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QUALITY WORKMANSHIP CODE DELIVERS BIG ELECTRICITY SAVINGS

CMG Electric Motors in Auckland is the first motor rewind workshop in the country to gain certification under the new quality scheme, which includes independent certification of rewind workshops.

CMG Service Manager, David Priestley, said big electricity users will want an assurance in future that repaired motors were not costing them thousands of dollars in lost efficiency.

He said an audit in the United States found properly repaired motors performed as efficiently as new motors, but some fell below the manufacturer’s specification because of poor workmanship.

”The new quality code provides independent verification of workmanship standards and gives an assurance to users that their electric motor assets can operate at optimum efficiency.”

The Electricity Commission is supporting the code, which has been developed by Telarc SAI and representatives from the rewind industry, because of the importance of an efficient motor stock to electricity efficiency in New Zealand. Of the economic electricity efficiency potential in New Zealand industry, motors and motor systems represent more than 90% of the opportunity.

A poor quality electric motor rewind can cost a business dearly. Left in that state for the rest of its life it will increase electricity costs and possibly cause reliability issues and increased maintenance costs.

Motor core damage is a key risk in the rewind process, and it is not difficult for a poorly controlled process to cause damage that increase the ‘core losses’ (electrical losses from core damage) three-fold, compared to a high quality rewinding process.

Quantifying that loss of efficiency, a 3 percentage point loss of efficiency for a 55 kW motor running full loaded for 6000 hours per year (using an electricity costs of 12 cents per kWh) will increase the electricity costs by around $1200 every year.

The Commission is assisting motor rewind companies to become certified to the code and is promoting the financial and performance gains for savvy businesses who specify certified workshops when their motors are sent out for repair work.

Mr Priestley, who is also president of the Electrical Apparatus Service Association (EASA), said New Zealand was one of the few countries in the world that set minimum efficiency standards on new motor imports.

“We have a minimum standard for new motors and it is logical users will want the same efficiency levels for repaired motors,” Mr Priestley said. “Once big manufacturers specify Telarc certification in their job sheets, all motor rewind companies will need to be on board.”

Mr Priestley said that with Auckland having become certified, his company was committed to gaining certification for CMG’s other workshops in Rotorua, Cambridge and Christchurch.

For further information contact:
David Priestley Tel 09 820 3550 or 021 400 815 or Rod Treder, Programme Manager Industrial, Electricity Commission 04 462 0618 or 021 723 745
Released by: jessica.norman@electricitycommission.govt.nz