SPX companies understand the importance of meeting customers’ specific needs throughout the Americas. One of those customers, Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp. (AECC) based in Little Rock, Ark., contracted SPX’s Waukesha Electric Systems to produce custom-engineered electric transformers.
An essential part of the transformer manufacturing process is the testing phase in which a series of dielectric tests — tests that determine the capability of insulating materials to withstand breakdown — are conducted to ensure the equipment meets industry standards, as well as customer specifications.
For regulatory or any of a number of other reasons, customers such as AECC often need to be at the manufacturing site to witness these tests in person. However, rising fuel prices, fluctuating schedules and other issues make it increasingly difficult for customers to travel to production facilities to view the testing of their products.
Remote Viewing
Waukesha Electric Systems developed a process, dubbed “Windows into Waukesha,” that offers its customers the “next thing to being there” when it comes to witnessing dielectric tests.
By means of a live webcast, the company enables its customers to remotely view the tests being peformed on their transformers from any location where they have access to a computer and the Internet.
The customers from AECC not only witnessed the various dielectric tests. When a test issue arose, they were also able to watch firsthand as investigative work was undertaken by Waukesha Electric Systems employees to correct the situation.