JULY 2026 Electrical Apparatus

Electrical Apparatus is the monthly magazine and virtual community for electromechanical professionals who design, specify, use, sell, operate, maintain and repair electrical equipment. Subscribe at http://ea-renew.com. Email barbara@barks.com for advertising information.

A BARKS PUBLICATION

JULY 2026 / $12

A BARKS PUBLICATION

JULY 2026 / $12

Electrical Apparatus

Proﬁ t-

driven

sales

paratus

More than Motors

Win-win negotiations

Utility/EV partnerships

Clean energy manufacturing

Predicting a pump’s future

MV vacuum interrupters

Smoky Mountains, TN, USA

865-983-7444

info@iccinternational.com

www.iccinternational.com/quote

ICC International

Improving commutators is our job.

–

Reliability at Every Level

Our commitment to the industry goes beyond the products we deliver.

Through continuous innovation, responsive support, and a deep

understanding of our customers’ needs, we deliver the quality and

reliability our partners depend on every day.

Electric Avenue

20 Utility company and EV charging alliances

New strategic partnerships will expand charging infrastruc-

ture, manage grid loads, and support reliable electrification

By Maura Keller, EA Contributing Writer

Energy

23 Spring cleaning

U.S. clean energy manufacturing is ramping up, focusing on

new projects and national security

By Charlie Barks, EA Managing Editor

EA Reader Profile

24 Deeds, not words

How Scott Wilshire bridges engineering expertise and

entrepreneurial execution

By Colin Gregory-Moores, EA Contributing Writer

Business Management

27 Profit-driven sales

Creating a culture in which margin, not sales volume, forms the

foundation of a winning strategy

By Michael Mitten, EA Contributing Writer

Power Transmission & Distribution

31 The rise of MV vacuum interrupters

How the technology has evolved in modern medium-voltage

circuit breakers, motor starters, contactors, and reclosers

By David Bredhold, EA Contributing Writer

Finance & The Workplace

36 EBITDA: not just for accountants anymore

A boom in middle-market M&A activity has brought a

specialized financial metric to the fore

By William H. Wiersema, CPA, EA Finance Editor

Electrical Manager

40 Win-win winner take all

The idea that each party to a negotiation necessarily comes out

ahead may be misguided

By Bill O Leary, EA Contributing Writer

Training & Education

42 Braze the roof

Plan to register your employees for brazing training this fall

By Charlie Barks, EA Managing Editor

Pump It Up

43 Gazing into a pump’s future

Recent research shows how data-driven models, statistical

failure analysis, and remote monitoring can help prevent costly

breakdowns

By Kevin Jones, EA Senior Editor

Contents

A BARKS PUBLICATION

VOLUME 79 / NUMBER 07

WWW.BARKS.COM

07/26

— Traverse City Light & Power photo

— Nextracker photo

— Washington Alloy photo

ELECTRICAL APPARATUS | JULY 2026 1

04 The editor’s comment

Hot topics to welcome summer

05 Let’s solve your problem

Answers to questions about motor application and repair

06 Business

Electrical manufacturers see strength despite headwinds

08 Associations

How a trans-Atlantic partnership maintains customer confidence

10 Know your industry

How EERA represents independent manufacturers’ reps

14 Plant happenings

Plant openings, closures, expansions, and a lawsuit

16 Speaking of . . .

A record-size merger

18 Calendar

Upcoming events on engineering, manufacturing, and energy

26 Names & faces

Personnel changes at Essex Brownell, NRG Energy, and Ford

26 Deaths

Charles ‘Chuck’ McGough, CAM Innovation president

38 Product showcase

What’s new in tools and supplies for electromechanical service

45 Utilities

How utilities cooperate during hurricane season

COVER ILLUSTRATION: By Maxx-Studio / Shutterstock and Adobe Firefly generative AI

Departments

47 Classified advertising

Your monthly marketplace for equipment, businesses, and more

47 Cy’s Super Service

The electrical service industry’s most prominent curmudgeon

49 EA puzzle

A world search puzzle based on “Profit-driven sales” (page 27)

51 Moe, Genny & friends

The surreal world of an anthropomorphized motor and generator

52 Direct & current

Safety award for a steel plant, and a semiconductor innovation

52 Advertising index

Who’s who—and who’s where—in this issue of Electrical Apparatus

— EERA photo

— ANSI photo

— Florida Power & Light video still

2 ELECTRICAL APPARATUS | JULY 2026

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The Editor’s

Comment

Welcome to midsummer, where electromechanical sales

and service is our featured theme. This issue annually fo-

cuses on what’s long been Electrical Apparatus’ bread and

butter — shops, facilities, and service companies that have

long been the backbone of the industry.

To anchor this issue, EA Contributing Writer Michael

Mitten draws from his in-depth knowledge and experience

to cover “using a proﬁ t-focused sales strategy” (page 27).

