Dorothy Phelps; and many relatives and friends.

Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association at heart.org.

August “Gus” Baechle, 89, of Ballwin, Missouri, passed away on October 17, 2020.

He served as EASA’s Executive Vice President from 1961 until his retirement in 1996.

“It was my honor to work for Gus for 13 years prior to his retirement,” said Linda Raynes, CAE, EASA President and CEO. “We send our heartfelt condolences to Carroll, and their children, Katie, Mike and Jennifer, and the entire Baechle family.”

He is survived by his wife, Carroll Baechle; three children, Katie Sullivan, Mike Baechle and Jennifer Baechle; brother, Herman (Marge) Baechle; and several loved ones.

Bill Scarberry, 87, of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, passed away on October 24, 2020. He spent 20 years with Industrial Coil, Inc., in Oklahoma City. Bill is survived by his wife, Evalin Scarberry; daughter, Ann (Robin) Stokes of Plano, Texas; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Glenda Hoerner, 71, of Atascocita, Texas, passed away on March 29, 2020, in Kingwood, Texas. She was the Vice President of Texas Electric Equipment Company in LaPorte, Texas. She is survived by her husband, Edward Hoerner; her mother Wilma Chain; Bradley (Kenneth Grider) Clark; her brother John (Manilyn) Chain; and several cousins.

Marvin “Bud” Thomas, 87, of Oelwein, Iowa, passed away Sunday, October 25, 2020. He was the founder of Thomas Electric Motor Service in Oelwein. He is survived by his wife, Nancy; son, Marty (Deb) Thomas; step-daughter, Becky (Brian) Meisgeier; sister, Jeanette (Vern) Nielsen; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Olin Jobe, 83, of Riverview, Florida, passed away on January 29. He was owner and CEO of Southern Rewinding Service, Inc., in Tampa, Florida.

Survivors include his wife, Delorice; two sisters, Lillian and Marguerite; and many nieces and nephews.

Richard L. Dey, 77, of Rehoboth Beach, Deleware, passed away on Friday, February 26. He was the owner of Lockwood Electric in Trenton, New Jersey.

He is survived by his wife, Joanne (Paquette) Dey; son, Michael (Catie) Day; daughter, Julie (Hamzeh) Dey; and many grandchildren, nephews and a niece.

Rodney Parker, 71, of Denver City, Texas, passed away on August 2.

He was the co-owner of Electric Motor Repair in Denver City.

Rodney is survived by his wife, Davela; two sons, John (Chris) and Bradley (Kala); a sister L’Dena Mitchell; and three grandchildren.

Craig Hartman
Craig Hartman, 69, of Salt Lake City, Utah, passed away on December 20. Craig was the vice president of engineering at Energy Management Corp. He is survived by his wife, Marcia Hartman;  siblings, Marilyn Petty (Steve), and Bart; children, Jacob (Cyntia), Mandy Larsen (Nick) and Hope (Jason); step-children Zachary Ritter (Invidia), Meredith Neff (Justin) and Whitney White (Eric); and several grandchildren.

Mary Horner
Mary Horner, 98, of Indianapolis, Indiana, passed away on January 3. She was the co-founder and chair of the board of Horner Electric, the parent company of Horner Industrial Group. She is survived by her sons, Philip (Maria) and Alan (Linda); and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Mary Jean Parker Redmond
Mary Jean Parker Redmond, 74, of West Monroe, Louisiana, passed away on December 22. She was the co-owner of Ouachita Electric in West Monroe. She is survived by her husband, M. J. “Billy” Redmond; children, Joey (Beverly), Shannon (Rosemary) and Jennifer McLeod; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Martin Rigsbee, Sr.
EASA has recently learned that Martin Rigsbee, Sr., 85, of Durham, North Carolina, passed away on March 13. He was the founder of Southern Electric Motor Co., Inc., in Durham. He is survived by his children, Martin Jr. (Jill), Richard (Janet), Jonathan (Jane) and Elizabeth Clemmons; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Wallace Snow
Wallace Snow, 85, of Catlett, Virginia, passed away on December 8. He was the founder of Manassas Electric Motor Co., Inc., in Manassas, Virginia. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; sons Robert (Pamela), Scott (Mae) and William (Tracy); sister, Nancy; stepdaughter, Colleen; and several grandchildren.

