In and Around Denver

Denver, Colorado, known as the Mile High City due to its elevation of 5,280 feet (or one mile) above sea level, is a city rich in history, culture, and natural attractions. While attending the PEARL Conference and Exhibition you’ll find an array of places to explore and unwind. Here are some of the top places to consider visiting during your stay.

A tranquil oasis in the heart of the city, the Denver Botanic Gardens offers a vast collection of plants from all corners of the world, beautifully arranged in thematic gardens. It’s the perfect spot to relax and rejuvenate after a day of conference sessions.

Just a short drive from Denver, this world-famous outdoor venue is not only a place for concerts but also offers hiking trails, breathtaking views, and the unique red sandstone formations that give it its name. It’s a must-visit for nature lovers and music enthusiasts alike.

Featuring an impressive collection of Native American art, modern masterpieces, and temporary exhibitions, the Denver Art Museum is a cultural highlight. The building’s architecture is a work of art in itself, making it a double treat for visitors.

Union Station is more than a transportation hub; it’s a historic landmark that houses some of Denver’s finest restaurants, bars, and shops. The beautifully restored building offers a glimpse into Denver’s past while serving as a lively gathering place for locals and visitors.

Ideal for families and curious minds, this museum offers a wide range of exhibits on natural history, from dinosaur skeletons to space exploration. The IMAX theater and planetarium add to the experience, making it educational and entertaining.

As Denver’s oldest and most historic block, Larimer Square offers a charming mix of independent shops, fine dining, and vibrant nightlife. The Victorian buildings and twinkling lights make it a picturesque spot for an evening stroll.

A visit to the Colorado State Capitol allows you to step into the heart of the state’s legislative process. The building’s dome, plated in real gold leaf, offers panoramic views of the city and the Rocky Mountains beyond.

Baseball fans won’t want to miss the chance to catch a Colorado Rockies game at Coors Field. Even if you’re not in town during a game day, you can still enjoy a tour of the stadium and soak in the atmosphere of America’s pastime.

This mile-long pedestrian promenade is lined with cafes, shops, and street performers, making it a lively place to explore. Free shuttle buses run along the mall, making it easy to navigate and soak in the urban energy of Denver.

Greg Richmond

Greg Richmond

Director of Training Operations | AVO Training Institute

Born in Sedalia, MO, into a military family, my father was an Air Force police officer, and my mother was in college. When my father was discharged from the military, my family moved to Waco, Texas, for work. Two years later, we relocated to the Dallas area, where my sister was born. This is where we settled for the next several years. My sister and I spent most of our lives in private schools, closely connected with the Baptist church. Moving forward a few years, I graduated from Mesquite High School at the top of my class during the one year I was in a public school.

I joined the United States Air Force at 18 years old. Shortly after joining, my wife and I got married and had two boys – Westin and Garrett. My family and I retired from active duty in the Air Force at the age of 38.

I enlisted as an Electrical Systems Apprentice. During my time in the military, my family and I moved seven times, and I was deployed six times to the Middle East. The work conducted included everything from building base defenses, Fire Alarm Systems, Security Systems, Substation Maintenance, interior installations, and the list goes on. I’ve completed many joint tasks with the Army and am recognized with 12 commendations from three different military campaigns.

While stationed in North Dakota, I had the opportunity to become an instructor for the pipeline school in Wichita Falls, Texas. Our objectives were to train all Air Force Airmen, Navy Seabees, and Army Soldiers in the Electrical career field. This was where I fell in love with the training aspect. I was able to quickly rise through the ranks to Instructor Supervisor and earn two degrees as well.

Fast forward to my retirement in 2017, I had used the AVO Training Institute in the past for training and recognized their reputation in the industry as the tip of the spear in electrical training. I was hired as an instructor, then promoted to Instructor Manager, and now I manage the Operations team as their Director.

My wife (of 26 years) and I spend most of our time together around the house on small projects and weekend road trips. I am an avid outdoorsman and love to kayak, fish, camp, ride trails with my side-by-side, and hunt with my dad and two boys.

Dave Kreger

Dave Kreger

Director of Operations | Premier Power Maintenance, Inc.

David has over 25 years’ experience in power generation, transmission, and distribution systems. His formal education includes a B.S. from New York State University, and an A.A. from the University of Maryland. He gained extensive experience as a field service engineer through testing, troubleshooting, commissioning, and repairing power systems, as well as high voltage work as a utility lineman. David is a graduate of the US Army Corps of Engineers Prime Power program, was a NIULPE Licensed Power Engineer, NETA Level III Certified, member of the NFPA (Electrical Section), and PEARL (Professional Electrical Apparatus Reconditioning League) committee member. Dave is noted for his ability to teach a practical understanding of even the most complex operational requirements of a power distribution or utilization system, including application of the National Electric Code, UL requirements, NFPA Electrical Series, NETA (InterNational Electrical Testing Association) Testing Specifications, NESC, and other industry standards. Dave provides consulting services for program development to commercial and industrial customers in the areas of power system maintenance and testing, electrical safety, and compliance with various electrical codes and standards. He is currently the Sr. Director of Operations for Premier Power Maintenance and oversees multiple engineering and field service operations and the apparatus repair (PEARL) shop. In addition to his operations responsibilities, Dave continues as an instructor for the company’s internal and external training programs and performs on-site consulting for clients to help them develop world class electrical safety programs including practical applications of NFPA70E, Arc Flash Protection, NESC, and OSHA 1910 Electrical Safety Regulations.

Jason Bader

Jason Bader

Principal | The Distribution Team

Jason Bader is the principal of The Distribution Team. The Distribution Team specializes in providing strategic business coaching, inventory management training and technology utilization to the wholesale distribution industry. Jason brings over 40 years of experience working in the distribution field. He has overseen various operational teams, managed small and large facilities, and served in an executive management capacity for the last 10 years of his distribution career.

Prior to joining The Distribution Team, he spent four years on the board of directors with STAFDA, the Specialty Tools and Fasteners Distributor Association. In his final year, he was given the honor of being the youngest president in the association’s 26 year history.

Jason is a graduate of the University of Oregon and has held many different teaching and coaching positions throughout his life. Upon graduation, he spent a year in Japan teaching English to corporate clients such as Bankers Trust, Teac Corporation and Nippon Television. This opportunity strengthened his passion for teaching.

Jason finds himself in the unique position of being a true practitioner turned educator. He focuses his speaking engagements on practical experience. He often draws from real experience as a way to teach his audience how to overcome challenges in the wholesale distribution industry. Jason is the host of the weekly podcast Distribution Talk, and he is a regular speaker at distribution events throughout North America. He is also featured contributor to several trade publications, such as The Wholesaler, Construction Supply, Industrial Supply, FEDA News & Views, The American Fastener Journal and Today’s Electrical Distributor.

April 19, 2024: Level 2 and Level 3 Exams

Enrollment and completion of the coursework for Level 2 or Level 3 is required to sit for the exam.

Date and Time: Friday April 19, 2024, from 9 AM to 2 PM.

Location: The Westin Denver Downtown, 1672 Lawrence Street, Denver, CO 80202

Room: Lawrence A/B

Essential Items to Bring:

  1. A laptop with a camera and microphone for testing.
  2. Legal identification.
  3. Writing utensils (pencils or pens).
  4. Optional standard calculator (no scientific calculators are not allowed).

Additional Information:

  • Please ensure your arrival in time to complete the testing by 4 PM CDT.
  • Proctoring will be conducted in person.
  • All testing will be executed via your laptop.
  • WiFi connectivity will be provided at the venue.
  • Any notes or scratch paper used during the test will be collected upon completion.

Technicians are invited to attend the conference and facility tours on April 19 and 20. New this year is the option to attend the dinner only on April 19.  Click here to register for the conference or purchase a dinner only ticket ($125).

Session Highlight

From Cradle to Grave: How to Plan For the Full Life Cycle of Your Electrical Equipment

Most often when designing a new electrical system, it is based on the needs and desires of the system right at that moment and does not consider the full potential life cycle of the equipment, which can be upwards of 50 years.  This presentation will include some lessons learned when updating an industrial facility that was built over 50 years ago.  Initial procurement decisions will be reviewed such as product lifespan for the equipment being considered for purchase, accessibility, and availability of replacement parts, how easy will it be to remove at the end of its life cycle, and how future loads might be factored.  Maintenance decisions will be discussed that assist in identifying equipment with a higher probability of failure.  Other maintenance discussions include proper maintenance cycles, key trending data that can be observed and what type of failures can be avoided.