Part of Michael’s advice reminds us how important it is to

focus on culture: “The real breakthrough came when we

focused on culture. We built a mission and set of values

designed to create voluntary discretionary eﬀ ort — people

willingly going above and beyond because they believe in

the company, feel valued within it, and share in its suc-

cess”

Once culture is strengthened, your company may well be

able to move the sales team away from competing purely

on price. Instead, they can begin to sell on value: service

quality, responsiveness, trust, expertise, communication,

team performance and long-term relationships. “Most im-

portantly, people began to understand that the objective

was not simply to increase sales, but to increase proﬁ table

sales from sustainable sources,” Michael says.

Elsewhere in this issue, David Bredhold is up again in

the rotation with one of his standout technical articles,

this time covering medium-voltage vacuum interrupter

technology (page 31). Modern medium-voltage interrupt-

ers leverage vacuum-based technology, a solution that

enables streamlined footprints by necessitating minimal

gaps to extinguish an arc. These components are notably

eco-friendly, providing a crucial beneﬁ t compared to sul-

fur hexaﬂ uoride, a known greenhouse gas.

In “Finance and the Workplace” (page 36) Bill Weirsema

tackles EBITDA, and how it’s “not just for accountants any-

more.”

Other topics include how a Trans-Atlantic partnership

remains strong for associations that require such collabo-

rations; partnerships between utilities and EV charging

companies; competitive sales strategies in the electrome-

chanical sector, and more.

Also look for this month’s “Reader proﬁ le” (page 24),

written by Colin Gregory-Moores, which features Scott

Wilshire of United Industrial in Washington, Pa.; and

“Know your industry” (page 10), written by Avery Heerin-

ga, which proﬁ les the Electric Equipment Representatives

Association.

By the time you receive this issue, we may have spoken

to you in person at EASA 2026 in Orlando. We hope every-

one had a great show at this year’s convention.

CHARLIE BARKS

WWW.BARKS.COM

CHARLIE@BARKS.COM

Hot topics to welcome summer

Read Electrical

Apparatus online

The entire contents

of this issue are avail-

able online. Scan the

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Charlie Barks, Managing Editor

FINANCE EDITOR

William H. Wiersema

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Fazli Acikgoz, David Bredhold,

Chase Fell, Colin Gregory-Moores,

Avery Heeringa, Maura Keller,

John Malinowski, Michael Mitten,

Bill O’Leary, Kristine Weller

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Barbara Goetz Barks

CARTOONS AND PUZZLES

John D’Acunto, Myles Mellor,

Tim Oliphant

ElectroMechanical Bench Reference

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Elizabeth Van Ness, Editor & Publisher

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4 ELECTRICAL APPARATUS | JULY 2026

Have you been stumped recently by an

electromechanical application or repair

problem? Send your question to this depart-

ment, at editor@barks.com, and we’ll see

if we can give you an answer. — Editor

Number of belts in a sheave

We are running six 700 hp 600 RPM

a-c motors. These motors drive pumps

in an agricultural plant. All of the motors

have identical sheaves mounted on their

shafts. The pumps are belt-drive. This

system has been in service for more than

30 years and not all the sheaves have the

same number of belts on them. Some

sheaves are running four belts and some

are running ﬁ ve or six.

All of the pump loads are the same, and

all of the motors are the same except for

two, which were bought new in the last

year. How can we know how many belts

there should be in the system for best

performance?

The correct number of belts is not deter-

mined by what happens to be on the sheave

now but by the required transmitted horse-

power, sheave diameters, belt speed, center

distance, arc of contact, and belt cross-sec-

tion. A 700 hp 600 RPM drive is too large to

judge by appearance alone.

Start with the pump load in horsepower,

then use the belt manufacturer’s rating

tables to see how much horsepower one

belt can carry under those exact conditions.

Apply the service factor and correction fac-

tors, then divide total corrected horsepower

by belt rating per belt.

In short: Use the drive design calculation,

not history, to determine whether four, ﬁ ve,

or six belts is correct.

Alignment with feeler gauges

We operate a large sawmill in a rural

area. We often have misalignment issues

with our direct-coupled drive motors.

We had an employee who could perform

alignment with feeler gauges, but he

retired long ago. Is this an accepted prac-

tice, and is there a procedure we can use

for this?

The basic idea is to check two conditions:

angular alignment and parallel (oﬀ set)

alignment. After the coupling halves are

brought together, a straightedge is placed

across the outside diameter of the coupling

rims at several positions around the shaft.

Feeler gauges are then used to measure

gaps between the straightedge and the

coupling surfaces. Diﬀ erences in the gap

readings indicate angular misalignment,

while unequal spacing between coupling

faces indicates oﬀ set.

The process is repeated at four posi-

tions — top, bottom, and both sides — while

adjusting motor shims and position until

readings are consistent. The goal is to

achieve uniform coupling face gaps and

minimal oﬀ set around the circumference.

Industry guidance for alignment practices

can be found in ANSI/ASA S2.75 and main-

tenance guidance from organizations such

as the Electrical Apparatus Service Asso-

ciation.