Bennie Joe Tomecek
Bennie Joe Tomecek, 75, of Saldo, Texas, passed away on Thursday, December 17. He was the founder of Tomecek Electric Motor Repair in Taylor, Texas. He is survived by his wife, Bonnie; children, Terrill (Irene) and Wendy Nattin; brother, Mike (Karen); and many grandchildren, great-grandchildren and step-grandchildren.

Larry Fritz
Larry Fritz, 68, of Davey, Nebraska, passed away on March 13. He was owner of Northwest Electric and had retired. Northwest has several locations in Nebraska and Iowa.

He is survived by his wife, Sheri; two daughters, Kerry (Alex) and Amanda; a son, Kyle (Ashley); a brother; three sisters; and several grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Denver Weigel
Denver J. Weigel, 81, of Greencastle, Pennsylvania, passed away on April 6. He was CEO and co-owner of Apparatus Repair & Engineering, Inc., in Hagerstown, Maryland, before retiring. Before his retirement, he was actively involved in EASA. He served on the International Board of Directors. In 2003, he was recipient of the EASA Exceptional Achievement Service Award.

Survivors include a brother, James, and a daughter, Jodi K. Ebersole (Gary). He is also survived by his stepchildren, Stephen J. Miller (Marie), Phyllis J. Mikesh (John), EASA Past Chairman Kevin J. Miller (Tammy) and Alan L. Miller (Melody); and several great grandchildren, grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

Robert Gaddis
Robert “Bob” Gaddis, 70, of Hilton Head, South Carolina, passed away on August 17. He was the founder of Gaddis, Inc. Mechanical Seals in Hilton Head.

He is survived by his wife, Linda; a daughter, Jenna; a brother, Paul (Deb); a niece and two nephews.

Roland Harrision
Roland Frank Harrison, 82, of Tuttle, Oklahoma, passed away on September 3. He was owner of Capitol Electric Motor Repair in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Survivors include his wife, Patsy; a son, Ronnie (Cheryl); two daughters, Lee Ann and Patti (Kevin); a sister, Janie; several grandchildren, great-grandchilden and nieces and nephews.

The following people were elected to serve on EASA's Board of Directors.

Region 2
Bobby Powell of Holland Industrial in Henderson, North Carolina, has been elected Region 2 director. The elected alternate is Bret McCormick of Stewart’s Electric Motor Works, Inc. in Orlando, Florida.

Region 3
Kevin Krupp of York Repair in Bay City, Michigan, has been elected Region 3 director. The elected alternate is David Brooks of Brooks Motor & Electric, Inc. in Mammoth Cave, Kentucky.

Region 6
Calvin Earp of Shermco Industries, Inc. in Irving, Texas, has been elected Region 6 director. The elected alternate is Kelley Fujino of Lubbock Electric Co. in Lubbock, Texas.

All directors’ terms are three years and begin on June 28, 2022. All elected alternates represent their respective regions at EASA’s Board of Directors’ meetings if their director is unable to attend.

Region 7
Tim Browne of Industrial Electric Motor Service, Inc. in Kimberly, Idaho, has been elected director of Region 7. His new term begins on June 29, 2021.

The elected alternate is Jan Schmidlkofer of K&N Electric Motors in Spokane Valley, Washington. She will represent the region at EASA’s Board of Directors’ meetings should Browne be unable to attend.

Region 10
Craig Milbank of Milbank Industrial Electric Co. Limited in Kawerau, Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, has been elected director of Region 10. His new term begins June 29, 2021.

The elected alternate is Bruce Smith of Kyabram Rewinding Service, P/L in Kyabram, Victoria, Australia. Smith will represent the region at EASA’s Board of Directors’ meetings should Milbank be unable to attend.

View more information about those currently serving on EASA's International Board of Directors.

Submitted by Tom Bishop, P.E., Technical Services Committee Chair
on behalf of John Allen
Representing EASA on IECEx Committees
Sheppard Engineering Ltd.
Solihull, United Kingdom

John Allen represents EASA on the IECEx subcommittee related to IEC 60079-19, the repair standard for hazardous location motors and generators. Tom Bishop represents EASA on the maintenance team (subcommittee) for IEC 60079-1, which deals with manufacturing. The following report from John summarizes the highlights of his IECEx activities for the second half of 2019. The second part of his report will appear in next month’s issue.

