Pacific Crest Transformers press releases and news. http://www.pacificcresttrans.com/press-releases.html en Copyright 2009 - Pacific Crest Transformers 29 Apr 2011 21:35:01 -0700 http://www.pacificcresttrans.com/newsandevents/viewPressRelease.action?id=23 Pacific Crest Transformers (PCT), a leader in the design and construction of liquid-filled distribution transformers, announces that it offers a transformer design ideal for retrofitting existing steel industry transformers. PCT meets the steel industry's need for a turnkey retrofit solution that fits into an existing space and easily connects to high and low voltage equipment already in place. The company offers a unique partnership, in which PCT conducts an audit of steel plants' existing transformers and provides complete engineering drawings for replacement transformers at a cost of 10 percent of the purchase price. This engineering cost is deducted from the transformer price when purchased. This proactive approach minimizes lead time and reduces additional manufacturing delays. Steel mills now experiencing increased demand as the economy recovers are faced with the growing need to replace aging transformers. PCT's retrofit transformers are custom-designed for each installation, so the retrofit design and mechanical components can be matched with the existing application. With Pacific Crest's turnkey solution, facility managers can quickly and easily replace transformers during a planned outage. The company's leading edge design offers an extremely high efficiency transformer, which meets the needs of facilities responding to Department of Energy requirements stipulating that replacement transformers incorporate new high efficiency standards. Large multi-facility steel companies seeking to anticipate and plan for future transformer replacement can use PCT's specialty engineering expertise to develop proactive transformer replacement programs. PCT conducts inventories of installed transformers and develops a library of conceptual designs ahead of time. This enables customers to anticipate costs and avoid lag time for design work. Companies can order replacements from the bank of designs as needed, before a costly outage. "Literally thousands of transformers in the steel industry are coming to the end of their natural life and must be replaced," said Curt Collins, Pacific Crest Transformer's vice president of sales and marketing. "Pacific Crest offers a leading edge replacement transformer and can partner with our steel industry customers to give them a strategy for planning their retrofit programs." PCT's transformers feature circular windings that spread the radial forces evenly over their circumference and have cooling ducts throughout the coils, eliminating hot spots that lead to premature breakdown and ultimately to transformer failure. Coil end blocking with heavy duty 3 gauge steel bracing and proprietary pressure plates contains the axial forces exerted during a fault condition. These forces can cause telescoping of the coils, shortening transformer life. The innovative design includes round coils, a cruciform, mitered core with heavy-duty clamping and a proprietary pressure plate design, as well as a premium no-load tap changer. http://www.pacificcresttrans.com/newsandevents/viewPressRelease.action?id=22 Pacific Crest Transformers, a leader in the design and construction of liquid-filled distribution transformers, announces it offers energy-efficient transformers ideal for the petrochemical industry. With more than 90 years experience in the petrochemical sector, PCT provides customized padmount, station and substation transformers that save energy and lower costs. PCT's efficient transformers have grown increasingly valuable to the energy-intensive petrochemical industry as fuel costs continue to rise. The company customizes its transformers for a wide range of petrochemical applications, specifically building them for hazardous, flammable or explosive environments; on-shore and off-shore platforms in corrosive atmosphere; special taps and voltages as required; harmonic loads from PLC and VFDs; and high pollution areas. Available in ratings from 75 to 15000 kVA, PCT padmount, station and substation transformers are compact, as well as easy to install and maintain. They are designed for indoor and outdoor locations and are both tamper and corrosion proof. The transformers are also compliant to NEMA and ANSI standards. http://www.pacificcresttrans.com/newsandevents/viewPressRelease.action?id=21 Pacific Crest Transformers, a leader in the design and construction of liquid-filled distribution transformers, offers significant experience designing custom transformers for a wide range of applications, including rectifier feeds, step-up duty, motor-starting duty, variable frequency drive applications, generator field excitation, and inverter duty. PCT offers custom designs for pad mount, station, substation, and grounding transformers. According to Tom Steeber, Pacific Crest Transformer's vice president of marketing and sales, a transformer designed specifically for a particular application will hold up dependably, while standard off-the-shelf transformers may fail if not designed with the needs of an application in mind. "Electrical contractors are providing expensive capital equipment which has to be dependable for 30 years and longer," said Steeber. "To obtain the quality and durability contractors are looking for, it is absolutely critical that they specify a transformer with the features needed for a particular application." PCT is known for transformers that are reliable under heavy industrial use, flexible in design, and made with the highest quality manufacturing processes and equipment. They are available with a wide range of core and coil designs to meet total-ownership cost and material requirements. http://www.pacificcresttrans.com/newsandevents/viewPressRelease.action?id=20 Pacific Crest Transformers, a leader in the design and construction of liquid-filled distribution transformers, announces that it offers the SPSU photovoltaic (PV) s olar converter step-up transformer , ideal for connecting solar farms to the electricity grid at large-scale solar power installations. Reliable and efficient, PCT's step-up transformer is an, engineered solution with the design flexibility needed for the solar market. PCT's West Coast U.S. location ensures speed of delivery. The SPSU is uniquely designed for the additional loading associated with non sinusoidal harmonic frequencies often found in inverter-driven transformers. An innovative system of multiple windings reduces transformer costs and minimizes transformer footprint by combining the step-up function to fewer transformers than other systems. Designed and constructed to meet and exceed earthquake standards, the SPSU is rated for installation in the highest earthquake rating zones. In addition, PCT's SPSU PV solar converter step-up transformer incorporates a variety of fluids, including less flammable fluids required for enclosed applications. The SPSU model features circular windings that spread the radial forces evenly over their circumference and have cooling ducts throughout the coils, eliminating hot spots that lead to premature breakdown and ultimately to transformer failure. Coil