For most ﬂ exible couplings running

around 600 RPM, alignment within a few

thousandths of an inch is typically accept-

able. Laser alignment tools are faster

and more precise, but the straightedge-

and-feeler-gauge method remains a valid

maintenance

technique,

especially

remote facilities or where equipment bud-

gets are limited.

Bottom line: With care, patience, and

good measurements, feeler gauges can still

deliver reliable shaft alignment — just not as

quickly as modern laser systems.

Negative polarization index

We’re in the business of ﬁ eld-testing of

motors and generators. Most of our work

is 4000 V terminal voltage and higher.

Let’s Solve Your Problem

We’re familiar with insulation resistance

testing and polarization index testing.

The Electrical Apparatus Service Asso-

ciation and the Institute of Electrical and

Electronics Engineers have standards for

IR and PI.

Our customer asked us about reverse

polarization testing. We are not familiar

with this test. Do you guys have experi-

ence with reverse PI?

The short answer is that reverse polar-

ization index testing is not a standard

diagnostic test recognized by IEEE or EASA

for rotating machines. In most cases, the

term refers to a variation of the traditional

PI test where the polarity of the applied d-c

test voltage is reversed and the measure-

ment repeated.

To understand the idea, recall that a

normal polarization index test applies a

d-c voltage to the winding insulation for

ten minutes and records the ratio of the

10-minute insulation resistance to the

one-minute value. The rising resistance

over time reﬂ ects the absorption of charge

within the insulation system and is often

used to assess contamination, moisture,

and aging.

Some practitioners repeat the test with

reversed polarity to observe whether the

insulation system responds diﬀ erently

when the electric ﬁ eld direction changes.

In theory, this can reveal asymmetries in

contamination paths, surface leakage, and

semiconductor coatings on stator windings.

However, the results are diﬃ cult to interpret

and have not been widely standardized.

For that reason, IEEE 43 does not include

reverse PI as a recommended evaluation

method. Instead, the standard empha-

sizes trending conventional insulation

resistance, polarization index, and —

when deeper analysis is needed — tests

such as dielectric absorption ratio (DAR),

step-voltage testing, or partial discharge

measurements. — Chase Fell

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ELECTRICAL APPARATUS | JULY 2026 5

Electrical manufacturers

see strength despite headwinds

As another earnings season recedes in the rear-view mirror, a

look at recent financial reports from several of the world’s lead-

ing publicly owned electrical manufacturers reveals an industry

facing serious headwinds but overcom-

ing them thanks to several positive

factors working in their favor.

The problems include geopolitical ten-

sions, disruptions in the Middle East,

currency fluctuations, and tariffs. Of

these, the conflict in the Middle East has

created particular uncertainty. Emer-

son, in its most recent report, released

May 5, cited the conflict as a factor that

has affected sales, while ABB, in a report

released April 22, acknowledged that

the war has added uncertainty to the

global trading climate.

Currency headwinds have meanwhile

pressured margins, as the strengthen-

ing U.S. dollar and fluctuations in other

nations’ currencies have created dif-

ficulties in currency translations. And

then there are the tariffs on imports into the U.S. from Canada,

Mexico, China, and other countries, which have raised costs for

raw materials and forced manufacturers to raise prices.

In spite of these challenges, the electrical manufacturing

industry is enjoying several positive factors: booming demand

in data centers, margin resilience, and strength in discrete auto-

mation and specialized industries.

Data center construction has emerged as the primary growth

driver for several manufacturers. ABB reported as much as tri-

ple-digit data center order growth during the first quarter of the

year, while Schneider Electric, in a report released April 30, noted

that data centers remained its main

growth driver. The surge in data center

construction has benefited manufac-

turers that supply switchgear, cooling

systems, and automation technologies.

Regal Rexnord, in a May 6 release, cited

data center demand as a contributor to

commercial HVAC growth, while Sie-

mens on May 13 reported substantial

increases in orders from data center

customers.

Discrete automation markets have

meanwhile shown particular vigor, as

packaging OEMs and semiconductor

manufacturers have increased capi-

tal expenditures. The machine builder

segment has rebounded sharply, con-

tributing to strong order backlogs.

Marine systems, port automation, and

aerospace applications have also contributed to growth. Rock-

well Automation, for example, has reported solid momentum

led by warehouse automation, data centers, semiconductors,

and energy.

We can see evidence of all of this resilience in the numbers. ABB

reported operational EBITA margins of 23.5%, with CEO Morten

Wierod noting that “ABB had a strong start to the year, delivering

higher business performance and record orders,” although he

acknowledged “risks from geopolitical uncertainties.” Rockwell

Automation achieved enterprise operating margins of 22.5%

while posting 9% organic sales growth. Rockwell’s CEO, Blake

Moret, stated that “We delivered a strong second quarter, with

double-digit growth in sales and earnings exceeding our expec-

tations.” Schneider Electric reaffirmed its full-year targets, with

CEO Olivier Blum commenting that the company made a strong

start to 2026 with disciplined execution.

Among geographic regions, the Americas have shown par-

ticular strength. North American markets have outpaced other

geographies as the U.S. leads demand for electrification infra-

structure.