Presenters: 

Paul Jesson

Paul Jesson is a Project Engineer for Potomac Testing, located in Crofton, MD. In this role, Paul supports clients by offering a broad range of electrical maintenance testing services, along with solutions and upgrades. Typical services offered include modernization, retrofits, emergency services, expansions, and replacements to legacy/aging electrical distribution equipment and infrastructure.

Paul has over 25 years of industry experience and has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Clarkson University. He is the PEARL Board Secretary.

Kevin Maynard

Kevin Maynard PE is the Engineering Manager for Potomac Testing.  Kevin has seen electrical hazards from the person in the filed as a NETA technician to the engineering and design side as a power systems engineer.  Kevin is the technical project manager on a system wide upgrade of an industrial facility that covers the Medium voltage incoming equipment down to the 120/208V panel boards.  Kevin is a published author in both IEEE and NETA publications.  Kevin is a licensed Professional Engineer in 8 states and has been appointed as the electrical engineer to the build codes review panel advisory board in Pennsylvania.

2023 Certified Technicians

Congratulations 2023 PEARL Certified Technicians

Level 1

Luis Arambula, Saber Power

Brent Berger, The Electric Barn

Joshua Bowles, Southland Electrical

Rian Campbell, Oregon Breakers

Aman Chauhan, RS Breakers & Controls

Kyle Clark, Shermco

Richard Diankulu Donfusu, RS Breakers & Controls

Miguel Flores, BCS Switchgear

Jorge Gallardo, Saber Power

Mario Garcia, RG Industries

Dale Huerd, Oregon Breaker

Brhane Kahsay, RS Breakers & Controls

Diana Maldonado, IPS

Mike Mertens, CAMCO

Patrick Murphy, Oregon Breaker

John Ostrosky, CAMCO

Kenneth Owens, Saber Power

Jim Parmer, Shermco

Tyler Peterson, Electrical.com

David Rader, Saber Power

Christopher Reddoch, Saber Power

Bob Rummel, CAMCO

Jack Saucier, Shermco

Brianna Shafer, Bodine Electric

Jeff Shevock, CAMCO

Arshbir Singh, RS Breakers & Controls

David Slay, Saber Power

David Souliere, The Electric Barn

Pterie Taitano, Oregon Breaker

Nicholas Yaws, Brilliant Electric

Level 2

James Carr, Oregon Breaker

Clay Conard, Shermco

Adam Dahl, Shermco

Andrew Kappmeyer, Shermco

Lucas Kohlhase, The Electric Barn

Nick Milstead, Shermco

James Munson, Monster Electrical

David Roman, The Motor Control Center

Jon Vogel, Carolina Precision Switchgear

Joseph Wilson, BCS Switchgear

Nicholas Yaws, Brilliant Electric

Level 3

Michele Anselmetti, Miami Breaker

PEARL Board of Directors: Reflecting on 2023, Looking Ahead to 2024

The PEARL Board of Directors held an impactful meeting on Friday, December 1, marking a significant day of reflection and forward planning. As we wrap up a remarkable 2023, our sights are firmly set on ensuring an even more successful 2024.

A Year in Review: Committee Achievements of 2023

Conference Planning Committee: The highlight of the year was the annual conference in Portland, which saw impressive participation with 133 attendees, 14 sponsors, 17 exhibitors, and a notable number of 28 technicians taking exams.

Standards Committee: In collaboration with the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), the committee has made strides in updating the ANSI/PEARL Electrical Equipment Reconditioning Standard, reinforcing our commitment to maintaining high-quality standards.

Marketing and Membership Committee: This year marked the successful launch of the PEARL Accredited Company (PAC) program. The committee also developed and disseminated boilerplate specification language to PAC members and welcomed two new members – Brilliant and Power Engineering Services.

Employee Development Committee: A notable achievement was the launch of the Level 3 certification and the introduction of the “Train. Test. Certify.” format, underscoring our dedication to employee development and certification.

Decisions and Directions for 2024

The Board unanimously agreed on critical initiatives for the upcoming year:

New Member Requirements: Starting in 2024, new members will need to have one PEARL Certified Technician before transitioning from provisional to PEARL Accredited Company status. Additionally, a $500 charge will be added to the first-year membership dues, earmarked specifically for Level 1 training.

Existing Member Compliance: Existing PEARL Accredited Companies (both dealer and service) will have until December 31, 2024, to ensure they have at least one PEARL Certified Technician on staff.

Special Acknowledgment and New Board Appointments

Thank you Kristen Habeeb, North American Switchgear, for leading the Former Presidents Project. This initiative aims to harness the wisdom and experience of our past presidents for the future betterment of PEARL and to maintain our organization’s historical records.

We are also excited to announce new appointments to our Board:

Vice President: Paul Grein, Circuit Breaker Sales

Secretary: Paul Jesson, Potomac Testing

As we move into 2024, PEARL remains dedicated to fostering growth, setting high standards, and ensuring the continual development of our members and the industry at large. Here’s to a year of achievements and milestones!

First PEARL Level 3 Certified Technician Announced

We are thrilled to spotlight Michele Anselmetti from Miami Breakers for being the first to achieve the prestigious PEARL Level 3 Certified Technician status. Michele shared his journey and insights about the PEARL Level 3 Technician Certification Program with us.

Did you find the training to be helpful to prepare for the exam? If so, how? 

Yes, the training program was immensely helpful in preparing for the Level 3 exam. It proved an essential learning material, which allowed me to build a strong foundation in the subject matter, especially considering how ample the subjects are. Additionally, the program often included practice exams and assessments, which were invaluable in identifying areas where I needed further study.

As I delved into the various subjects covered by the test, I realized that it’s much more than just a simple exam, case in point fuses, never had any idea there were so many types of them, depending on your background you have you will find that some areas are not your forte, Therefore, if you find that certain areas are not your strong suit, be prepared to invest extra effort and focused study in those areas.

Any advice for other technicians that plan to enroll in the Level 3 program?

Take full advantage of the training materials and resources provided in the program. Maintaining a positive attitude is crucial when preparing for a Level 3 exam, as it can be challenging. A positive mindset can make a significant difference in your success.

Program Overview:

Understanding the Role of a Level 3 Technician:

Level 3 technicians are equipped to supervise Level I and II technicians, manage large equipment refurbishment projects, safely work around live electrical equipment, create equipment testing plans, analyze test results, lead jobs, evaluate shop safety plans, and provide training to others.

Training Content:

The training for Level 3 is designed to prepare technicians for leadership roles, focusing on managerial and supervisory skills. It also addresses counterfeit-related issues, ensuring technicians are well-versed in this area. The curriculum adheres to the PEARL EERS & EEITS standards, ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the various types of electrical equipment technicians might encounter.

Training and Examination Process:

Upon registering for the exam, technicians receive an email with course access instructions. This self-paced program allows technicians to log in and access the course at their convenience. Four Level 3 training modules need to be completed before taking the proctored exam. The exam is available throughout the year at various locations and annually at the PEARL Conference & Exhibition.

Discover more and access registration details by clicking here.

Committee Volunteers

We would like to recognize the contributions these individuals make through their efforts on our committees. We appreciate all of their hard work and dedication to developing, advancing and promoting safe electrical equipment recovery practices.

3

Conference Planning Committee

Committee Chair

Denise Green, Circuit Breaker Sales

 

Committee Members

Casey Blevins, Integrated Power Services

Joe Faust, Electric Motor Supply Company

Beth Harding, Oregon Breakers

Daniel Holloway, AEAMC Instruments

Andrew Holt, Premier Power

William Jackson, Instel Power Products

Angie Rosenfield

Mac Spiller, Maddox Industrial Transformer

Brian Tappan, RNT Supply

Don West, Southland Electrical

4

Standards Committee

Committee Chairs

Paul Grein, Circuit Breaker Sales

Dan Hook, CBS Field Services

Committee Members

Casey Blevins, Integrated Power Services

Stephen Reames, Oregon Breakers

Terry Wanamaker, Quality Switchgear

Don West, Southland Electrical

Bob Wrobel, Potomac Testing

2

Marketing & Membership Committee

Committee Chairs

Mac Spiller, Maddox Industrial Transformer

Winston Krauss, Electrical.com

Committee Members

Casey Blevins, Integrated Power Services

John Hatfield, CAMCO

Paul Jesson, Potomac Testing

Dave Kreger, Premier Power

Nicholas Milstead, Shermco

Rishi Sudan, RS Breakers & Controls

Don West, Southland Electrical

1

Employee Development Committee

Committee Chairs

Andy Conklin, Southland Electrical

Terry Wanamaker, Quality Switchgear

Committee Members

Tom Baselice, Technical Sales and Consulting

Paul Beldin, Carolina Precision Switchgear

Casey Blevins, Integrated Power Services

Jim Feilbach, Technitrol Inc.

