CONNECTIONS
The 2023 United Way of Blount County Campaign has officially started and based on the crowd at the kick-off luncheon - folks are ready and excited!
History is being made with the first set of twins as campaign co-chairs! Check out the Wonder Twins hype video! To help them reach their $2.2 Million goal you can donate here.
You can tell a lot about a person by their coffee mug ☕️
I love seeing the ICC’s team's personalities shine through their cups – it reminds me that a team is not just a collection of professionals, but a group of unique individuals with diverse strengths and qualities. By understanding and appreciating these differences, we can create a supportive and inclusive work environment that fosters collaboration and growth.
The Inspirational Quote – Your enthusiasm inspires and uplifts others, creating a motivational atmosphere in the team.
The Punch Line – You don’t take yourself too seriously and bring laughter and levity to the workplace.
The Sentimental Cup – You appreciate the meaningful relationships and experiences that shape you.
The Free Swag Mug– You're a problem-solver who knows how to leverage the resources available to get the job done efficiently.
These seemingly mundane objects can offer valuable insights into someone’s personality and work style, and as leaders, paying attention to these details can help us better understand and support our team members.
While Laura’s presence will always be missed by everyone at ICC International, her legacy will continue to live on in the company she played such an integral part in building. As the company launches into the next important phase in its long and illustrious history, we’re excited about the opportunity to build on the remarkable foundations of this business so it will grow for many years to come.
Thank you. I thought I was excited about being nominated. Now, this!
People first, right? I love what I do. I never really thought that it would be manufacturing in the electric motor space around the world, but why not? To all of us, this is more than an award to a successful business. It is validation and recognition of the fact that all business is about people. Staff, customers, vendors, community, … people who have learned that everything they do, as individuals, makes a difference. Do what you say you will. Learn from mistakes. Never sacrifice quality. And try not to make decisions you are ashamed of. Today, in 2022 with all the challenges of recent times, we have the very best team of people we have ever had.
Think about this: our amazing customers are companies who can choose to work with anyone at all. Around the globe. They are choosing ICC. Here in East Tennessee a world away from more than half of them.
No business succeeds on its own. We made a decision that if ICC was going to grow, the health of our industry was paramount, and we have a responsibility to help make it stronger.
Where we are now and where we are going, is a direct result of these efforts. Our people-first culture makes us different, and it makes us better.
Thank you to those of you through the Knoxville Chamber who looked at who we are and decided to award us this honour.
Thank you to Shawn, and Tracy, and Jason, DaLynn, Pam, Jay, Keith, Johnny, Dwayne, Brent, Joe, John, Michelle, Krista and every one of the incredible staff who make ICC special, whether they have been with us 2 months or 32 years.
Evan and Kate, my beautiful girls, remember always that you can do anything and that I love you dearly.
And thank you, to this community, for making this home.
We would like to congratulate our fellow East Tennessee businesses for being named to the Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies. East TN has been home to ICC for 37 years, and we couldn’t imagine being headquartered anywhere else. Being a part of the economic growth of the area is a responsibility and a privilege. At ICC we believe that being recognized on this list is not only a win for ICC and the DC motor industry but for our community as well. We are proud to stand among this group in the community and do our part to bring jobs and business to the state of Tennessee. Thank you Knoxville News Sentinel read the article here.
RDI Technologies Inc. KaTom Restaurant Supply, Inc. @KarenCoffey Arsenal Strength ONE Business Solutions
Boston Government Services, LLC (BGS) Crown Laboratories, Inc. Ole Smoky Distillery, LLC RCN Technologies Axle Logistics @K & P Enterprises Priority Ambulance Mac's Pharmacy FourSeasons Incorporated
Perfection. Detail. Pride in accomplishment.
These things are cultural. Is culture about geography or mindset? I would argue that it is mindset and therefore something that can be developed. Once obtained, it is to be cherished, as it translates into continuous improvement and dedication to a craft. In turn, in our case, it makes the industrial world better. I am very proud to be able to showcase these examples of the culture at ICC.
