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INSIDE THIS ISSUE• UL APPROVES IEWC TRANSITION TO NEW ISO 9001:2015 STANDARD• WHY DOES VFD CABLE INSULATION MATTER?• PEOPLE ON THE MOVE• IEWC DEBUTS NEW EMPLOYEE VALUES

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ONLINE: WWW.IEWC.COM | TOLL FREE: 800-344-2323

2017 in Review: A Year of Record Sales and Planned TransitionsWith the end of 2017 and the beginning of a new year, the season is perfect for retrospection and looking ahead to the opportunities in 2018. This past year was busy and full of change for the entire IEWC family. From record setting sales, to digital transformation initiatives, to succession planning, 2017 has been a bustling year and we expect 2018 to continue the trend.

Record-Setting Sales Months Keep IEWC Team HoppingWhen our customers succeed, we succeed. And 2017 has been a year of exciting growth for a number our customers across various industries and markets. This customer success translated into record-setting sales growth for us. August saw our highest-ever sales month, while October and November approached August’s record. Coming on the heels of a challenging previous year, this strong showing is a promising indicator for the new year for IEWC and our partners alike.

Digital Customer Experience Transformation Provides Valuable ToolsEarlier this year, IEWC launched a dramatically improved IEWC.com, the first phase in a digital transformation effort meant to close the gap between IEWC’s excellent, traditional customer service and our online customer experience. The new IEWC.com provides robust product information for more than 50,000 items, with improved searchability and filtering capabilities. This new functionality ensures that customers can easily find and request a quote for a specific IEWC or manufacturer part number anytime, anywhere.

This launch is just the beginning of a much larger effort to enhance IEWC’s digital tools, while still retaining the traditional high-touch, high-quality service that our customers have come to love and expect. This year and next we will roll out numerous new features on the website including eCommerce, real-time pricing, stock availability and multi-language content.

2017 Review

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ONLINE: WWW.IEWC.COM | TOLL FREE: 800-344-2323

2017 Year of Record Sales and Planned Transitions

Global Expansion for Continued GrowthBeyond sales growth, IEWC has also expanded via acquisition during the last few years and continues aggressive growth plans into 2018 and beyond. Key to global expansion is our new sales and distribution center in India. This new south Asian location will expand our reach into Asian markets and the Indian subcontinent specifically, placing us in the heart of multiple manufacturing centers and allowing us to support new customers.

And in Europe, our Premier Cables division is opening a new sales office in Dublin as well as doubling the size and relocating its Belfast depot. John Macken, the new Regional Manager (Ireland), will lead the new sales office with both new locations serving customers in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Leadership Succession Planning Provides Continuity in the Face of Change

For many years, IEWC has flourished under the steady leadership of a number of long-term employees. This year and next mark a “changing of the guard” with the retirements of a number of key members of management, including Dave Nestingen, IEWC Corporate President & CEO. To minimize the effects of these major changes, IEWC actively planned for the transitions and these leaders will remain on the board of directors to act as advisors to the next generation of management.

These retiring team members (see table below) have served IEWC with distinction and while we are sad to see them leave, we are also excited to announce those employees who are being promoted to move IEWC into its next era of success:

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RETIRING RECENTLY PROMOTEDDavid Nestingen, Corporate President & CEO (21 years service) Mike Veum, Corporate President

Jim Wojan, COO (30 years service) Michelle Osman, Chief Operating Officer

Mike O’Donnell, Sr. VP of Global Sales (25 years service)

Cory McFarlane, Managing Director EMEA & Global OEM Sales Team

Pete Henrikson, VP & GM, Americas North

Ricard Garcia, President, Americas South

Phil Harris, Enterprise Risk Director (5 years service)

Debra Crawford, Talent Management Director (3 years service)

Rita Tooke, OEM NA Customer Service Manager (12 years service)

Mark Jeffrey, Supply Chain Planner (28 years service)

Sam Sgroi, Quality Specialist (6 years service)

Trish Jung, Customer Service Representative (19 years service)

UL Approves IEWC Transition to New ISO 9001:2015 StandardIEWC completed its transition to the new ISO 9001:2015 standard in November. UL audited six IEWC sites, and after confirming that we have processes and systems in place to meet the new standard requirements, approved our upgrade to the new standard.