Dave Kreger, Premier Power

Justin Miller, National Switchgear

Nicholas Milstead, Shermco

Don West, Southland Electrical

Brad Wetzel, Electrical.com

August Giveaway Drawing

PEARL Technician Certification Program

Class C is the correct answer. 

Class C fire extinguishers are specifically designed for fires involving electrical equipment or energized electrical systems. Here’s why you should use a Class C fire extinguisher on an electrical fire:

  1. Non-Conductive Agent: Class C fire extinguishers contain non-conductive extinguishing agents, such as dry chemical powders or clean agents like carbon dioxide (CO2). These agents are non-conductive, which means they do not conduct electricity. When used on electrical fires, they won’t create a path for electrical current to flow through, reducing the risk of electrical shock to the person operating the extinguisher.
  2. Effective on Electrical Fires: Class C extinguishing agents are effective at extinguishing fires involving electrical equipment because they smother the fire by removing the heat and interrupting the chemical reaction of combustion. Dry chemical powders, for example, work by creating a barrier between the fuel and oxygen, effectively cutting off the fire’s fuel source.
  3. Versatility: Class C fire extinguishers are versatile and can also be used on Class A (ordinary combustibles) and Class B (flammable liquid) fires. This versatility can be helpful in situations where multiple types of fire hazards are present.

Congratulations, you’re email address as now been automatically entered into our July drawing. The winner will be announced in the August PEARLSAFE newsletter.

PEARL Technician Certification Level 1
PEARL Technician Certification Level 2
PEARL Technician Certification Level 3

The Technician Certification Program is available to PEARL Accredited Companies. Through a combination of years of practical, hands-on experience, training, and successful completion of an online training and certification exam, individuals obtaining certification through PEARL will have demonstrated their ability to perform specific reconditioning tasks by virtue of their technical knowledge and experience.

Registration is now open for Levels 1-3.

PAC Companies With Certified Techs

CertTech Logo_Color

Meet Our PEARL Accredited Companies with PEARL Certified Technicians

PEARL certified technicians are intimately involved in equipment reconditioning and understand it on a deep level. Through a combination of years of practical, hands-on experience, training, and successful completion of an online training and certification exam, individuals obtaining certification through PEARL have demonstrated their ability to perform specific reconditioning tasks by virtue of their technical knowledge and experience.

Learn more about the PEARL Technician Certification Program >

Duval Electrical & Breaker Sales

July Giveaway Drawing

PEARL Technician Certification Program

3 feet is the correct answer. 

The 4 to 1 rule is to enhance ladder stability and prevent accidents caused by ladders sliding or falling over while in use. When a ladder is set at the correct angle, it reduces the risk of the ladder tipping backward or away from the support structure, providing a safe and secure platform for the person using the ladder.”

Congratulations, you’re email address as now been automatically entered into our July drawing. The winner will be announced in the August PEARLSAFE newsletter.

PEARL Technician Certification Level 1
PEARL Technician Certification Level 2
PEARL Technician Certification Level 3

The Technician Certification Program is available to PEARL Accredited Companies. Through a combination of years of practical, hands-on experience, training, and successful completion of an online training and certification exam, individuals obtaining certification through PEARL will have demonstrated their ability to perform specific reconditioning tasks by virtue of their technical knowledge and experience.

Registration is now open for Levels 1-3.

Tour of the Columbia Gorge Waterfalls

Multnomah Zen: Hike the Columbia Gorge Waterfalls

April 14, 2023 | 8:00 am – 2:00 pm

The hiking and views in the Columbia River Gorge are some of the best in the world. Join us as we take a guided tour into the Columbia River Gorge, about 30 minutes east of Portland. Here we’ll start at a stunning overlook of the gorge, visiting the iconic Vista House, and then drive to our first waterfall. We’ll visit one of the most impressive plunge waterfalls and get photos while we learn about the spring wildflowers; then we’ll head back to the van for a series of short hikes, each with their own up-close encounters with tumbling water. These hikes will take you close enough to feel the waterfall’s spray and touch its basalt walls! Waterfall air — ionized water — is real magic, proven to make you happy.

As a way of topping off your adventure, this tour will end with a visit to Multnomah Falls — the most photographed waterfall in Oregon and among the most picturesque waterfalls in the world. Our hike there will be at your pleasure but we suggest the easy trip up to the famed Benson Bridge to get as close as you can to this stunning beauty.

The guides are storytellers, not just of the recent history of settlers, pioneers and loggers, before the century-old highway, but one of many peoples with rich mythologies. They tell the stories that have been told to them by the indigenous people as best as they can. But what’s most important, they help remind us of the long, long history this place holds.

Details:

April 14, 2023 | 8:30 am – 2:00 pm

Breakfast at the hotel at 7:30 am (included with conference)

Meet at the hotel lobby at 8:30 am for the tour bus

30 minute drive each way to access the Columbia Gorge.

Hikes between 2-3 miles total; we’ll have some umbrellas and ponchos if a spring shower is in the forecast. We suggest light hiking boots or running-style shoes that can handle some rocky or muddy trails; about half will be paved.

Lunch, snacks and water included.

Price: $195

National Circuit Breaker Earns PEARL Accredited Company Status

National Circuit Breaker completed the rigorous process becoming a PEARL Accredited Company. As an industry leader in power distribution equipment and services, they offer a broad line of new, used and remanufactured electrical equipment dating back to 1940’s from our wide range of inventory and network suppliers.

They also provide shop, engineering and on-site services for all your electrical needs, including remanufacturing circuit breakers, switchgear and related components, maintenance and disaster emergency services. National Circuit Breaker’s number one goal is to give quality and on time service to every customer.

According to Donny Rye, President, National Circuit Breaker, “With over 130 years of combined experience in the sector dating back to 1970, National Circuit Breaker has been in operation since 1990. We have knowledge of circuit breakers from every manufacturer. Our number one goal is to give quality and on time service to every customer.” He went on to say, “To provide our customers safe and high-quality services in reconditioning and remanufacturing, we are always learning and developing. We’re thrilled to finally be a part of the PEARL organization and be recognized as some of the best in our field.”

For more information, go to NationalCircuitBreaker.com or call 1-800-945-0065.

BBS Canada Ltd., a Magna IV Company, Becomes a PEARL Accredited Company

BBS Canada Ltd., a Magna IV Company, recently earned full-service member status becoming a PEARL Accredited Company (PAC). Companies that qualify for PAC undergo a comprehensive evaluation demonstrating adherence to the PEARL Reconditioning Standards and pass an on-site inspection for quality and safety.

BBS Canada Ltd. specializes in switching device restoration, offering cost effective solutions for circuit breakers, disconnect switches and contactors. They offer:

  • Class 1 Reconditioning: Returns switching devices to like-new condition, extending useful life at design capacity. Allows you to balance the mitigation of equipment failure, arc flash and/or obsolescence risks within a relatively modest budget (class 1 reconditioning).
  • Class 2 Reconditioning: Restores and revitalizes minimal corrosion and lubrication degradation.
  • Field Services: Support Magna IV Engineering with a variety of field services work and offer our expertise and knowledge when and where needed

“At BBS Canada we have always prided ourselves on our dedication to an outstanding product and superior client experience. Being a PEARL member allows us to strengthen our ongoing commitment to proper reconditioning at the highest level. We are excited to be welcomed into this group of service providers and dealers who share this commitment. We look forward to continuing to be on the leading edge of this industry and expanding the PEARL brand in Canada,” said the BBS Team.

For more information about BBS Canada Ltd., visit Magnaiv.com/bbs or call 1-800-462-3147.

Welcome New PEARL Partner AVO Training Institute

AVO Training Institute signed on as a new PEARL Partner. For nearly 60 years, AVO Training Institute remains a global leader in Electrical Safety and Maintenance Training courses and certifications. AVO empowers electrical professionals to do their work safely and effectively, allowing them to go home to their families at the end of their workday.