May: IECEx Mid-Term Meetings in Singapore
As an EASA representative, I attended the IECEx mid-term meetings, where discussions of the service facility scheme (ExSFC) and the competence of persons scheme (ExPCC) took place.

ExSFC WG 5 is the working group for Certification Bodies (CBs) assessing service facilities repairing and overhauling Ex Equipment to IEC 60079-19. The operational documents had been in use for several years and required no amendment. During the meeting, I raised concerns that I had received from service facilities in the scheme, relating to the quality of assessment by the IECEx CBs of their service facilities and, specifically, the competency of these assessors used by the CBs in relation to the processes used within a service facility compared to a manufacturing facility.

The working group agreed that this was an issue to be raised in the ExSFC committee. It recommended that the scheme should introduce peer assessment for the assessment of service facilities in order to verify the competence of assessors used by the CBs and try to introduce some uniformity in the standard of assessment. This was submitted by ExSFC to the IECEx Management Committee (IECEx ExMC) meeting for approval.

ExPCC working group meetings began with ExPCC WG 2 Units of Competency (OD 503), for which I am convenor. Amongst other business, there was extensive discussion on the acceptance mark percentage for the IECEx Units of Competency knowledge competence segment. This had originally been 85 percent, but was reduced to 80 percent. After a long debate, the WG agreed to accept 75 percent. The pass mark for the practical demonstration of competence remained at 100 percent. This includes IECEx Unit of competence IECEx 05 for overhaul and repair of Ex Equipment to IEC 60079-19 as an operator or responsible person.

ExPCC WG 3 controls the question bank used during knowledge assessment. Its meeting discussed the need for requirements for repair and overhaul of certified non-electrical Ex Equipment. As a result, I was nominated to represent ExPCC at the meetings of TC31M, which is the joint IEC/ ISO technical committee producing standards for non-electrical Ex Equipment. The meetings of ExSFC & ExPCC committees endorsed the recommendations of the working groups and submitted them to the IECEx ExMC for approval.

March: TC31 Meeting in Wallenberg, Germany
WG 27 is a horizontal WG in TC31 that reviews all Ex standards drafts produced by TC31 relating 

to electric machines. Its meeting considered some amendments to IEC 60079-1 (Ex “d”) flameproof standard, proposed changes to the current draft of IEC 60079-2 (Ex”p”) pressurized equipment and reviewed the latest draft of IEC 60079-7 (Ex “e”) increased safety, specifically requirements for comparable converters and proposed a draft Annex with additional information about comparable converters. This compares the converter used on site against the converter used when the Ex electric machine was tested and certified.

The maintenance team for the latest draft of IEC 60079-1 (Ex “d”) standard reviewed the comments from National Committees and WG 27. My long-term objective has been to persuade manufacturers attending the committee meetings to make available all the relevant information that the user and repair facility need and to ensure the Ex Equipment is safe and, where possible, making these a requirement of the standard. This still has a long way to go, but there are signs that progress is being made.

September: IECEx AGM Meetings in Dubai
The IECEx system is growing with 35 member countries with more than 90,000 Certificates of Conformity (CoC) and Test Reports (ExTR) for Ex Equipment on the IECEx website. These certificates can be viewed and downloaded online at iecex. com by going to the dropdown tab labeled “Certificates and Licenses.”

The service facility scheme is growing slowly but steadily with more than 300 CoCs for service facilities, now on the IECEx website. All the recommendations from the ExSFC and ExPCC meetings were accepted by IECEx MC.

This concludes Part 1. Par 2 will appear in next month’s issue of Currents.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration is offering low-interest federal disaster loans for working capital to California small businesses suffering substantial economic injury as a result of the Coronavirus (COVID-19), SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza announced today. SBA acted under its own authority, as provided by the Coronavirus Preparedness and Response Supplemental Appropriations Act that was recently signed by the President, to declare a disaster following a request received from Gov. Gavin Newsom’s designated representative, Director Mark S. Ghilarducci of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services on March 13, 2020.

