Innovation Highlighted in Bison Gear Video

St. Charles, IL – Innovation and education are key elements in today’s advanced manufacturing environment, where companies like Bison Gear & Engineering Corp. function as an extension of their customers’ engineering and product development departments. A new online video highlights how the gearmotor manufacturer’s innovation is driven by science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education skills, yielding new products and processes to keep globally competitive.

“We define innovation as what happens at the intersection of invention and commercialization,” said Bison Gear chairman, Ron Bullock. “We have a Bison innovation process that seeks the voice of the customer and delivers products that add value.” Bullock will deliver a keynote address, “Innovate or Evaporate: the Skill Set Imperative for Success in Advanced Manufacturing” at the 2009 National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers Conference to be held September 30-October 1 in the Chicago area at the Oak Brook Hills Marriott Resort and at the state-of-the-art Technical Education Center at College of DuPage.

Jim Parejko, Bison Gear vice president, engineering and continuous improvement, adds, “We’re combining the power of innovation with continuous improvement and those two are natural companions.”

National Coalition of Advanced Technology Centers (NCATC)
www.ncatc.org

Bison Gear & Engineering Corp.
www.BisonGear.com

10 Things Everybody Ought to Know About Custom Gearmotors

St. Charles, IL – With heightened focus on budgets and time to market, engineers continue to face a quandary when designing new electromechanical machines and equipment: whether to design “around” a standard off-the-shelf gearmotor or to specify a custom gearmotor meeting their exact requirements. In response to growing concerns on this issue, Bison Gear & Engineering Corp. has analyzed its customer interactions and relationships and produced a new white paper covering the “10 Things Everybody Ought to Know About Custom Gearmotors”.

“We’ve taken a non-Bison-specific approach in this white paper so that design engineers as well as OEM purchasing authorities will find it helpful, no matter what size or type of gearmotor they may use or who their supplier may be,” said John Morehead, Bison Gear vice president, strategic planning and marketing. “The most important finding, drawing on nearly 50 years experience, is the necessity to involve one’s gearmotor supplier’s application engineers as early as possible in the design process. Inevitably, that ensures the best overall machine performance, durability and cost position.”

Some of the other key issues covered in the white paper include the value of proprietary gearmotor specifications, reasonable lead time expectations for custom engineered prototypes, benefits of an expanding product portfolio, production scalability and value-added opportunities.

The new four-page white paper can be downloaded at BisonGear.com.

Bison Gear & Engineering Corp.
www.BisonGear.com

Bison Gear Adds 650 Series to Verdant Duty(TM) AC Gearmotors

St. Charles, IL – Following the successful introduction of its 100 in-lb (11.3 N-m) inverter-duty AC gearmotor line, Bison Gear & Engineering Corp. has increased by seven times the output torque capability of its Verdant Duty™ 3-phase AC offering with the introduction of the new 650 Series variable speed gearmotors. Driven by 1/4 or 1/2 hp (186 or 373 W) three phase 230 volt TEFC AC electric motors, these specially constructed inverter-duty gearmotors are designed for long life variable frequency drive operation with continuous duty torque outputs from 148 to 717 in-lbs (16.7 to 81 N-m).

The 650 Series Verdant Duty™ standard product offering is made up of five models with gear ratios from 27.6 to 214.5:1. Like all of Bison’s standard and Verdant Duty™ products, they are supported by Bison’s In-Stock, Instant-Ship (ISIS) program and available from Bison distributors and direct from the Bison website. Complete specifications and CAD drawings for these units are also available at Bison Gear’s new website.

Bison Gear & Engineering Corp.
www.BisonGear.com

Bison Gear Launches New Web Site

St. Charles, IL – The new Bison Gear & Engineering Corp. web site offers immediate home page visibility of Bison’s extensive line of fractional horsepower AC and DC gearmotors, electric motors, gear reducers, drives and accessories. Bison Gear’s expanding video library has been added to the new site, along with white papers, featured new products and an ever-changing special “closeouts” section.

“In response to our web customers and channel partners, we’ve made it much easier to quickly find Bison products through linked summaries of our entire product range on the new home page, as well as our parametric search tools that enable visitors to find products based on type, voltage, speed, power, torque or gear ratio in any combination,” said Brenda Thiessen, Bison Gear marketing supervisor. “In addition, we have included global web ordering capability for over 550 standard Bison products which are supported with same day order fulfillment through our In-Stock, Instant-Ship (ISIS) program.”

Visitors to the new BisonGear.com can now easily link to Bison’s Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and YouTube social media sites and also sign up to receive Bison’s “Driving Force” newsletter.