With 55-plus electrical courses, they offer a wide variety of training for EVERY experience level, covering numerous fields:

  • Substation
  • Protective Relays & Testing
  • Circuit Breaker Maintenance
  • Cable & Fiber Optic
  • Infrared Thermography
  • Utilities, Renewables & Industrial Safety
  • And Fundamentals & Safety Standards (NEC, NFPA 70E®, OSHA).

Their talented and experienced instructors deliver an engaging, hands-on experience for our students, in a professional, real-world environment.

Their courses are offered at training locations throughout the United States, with headquarters in Dallas, Texas. They also provide convenient on-site training at your facility to save you money: AVO can train YOUR entire staff; at YOUR facility; and on YOUR equipment: ALL OVER THE WORLD.

They have also developed Virtual Training, which is LIVE and Instructor-led. Additionally, AVO offers Custom Course Design and Online Training courses that students can take at their own pace. Most recently, they created Virtual Reality electrical safety training.

You can view their SCHEDULED COURSES HERE or DOWNLOAD a COURSE FLIER.

For more information about AVO, please call 1-877-637-0305 or visit www.AVOtraining.com.

Saber Power Field Services Earns Full Service Member Status

Saber Power Field Services LLC, a subsidiary of Saber Power Services LLC, recently became a full-service member of The Professional Electrical Apparatus Reconditioning League (PEARL), demonstrating adherence to the PEARL Reconditioning Standards and passing the on-site inspection for quality and safety.

Saber Power Field Services is a NETA Accredited Company offering expertise in electrical circuit breaker upgrades, circuit breaker replacements, and retrofitting for electric utility, petrochemical, municipal, industrial/commercial, renewable, and oil and gas companies in the Gulf, U.S. and abroad.

Their dedicated Breaker Shops are state-of-the-art facilities in Houston and Alvarado, Texas, with expert electrical technicians who have years of industry-leading experience with equipment from all major manufacturers and their service requirements.

In addition to product inventory available for purchase, Saber services circuit breakers on-site with its Mobile Circuit Breaker Repair Shop. Ideal for staging at turnarounds and outages, the 53-foot mobile unit reduces downtime and eliminates the need for costly and time-consuming transportation of company-owned equipment to third-party locations. With multiple full-service workstations fully equipped to provide maintenance, repairs, and upgrades on-site, the Saber Power Field Services Mobile Circuit Breaker Repair Shop offers services on low to medium voltage circuit breakers, medium voltage contactors, starters, and motor centers, regardless of the manufacturer.

“Saber Power Field Services recognizes PEARL’s outstanding efforts to promote safe reconditioning and remanufacturing practices and is excited to join the ranks of other leading companies to further the goodwill of PEARL and its mission,” said Brad Bodine, Saber Power Field Services Director.

Download flyer >

For more information about Saber Power Field Services, visit saberpowerfieldservices.com or contact [email protected].

Denver Breaker and Supply Earns Full Dealer Member Status

Denver Breaker and Supply has completed the steps necessary to advance their membership status from a provisional member to a full dealer member of PEARL. As a full dealer member, Denver Breaker and Supply has demonstrated that they adhere to the PEARL Reconditioning Standards and has passed the onsite inspection verifying inventory, quality and safety.

“Denver Breaker and Supply is continually striving to be your source for quality products. Our knowledgable staff, having over 150 years of combined understanding and expertise in the industry, pledges to provide a smooth customer experience. We value and align with the standards of PEARL, which allow our customers the peace of mind knowing they can rely on quality and service guaranteed,” said Tyler Bagley, Manager, Denver Breaker and Supply.

Denver Breaker and Supply, located in Denver, Colorado, has a large inventory of new, obsolete, inspected and tested circuit breakers, motor controls, and switchgear.

Their range of products include:

  • Circuit Breakers
  • Contactors and Starters
  • Safety Switches
  • MCC
  • Panel Mount Power Switches
  • Transformers
  • Bus Plugs
  • Fuses
  • Panel Boards and Switches

To learn more about Denver Breaker and Supply, go to denverbreaker.com

In and Around Frisco Texas

Be sure to get out and visit Frisco, Texas while at the 2022 PEARL Conference & Exhibition. With 400+ restaurants and over 900 retail stores, there is something for everyone. In addition to Frisco, you are a short drive away from Historic Grapevine, Downtown Dallas, Denton, and Fort Worth. We look forward to seeing you there!

Frisco TX

Fun Facts About Frisco

1. 400+ Restaurants
3. 90+ Miles of Walking, Hiking and Biking Trails
5. #2 Safest Cities in America (SmartAsset, 2021)
2. 60+ City Parks
4. 9 Million Square Feet of Retail Shopping
6. #1 Fastest Growing City in the Country (U.S. Census Bureau, 2017 and 2019)

Frisco is the go-to place for fun in the DFW Metroplex. Single players, spectators and team members – no matter your travel style, they have a play-cation for you.

Historic Downtown Grapevine has it all. Anchored by Main Street, this walkable, preserved historic area is home to winery tasting rooms, the Grapevine Vintage Railroad, the Palace Arts Center, the Grapevine Glockenspiel Clock Tower, one-of-a-kind shops, live entertainment venues, restaurants, and art galleries.

Dallas is known as the Big D. As the ninth-largest city in the country, Dallas is all about BIG fun, BIG events, and BIG attractions. Home to exclusive shopping, world-renowned museums, five-star dining, lush green spaces, and vibrant nightlife, in Dallas, a visitor can do it all.

When you stay in Denton, you’re surrounded by a creative culture that’s rich in history and artistic expression. Take a walk around our historic Courthouse-On-The-Square, go sight-seeing at the Little Chapel-in-the-Woods, take a tour of the Bayless-Selby Museum, see a show at the Campus Theatre, explore the Clear Creek Natural Heritage Center, find your way through Denton’s craft beer district, or listen to live music at one of our iconic venues.

Fort Worth is the 12th-largest city in the United States, known for Texas hospitality and a dozen remarkable districts full of culture and fun. The historic western Stockyards featuring the world’s only twice-daily cattle drive, Billy Bob’s Texas, the world’s largest honky-tonk and the new Mule Alley. A connected downtown with the 35-block Sundance Square entertainment district. The stunning museums of the Cultural District, the Botanic Garden and nearby Fort Worth Zoo.

New PEARL Member Opportunities: Online Member Directory & PEARL$AFE Newsletter Sponsorship

Attention PEARL members – don’t miss out on these new member opportunities!

PEARL Online Member Directory

The new PEARL online member directory is now live on the website, providing members with customer and end-user visibility.

The basic listing included with your membership will have your company name, member type, and website link.

You can UPGRADE your listing to include:

  • Company logo
  • Description
  • Member type
  • Location and Satellite locations
  • Website
  • Social Media

PEARL$AFE Newsletter Sponsorship

Advertise your company to over 6,000+ electrical asset contacts. Your advertisement will have a direct link to your website for readers to connect directly with you.

One week after the newsletter goes out, you will receive an email with the number of times readers clicked through to your website.

You will have the option on your renewal form to sponsor one month or multiple months.

PEARL Portal

PEARL has just completed an upgrade to a new association management system and member database. This new system will allow PEARL members to renew their membership, register for events, and make purchases from PEARL. For security purposes, you will need to create a new password for your PEARL account. Your old password will no longer work in the new system.

Non-members will be able to register for events once you have set-up a new account.

Here are the steps to do that:

  1. Please navigate to the PEARL Login Portal.
  2. Click “Sign Up” Note: the “forgot password” functionality will not work until you’ve created a password in the new system. You must first “sign up” here.
  3. Enter the email address associated with your account (most likely, it’s the email address where you received this message).
  4. Select a password for your account and click “Continue”
  5. You will be sent an email and asked to verify your email address by clicking the link in the email. This ensures you have provided a valid email address.
  6. Now, you can log in with your new password and set up your account.

Mary C. Kelly

Mary Kelly, Ph.D.

Commander, U.S. Navy (ret) | CEO, Productive Leader

Mary specializes in leadership growth that helps organizations improve their profitability and productivity, especially in finance, insurance, real estate, and manufacturing. One of the first female graduates of the Naval Academy, Mary served 25 years on active duty, mostly in Asia, leading multicultural teams in nine countries. Her remarkable career of service included working as an intelligence officer, a chief of police, an HR director, and a chief of staff, as well as training more than 40,000 military personnel.

Mary has been a leadership and economics professor at the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, and Hawaii Pacific University. She has written 13 business books, including her best-seller, Master Your World (named a “must read” by MENSA and MOAA), and her latest award-winner, Why Leaders Fail and the 7 Prescriptions for Success (profiled in Forbes and Success magazines).

