What if your wire-processing requirements could be handled as one complete solution instead of sourcing equipment one machine at a time? That’s exactly what we’re helping OEMs and panel builders do at American Electrical, Inc. (AEI) with the assistance of GLW, our manufacturer. Our wire processing equipment family covers the critical steps from raw wire…
Relays: The Silent Workhorses of Industrial Automation
Some of the most important components in an industrial control panel are also the ones that receive the least attention. The relay is a perfect example. A relay doesn’t power the machine. It doesn’t run the PLC. It doesn’t display alarms or operator messages. Yet every day, it quietly switches loads, isolates control circuits, protects…
The Most Overlooked Component on Your Control Panel
When engineers design a control panel, they spend countless hours selecting the right PLC, power supply, terminal blocks, relays, and circuit protection. But one component often gets very little attention. The cable grip. Yet every cable entering your enclosure passes through one. A quality cable grip does much more than hold a cable in place….
Are we paying for performance … or simply paying for a brand name?
Think about the millions of wire nuts installed every year. Homes. Commercial buildings. Industrial applications. They’re one of the most widely accepted connection methods in the electrical industry. And when contractors buy wire nuts, the conversation is usually pretty simple: Nobody insists there is only one acceptable wire nut manufacturer. Now compare that to DIN…
Why Push-In Terminal Blocks Continue to Gain Popularity
One of the biggest trends we’ve seen in recent years is the growing adoption of push-in terminal block technology. And honestly, it’s not difficult to understand why. Manufacturers, OEMs, and panel builders are under constant pressure to: ⚡ Reduce labor time ⚡ Increase consistency ⚡ Improve panel density ⚡ Simplify assembly ⚡ Reduce rework Connection…
The Hidden Cost of Oversized Components
One of the most valuable assets inside a control panel isn’t the PLC. It’s not the power supply. It’s not even the wire. It’s the space along the DIN rail. And that space is for sale. Every millimeter you consume has a cost. Yet many panel designs waste valuable DIN rail space by using components…
The Most Overlooked Productivity Tool in a Control Panel
When people think about improving panel-building efficiency, they usually focus on automation, wire processing equipment, or software. But one of the biggest productivity tools in a control panel is often overlooked: Wire duct. It doesn’t get much attention. Yet it impacts nearly every phase of a panel’s life. A well-organized panel with properly sized wire…
One Feature Customers Kept Focusing on at the Wire Processing Expo: Versatility
At the Wire Processing Expo in Milwaukee a few weeks ago, automation definitely drew attention. But one of the most interesting conversations we kept having centered around something beyond automation itself: Versatility. The EC 65, by GLW, generated a tremendous amount of interest because of its ability to process and crimp more than 600 different…
One of the Clear Winners at the Wire Processing Expo: The New LC 160 Automatic Wire Cutter
We had a great week at the Wire Processing Expo in Milwaukee with our partner GLW GmbH from Germany, and one thing became obvious very quickly: The new LC 160 drew a tremendous amount of attention. Why? Because it addresses one of the biggest challenges manufacturers and panel builders are facing right now: ⚡ Labor…
Why Not Using Wire Ferrules Is a Mistake
Not using wire ferrules in panel building is a mistake. It might seem faster. It might seem cheaper. It might even “work.” But it creates problems you don’t see … until later. The Reality of Bare Stranded Wire When you land stranded wire directly into a terminal, you’re relying on: Perfect stripping Perfect insertion Perfect…