ABB reported orders in the Americas increased 52%, led by the

U.S., which was up 70%, while Emerson noted growth in under-

lying orders, with particular strength in Software and Systems.

Europe, however, has shown mixed results. Currency effects

there have created headwinds, while Asia Pacific markets have

demonstrated resilience despite softness in residential con-

struction.

Finally, generation of free cash flow has remained robust, and

who doesn’t like cash? ABB generated free cash flow of $1.3

billion, the strongest ever for a first quarter, while Rockwell

Automation increased free cash flow “significantly.” Companies

have maintained disciplined capital allocation while navigat-

ing disruptions in supply chains. The combination of strong

order backlogs, pricing discipline, and operational efficiency

has allowed manufacturers to convert revenue growth into

improved profitability even as they face the numerous uncer-

tainties outlined above. — Kevin Jones

Business

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6 ELECTRICAL APPARATUS | JULY 2026

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How a trans-Atlantic partnership

maintains customer confidence

It’s easy to forget that for decades, service centers that

repaired rotating electrical apparatus faced questions

about whether rewinding motors adversely affected

motor efficiency. A collaboration begun more than 20

years ago between the Electrical Apparatus Service

Association in the U.S. and the Association of Electrical

and Mechanical Trades in the U.K. has pretty much laid

those concerns to rest.

The collaboration has done this by providing clear

answers based on hard data, rigorous testing, and doc-

umented procedures. Together, EASA and AEMT have

produced standards and guides that help maintain not

only the performance of repaired motors but also the

confidence of the customers who struggle with the deci-

sion to repair or replace.

We can trace the partnership back to concerns about

energy used by electric motors, which account for a sub-

stantial portion of industrial electrical power. In the late

1990s and early 2000s, some users were asking whether

repair processes, particularly stator rewinding, would

degrade efficiency in energy-efficient motors. EASA and

AEMT responded by conducting comprehensive studies

using independent testing laboratories. A 2003 rewind

study examined 25 motors ranging from 7.5 hp to 200 hp

and demonstrated that efficiency could be maintained

— and in some cases improved — when technicians fol-

lowed certain recommended practices.

These practices addressed several critical steps:

controlled burnout of old windings at appropriate tem-

peratures to preserve interlaminar insulation in the

core; careful coil removal to avoid damaging lamina-

tions; precise control of turns per coil and mean length

of turn; and proper impregnation and assembly. Using

IEEE Standard 112B testing methods, the study showed

that core losses, stator and rotor I²R losses, friction and

windage losses, and stray load losses remained within

expected ranges when good practices were followed.

As premium efficiency and IE3 motors became more common in various

countries in response to regulatory requirements, the organizations revis-

ited the topic. In 2019, they tested 10 new premium efficiency (IE3) motors

from 40 hp to 100 hp. These specimen motors included both IEC and NEMA

designs, 50 Hz and 60 Hz units, and two-pole and four-pole configurations.

All were totally enclosed fan-cooled machines. Technicians at an EASA-

accredited service center followed the same good practice guidelines from

the earlier study and ANSI/EASA AR100. Testing took place at an indepen-

dent laboratory, North Carolina Advanced Energy Corp., using the same IEEE

Standard 112B protocols as used in the previous study.

The results confirmed that efficiency in the higher-efficiency machines

was indeed maintained. The average change across the group was a decrease

of just 0.1 percentage point — well within the ±0.2 percent accuracy range of

the test method. Just as in the previous study, some motors showed slight

improvement.

Associations

— Google Gemini generative AI image

8 ELECTRICAL APPARATUS | JULY 2026

These two studies led to the devel-

opment of practical resources that

association members could use in their

daily work. EASA and AEMT published the

“Good Practice Guide to Maintain Motor

Eﬃ ciency,” which draws on both the 2003

and 2019 rewind studies. It details proce-

dures for inspection, stripping, rewinding,

impregnation, mechanical repairs to

cores, shafts, bearings and housings,

and ﬁ nal testing. The guide has been

incorporated into such standards as IEC

60034-23 and updated versions of ANSI/

EASA AR100 — documents that outline

controlled processes to avoid increasing

core losses through excessive burnout

temperatures or mechanical damage to

laminations.

EASA’s Accreditation Program, under

which independent auditors conﬁ rm

that ﬁ rms conform to industry best prac-

tices, relies heavily on this body of work.

The program evaluates service centers

through third-party audits against more

than 70 criteria drawn from ANSI/EASA

AR100 and the “Good Practice Guide.”

Accredited

companies

demonstrate

compliance with procedures proven

to maintain motor eﬃ ciency and reli-

ability during both electrical rewinds

and mechanical repairs. Successful par-

ticipants receive certiﬁ cates, listings on

EASA’s website, and labels they can apply

to repaired motors.

The trans-Atlantic eﬀ ort continues to

evolve. Updated editions of AR100 incor-

porate such reﬁ nements as guidance on

magnetic wedges in form-wound stators.