Today, Mary is a popular conference keynote speaker and leadership adviser working with businesses, associations, and government agencies. She offers programs that are content rich, highly entertaining, and strategically designed to help her clients get results.

Integrated Power Services Acquires National Switchgear and National Field Services

IPS expands service capabilities, coverage, and distribution with acquisition of leading independent power distribution services company

(Greenville, SC — December 27, 2021) IPS, the North American leader in service, repair and engineering for electric motors, generators, and rotating equipment, continues to grow with its acquisition of National Switchgear and National Field Services.

Headquartered in Lewisville, Texas, National Switchgear and National Field Services provide a wide range of power delivery solutions. Founding owner Doug Powell, began in 1986 with a plan to warehouse and inventory used and surplus switchgear equipment for customers. As major switchgear OEMs exited the service business, the company saw a demand for skilled third-party technical services and expanded to offer switchgear rebuilds, remanufacturing and upgrades. In 1997, National expanded again, adding switchgear installation, commissioning, and field services.

Today, the company has five locations, including branch operations in San Marcos and League City, Texas and Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada, and three brands — National Switchgear, National Field Services, and the National Training Center. The field service operation is a NETA accredited organization with 53 NETA and NICET certified electrical testing technicians. National Training Center, the company’s training division, opened in 2015 to provide hands-on education for new and veteran technicians. It also offers open enrollment to customers. These investments in complementary services and continuous improvement are now part of IPS. They strengthen IPS single-source capabilities, as the company offers power distribution services throughout its IPS North American network.

“I couldn’t be more excited about teaming up with IPS,” said Doug Powell, NATIONAL’s Founding Owner. “For years I have observed their steady pursuit toward growth by blending technology, process improvements and safety into the fabric of their organization. I’m truly excited to team up with IPS and build out a national power services platform with that same degree of excellence.”

“The combination of IPS and NATIONAL brings an opportunity to our clients, suppliers and employees that NATIONAL alone could not have done,” said Robert Koren, CEO of NATIONAL. “To be a part of the industry’s leading independent services supplier, from generation to meter to motor, brings about an excitement for the future of our company and what it means for the industry we serve.”

“National Switchgear and National Field Services will become a platform for a new service division for IPS focused on adding Power Management services that are highly complementary to our existing offering,” said John Zuleger, IPS President & CEO. “In combination, we will seek to become a Trusted Advisor to customers seeking to manage their Power Management and Electro-Mechanical equipment. The combined company offering will position IPS to identify and correct electrical losses for its customers leading to safer, more reliable, and energy efficient operations.”

Bulkley Capital, LP and Libby Sparks Willis Starnes PLLC, an affiliate of BMD, acted as financial advisor and legal counsel to NATIONAL, respectively, in connection with the transaction.

For more information on IPS or National Switchgear and National Field Services, or to arrange an interview with IPS senior management, contact Megan Thompson, IPS Director of Marketing, at 864.451.5636 or [email protected].

About Integrated Power Services

Headquartered in Greenville, South Carolina, IPS is the North American leader in the service of electric motors, generators, and mechanical power transmission components, with over 5,500 customers across a wide range of capital-intensive industries, including but not limited to power generation (fossil, nuclear, hydro and wind), petrochemical, air separation, oil & gas, metals, mining, paper, aggregates, and cement. IPS has 38 service centers and field offices across North America, combining industry-specific experience with deep engineering resources to deliver reliability to customers

IPS services include engineering, in-shop repair, on-site field services, distribution, motor storage programs and contract manufacturing. For more information, visit www.ips.us.

Premier Power Earns Full Service Member Status

Premier Power Maintenance has completed the steps necessary to advance their membership status from a provisional member to a full service member of PEARL. As a full service member, Premier Power has demonstrated that they adhere to the PEARL Reconditioning Standards and has passed the onsite inspection for quality and safety.

Premier Power Maintenance is a family owned company headquartered in Indianapolis, IN with offices in Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, and Arkansas. They have highly qualified electrical engineers and technicians leading the way with over 300 combined years of experience working with electrical power distribution systems, electrical design, testing and maintenance.

They provide services in the following areas:

  • Safety Training
  • Engineering
  • Installation
  • Commissioning
  • Preventive Maintenance
  • Repair

When asked about PEARL membership, Bob Sheppard, Director of Sales and Marketing said, “Great achievements and expectations come from careful planning, training, education and experience; all with the goal of exceeding expectations.  Premier Power Maintenance is excited to be a part of the PEARL organization and we’re looking forward to seeing both organizations continue to be the leaders in our industry”

To learn more about Premier Power Maintenance, go to PremierPower.us.

American West Surplus

American West Surplus strives to save customers downtime, money, and resources. We build trusting relationships by offering fast service, industry expertise from our knowledgeable sales staff and reliable products our shop technicians stand behind. Our goal is to deliver complete, quality satisfaction to every customer. So whether you deal with our knowledgeable sales staff, our certified shop technicians, our shipping and logistics experts, or our friendly support staff; you will immediately see the difference our teams make.

Visit website >

AEAMC

We are insulated case circuit breaker experts with the largest inventory and the experienced, skilled engineers and technicians capable of extending the life of your breakers by repairing, retrofitting or retrofilling your existing breakers utilizing the latest technology, instrumentation and test equipment. Our stock includes new, surplus or reconditioned industrial molded case circuit breakers and insulated case breakers rated up to 5000 amperes from virtually all manufacturers including ABB, Cutler-Hammer, FPE, General Electric, ITE, Siemens, Square D, Westinghouse and Zinsco.

Visit website >

AEMC

AEMC® Instruments manufactures professional electrical test and measurement instruments for the industrial, commercial, and utility marketplace. Our products are backed by over 125 years of experience in test and measurement instruments and encompass the latest international standards for quality and safety. AEMC® products can be purchased through a worldwide network of distributors. We also offer custom products on an OEM basis.

Visit website >

A-Rent

Circuit Breaker Sales Co., Inc., a Group CBS company, specializes in the sale and service of low- and medium-voltage circuit breakers and other electrical power distribution equipment. From our modern 200,000-square-foot facility, we provide new, surplus, obsolete, and remanufactured electrical equipment and replacement parts from the largest inventory in the U.S.

Our inventory includes thousands of low- and medium-voltage circuit breakers– virtually every type manufactured in the U.S. since World War II. We will rent just about anything in our inventory.

We also have millions of replacement parts in stock. Our experienced engineers and technicians can supply you anything from a circuit breaker charging spring to a complete unit substation, either new, surplus, or remanufactured — and do it fast!

Life-extension services are our specialty. By utilizing the latest technologies, coupled with our many years of experience and modern shop facilities, we can cost-effectively upgrade your apparatus via retrofit, retrofill, or matching existing lineups.

Quality is free at Circuit Breaker Sales! Circuit Breaker Sales is ISO 9001 2008 certified; and our entire staff, including sales, engineering, assembly, test, and shipping, are skilled professionals who are committed to providing our customers quality products and services. We have comprehensive quality assurance procedures and full electrical testing capabilities including an in-house 200kV impulse generator to test BIL withstand. All new or remanufactured equipment is covered by a one year parts and labor warranty.

 

Member Type icon

Member Type

Dealer Member

Location icon

Locations

Headquarters — Gainesville, TX
P.O. Box 1098 | 1315 Columbine
Gainesville, TX 76241

Chicago Service Shop
455 B Shepard Drive
Elgin, IL 60123

St. Louis Service Shop
3397 Blue Bunting Road
Pinckneyville, IL 62274

website icon

Website

https://www.circuitbreaker.com

2019 & 2020 Member of Year Announcement

2019

Bill Schofield

Bill Schofield

2020

Casey Blevins

Casey LinkedIn

PEARL Board President, Dan Hook, announces the 2019 and 2020 Member of the Year Awards. Each year the Board President selects a member(s) to receive this prestigious award that recognizes the awardees outstanding efforts to promote and further the goodwill of PEARL and its mission. 

Dan commented on each of the awardees saying:

“Bill Schofield spent countless hours on the task group formed by NFPA on the topic of reconditioned electrical equipment and associated requirements in the National Electrical Code.  His dedication to the task group, and methodical logical approach resulted in solid recommendations to NFPA for updates to the code with clarifying language reflecting the reality in the industry.”

