Electronic Drives and Controls Named First U.S. Siemens Solution Partner Certified for Drives & Motion

Parsippany, NJ – February 28, 2018 – Electronic Drives and Controls, Inc. (EDC), a leading control system integrator and field service company for industrial automation and drive technology, today announced it is the first U.S. Siemens Solution Partner to be certified for Drives & Motion. A Siemens Solution Partner since 2014, the company is also certified in Advanced Factory Automation.

With this new certification, EDC has established itself as a strategic solution partner and leading system integrator focused on helping manufacturers with obsolete drive and control technology to automate manual processes and upgrade aging equipment.

“Our congratulations go to Electronic Drives and Controls. This certification means their clients can always trust that EDC will professionally deliver the most advanced solutions based on the powerful combination of SINAMICS integrated drives and SIMATIC totally integrated automation,” said Peter Treible, National Industrial Partner Manager, Siemens.

“We are proud to have Electronic Drives and Controls as a Siemens Solution Partner! EDC has consistently proven that we can always count on them to deliver quality engineering and implementation services, the first time, every time, for our clients. This investment in certification is one of many reasons Siemens views EDC as a leader in their market.”

EDC has 50 years of experience integrating new control systems and repairing or retrofitting older equipment for a variety of manufacturing industries local to New Jersey, New York and Connecticut. With exceptional domain expertise, the company has also established itself nationwide as the go-to resource for manufacturers in the wire and cable, coating, laminating, and converting industries.

Electronic Drives and Controls Siemens
EDC Case Study - Siemens

“For the typical manufacturers we work with, older drives such as Siemens MasterDrives 6SE70 series have been great workhorses for years. We know because we have installed hundreds of them over the years,” said Chuck Dillard, vice president of EDC. “The problem is, as these older industrial drives and controls reach obsolescence, downtime for manufacturers becomes a costly problem with no OEM support and difficulty sourcing replacement parts. We help manufacturers retrofit existing equipment gaining the advantages of new automation technology at a fraction of the cost of purchasing new equipment.”

When upgrading older equipment, automating manual processes allows manufacturers to gain a competitive edge with greater throughput and efficiency. It also sets the stage for leveraging the industrial internet of things (IIoT) and digitalization of the shop floor.

In addition to EDC’s work with the manufacturing sector, the company has a field service business unit. Highly trained technicians perform repairs, large-scale retrofits, and preventative maintenance for customers in the pharmaceuticals, real estate management and HVAC industries.

About Electronic Drives and Controls, Inc.
Founded in 1968, Electronic Drives and Controls, Inc. (EDC) is a CSIA Certified control system integrator with a large field service team specializing in AC and DC drives, PLCs and factory automation. Family owned and operated for 50 years, EDC’s team of engineers and technicians has great depth of experience integrating new control systems and breathing life into older equipment. EDC has the engineering capability to design, build, start-up and service projects from the sophisticated to the simple and the service support team on call 24/7/365 to keep it all running at peak efficiency from day 1 and for years to come. In addition to the company’s certification as a Siemens Solution Partner and a Rockwell Automation Recognized System Integrator, EDC is a factory authorized/factory trained service center for over 40 drive brands.

Overcoming Supply Chain Issues in Automation Through Flexibility

Since the start of the Covid-19 Pandemic, supply chain issues have been on everyone’s mind. It’s a universal problem that is not industry exclusive and has progressively gotten worse in 2022 as demand has soared.

The automation industry today seems to be at its wit’s end. Everyone needs parts, but parts aren’t available. Deadlines are getting pushed back. Lines are down. It’s getting harder and harder to put out these fires. 

Below are methods that Electronic Drives and Controls has employed to better tackle these supply chain issues and bring their clients relief.

Stay Early, Stay Ahead 

Evolution during a crisis is imperative to a business’ survival, so it will come as no surprise that many integrators have made certain changes to keep up with the ever-changing tides. EDC has always been creative in their problem solving, so it was an easy pivot for them to make a slight change in their project planning by sourcing parts as their first step, or as early in the process as possible.  

“On the front end of an upcoming project’s discussion, we tend to now look at availability of parts even before we start our engineering process. We used to engineer it, then find out that certain parts were not available, and then we would have to re-engineer it if we wanted to meet a particular delivery,” said Chuck Dillard, vice president of EDC. “Now, it’s a lot of coordination between our purchasing and engineering departments to pick the right parts and design around what’s available.”

Through front end work on a project, engineers can predict pitfalls and pivot where needed. Having an early plan and changing where needed is better than coming in later and improvising when challenges arise. This flexibility can be crucial during supply chain constraints.

Utilizing Third-Party Manufacturers

EDC has also turned to third-party manufacturers to help address challenges. Third-party manufacturers can be difficult to choose from and it takes extensive research, time, and experience to understand how to credibly source parts. When you’re on your own, there are quality and safety concerns to consider when ordering off of the web – that’s why EDC has invested the necessary time and effort to research and connect with the right sources. 

“For instance, if we want to get an Allen Bradley PLC, we go to Turtle & Hughes and we place an order with them. They order from the factory and then the factory says, ‘Oh, that’ll be four or five months,’ but we really need that PLC right away,” said Bob Pusateri, director of business development at EDC. “So, we purchase components from alternate sources.”

EDC keeps a well-researched list of possible sources in their back pocket to acquire parts as quickly as possible. They rely on their proven expertise to discern whether a part will be usable, even from somewhat-controversial online auction sites like eBay. They don’t make any sourcing decisions lightly, and they always employ a proper investigation before committing to a purchase. With the risk of faulty seals, or other safety measures at stake, working with an industry expert like EDC is crucial to ensuring the successful delivery of these hard-to-find items.