The accreditation checklist and sup-

porting documents help service centers

implement consistent practices that are

in line with the ﬁ ndings of the joint stud-

ies. By relying on data from independent

labs and standardized test methods, the

program gives end users conﬁ dence that

the assurances they’re being given are

objective.

For motor users who are willing to look

at hard data with open minds, the collabo-

ration between EASA and AEMT should

lay to rest any doubts they have about

rewinding higher-eﬃ ciency motors. For

service centers, it provides proven meth-

ods to keep electromechanical systems

performing as intended, extending the

useful life of motors while preserving the

eﬃ ciency levels modern manufacturing

is demanding. For operators facing deci-

sions about repair versus replacement,

the documented results and accredita-

tion framework oﬀ er a path forward that’s

based on facts rather than speculation. —

Kevin Jones

ELECTRICAL APPARATUS | JULY 2026 9

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Representing manufacturers

from electric utilities and beyond

Electrical Equipment Representatives Association

Founded: 1948

Headquarters: P.O. Box 419264, Kansas City Mo. 64141

Annual Dues: Varies

Website: www.eera.org

“We are 100% focused on independent manufactur-

ers’ reps, and more specifically on those that specialize

in medium and high-voltage electrical equipment sales

to electric utilities, distributors, EPCs [engineering, pro-

curement, and construction], and C&I [commercial and

industrial] accounts,” says Jeff Lewis, president of the

Electrical Equipment Representatives Association.

EERA has been bringing together independent manu-

facturers’ representatives in the electrical industry

since 1948 (the same year, coincidentally, as the found-

ing of Volt/Age, the forerunner of Electrical Apparatus

magazine). “Our membership is probably about 85%

utility-focused,” Lewis says. “[But] we have a lot of mem-

bers that do both; they’re both in the utility market and

in the C&I market.”

When manufacturers are looking to expand their

services and increase their sales, independent repre-

sentatives offer the opportunity to do so without hiring

another full-time employee.

“We encourage the manufacturers to outsource the

sales function to us rather than hiring, training and

maintaining their own dedicated sales force,” Lewis adds. “It’s like we’re

doing some of the manufacturers’ screening work for them and making it

easy to select a qualified independent manufacturers’ rep for whatever

region they need.” The association keeps a list of members on its website,

making it easy for prospective manufacturers to see if there’s an indepen-

dent rep in their area that doesn’t already work with competing companies.

In a world where corporations often control the majority of an industry

sector and monopolies frequently cast their shadows upon whole segments

of an industry, EERA prioritizes a local, individualized approach. Local

Know Your Industry

Please turn to page 12

EERA members at the association’s annual meeting in Scottsdale, Ariz., this past

spring.

— EERA photo

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10 ELECTRICAL APPARATUS | JULY 2026

representatives work directly with nearby

manufacturers, creating a unique bond

between the two parties. Because of

EERA’s national reach, its many rep mem-

bers can lean on each other for industry

insight, especially if they are located in

different regions and don’t represent

competing companies.

“We avoid any competitively sensitive

information,” Lewis says. “We don’t talk

about things that could be considered

to be commercially sensitive; we just

focus on things that impact us all in our

industry.” This way, information can be

exchanged about emerging market trends

and sales tactics without compromising

one’s own business success.

“What I personally have gotten out of

the organization over the years are many

great relationships with other reps around

the country,” Lewis says. “Peers that I

don’t necessarily compete with, we’re not

in the same market, we may or may not

represent some of the same manufactur-

ers, but we all really run the same type

of businesses and face the [same] chal-

lenges.”

KNOW YOUR INDUSTRY continued from p. 10

12 ELECTRICAL APPARATUS | JULY 2026

In addition to being EERA’s president,

Lewis is the owner and founder of Pow-

erTech, which operates in the utility

business. He first got involved with EERA

in the mid-2000s after hearing about the

association’s membership benefits from

other manufacturers’ representatives. He

joined EERA and worked his way up to

the association’s board of directors before

stepping into his new and current role of

association president.

Because EERA is an association of inde-

pendent members, representatives don’t

meet frequently. However, EERA’s annual

meeting, which was hosted in Scottsdale,

Ariz. this past spring, gathers members

for three days of presentations, panel dis-

cussions, business meetings, and more,

every year.

“What we really focus on is making sure

we are all operating our companies with

high ethical and moral standards, that

we are focused on managing the busi-

ness professionally, that we’re training

our employees and providing excellent

service to our manufacturers and our cus-

tomers,” Lewis says. “We really just talk

about best practices in the industry, and

then as an organization we advocate for

the use of independent manufacturers’

reps.”

Leaders from across the utility, manu-

facturing, distribution, and engineering

industries will sometimes join EERA’s

annual meeting to speak with members

so members can hear voices they might

otherwise not have heard.

“What we do at our annual meeting is

try to have different points of view from

our industry come in and talk to us about

trends that are going on in the industry,

the issues they face from their perspec-

tive,” Lewis says. When not together for

the annual meeting, EERA keeps in con-

tact with its members through regular

newsletters and informal gatherings at

industry conferences such as the IEEE

T&D Conference, DistribuTECH, and the

Utility Expo.