The advantages of managing multiple large projects at once are multifold.
Urgency, attention to detail, efficiency and skill become highlighted. But people working together in a way that sometimes appears like a living breathing jigsaw puzzle, brings an intensity and enthusiasm that reminds all of us that what we do is important, and that every one of us is indispensable.
While turning the page on the calendar does not guarantee change nor success, it does bring a renewed mindset.
I have learned that we are in control of nothing but our own personal reactions and decisions.
ICC is incredibly fortunate to have thus far weathered the storm thanks to our loyal partners and truly committed employees, but we too are eager to begin a new year. Our 2021 wish for everyone is that all challenges are conquered with grace, humility, and kindness.
Happy New Year!
Laura
From everyone at ICC, we wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday. This has been a challenging year for everyone, and we sincerely hope you find peace and happiness this season as we look to 2021. Take time to reflect and enjoy the things that make you happy.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays
Laura
I have several good qualities. Patience is not one of them. However in these crazy times, we are moving steadily towards completion of our expansion, and I am so excited! With several new pieces of equipment and a complete reorg, the improvements in capabilities, workflow and efficiency will make the chaos worth every minute.
The November issue of Barks Publications, Inc. (Electrical Apparatus Magazine) is out, catch our complete ad on the inside front cover!
Grazie Mille. That is just about the sum total of my Italian vocabulary (I am working on that). Can you imagine the feelings associated with being given your very first chance to prove that you are different and better?
This comm… all 656 bars and almost 2 metres in diameter of it, was our first OEM project for Europe. It represents a belief in making DC better. In taking extra effort to make the best process and material decisions. To be unwilling to give up on an industry or the people in it. And I am thankful on more levels than can be described.
My dream is to have ICC be the only true high level large industrial commutator manufacturer on earth - and this is an important step. We will earn your trust, just give us the chance.
Grazie Mille,
Laura
Why expand? Because this is frankly just silly.
Adding an additional lathe with additional undercutting capability is at the top of the list, along with brand new vertical CNC and banding equipment. Stay tuned as we make progress!
Incredible but true. Glassband commutator fabrication is tricky business, and the cost of getting it wrong is enormous.
Your first visual sign of a segment pack that is loose on the core may be the risers as shown below (image 1). The shift of the segment pack versus the coils becomes visible, ultimately resulting in complete failure (image 2). The cause can be twofold: Worst is if the commutator was installed incorrectly to the mica wrapped hub and the whole assembly spins on the core. Alternatively, the outer bands may have deteriorated (image 3). If the bands have not been coated, or have been subjected to excessive heat, the resin will burn away, or carbon that has infiltrated burns invisibly from the inside out and the bands give way. In this design, those bands are the only thing holding segments in place.
The lesson? Make sure it’s tight in manufacturing with a retained interference fit to specific standards, and ensure that band inspection is part of your routine maintenance, especially in extreme environmental conditions.
For the record, while I normally post photos of things we build, this is the exception and not one of ours!
When recently preparing a presentation on leadership, I headed to the floor and asked my guys what I was good at and what I wasn’t. I got many answers (some I might frankly rather not have heard).
One conversation stood out though. “Sometimes, Laura, your expectations seem a little out of line.” I asked if they were too low 😉. They came back, though, and said, “But, whenever you throw something out there that we think is impossible, the next thing we know, we made it happen. Suddenly, we realize that we are better than we thought.”
That ability to all work together, to strive, and to grow has somehow, in these crazy times, resulted in ICC being named to the Inc. 5000 list of Fastest-Growing Companies in America. I have been told that DC is dying for my entire tenure. We believe in this industry, and we believe in our customers.
Together we are driving growth and making DC better. Thank you to all inside and outside of ICC who helped make this happen. This is a win for DC, and we are so honored. Inc. Magazine
DC is still alive and well, especially the big stuff.
This steel and segment pack are for two extra-large jobs we have in house this month. We have more in the works and more on the way. Every one of these projects is for an international customer, and we couldn’t be more honored to be a part of keeping critical business up and running around the world.