The disaster declaration makes SBA assistance available in the following California counties:

• Alameda
• Alpine
• Amador
• Calaveras
• Contra Costa
• El Dorado
• Imperial
• Kern
• Lake
• Los Angeles
• Madera
• Marin
• Mariposa
• Mendocino
• Merced
• Mono
• Napa
• Orange
• Placer
• Riverside
• Sacramento
• San Bernardino
• San Diego
• San Francisco
• San Joaquin
• San Mateo
• Santa Clara
• Santa Cruz
• Solano
• Sonoma
• Stanislaus
• Sutter
• Tuolumne
• Ventura
• Yolo

Applicants may apply online, receive additional disaster assistance information and download applications at https://disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955 or emaildisastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. Individuals who are deaf or hard‑of‑hearing may call (800) 877-8339. Completed applications should be mailed to U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX  76155.

The deadline to apply for an Economic Injury Disaster Loan is Dec. 16, 2020.

For more information about Coronavirus, please visit: Coronavirus.gov.

For more information about available SBA resources and services, please visit: SBA.gov/coronavirus.

The EASA International Board of Directors met in February in Orlando, Florida, to discuss Association business. During the meeting, the Board elected officers for the 2022-23 administrative year and approved motions, including the budget.

Sid Seymour Elected as Chairman
Sid Seymour of Seymour-Smith Electric Motor & Pump Service Inc. in Burlington, Ontario, Canada, will become EASA’s Chairman of the Board for the 2022- 23 administrative year. His term begins on June 28.

Chairman-elect Seymour has 36 years of experience in the electrical apparatus industry. He held various offices at the chapter level from 2009-2017. In 2017, Seymour was elected to serve as the director of Region 8 on EASA’s International Board of Directors. He was elected Secretary/Treasurer of the Board in 2020 and Vice Chairman in 2021. During the 2021-22 administrative year, Seymour served on the following committees: Executive, Marketing & Industry Awareness, Remuneration, Audit, Admissions and Associate Member Advisory Committee.

Seymour and his wife Denise are newlyweds, and he has two stepchildren (Russell, 20; and Stacey, 17).

International Officers Elected
The Board elected Sean McNamara of Komatsu in Rutherford, New South Wales, Australia, as Vice Chairman and Paul Rossiter of Energy Management Corp. in Salt Lake City, Utah, as Secretary/Treasurer. Barry Bullard of EMI Power & Automation, Inc. in Decatur, Alabama, and Mathis Menzel of Menzel Elektromotoren GmbH in Berlin, Germany, will also serve on the 2022-23 Executive Committee, along with Tim Bieber of D-Electric, Inc. in Quakertown, Pennsylvania, who will become immediate past chairman.

Industry Insights, a research company, conducted three surveys with members from several associations, including EASA, regarding the impact of the COVID-19 health crisis. The first survey took place in mid-March, the second in early-April, and the third in late-April. The results are presented here. This password-protected Excel workbooks allow you to dive deeper into the data itself and are also provided in PDF format. The video below showcases an overview of EASA member answers from the late-April survey. Member answers are first compared to the overall responses, then to EASA member responses from the first and second surveys.

Click arrows in lower right of video to view full screen
Click to play or pause

Late-April Survey

FULL RESULTS OPEN-ENDED RESPONSES

Early-April Survey

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FULL RESULTS OPEN-ENDED RESPONSES

March Survey

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY FULL RESULTS OPEN-ENDED RESPONSES

The 2020 US Department of Energy (USDOE) Motor System Market Assessment Motor (MSMA) was a follow-up to the 2002 MSMA. The assessments studied motor-driven systems for industrial and commercial motors greater than or equal to 1 hp.  

Key findings and takeaway excerpts from the 2020 MSMA are in the condensed list below, taken from the report’s Executive Summary. A longer longer version of the key findings and takeaways is also available for download. These documents provide excerpts of the many “nuggets” of information that EASA members can use to identify current market conditions and trends in various motor system sectors and assist in future planning. The complete 252-page 2020 MSMA Report is also available for download.

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has issued rulemaking on test procedures for small electric motors for more than a decade. The present “final rule,” effective February 3, 2021, is the culmination of those efforts. The final rule will be mandatory for product testing beginning July 6, 2021. If you want to view the complete detail of the final rule that was published in the Federal Register on January 4, 2021, it can be found at https://beta.regulations.gov/.  For further reading about the final rule, see this DOE site.