A Vendor-Neutral Strategy

As a system integrator and field service team specializing in over 40 drive brands, Electronic Drives and Controls maintains a vendor-neutral strategy, meaning they do not prescribe to only one OEM for all their projects. This has allowed the company to be more flexible and pull from an array of manufacturers. In turn, EDC is able to compare pricing and capabilities between vendors, allowing them to pass along the added value to their customers. 

Having strong alliances with world-class hardware and software providers around the nation, EDC has done the background work to ensure that their customers are getting the quality that they have come to expect. Through good relationships and a strong network, EDC has lowered lead times and sourced parts that would have otherwise been inaccessible.

The Benefits of Mixing and Matching

With an ample and extensive network of contacts, EDC has the added benefit of being able to pull parts from multiple resources when they’re ready, and as soon as possible. By utilizing a vendor-neutral approach, EDC is able to ‘mix and match’ parts for systems. By sourcing appropriate parts from alternative resources, EDC is able to better maintain project timeline expectations, allowing projects to be completed faster and with much less downtime.

In addition, through mixing and matching, the more cost-effective alternative can be purchased. Using one OEM for the HMI and another for the PLC offers the option to now choose the less expensive parts. This can also help cut down on the time needed to make a purchase, which means more time is going into actual engineering for the project.

What Does the Future Hold for the Supply Chain? 

Last summer, if you had asked a supplier when they expected the supply chain to start improving, they would have most likely estimated the summer of 2022. Yet, as most of us well know, that time has come and gone, yet supply challenges remain. 

Today, there is a mixed review, with some saying it’s getting better, and some of the opinion that it’s getting worse. This unpredictability can understandably be worrisome, but it is not cause for panic. 

When you’re stuck with downtime that is troublesome or you can’t get parts for the system that you rely on, EDC is proud to be your warranty. The supply chain is scraping the bottom of the barrel and the outlook is uncertain. Call on EDC, an experienced and knowledgeable integrator, to navigate this volatile landscape and make conscious decisions on your behalf. EDC has the resources to get your systems up and running.

Start a conversation with EDC here to source the parts you need today!

Electronic Drives & Controls, Inc. to Showcase Innovative Solutions for the Wire and Cable Industry at 2023 Interwire Trade Exposition

EDC Interwire event press release

EDC will exhibit at booth #1259 May 9-11 during the 2023 Interwire Trade Exposition, organized by The Wire Association International (WAI), to connect with wire and cable professionals and to share leading-edge solutions to industry pain points. 

Parsippany, NJ – April 18, 2023 – Electronic Drives and Controls, Inc. (EDC), a leading control system integrator and field service company for industrial automation and drive technology, today announced their attendance at the upcoming Interwire Trade Exposition at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA. EDC will be available May 9 and 10 from 10 am to 5 pm and May 11 from 10 am to 3 pm in exhibitor booth #1259 to discuss wire and cable manufacturing solutions with attendees and industry professionals.

“We are thrilled to be exhibiting at Interwire and sharing our expertise in AC & DC drives, PLCs and factory automation for the wire and cable industry with attendees,” said Vice President Chuck Dillard. “With over 50 years of experience in integrating new control systems and upgrading older equipment, we are able to tackle projects of any complexity. We have a top-notch engineering team to design, build and start-up projects, and a dedicated service support team to ensure our solutions continue to operate smoothly for years to come. Our track record of success in the wire and cable industry speaks for itself, and we look forward to showcasing our capabilities at the expo.”

With a deep understanding of wire and cable industry pain points, EDC engineers will be on hand to share the company’s industry experience and an understanding of the many obstacles wire and cable manufacturers face.  EDC has completed projects ranging from small upgrades to full retrofits, from dealing with obsolete drives or PLCs to excessive wire breaks and increased downtime, all with a tailored approach that prioritizes cost and timing.

The Interwire Trade Exposition provides a global resource for attendees to stay up-to-date with the recent developments and innovations in the industry, such as the growing importance of Industry 4.0, including the integration of IoT, Smart Manufacturing, and Artificial Intelligence in manufacturing processes. The conference promises to be an exciting opportunity for wire and cable manufacturing professionals to share knowledge and expertise, network with colleagues, and stay up-to-date with the latest trends and developments in the industry. 

During the two-day exposition, industry experts and professionals will converge to participate in panel discussions on key issues affecting the wire and cable workforce, copper supply and demand, and the outlook for the steel market. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore industry best practices, including wire break solutions, production developments, and approaches to case-by-case difficulties. 

To learn more and register for the event, visit https://www.interwire23.com/

 

About Electronic Drives and Controls, Inc.

Founded in 1968, Electronic Drives and Controls, Inc. (EDC) is a CSIA Certified control system integrator with deep domain expertise in the wire and cable industry. The company’s large field service team specializes in AC and DC drives, PLCs and factory automation. Family owned and operated for more than 50 years, EDC’s team of engineers and technicians has a vast experience integrating new control systems and breathing life into older equipment. EDC has the engineering capability to design, build, start-up and service projects from the sophisticated to the simple and the service support team on call 24/7/365 to keep it all running at peak efficiency from day one and for years to come. In addition to the company’s certification as a Siemens Solution Partner and a Rockwell Automation Recognized System Integrator, EDC is a factory authorized/factory trained service center for over 40 drive brands.  For more information, visit the company’s website, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.