With more than 1.1 million certificates issued worldwide, ISO 9001 helps organizations demonstrate to customers that they can offer products and services of consistently good quality. It also acts as a tool to streamline their processes and make them more efficient at what they do.

The 2015 edition is less prescriptive than its predecessor, focusing instead on performance. The independent, non-governmental International Organization for Standardization achieved this by combining the process approach with risk-based thinking, and employs the Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle at all levels in the organization.

ISO has published 21977 International Standards and related documents to date, covering almost every industry, from technology, to food safety, to agriculture and healthcare. ISO International Standards impact everyone, everywhere.

ONLINE: WWW.IEWC.COM | TOLL FREE: 800-344-2323

Why Does VFD Cable Insulation Matter?

Variable frequency drives (VFDs) that use pulse width modulation (PWM) technology have become a critical part of today’s industrial control systems. As VFDs have become more common on the plant floor, it has become clear that the benefits that these drives provide come with some challenges as well. PWM drive technology can produce power distortions, potentially harmful voltage spikes, and harmonics that affect the devices connected to the drive output. In fact, the National Electric Code recognizes the unique nature of VFD systems by referring to adjustable speed drives explicitly as “power conversion equipment” (2017 NEC, 430.122) in recognition that the distorted power output of a VFD is significantly different than the line input. High output voltages, common mode noise, harmonics, and voltage spikes well over 1,200V are just a few of the electrical issues that can arise when using a VFD. While these electrical challenges are typically considered by an engineer when selecting a motor, the effects of the output on the cable are often overlooked.

One important factor that should be considered when specifying cables for VFD installations is the conductor insulation material. Cable insulation plays a key role in ensuring that VFD installations are safe, efficient, and maximize a manufacturer’s return on investment. There are many options available when selecting insulation material

for VFD cables. Low cost options, in particular 600V rated PCV/Nylon insulation (also called THHN or THWN), may seem attractive due to the smaller initial investment. However, using PVC/Nylon insulation for VFD applications can introduce serious risks to plant equipment and personnel. This insulation material is not designed to withstand the high voltage spikes of 1,200V or more that can occur with pulse width modulated VFDs operating at 480V nominal voltage. Because PVC/Nylon insulation is a thermoplastic material, it is at risk of breakdown and catastrophic failure under these conditions. To make matters worse, the voltage breakthrough resistance of PVC/Nylon insulation is adversely affected when exposed to moisture.

Many of these risks can be mitigated by specifying an XLPE (cross-linked polyethylene) thermoset insulation material. This insulation type provides higher voltage breakthrough resistance and higher impedance than PVC/Nylon, limiting the damage that voltage spikes can cause and preventing the type of catastrophic failure that can result with PVC/Nylon insulated cables. High impedance insulation also helps mitigate the effects of the reflected wave phenomenon, a common issue in VFD applications. In addition, XLPE insulation has lower capacitance than PVC/Nylon. Low capacitance insulation improves power transmission from the drive to the motor and reduces the required power output of the VFD due to lower cable charging current. Lower charging current helps avoid oversizing drives and results in higher efficiency and a faster return on investment for VFD installations. XLPE offers excellent mechanical characteristics as well, providing crush and impact resistance and improved fire resistance. LUTZE, along with many major VFD manufacturers, recommends XLPE insulated cables over PVC/Nylon insulation when specifying cable for VFD installations.

Sponsored content by: Matthew TarneyProduct Market Manager, Cable + Connectivity, LUTZE Inc.