There are various classes of EERA mem-

bership with different minimum criteria

that must be met for each class. Prospec-

tive members interested in learning more

about EERA or potential membership are

encouraged to e-mail info@eera.org for

more information.

Lewis says that members get out of the

association what they put into it. “For

me personally, I’ve developed a lot of

friendships and peer relationships with

other reps across the country,” he says.

“I know I can always call them for advice

or anything that I’m struggling with.” —

Avery Heeringa

Two Minnesota plants close

In April, Walter Surface Technologies announced the closure

of two Minnesota drill manufacturing plants,

aﬀ ecting 77 employees. Minnesota Twist Drill

in Chisholm and Triumph Twist Drill in Hib-

bing began laying oﬀ employees in June, with

more expected through August. Both facilities

manufactured products for commercial, home,

and industrial use such as drill bits and cutting tools.

Litigation over lack of layoﬀ warning

Northern Metal Fab, Inc., is being sued by former employees

alleging the company did not properly warn

employees about its possible closure, withheld

ﬁ nal payment, and canceled medical insur-

ance almost a month prior to the closure while

employees were still paying premiums. The

state of Wisconsin is investigating the alleged

lack of warning to employees, which, if true, would violate

state and federal laws requiring companies of more than 50

employees to provide notice of closure 60 days prior. The

Wisconsin fabrication plant specialized in metal welding and

crafting.

Uniﬁ ed Legacy Group expands

A new fabrication plant is expected to bring 500 new jobs

to Macon, Ga. Uniﬁ ed Legacy Group announced in May its

plans for expansion. The new facility will manufacture parts

for data centers and the aerospace and defense

industry. Products and services could range

from powder coating to manufactured steel

trusses. The company operates two other

nearby locations, but those have limited space

for growth, according to the company. The new

600,000-square-foot facility creates opportunities for large-

scale assembly and fabrication. Uniﬁ ed Legacy Group did not

announce which of its three companies will run the new site.

Aircraft fabrication facility opens

KIHOMAC opened a manufacturing facility in Warner Rob-

ins, Ga., in April. The aerospace plant produces

sheet metal fabrication and provides additional

support for older military aircraft. Located near

Robins Air Force Base, KIHOMAC is hiring peo-

ple for engineering, welding, and machinist positions to join

the current 75 employees as production increases.

Automotive parts maker closes

Hundreds of employees were aﬀ ected when a plant in south-

ern Tennessee, Toledo Molding & Die, closed

its doors. The Fayetteville automotive parts

maker is a subsidiary of the struggling First

Brands Group and is not the ﬁ rst plant closure

for its parent company. Toledo Molding & Die

manufactured molded plastic parts for vehi-

cle interiors and exteriors such as decorative trim, glove box

assemblies, and door modules. — Kristine Weller

Plant Happenings

14 ELECTRICAL APPARATUS | JULY 2026

A record-size merger

In our December 2025 “Energy” column,

we covered a trend of record-breaking

energy, power, and utilities partnerships as

“Vogtle 2” came online in Georgia, making it

America’s largest nuclear plant along with a

$35 billion price tag.

Now, after just six months, another record

has been set.

NextEra Energy, Inc., and Dominion

Energy, Inc., announced May 18 that they

have entered into a deﬁ nitive agreement to

combine in an all-stock transaction.

Dominion

Energy

shareholders

will

receive a ﬁ xed exchange ratio of 0.8138

shares of NextEra Energy for each share of

Dominion Energy they own at the close of

the transaction, resulting in NextEra Energy

and Dominion Energy shareholders owning

approximately 74.5% and 25.5% of the com-

bined company respectively.

The combination will create what’s predicted to be

the world’s largest regulated electric utility business,

according to NextEra.

The combined company will be more than 80%

regulated, will serve approximately 10 million util-

ity customer accounts across Florida, Virginia, North

Carolina, and South Carolina, and will own 110 GW of

generation across a broad mix of energy sources.

The combined company aims to drive aﬀ ordability in the long term by

leveraging scale and operating and capital eﬃ ciencies as the company

makes smart investments on behalf of its customers to meet growing

power demand.

Additionally, the combined company is proposing $2.25 billion in bill

credits for Dominion Energy’s customers in Virginia, North Carolina, and

South Carolina spread over two years post-close.

NextEra is headquartered in Juno Beach, Fla., while Dominion’s opera-

tions are spearheaded from Richmond, Va. — Charlie Barks

Speaking of . . .

— NextEra Energy photo

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Update your calendar with these upcoming

trade shows, conferences, and other events.

Please note that events are sometimes

rescheduled, so make sure to confirm dates.

Do you know of an event that you think we

should bring to the attention of Electrical

Apparatus readers? E-mail us about it at

editor@barks.com.

• July 28-31, 2026 — 2026 ANSI Inno-

vation Summit, Grand Hyatt Denver,

Denver, Colo. American National Stan-

dards

Institute,

https://www.ansi.org/

events/standards-events/ANSI-innovation-

summit/2026.