“Casey Blevins stepped up in a remarkable way on the board of directors during the trying times we experienced in 2020.  His leadership and motivation helped me tremendously to continue forward on the business of the association, all while being physically disconnected due to the pandemic.  His dedication to effective marketing is outstanding and has championed setting PEARL on a path for success moving into the future.  PEARL is in great hands with Casey as the incoming President.”

The 2019 and 2020 awards were delayed due to the pandemic. The 2021 award announcement will take place at the PEARL Annual Conference and Exhibition on April 22-23, 2022. 

Dan Hook looks on as Bill Schofield accepts the Member of the Year Award.
Casey Blevins accepts the Member of the Year Award from Dan Hook.

BOD & Member Meeting

The first in-person Board and Member meeting was held on November 2 at the National Training Center at National Field Services in Lewisville, Texas. The Board of Directors meeting kicked off with the changeover of PEARL leadership from Dan Hook to Casey Blevins.

When asked, Dan Hook stated, “It has been my honor to serve as the PEARL Board President for the past two years. Helping to lead PEARL during the pandemic was certainly a unique and rewarding opportunity. I pass the baton to a leadership team that I know will do great things in the coming years.”

In-coming Board President, Casey Blevins, has participated with PEARL for the last 7 years including his Vice Presidency for the past two years. He let the members know that his key objectives are to:

  • ensure PEARL is a transparent and resilient organization
  • that PEARL industry standards are relevant and up-to-date
  • and to continue workforce development efforts

Each of the Committee Chairs brought the group up-to-date on what their committee had been working on.

  • Marketing Committee: Winston Krauss spoke about the important updates taking place on the website and announced the exciting marketing opportunities this work has created for members both on the website and the PEARL$AFE newsletter.
  • Technician Certification Committee: Don West let the group know that Level 1 and Level 2 test prep and exams will be available at the 2022 Conference.
  • Standards Committee: Dan Hook discussed the work they have been doing around the ANSI standards developer 5-year audit and the reaffirm/revisions for the EERS Standard by NLT 2023.
  • Conference Committee: Casey Blevins spoke about the exciting member focused workshops on Friday and the four facility tours that will take place on Saturday, April 23. He also spoke about some of the new and expanded sponsorship opportunities available this year at the conference.

It was a common theme amongst the Committee Chairs that they are excited to get back to business “as usual.” They would like to extend an invitation to all members to get involved and participate on one of the four committees.

The next Board of Directors meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 7, 2021, at 1:00 pm CDT.

EASA Updates Best Practices Guide for the Repair of Dry-Type Transformers

Reconditioning: The Ultimate Form of Recycling

Reuse, reconditioning, and remanufacturing use a fraction of the energy of new production, keep millions of tons of waste from landfills every year, reduce raw material consumption, and create 3 to 5 times more skilled jobs than automated production lines.

The world is overlooking a simple answer to many of our global economic, socio-political, and environmen- tal concerns: Reuse it, stupid.

Electrical Safety, Reliability, Sustainability

PEARL Standards Bring Safety, Reliability to Secondary Electrical Distribution Channel

Electrical equipment, like automobiles and industrial machinery, are designed to last decades. However, like other durable goods, electrical equipment can be dangerous to the inexperienced — whether it is new or used product. The confluence of these two facts means that product safety — not just availability — is critical to a healthy electrical marketplace.

Electric Power Systems Acquires H.A.R.T. High Voltage Apparatus Repair and Testing Co.

YUBA CITY, Calif., Oct. 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Electric Power Systems (EPS), one of the largest and fastest growing companies in the independent power system testing and engineering industry, has acquired H.A.R.T. High Voltage Apparatus Repair and Testing Co (HART). The official announcement was made today at the EPS St. Louis headquarters. This acquisition continues EPS’s year-long rapid expansion across the US which has included joining with North American Substation Services (NASS) in Orlando, FL, Energis High Voltage Resources in Green Bay, WI, and Krause Power Engineering in Chippewa Falls, WI.

Steve Reed, CEO of EPS shared during a recent briefing, “Partnering with Jim Wolfgram and his great team at HART provides EPS with an even stronger foothold throughout the West to enable us to grow with our customers as they invest in modernizing the electric grid. We are excited to welcome the HART team as we join together and continue to provide the safe, quality, and experienced service that customers have come to expect from both of our companies.”

The acquisition of HART fits into the EPS strategy of becoming the premier high-voltage electrical partner in guiding clients through the complex modernization of the electrical infrastructure, through vision, strategy, service, and support and delivering unwavering safety and reliability, now and into the future.

“EPS shares the HART values of exceptional service, innovative solutions, and client-first relationships. By joining forces with EPS we can now access more tools and resources to expand our expertise and available staff to support our clients. At HART we have always focused on understanding our customers’ needs and working diligently to fulfill those needs. Our team is excited for the opportunity to partner with EPS and NASS to continue to grow with our customers,” said Jim Wolfgram, General Manager of HART.

About HART High Voltage Apparatus Repair and Testing Co.

HART was started in Yuba City CA in December of 1991. Today, they provide services to customers throughout Californiaand Nevada including preventive maintenance, acceptance testing, transformer services, service contracts, and emergency maintenance with the mission to provide the ‘Next Generation of Service’ today.

About Electric Power Systems

EPS offers over 40 year’s industry experience, service throughout the US, 24-hour customer service, and technical expertise in field testing, engineering, electrical system troubleshooting, and maintenance of equipment up to 765kV for utility, industrial, and commercial clients. They are committed to providing a culture of safety and technical expertise as a way of ‘Setting the Standard of Excellence in the Power Industry.’ Their subsidiary Electric Power Systems International Inc (EPSII) is a full member of the International Electrical Testing Association (NETA).

SOURCE Electric Power Systems

Remanufacturing as Disruptive Innovation

Kevin Surace: Remanufacturing will play a huge role alongside autonomous transport, artificial intelligence, robotics, and other game changers in a new era of sustainability.

By Niels V Christiansen, US Editor

In the face of the threats from global warming and unsustainable use of resources, Kevin Surace, entrepreneur, innovator, visionary, and keynote speaker at the RIC-RIT World Remanufacturing Conference on October 9-10, believes that we can still save the planet and ourselves from global warming by reimagining everything and inspiring game changing disruptive innovation.

“Remanufacturing can be disruptive innovation in and of itself,” he said. The definition of disruptive innovation is that you not only disrupt the industry you’re in, but you can also disrupt other adjacent industries at the same time. It’s a really powerful and amazing idea.”

THINKER AND DOER

Surace is recognized as one of the thinkers and doers behind the change that’s going to come. He may not have the name recognition of Apple’s Steve Jobs, Microsoft’s Bill Gates or Tesla’s Elon Musk, but his impact is wide ranging across many industries.

Surace helped pioneer both the smartphone and the digital voice assistant. He is a leader in developing and applying artificial intelligence, AI, and is currently the Chief Technology Officer of Apvance.ai, using AI in revolutionary automated testing of computer programs.

He has 84 patents to his credit, spreads his ideas globally as a speaker at TED talks, academic, business, industry, and science conferences, and in front of lawmakers. He is one of the most famous and influential graduates of Rochester Institute of Technology, (RIT) where he now serves on the Board of Trustees.

EMPIRE STATE BUILDING

Perhaps his highest accolades were bestowed on him after a decade long foray into the construction industry and remanufacturing. As CEO of Serious Materials, Surace led the development of alternative environmentally friendly building materials in an attempt to disrupt the most environmentally challenged industry in the world, construction.

In the highest profile Serious Materials project, Surace and his team set up a remanufacturing operation on the fifth floor of New York’s Empire State Building and remanufactured the building’s 6,556 windows into environmentally friendly replacements. Window energy efficiency increased by 400%. The project paid for itself in four years in energy cost savings.

Surace was named entrepreneur of the year in 2009 by Inc Magazine and recognized as one of 15 innovators of the decade by the CNBC financial news TV channel, among many other honors.

The Golisano Institute for Sustainability at RIT, of which Surace was a leading proponent, incorporated the innovation from Serious Materials into its structure when it was built in 2012, and Surace was inducted into the RIT Innovation Hall of Fame.

A renaissance man with a separate career in the music industry near his home in Sunnyvale, California, Surace’s extraordinary journey into future technologies and sustainability solutions led him to Appvance.ai seven years ago.

THE FORCE OF DISRUPTION

“We try to use disruptive innovation in Silicon Valley in the way we work,” he told Reman World. “Immediately, most people are going to be thinking that anything disruptive is not going to be possible.