Click to learn more about LUTZE’s VFD cable offerings ›

ONLINE: WWW.IEWC.COM | TOLL FREE: 800-344-2323

People on the MOVE in 2017

IndiaManish BhardwajCountry ManagerStarted with IEWC Sept. 6, [email protected]

IrelandJohn MackenRegional Manager, Premier CablesStarted with Premier Jan. 2018+ [email protected]

CanadaGail DesjardinsTerritory Manager, CalgaryStarted with IEWC Feb. 1, 2017403-215-6770 [email protected]

ChinaYarong (Jack) Fan Account Executive, SuzhouStarted with IEWC Jan. 4, 2017+86-512-6275-6668 Ext. [email protected]

Suwei (Davis) Xu Account Manager, Suzhou Started with IEWC Oct. 9, 2017+86-512-6275-6668 ext [email protected]

Wenfeng (Leon) Yan Account Manager, SuzhouStarted with IEWC May 2, 2017+86-512-6275-6668 Ext. [email protected]

EngFong (Lavone) GohAccount Manager, SuzhouStarted with IEWC Oct. 30, 2017+86-852-3956-9357 Ext. [email protected]

US NorthMary Craig Distr Sales Mgr & Bus Dev, WisconsinStarted with IEWC Nov. 13, [email protected]

US WestEric Kline Territory Mgr, CaliforniaStarted with IEWC Oct. 2, [email protected]

Renee Clauson Account Manager, ArizonaStarted with IEWC Feb. 13, 2017480-385-3605 [email protected]

Jennifer Gilleshammer Account Manager, ArizonaStarted with IEWC Feb. 13, [email protected]

Joe HofemannAccount Mgr, CaliforniaStarted with IEWC Oct. 2, [email protected]

US EastAna Letran Account Mgr, NY, NJ and DEStarted with IEWC Sept. 25, [email protected]

Ryan Mennone Territory Manager, New EnglandStarted with IEWC Nov. 13, [email protected]

ONLINE: WWW.IEWC.COM | TOLL FREE: 800-344-2323

USA Boston, MA978-422-6000800-225-0802 Cleveland, OH440-835-5601800-321-5601

El Paso, TX915-773-2952800-321-560

Dallas, TX972-801-9787800-474-9984

Greenville, SC864-234-5322800-480-5322

Milwaukee, WI262-782-2255800-966-6325

Phoenix, AZ480-922-6900800-989-9502

San Francisco, CA925-939-3600866-472-9473

Seattle, WA425-286-1900425-286-1919

MEXICOAguascalientes, AG+52 449 922 1200

Monterrey, NL+52 449 922 1200

CANADA

Montreal, QC514-956-5877

Toronto, ON905-726-1717866-303-6596

Calgary, AB403-215-6770800-649-7916

CHINAHong Kong, SAR+86 512 6275 6668800-828-2086

Suzhou, Jiangsu+86 512 6275 6668800-828-2086

GERMANY Frankfurt am Main+49 6175 79791 0

MIDDLE EASTDubai*+9714 357 6800

IndiaGurugram, Haryana +91 124 4628232

UNITED KINGDOMBuckinghamshire*+44 (0)1844-202101

Weston-super-Mare+44 870 609 1257

IEWC Global Locations

IEWC Debuts New Employee Values

As a dynamic, growing company, IEWC came to realize that we needed to define ourselves with a common language that all of our division locations could use to describe and outline how we do our jobs and what drives our success.

A steering committee headed by Human Resources completed a company-wide culture survey, created an advisory team, and interviewed multiple employee focus groups and individuals to determine how we do what we do and how we can define that culture and commonly held values.

Based on employee input, the steering committee distilled the many and varied responses into five key values. These values are meant to be a common language among employees. So despite differing locations,

departments and short-term goals, we all share a common dedication to:

• Winning the right way• Communicating honestly• Delivering on our promises• Being constantly creative• Customer obsession

These values were launched this summer via an educational campaign that ensured all employees across the globe learned and understood the meaning behind each value and how to put them into practice each and every day.

To support these values, a new employee award system was also introduced — the “Spot Award.” These awards can be given by any employee who “spots” peers or managers living our values in order to recognize their commitment to our team and our values.

Our

*Argosy Components Limited location


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