Sneak peek at what makes a glassband special.

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.

Very large glassband commutator, ICC international

Thursday Thoughts:

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

Laura Lyke, CEO and President, ICC international

Thursday Thoughts: What do your people want most right now?

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.

ICC International Hair Cuts Commutator

Consider your joints.

In inserted riser commutators, the connection between the riser and the copper bar is critical both mechanically and electrically.

Silver braze, while more expensive than the silphos traditionally used, solves the problem. In some environments, H2S (hydrogen sulfide) reacts with the phosphorus in standard silphos joints and causes increased resistance and decreased stability. In paper, metals, food processing, phosphate and gas plants, H2S is often the culprit, and the problem is exacerbated when the motor is subjected to higher performance standards than in the past.

Ask us about the optimal material choices for your application, and we will steer you straight to the solution. We are ICC, and improving commutators is our only job. Industry depends on it.

Sulfide in inserted risers, commutator

Did you know?

The very material we use day in and day out in the electro-mechanical industry has properties we don’t think about. Copper has long been known for its infection killing properties, the knowledge of which dates back to as early as 3200 B.C. and record of which dates back to c. 1700 B.C..

The free electron in its outer orbital shell of electrons, which also makes copper such a good conductor, allows the ions to actively seek and then destroy the DNA and RNA in bacteria and viruses. More information can be found on the CDA’s Website at www.copper.org, and the official EPA Registration information is here: https://lnkd.in/ewPSVsw.

Copper and virus.jpg

When an elevator in a New York City hospital goes down, it's a full-on emergency.


Working on a rush delivery schedule, we redesigned, fabricated and delivered this complete new, 275 bar, v-ring commutator 2 days faster than quoted. Originally designed with the bolts behind the risers, at the customer’s request, we redesigned it to make it easier to install.

elevator commutator in New York City

Everything we do at ICC is designed to maximize efficiency, without cutting corners. Whether you need a job built on Straight Time or in an emergency, you have come to know us for being dependable, dedicated, and nimble. When we get your call, we know exactly what to do, and we’ll make it happen with around the clock staffing and priority status in-house.

Call us when you want it fast, reliably and without a price tag that lands you in the ER!

People First

Owning a business is first and foremost a commitment to the people who work there and the people we serve. We have taken drastic measures in juggling shifts, disinfecting professionally, adding paid sick leave, and guaranteeing to every employee that no matter the hurdles, I will personally make sure that not a single one goes without a paycheck, without health insurance, or without anything else that they and their families have come to rely on. Is it easy? No. But in a world where stress levels are at an all-time high, anything we can do as business owners to help take some of the worries off the list, is a win. The people of ICC are talented, committed and incredible human beings. And what’s more, if we answer your phone call, help solve a problem, build you a commutator, or place an order with you, you become one of us. We are here, we are busy, and we will always go above and beyond. Count on us. We are ICC.

-Laura Lyke

Laura Lyke, ICC International

Why is oven baking time such a hot issue?

Time is money...is the short answer.

In your kitchen, turning up oven temperature will not bake a cake faster, it will just burn the exterior leaving the inside raw. So too, is the effect in commutator construction.
— Excerpt from Connections Commutator Repair Guide
DROOPY CAKE.jpg

Do you expect to season your commutator while it is operating? Probably not.

That’s our job. Thorough baking cycles are imperative to stability in operation. Mica v-rings aren’t completely cured until a comm is fully at temperature (350° F) for a minimum of 4 hours.  But, there’s more. Copper and steel expand and contract at different rates and by different amounts.

Full thermal cycling ensures that none of this has to happen when your production is on the line.

We are ICC, and improving commutators is our only job. 
Our industry depends on it.


CONNECTIONS-BANNER.jpg

If you would like a copy of our technical commutator repair guide, that contains 31 chapters on everything from troubleshooting and diagnosing field issues to frequently asked questions. Please send a request to Info@iccinternational.com.

Extension Banding

We've said it before but it's worth repeating.
Good extension banding is absolutely critical to maintain the life of your comm. Banding with gaps and cracks allows for carbon to infiltrate, ultimately leading to shorts or even worse, complete failures. It's important to inspect the banding from time to time as well as coat the banding and the front face of the bars with Viton or Limitrac.
If you have any questions ICC is always here to help, even if you didn't buy your comm from us

Extension Banding

Undercutting: Glassband Commutator

Glassband comms come in all shapes and sizes. Here, this tall, skinny comm is receiving pre-undercutting. Many clients choose to have ICC do the pre undercutting to save hours on their shop floor. And while he looks great in green that tape is in place to protect against any contamination. It will be removed, tested and QC'ed again before heading over to have risers straightened. https://iccinternational.com/building-process

Glassband Commutator undercutting

News Sentinel Article: Women CEOs in East Tennessee

‘I have made a discovery. When interviewed while on vacation, the result is far more personal, and maybe just a little more human than when I answer the very same questions while sitting at my desk. When reading it with as much objectivity as I could muster, I found it to be an interesting result, but it certainly gets to the heart of what it’s like to be a part of ICC and it’s culture. Thanks to Brenna McDermott for taking the time to delve into life as a CEO from women’s perspectives.’ - Laura Lyle, President and CEO

Read the full article here.

#WomenInBusiness #WomenCEO #WomenInManufacturing #FemaleEntrepreneur #WomenWhoLead #SmallBusinessOwner

#WomenInBusiness #WomenCEO #WomenInManufacturing #FemaleEntrepreneur #WomenWhoLead #SmallBusinessOwner

Materials Matter

The commutator is the heart of a DC motor. While it doesn't take a large variety of materials to manufacture a comm the choices we make couldn't be more critical. With fewer DC motors in operation today, big DC required to perform better than ever. Did you know that silphos braze materials can actually cause issues with connectivity as the joint breaks down in certain applications? Instead, 38% silver braze will eliminate this risk and provide a stronger connection over time, both mechanically and electrically. The right material and design can prolong the life and performance of your commutators. https://iccinternational.com/building-process

Commutator materials copper steel mica res-i-glass tape

DC is here to stay.

So maybe that’s not a statement you hear every day, but hear me out. As the DC motor market shrinks, where they are still used, the performance standards are higher than ever. Big DC must be engineered to support improved motor performance, and withstand more rigorous operating conditions. The commutator is a huge contributor to this as a major component, and ICC is the company worldwide that is continually working to improve the processes, materials, and the finished product. Watch our most recent video from the EASA International conference to learn more, and tell us what you think. I, for one, am committed to improving the health of this industry not just in North America, but around the world. Please join me. Laura Lyke, President & CEO