Bison Gear & Engineering Corp
www.BisonGear.com

New Permanent Magnet DC Gearmotors from Bison Gear

St. Charles, IL – Bison Gear & Engineering introduces six standard models of new parallel shaft permanent magnet DC gearmotors with continuous torque ratings from 30 to 500 in-lbs. (3.4 to 56.5 N-m). The new VWDIR134 DC gearmotors are available with 1/10 or 1/11 horsepower (74.6 or 67.8 watts) 90 volt brushed DC electric motors. The compact, integral gear reducers feature hardened steel helical and spur gearing for efficiency and durability, with ratios ranging from 10:1 to 266:1 and corresponding fixed output speeds from 152 to 6 RPM. The gearmotors feature built-in face mounting, compatible with Von Weise Genesis mounts, and offer overhung load (OHL) capability of 300 lbs. (136.4 kg.). For added versatility, these gearmotors also accept the new Bison TightDrive™ speed control.

Bison Gear’s TightDrive™ motor-mounted speed control can be easily user installed on the rear of the VWDIR134 gearmotors and offers up to a 20:1 speed range. The TightDrive™ is housed in a durable aluminum extrusion which offers NEMA 1 (IP 30) protection and superior heat dissipation. Speed is controlled with a combination on/off switch and speed potentiometer. In addition, three easily accessible adjustable potentiometers provide settings for minimum RPM, maximum RPM, and current limiting. The simple, yet innovative, SCR control architecture also provides much tighter speed regulation than alternative controls.

The TightDrive™ is designed for 115 volt 50/60 Hz operation and comes complete with three foot (0.9m) power cord and NEMA 5-15P plug. Users can mount the drive directly to the motor in 90° increments to optimize position of cord exit and motor leads.

The new VWDIR134 DC parallel shaft gearmotors are designed for high torque commercial, industrial and agricultural applications such as in foodservice, office and medical equipment as well as a wide variety of conveying equipment.

Bison Gear’s Innopreneurial™ application and design engineering capabilities to customize standard models to meet specific OEM needs are readily available. All of the VWDIR gearmotors are manufactured in Bison Gear’s suburban Chicago facility to Bison’s high quality standards in order to ensure a short supply chain and reliable, long-life operation. The VWDIR and TightDrive™ products are part of Bison’s new In-Stock, Instant-Ship (ISIS) program that offers same day order fulfillment on over 550 standard Bison products.

The VWDIR134 DC gearmotors are the thirteenth series to join Bison Gear’s comprehensive line of Von Weise Drop-In Replacement gearmotors. Bison’s VWDIR line now encompasses 90 standard models of right angle, parallel shaft, and offset parallel shaft designs utilizing AC, DC and universal electric motors from 1/30 to 1/2 horsepower (25 to 373 watts), with fixed output speeds from 1.5 to 181 RPM and continuous torque ratings up to 800 in-lbs (90.4 N-m). All of the VWDIR gearmotors are manufactured in Bison Gear’s suburban Chicago facility to Bison’s high quality standards in order to ensure a short supply chain and reliable, long-life operation.

Bison Gear & Engineering Corp.
www.BisonGear.com

Bison Gear Launches New ISIS Program

St. Charles, IL — In order to keep customers productive in uncertain times, Bison Gear & Engineering Corp. unveils its new “in-stock, instant-ship” (ISIS) program covering over 500 standard models of AC and DC fractional horsepower gearmotors, electric motors and gear reducers. The objective of Bison’s ISIS program is same-day shipment for all orders received prior to noon (CST).

“We strive to maintain on-the-shelf inventory of every Bison Gear standard product featured in our catalog and on our web site,” said Mike Niemela, Bison Gear director of distribution. “This extensive inventory is in support of our distribution partners to meet their customers’ unanticipated low-volume requirements, as well as the requirements of those customers whose immediate product needs may be best fulfilled by ordering through Bison’s web site.”

Expedited next day, two day and three day delivery options are available with Bison’s ISIS program and orders receive email shipment confirmation with tracking data. In addition, Bison does not charge a “handling fee” on web, Canadian and other international orders. The in-stock quantity and replenishment schedules are continually reviewed and adjusted to ensure the highest service levels and customer satisfaction.

All of Bison’s 500+ gearmotor products are American made to Bison’s high quality standards in order to ensure reliable, long-life operation and direct supply chain fulfillment from Bison’s modern St. Charles, Illinois facilities. In addition, Bison’s Innopreneurial™ application and design engineering capabilities to customize or adapt standard products to meet specific OEM needs are readily available.

www.BisonGear.com

Bison Gear’s TightDrive™ Motor-Mounted Speed Control

St. Charles, IL — Bison Gear’s new TightDrive™ speed control for permanent magnet DC (PMDC) motors was designed for applications that require a convenient location for the control … on the motor. The majority of PMDC gearmotors and motors used in industry today require speed controls in order to operate. Typically, the control is wired to the motor through a costly, complicated cable system and the motor and control can be many steps away from each other. Bison’s voice of the customer research brought forth the need for a convenient “point of use” motor speed control that was robust for industrial environments, while offering practical features and exceptional value.