When soldering coils into the risers of a commutator, the worst potential consequence is flux contamination, especially in solid riser comms. The same flux that cleans the copper to permit the solder to adhere uniformly to the risers creates a potential for contamination that can destroy a commutator.
Flux contamination can occur during the soldering process when flux and/or excess solder seeps away from the riser slots and finds its way to the underside of the commutator. Because the flux and solder are conductive, they render the mica insulation useless. When the insulation can no longer prevent electricity from jumping from bar to bar, the commutator shorts out. Once the mica insulation is contaminated, almost nothing can be done to restore its insulating properties. When the commutator shorts out due to flux contamination, there are usually only two options: Reinsulate (replacing all mica insulation throughout the commutator) or rebuild.
When inspecting a commutator for flux contamination, look for discoloration of the copper bars. The discoloration may take several forms. Streaks of solder and flux are silver in color; carbon residue where arcing has occurred is black; contaminated copper bars can take on a darker, mottled and greenish coppery hue, or the contaminated area may just appear lighter than others. Compare the rear dovetail to the front, since the front will be free of contamination. As always, when taking a comm apart, be sure to band it tightly and bake it before attempting to remove the v-rings.
While soldering, angle the comm so that flux and solder run away from, and not toward, the bottom of the comm.
Use flux and solder sparingly.
Flux and solder small sections of the comm at a time.
Use a rosin-core solder to reduce the need for flux, or a flux- based solder so the solder contains the flux.
If the commutator is contaminated, some solvents will clear minor contamination, but call your ICC representative at any time for advice on how to proceed. 865-983-7444 or info@iccinternational.com
If you have any technical questions don't hesitate to call, we can talk you though the troubleshooting process. 865-983-7444
This 47" diameter 468 bar glassband commutator has solid risers and operates in a 3200KW GE motor. Glassband commutators differ from V-rings as the retaining force is on the exterior via the resiglas bands. The material is made from high tensile glass yarns laid parallel and bonded with fully catalyzed thermosetting resins. The commutator is banded to an OEM specified number of wraps applied at >600 pounds. Once installed on the armature the bands should be coated with Viton® and/or Limitrac® which seals the seams between copper and banding. This ensures that carbon cannot infiltrate behind the bands, where they can burn from the inside out causing catastrophic failure.
As I was sitting here at my desk (and yes, the photo is cropped so you can’t see the mess), I realized that how we communicate is more important than ever. Leadership doesn’t have a look, it has a sound. As business owners, being open brings a renewed sense of strength to universally stressed employees, customers, and everyone, really.
My people worry. Yours do, too. They worry about the future…tomorrow, next week, next year. They get caught up in their day-to-day, and it’s natural. When we can bring them the big picture, it changes their perspective. The other day, we had a quick whole company lesson (outside) in Business 101. Cash keeps a company healthy. Customers paying us are stretching out payments. We are doing the same, but less so as we commit to our treasured local and key vendors. Paychecks are deposited. Insurance is paid. Are performance reviews overdue even though deserved? Yes. But merit increases need to wait right now while we ensure that everything is in place to be sure that everyone has jobs. Sometimes, it’s that simple. As an employee, you may not agree with my decisions, but I will always endeavor to help you understand why I made them. And I am human, so there will be mistakes, but not for lack of caring.
-Laura Lyke
Thursday Thoughts: What do your people want most right now? Mine wanted haircuts. And beard trims. Who’d have guessed? While checking in with the guys on a regular tour around the shop floor, it seemed odd to me that in three separate conversations, the main comment was, “Man, I need a haircut.” I have to admit, It never actually occurred to me that these guys gave their hairstyles much thought. That’s not a criticism, more of a revelation.
What else do we forget to think about? We know, as leaders, that everyone has things going on personally that impact their lives and work. But, if once in awhile, we hit on a common thread within a group, is it not a great opportunity? It turned out to be the perfect way to show my appreciation for this amazing team. Haircuts for all who wanted them. Outside on the loading dock, masked, by a professional. One after another they cycled through and headed for home with one less thing to worry about.