“If you were going to heal metal in an airplane, a car or engine, people are going to say, ‘wow, that’s impossible. Somebody would have started doing it years ago’. But we can totally disrupt multiple industries if we can figure out how to heal cracks in metal for a certain cost, and the amount of energy we use will be substantially lower than the energy used rebuilding the whole thing from scratch.

“So now we have things like additive manufacturing that can make us think about how to fill cracks in metal that we wouldn’t have thought of before.
“We’ve got other ways to add molecules whether to metals or plastics. So, where most people would have said, ‘oh we just make the thing over again for 82,000 dollars’, now we can fix it for 100 dollars or 1000 dollars.

“So, it seems disruptive, it seems impossible, but as long as you’re not breaking the laws of physics, don’t count it out.”

DISRUPT AND REPLACE

The telephone displacing the telegraph and mass-produced cars from Henry Ford’s assembly line displacing the horse and buggy are classic examples of disruptive innovation from long before the term was coined.

More recent examples:

  • Digital photography, revolutionizing the way we create images and largely wiping out film photography
    • The computer
    • Data Analytics
    • The Google search engine
    • The internet, disrupting newspapers and many other products
    • Social media, perhaps disrupting society as a whole.

DON’T STOP THINKING ABOUT DISRUPTION

Surace says he never stops thinking about all the places we can be disruptive in every part of our lives. He believes that remanufacturing is a big part of this conversation.

Inside the remanufacturing industry itself, the disruptive power of AI and
robotics may be the answer to some of remanufacturing’s greatest challenges, starting with taking over functions currently hampered by workforce shortages. More generally, there will be new demands for remanufacturing as industries are disrupted.

DRIVERLESS FUTURE

Remanufacturing is likely to be part of the business model in the advent of driverless vehicles – a whole new way of disruption, according to Surace. The car business, where people own or lease their own cars, will transition to an on-demand transport business, resulting in high utilization rates, 80-90 percent fewer vehicles – all electric – on the road, and dramatically lowered cost per driven mile or kilometer.

Some auto companies will disappear, and with little down time, each vehicle will be driving more than 100,000 miles per year and more than a million miles in its lifetime.

“So, all of a sudden,” Surace said, “there will be new opportunities to remanufacture parts that need to last a million miles.”

IT’S THE ECONOMICS, STUPID!

After decades of leading the charge, Surace says he has learned not to rely on government action or idealism to drive progress.

“Everything shouldn’t be driven by economics,” he said.” But I am no longer as stupid as I might have once been, to think that people are going to do anything that isn’t economically viable. Companies don’t. People don’t. That’s why we have to figure out from the start how we make doing something more profitable than not doing it. Remanufacturing a product and getting someone to pay you almost the same money the second time when you didn’t have to make it from scratch, that’s fantastic.

Rochester Conference Preview, Reman World October 2019 issue

PROPOSED CHANGES TO NEC 2020

Impacts on Reconditioning Companies

Reconditioning companies across the U.S. are facing a potential threat that will negatively affect any business with a critical electrical infrastructure.

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recently presented to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) the updated NFPA-2020 National Electric Code (NEC), which they had recently revised through the required rounds of its standards development process.

Suggested changes must be proposed and approved during the public input stage and then published for review and comment, according to the American National Standard (ANS) process. However, there are 17 changes to the reconditioned equipment section that were proposed in the standard after the public comment stage.

The Standards Development Process

The Regulations Governing the Development of NFPA Standards establishes the procedure for the NFPA standards development. All NFPA standards are revised and updated every three to five years in cycles that begin twice each year, according to the NFPA standards development process.

Each revision cycle proceeds according to a published schedule which includes final dates for each stage in the standards development process, according to NFPA. The four fundamental steps in this process are:

  1. Public Input
    2. Public Comment
    3. NFPA Technical Meeting (Tech Session)
    4. Standards Council Action (Appeals and Issuance of Standard)

Reconditioned Defined

The National Electric Manufacturers Association (NEMA) Policy on Reconditioned Electrical Equipment states that reconditioned equipment is defined as electromechanical systems, equipment, apparatus or components that are restored to operating conditions.

This process differs from normal servicing of equipment that remains within a facility, or replacement of listed equipment on a one-to-one basis, according to the NEC.

However, the term reconditioned is incorrectly referred to as rebuilt, refurbished or remanufactured in the NEC 2020 revisions.

Proposed Changes

The Remanufacturing Industries Council (RIC) wrote a letter to the NFPA to request that they would pass on the 17 proposed changes until the next code making cycle because of their potential harm to the industry. Postponing the proposed changes until the next coding cycle would allow the industry at large to comment.

Christel Hunter states several of the proposed changes in her presentation at the 2019 PEARL Conference:

  • Reconditioned equipment will be identified as “reconditioned” and the original listing mark will be removed unless it is reconditioned by the owner or operator as part of regular maintenance
  • The following equipment cannot be reconditioned: equipment that provides ground-fault circuit interrupter protection for personnel, arc-fault circuit interrupter for protection, ground-fault protection for equipment, and eleven other types of equipment
  • The reconditioning process shall use design qualified parts verified under applicable standards and be performed in accordance with any instructions provided by the manufacturer
  • Panelboards shall not be permitted to be reconditioned
  • Reconditioned switchgear shall be listed, or field labeled as reconditioned, and previously applied listing marks, if any, within the portions reconditioned shall be removed

Rippling Effect

According to the most recent International Trade Commission survey, the size of the remanufacturing sector of our economy represents at least $43 billion annually, as well as providing hundreds of thousands of jobs in our economy.

The proposed changes to remanufactured equipment, although well intentioned, will not only hurt reconditioning companies, but also the U.S. manufacturing industry for multiple reasons.

For example, the industry will experience a restricted supply of readily available and safe electrical distribution equipment and an increase of business interruption claims. There will also be an increase in the cost of acquiring, engineering, and scheduling extended shutdowns to replace entire substations.

Take Action

The deadline to file a notice of intent to make a motion to reject these proposed changes was April 26, 2019. Voting members of NFPA were also able to attend the Technical Association meeting in San Antonio, Texas, on June 20 to voice their concerns and vote for certified amending motions.

It is still possible to file an appeal with the NFPA Standards Council by July 10, 2019. The Standards Council will be meeting from August 5 to August 7 in Quincy, Massachusetts, this year to provide final approval on the proposed changes to the NEC standard.

Visit the NFPA website to learn more about the NFPA Standards Council and their meetings.

Republished with permission of National Field Services. Originally published on June 27, 2019.

Keynote Speaker at PEARL Conference Provides Roadmap to Achieving a Sustainable Future

WHEAT RIDGE, CO – “If it is our goal to safeguard an environmentally stable future, then it is imperative that we take a close look at remanufacturing equipment with the intent of returning it into service, keeping it in the system rather than throwing it away,” said Michael Thurston, Ph.D., Technical Director, Golisano Institute for Sustainability, Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) and technical leader for the Remanufacturing & Reuse arm of the REMADE Institute, in his keynote speech, Remanufacturing Development in the USA, at the Professional Electrical Apparatus Reconditioning League’s (PEARL), 21st Annual Conference and Exhibition, held in Greenville, SC, April 13-15.

Thurston noted in his presentation that The REMADE Institute is a national coalition of leading universities, companies, trade associations and national labs, focused on reducing the material and energy footprint of U.S. manufacturing. Thurston cited REMADE’s recently released Technology Roadmap, which includes a focus on best practices in remanufacturing equipment of all types including electrical apparatus. The key to REMADE’s Technology Roadmap is that through the development and integration of advanced remanufacturing technologies, there are multiple opportunities for reuse and end-of-life products and components and materials, improving material and energy efficiency as well as cost effectiveness.

“For PEARL, the REMADE Technology Roadmap is significant,” said PEARL president Howard Herndon. “It closely aligns with PEARL’s mission of the past 20 years and to be supported by research developed by such an esteemed and scholarly institute affirms our organization’s ongoing work.

While it is technologically complicated to recondition equipment that is to be reintroduced into the infrastructure, it is companies such as members of PEARL that are leading the way to ensure electrical equipment brought back into service is safe and reliable. Herndon emphasized the importance of three key elements in the REMADE Technology Roadmap that Thurston identified in his presentation to ensure that reconditioning processes are clearly defined and accurate: Training and workforce development focused on cleaning, repair and condition assessment is an essential step in the remanufacturing/reconditioning process; Cost effective cleaning of electronics is integral to the safe operation of reconditioned equipment; Assessment of operational and energy efficiency of remanufacturing processes will lead to the installation of reliable equipment.