Bison Gear & Engineering’s new TightDrive™ motor-mounted speed control can be easily field mounted on Bison PMDC gearmotors up to 1/6 horsepower (124 watts) and offers a 20:1 speed range with maximum output of 90 Volts. The TightDrive™ is housed in a durable aluminum extrusion which offers NEMA 1 (IP 30) protection and superior heat dissipation. Speed is controlled with a combination on/off switch and speed potentiometer. In addition, three easily accessible adjustable potentiometers provide settings for minimum RPM, maximum RPM, and current limiting. The simple, yet innovative, SCR control architecture also provides much tighter speed regulation than alternative controls.

The TightDrive™ is designed for 115 volt 50/60 Hz operation and comes complete with three foot power cord and NEMA 5-15P plug. Users can mount the drive directly to the motor in 90° increments to optimize position of cord exit and motor leads. The new TightDrive™ speed controls are available for immediate shipment from Bison’s distribution network or direct from the Bison Gear web site.

www.BisonGear.com

Bison Gear’s TightDrive™ Motor-Mounted Speed Control

St. Charles, IL — Bison Gear’s new TightDrive™ speed control for permanent magnet DC (PMDC) motors was designed for applications that require a convenient location for the control … on the motor. The majority of PMDC gearmotors and motors used in industry today require speed controls in order to operate. Typically, the control is wired to the motor through a costly, complicated cable system and the motor and control can be many steps away from each other. Bison’s voice of the customer research brought forth the need for a convenient “point of use” motor speed control that was robust for industrial environments, while offering practical features and exceptional value.

Bison Gear & Engineering’s new TightDrive™ motor-mounted speed control can be easily field mounted on Bison PMDC gearmotors up to 1/6 horsepower (124 watts) and offers a 20:1 speed range with maximum output of 90 Volts. The TightDrive™ is housed in a durable aluminum extrusion which offers NEMA 1 (IP 30) protection and superior heat dissipation. Speed is controlled with a combination on/off switch and speed potentiometer. In addition, three easily accessible adjustable potentiometers provide settings for minimum RPM, maximum RPM, and current limiting. The simple, yet innovative, SCR control architecture also provides much tighter speed regulation than alternative controls.

The TightDrive™ is designed for 115 volt 50/60 Hz operation and comes complete with three foot power cord and NEMA 5-15P plug. Users can mount the drive directly to the motor in 90° increments to optimize position of cord exit and motor leads. The new TightDrive™ speed controls are available for immediate shipment from Bison’s distribution network or direct from the Bison Gear web site.

www.BisonGear.com

How Green is Your Gearmotor?

Three phase electric motors are more efficient than single phase, but three-phase power isn’t available everywhere. Variable Frequency Drives are today’s answer. When compared to DC speed controls, they offer more features to increase equipment life.

To maximize efficiency of your gearmotor, avoid inefficient gearing. Right angle worm gear reducers can have efficiencies of 50% or lower, while spur and helical gears used in parallel shaft reducers are more typically in the area of 98%. Therefore, it pays to see if offset parallel shaft designs are available which offer higher efficiency.

www.bisongear.com

Bison Gear Releases Whitepaper on “Improving Gearmotor Efficiency”

St. Charles, IL – A new white paper on “Improving Gearmotor Efficiency” posted on the Bison Gear & Engineering Corp. web site addresses the relatively untapped energy savings to be had with the proper application of the billions of fractional horsepower electric motors and gearmotors in use today. Most electric motor efficiency efforts and attention to date have only focused on about 10 percent of the total electric motor population: those motors of one horsepower (746 watts) or greater.

“We wanted to outline the fact that the energy savings to be had with even small fractional horsepower gearmotors can offer relatively short payback times for users,” said John Morehead, Bison Gear vice president, strategic planning and marketing. “This brief report identifies the scope of the problem and offers some practical application solutions that can help not only gearmotor specifying engineers, but users as well.”

According to the U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE), electric motors consume over two-thirds of the electricity used in domestic manufacturing and almost one-quarter of America’s total electric energy consumption. To compound matters, the USDOE estimates only 12 percent of users consider the benefits of lower energy operating costs for more efficient electric motor systems.

Billions of fractional horsepower (less than one horsepower or 746 watts) electric motors are used in vent fans, ice dispensers, vacuums, furnace blowers, garage door openers, and thousands of other consumer applications. Millions more small motors and gearmotors are found in thousands of commercial and industrial applications involving pumping, dispensing, cooling, conveying, mixing and every facet of automation.

www.BisonGear.com

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