• August 5-7, 2026 — NSPECon 26,

New York Marriott at the Brooklyn

Bridge, New York, N.Y. National Society of

Professional Engineers, www.nspecon.org.

• September 10, 2026 — BPMA Golf

Day 2026, Breadsall Priory Country Club,

Lincolnshire, U.K. British Pump Manufac-

turers Association, https://bit.ly/4cDnANj.

• September 14-19, 2026 — Interna-

tional Manufacturing Technology Show,

McCormick Place, Chicago. Association

for Manufacturing Technology, www.imts.

com/index.cfm.

• September 16-18, 2026 — AEE

World Energy Conference & Expo, Orange

County Convention Center, Orlando, Fla.

Association of Energy Engineers, https://

aeeworld.org.

• September 23-24, 2026 — Coiltech

Italia 2026, Pordenone Fiere, Pordenone,

Italy. QUiCKFairs, www.coiltech.it.

• September 24, 2026 — AEMT Con-

ference, Concorde Conference Centre,

Manchester, U.K. The Association of Elec-

trical and Mechanical Trades, https://www.

theaemt.com/ems-event-calendar/aemt-

conference.html.

• September 26-Oct. 5, 2026 —

48th Annual EOS/ESD Symposium and

Exhibits, Embassy Suites by Hilton Dal-

las Frisco Hotel & Convention Center,

Frisco. Electrostatic Discharge Association,

https://esda.events/48th-annual-eosesd-

symposium-and-exhibits.

• October 4-7, 2026 — NECA 2026 Las

Vegas Convention and Trade Show, Man-

dalay Bay Convention Center. National

Electrical Contractors Association, www.

necaconvention.org.

• October 21-23, 2026 — Fabtech USA,

Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas,

Nev. Fabricators & Manufacturers Associa-

tion International, Society of Manufacturing

Engineers, American Welding Society, Pre-

cision Metalforming Association, and

Chemical Coaters Association Interna-

tional, https://bit.ly/4bg7jhW.

• November 3-4, 2026 — National

Facilities Management & Technology

Conference & Expo West, Horseshoe

Event Center, Las Vegas, Nev. National

Facilities Management and Technology,

https://www.nfmt.com/west/2026.

• November 10-12, 2026 — 2026

NEMA Annual Meeting, Vinoy Resort &

Golf Club, St. Petersburg, Fla. National

Electrical

Manufacturers

Association,

https://bit.ly/4u4U36E.

• November 16-20, 2026 — 90th IEC

General Meeting, Congress Center Ham-

burg, Hamburg, Germany. International

Electrotechnical Commission, http://bit.

ly/4plWDlS.

• November 18-20, 2026 — World

Workplace, Anaheim Convention Cen-

ter, Anaheim, Calif. International Facility

Management Association, https://world-

workplace.ifma.org.

• January 25-27, 2027 — AHR Expo

2027, McCormick Place, Chicago. Inter-

national Exposition Co., www.ahrexpo.

com.

• February 14-18, 2027 — Hydrau-

lic Institute 2027 Annual Conference,

JW Marriott Tucson Starr Pass Resort &

Spa, Tucson, Ariz. The Hydraulic Institute,

www.pumps.org/event/2027-annual-con

ference.

• February 23-25, 2027 — Operations,

Maintenance & Safety Conference, Long

Beach Convention Center, Long Beach,

Calif. Clean Power Association, https://

cleanpower.org/oms.

Calendar

A scene from last year’s ANSI Innovation Summit, which was held Oct. 21-23, 2025, at the

Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center in Rockville, Md. This year’s summit is

scheduled to be held July 28-31 in Denver.

— ANSI photo

• March 8-12, 2027 — PowerTest 27,

Rosen Shingle Creek, Orlando, Fla. Inter-

National Electrical Testing Association,

https://bit.ly/4mMdKNZ.

• March 10-12, 2027 — ACCA 2027,

Gaylord National Resort & Convention

Center, National Harbor, Md. Air Con-

ditioning Contractors of America, www.

accaconference.com.

• March 31-April 2, 2027 — National

Facilities Management & Technology

Conference & Expo East, Baltimore Con-

vention Center, Baltimore, Md. National

Facilities Management and Technology,

https://www.nfmt.com/east/2027.

• May 11-13, 2027 — CWIEME Berlin,

Messe Berlin, Berlin, Germany. Coil Wind-

ing, Insulation & Electrical Manufacturing

Exhibition,

https://berlin.cwiemeevents.

com/home.

• June 12-15, 2027 — Electrical Appa-

ratus

Service

Association

Solutions

Expo, Ernest N. Morial Convention Cen-

ter & Hilton Riverside, New Orleans, La.

Electrical Apparatus Service Association,

https://easa.com/convention/future-easa-

conventions.