“One of the benefits of being a PEARL member is finding additional resources that can lead to best practices when reconditioning electrical equipment,” said Herndon. “Providing information about and using the REMADE Institute’s Technology Roadmap is in keeping with our mission to help our members focus on what’s most important: reintroducing reconditioned electrical equipment into our infrastructure that is safe and reliable.”

For more information on PEARL and the reconditioning industry, visit pearl1.org.

PEARL’s Technician Certification Raises the Bar in the Reconditioning Industry

The Professional Electrical Apparatus Reconditioning League (PEARL), a national trade organization for companies that supply quality surplus and reconditioned electrical equipment, offers a Technician Certification program for those individuals employed by full voting member companies of PEARL looking to become recognized as Certified Electrical Equipment Reconditioning Technicians. As a standards-bearing organization, PEARL’s mission is to ensure that reconditioned electrical equipment reintroduced into the marketplace is safe and reliable. A benefit of PEARL membership, companies that encourage their employees to become PEARL- certified are leading the way in the industry by helping to fulfill PEARL’s overall mission. Not only does certification raise an employee’s proficiency level, it also gives PEARL member companies who employ certified technicians a marketable edge and elevated status within the industry.

“PEARL’s Technician Certification program is an important part of the organization’s mission to promote best practices throughout the electrical equipment industry,” said Howard Herndon, president of PEARL. “Voting member companies of PEARL that encourage their employees to become certified are committed to making certain that reconditioned equipment meets PEARL’s high standards for safety and quality. But advocating for program participation is more than a company’s commitment to the industry – it’s a commitment to employee education and growth.”

PEARL launched its Technician Certification program in 2014 and currently offers Level I and Level II certifications to employees of Full Dealer and Full Service PEARL member companies, which are designated voting members of the organization. Through a combination of practical, hands-on experience, training, and successful completion of an online certification exam, individuals obtaining certification through PEARL will have demonstrated their ability to perform specific reconditioning tasks by virtue of their technical knowledge and experience. Certified technicians will also be considered ‘qualified’ technicians. Qualified technicians are defined in the 2017 ANSI/PEARL Electrical Equipment Reconditioning Standard as individuals who have “received training in and have demonstrated skills and knowledge in one or more of the following: construction, assembly, testing, inspection, and/or operation of electric equipment and installations and the hazards involved. Qualified technicians shall be capable of evaluating electrical equipment to determine if it functions to manufacturers’ published specifications if available, and industry standards.”

“The positive end results of certification are countless,” Herndon emphasized. “Certification helps boost employee morale, decreases accidents and associated costs, and reduces warranty claims. For an individual, certification can represent that next step forward in their career path while enhancing their professional growth.”

More information about PEARL’s Technician Certification program can be found on PEARL’s website atwww.pearl1.org/Education-Technician-Certification-Program. To find out how to become a full voting member of PEARL, visit www.pearl1.org/About.

Key Role of Supply Chain in Disaster Recovery Stressed

WHEAT RIDGE, CO – “Grid and critical infrastructure failure are what keep me up at night, because it is estimated that it would take the U.S. less than a week to fall into anarchy from such a disaster,” concluded Chloe Demrovsky, executive director of the Disaster Recovery Institute International (DRI) in her keynote speech at the Professional Electrical Apparatus Reconditioning League’s (PEARL) 20th Anniversary Conference, held in Newport Beach, Ca., April 5-9.

Citing that power outages alone cost the U.S. some $96 billion each year, Ms. Demrovsky stressed the importance of preparedness for and recovery from disasters in her speech: “Resilience is a Competitive Advantage: How to be a Reliable Supplier.”  The U.S. Department of Homeland Security defines resilience as the ability to prepare for and adapt to changing conditions and to withstand and recover rapidly from disruptions, such as attacks, accidents, or naturally occurring threats or incidents.

“With the theme of our conference this year being ‘Disaster Recovery,’ we were particularly interested in hearing Ms. Demrovsky’s insights into the key role that the supply chain plays in this essential recovery process,” noted outgoing PEARL President Doug Powell. “PEARL supports and maintains the integrity of electrical systems by developing certified training programs, being included in the National Electrical Code and creating a reconditioning standard. This is what PEARL is all about and is how we as an industry strive to be the best-prepared supplier during emergencies and disasters.”

Ms. Demrovsky cited six emerging supply chain risks: cyberattacks, communications failures, political/social unrest, pandemic, critical equipment failure, and aging infrastructure. From here, she stressed that the focus needs to be on the impacts, not on the causes of the impacts. She identified four impacts that a disaster can create: Facilities issues, such as a flood or fire; Business or operations issues, such as a transit strike or supply chain missteps; Technology, which refers to IT issues; Organizational issues, such as mergers and acquisitions.

Summing up the essential need for planning, Ms. Demrovsky shared a seminal case study: In 2000, a minor fire in a plant that provided the majority of microchips to Nokia and Eriksson resulted in a total destruction of the microchips, due to their sensitivity to smoke damage. Nokia had a plan in place to stay in business if such a disaster occurred with a key supplier; Eriksson did not. As a consequence, Nokia went on to succeed in business. An additional outcome of this case study was the realization that businesses need to add resiliency clauses to their business contracts.

“PEARL provides an alternative for the industry by offering safe, reconditioned equipment that can be used to quickly and effectively recover from a disaster, be it equipment failure, electrical outages, or natural disasters,” said Mr. Powell. “The organization is proud of the integral role it plays in disaster recovery and unites suppliers in order to help ensure that trusted equipment can be delivered to a facility in need as quickly as possible.”

For more information on PEARL and the reconditioning industry, visit: pearl1.org.

Reconditioned Electrical Equipment Now Included in the National Electrical Code®

WHEAT RIDGE, COLORADO (March 17, 2017) – Two significant code revisions recommended by the Professional Electrical Apparatus Reconditioning League (PEARL) were adopted for inclusion into the latest version of the National Electrical Code®, 2017 Edition (NEC®). These revisions represent the first time since its inception in 1897 that the NEC® makes reference to product condition, specifically allowing for reconditioned, remanufactured, and refurbished electrical product.

“The revisions underscore that reconditioned electrical equipment is considered valuable, safe and reliable for use in the field,” said David Rosenfield, past president of PEARL. “When the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) opened their doors to PEARL to discuss their position and acknowledgment of the demand and need for reconditioned electrical equipment, we felt supported and empowered to proceed with our proposed revisions. PEARL’s change proposals were intended to present reconditioned equipment as a substantial part of the sourced market and to identify that there are certain essential requirements with products falling into the reconditioned class.”

The NEC® 2017 Edition, which was published in August of 2016, includes PEARL’s proposed changes to NEC® rules 110.3 and 110.21. PEARL’s contribution to NEC 110.3 – Examination, Identification, and Use of Equipment – ensures that reconditioned equipment is acknowledged and considered for use in installations. PEARL’s revision to NEC 110.21 – Equipment Markings-Reconditioned Equipment – requires reconditioned equipment to be marked with the name, trademark, or other descriptive marking that identifies the organization responsible for reconditioning the electrical equipment. The date of reconditioning is also required to be marked on the equipment.

According to Howard Herndon, incoming president of PEARL, and NEC® code revision champion, the impact of these changes to the electrical equipment industry is extensive.

“As a standards developer and educator, PEARL is fully committed to the betterment of the industry,” said Herndon. “Our organization’s Certified Technician program is focused on teaching professionals that it is imperative to use proper procedures during an installation. It is equally important that the equipment being used meets the highest standards. Since the NEC® is the authoritative voice in the industry, including reconditioned equipment in the NEC®helps to alleviate misconceptions about reconditioned equipment and its capabilities.”

With PEARL celebrating its 20th anniversary as an organization this year, the adoption of these code revisions in the NEC® is a noteworthy milestone and has U.S. infrastructure implications as well.

“As equipment ages in the U.S., it can be challenging to acquire replacement parts from manufacturers, especially if the equipment has been in place for so long that the replacement parts are no longer made,” said Rosenfield. “Acknowledgment of reconditioned electrical equipment in the NEC® is a ‘seal of approval’ providing a level of assurance that reconditioned equipment is a valuable and reliable component of the electrical system, and its usage is indispensable for maintaining and strengthening our country’s infrastructure.”