• June 24-27, 2028 — Electrical Appa-

ratus Service Association Solutions Expo,

Pennsylvania Convention Center & Phila-

delphia Marriott Downtown, Philadelphia,

Pa. Electrical Apparatus Service Association,

https://easa.com/convention/future-easa-

conventions. — Edited by Kevin Jones

18 ELECTRICAL APPARATUS | JULY 2026

Jacob Hardy, sustainability and key

accounts manager at Traverse City

Light & Power

Utility company and EV charging

alliances

New strategic partnerships will expand charging infrastructure, manage grid

loads, and support reliable electrification

By Maura Keller, EA Contributing Writer

As electric vehicle adoption accel-

erates across the U.S., utility

companies and EV charging pro-

viders are forming increasingly

sophisticated alliances designed

to support the rapid expansion

of charging infrastructure while

protecting grid reliability.

What

began

relatively

straightforward

relationships

centered on supplying electric-

ity and installing chargers has

evolved into strategic collabora-

tion around load management,

infrastructure

planning,

cus-

tomer

education,

managed

charging, and fleet electrification.

For utilities, automakers, charg-

ing providers, and consumers

alike, the stakes are high because

these partnerships could help

create a cleaner, more resilient,

and more efficient energy ecosystem. If they fail,

however, grid constraints and infrastructure delays

could slow the broader electrification movement.

“The future of EV charging isn’t just about adding

more load to the grid – it’s about

turning EVs into flexible grid

assets that support the broader

energy system,” says Jeff Huron,

director of business development

at EnergyHub.

A growing need

for collaboration

One of the primary forces driving

utility-EV charging alliances is

the massive amount of electricity

required for fleet electrification

and autonomous vehicles.

“A single fleet charging hub for

AVs or commercial trucks can

require five to 10 MW of power,

which is equivalent to the needs of a small industrial district or a sky-

scraper,” says Jason Berry, vice president of energy & policy at Terawatt.

Because of those power demands, charging companies increasingly

rely on utilities during the earliest phases of project development,

including site selection and grid-capacity assess-

ments. “One of the key initial steps to a successful

charging site involves working with utilities from day

one to conduct capacity checks, sometimes before

we even acquire a piece of real estate,” Berry says.

K.C. Boyce, vice president, automotive, mobility &

energy at Escalent, says utilities are also motivated

by regulatory mandates, sustainability goals, and the

need to manage future load growth.

“These partnerships are increasingly strategic,

evolving from the straightforward ‘we’ll help you

install a charger for the EV you just bought’ to ‘let us

help you unlock additional value with programs that

support the grid and lower your charging costs,’”

Boyce says. For municipal utilities, the partnerships

combine technical expertise with long-term infra-

structure planning and community coordination.

Feature | Electric Avenue

Traverse City Light & Power of Traverse City, Mich., is just one of several U.S. electric utilities that are

forming partnerships with providers of electric vehicle charging.

— Traverse City Light & Power photo

20 ELECTRICAL APPARATUS | JULY 2026

“For municipal utilities like Traverse City Light & Power,

partnerships with EV charging providers are growing

because each brings a distinct strength to charging deploy-

ment,” says Jacob Hardy, sustainability and key accounts

manager at Traverse City Light & Power. “Charging com-

panies provide technology and market expertise, while

utilities bring grid knowledge, local coordination, and long-

term infrastructure planning.”

Hardy says these partnerships have evolved from simple

interconnection support into broader collaboration involv-

ing managed charging, ﬂ eet electriﬁ cation, and customer

engagement.

Grid reliability takes center stage

As EV adoption rises, utilities face growing pressure to sup-

port electriﬁ cation without overloading local distribution

systems.

Historically, utilities encouraged EV owners to charge

during oﬀ -peak hours through time-of-use rate structures.

However, Boyce says those programs can unintentionally

create new overnight demand spikes in areas with heavy EV

adoption.

“This worked when there were few EVs on the road,” Boyce

says. “But now, particularly in areas with high EV adoption,

the blunt instrument of time-of-use is creating new system

peaks when every EV in the neighborhood starts charging at

the beginning of the oﬀ -peak window.”

To address the issue, utilities and charging providers

are increasingly deploying managed charging technologies

capable of staggering charging demand while maintaining a

seamless customer experience.

Providers such as WeaveGrid help utilities better balance

charging loads across the grid, and according to Boyce, most

drivers barely notice the adjustments taking place behind

the scenes.

At Terawatt, Berry says the company uses proprietary

charge management software and battery energy storage

systems to reduce peak demand on local grids.

“We can integrate battery energy storage systems to

charge up when electricity is cheap and abundant, and dis-

pense it to vehicles – or even back to the grid – during peak

demand times,” Berry says. “This turns energy from a static

cost into a dynamic operational asset.”

Huron says utilities increasingly view EVs as ﬂ exible dis-

tributed energy resources capable of helping balance grid

operations. “Managed charging programs allow utilities to

align charging behavior with local grid conditions, helping

reduce peak demand, defer infrastructure upgrades, and

integrate more renewable energy resources over time,”

Huron says.

As utilities modernize their systems, Huron expects EVs to

become integrated into broader distributed energy resource

management and virtual power plant strategies alongside

connected thermostats, batteries, and other smart technolo-

gies.

Please turn to next page

ELECTRICAL APPARATUS | JULY 2026 21

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