end blocking with heavy duty 3 gauge steel bracing and proprietary pressure plates contains the axial forces exerted during a fault condition. These forces can cause telescoping of the coils, shortening transformer life. The Model SPSU features an innovative design that includes round coils, a cruciform, mitered core with heavy-duty clamping and a proprietary pressure plate design, as well as a premium no-load tap changer. "New energy applications require new technologies," said Tom Steeber, Pacific Crest Transformer's vice president of marketing and sales. "The SPSU step-up transformer is especially designed to meet the solar industry's need for reliable service in remote locations, and offers superb fault survivability." http://www.pacificcresttrans.com/newsandevents/viewPressRelease.action?id=19 Pacific Crest Transformers, a leader in the design and construction of liquid-filled distribution transformers, announces that it offers the PCT WTSU step-up transformer, specially designed for the wind farm turbine market. The PCT WTSU is an engineered solution that addresses the specific needs of the wind farm turbine. It reduces lost revenues due to down time and provides a lower total cost of ownership compared to standard off-the-shelf distribution transformers. Standard transformers experience frequent failures when used in wind farms, due to heat build-up from rapid and irregular thermo-cycling, frequent fault conditions, and build-up of gasses from arcing that occurs when inexpensive tap changers are used. To mitigate these issues, the Model WTSU features an innovative design that includes round coils, a cruciform, mitered core with heavy-duty clamping and a proprietary pressure plate design, as well as a premium no-load tap changer. The PCT design features circular windings which spread the radial forces evenly over their circumference and have cooling ducts throughout the coils, eliminating hot spots that lead to premature breakdown and ultimately to transformer failure. Coil end blocking with heavy duty 3 gauge steel bracing and proprietary pressure plates contains the axial forces exerted during a fault condition. These forces can cause telescoping of the coils, shortening transformer life. The WTSU has a unique cooling system, effectively shortening the path that heat generated within the core and coils must take to reach the cooling fluid. It also features a tap changer with silver-plated contacts, for long-life and reliable operation. "Down time in a wind farm is expensive, because it leads to lost revenue, as well the high costs of repairing or replacing damaged transformers," said Tom Steeber, Pacific Crest Transformer's vice president of marketing and sales. "The step-up transformer is a key component of wind farm electricity generation and our WTSU is designed to meet the unique requirements of the individual farm, its turbine type and associated electrical components." http://www.pacificcresttrans.com/newsandevents/viewPressRelease.action?id=18 Pacific Crest Transformers, a leader in the design and construction of liquid-filled distribution transformers, announces that it offers cost and energy-efficient station and substation transformers ideal for mining applications. PCT's custom built transformers for the mining sector are constructed to withstand rough ground and corrosive atmosphere, and feature a greater overload capability and high thermal resistivity. Designed to withstand the harsh work environment and sometimes hostile conditions found at mines, PCT transformers can be used in open pit and subterranean applications that range from auxiliary lighting loads to power for cranes, drag lines, conveyor belts and other miscellaneous dedicated variable speed drive applications. PCT's liquid-filled station type transformers are available in ratings from 75 to 15000 kVA. Compact in size, the station type transformers occupy a minimum of space, are skid mounted and specially designed to operate on a tilt. They operate in a corrosive atmosphere and at high elevations. PCT transformers feature robust construction, important for enduring harsh conditions often found at mining locations, and improved cooling for longer insulation life. Customized designs are available for both new applications and replacement of existing transformers. Rated from 75 to 15000 kVA, PCT's secondary unit substation transformers are designed for reliability and heavy industrial use. Flexibility in design, combined with the highest quality manufacturing processes and equipment enable PCT to provide a product optimized to your requirements. PCT's secondary unit substation transformers are also made with a wide range of core steels and winding conductors to meet total-ownership cost and material requirements. In addition to superior design and robust construction, PCT also offers local factory representatives, transformer delivery by a factory-dedicated carrier, a fully staffed customer service department, and maintenance and field service training. http://www.pacificcresttrans.com/newsandevents/viewPressRelease.action?id=17 Pacific Crest Transformers, a leader in the design and construction of liquid-filled distribution transformers, announces that it provides grounding transformers ideal for the renewable energy market. The grounding transformers are essential for large multi-turbine wind farms, where the substation transformer frequently provides the sole ground source for the distribution system. A grounding transformer placed on the turbine string provides a ground path in the event the string becomes isolated from the system ground. When a ground fault on a collector cable causes the substation circuit breaker for that cable to open, the wind turbine string becomes isolated from the ground source. The turbines do not always detect this fault or the fact that the string is isolated and ungrounded, the generators continue to energize the collector cable, and the voltages between the un-faulted cables and the ground rise far above the normal voltage magnitude. According to Tom Steeber, Pacific Crest Transformer's vice president of marketing and sales, "Millions of dollars in liability and loss can be attributed to ground-fault arcing, so grounding-related issues should top the checklists of any electrical contractor." Pacific Crest grounding transformers, provide the electrical contractor with an engineered solution designed specifically for the fault duty of each unique application. Robust construction utilizing circular windings on miter cut cruciform magnetic cores provides superior performance which translates into unsurpassed system reliability and personnel safety." http://www.pacificcresttrans.com/newsandevents/viewPressRelease.action?id=16 Pacific Crest Transformers, Inc. ("PCT") recently welcomed U.S. Representative Greg Walden (R) to their modern facility in Medford, Oregon, to discuss the role of transformers in renewable energy markets, primarily wind energy at this time. PCT designs and manufactures liquid-filled transformers across a wide spectrum of sizes and applications, specializing in custom-designed, engineered solutions for small to medium voltage distribution transformers, industrial transformers, extreme duty specialty transformers, and small power transformers. With many major industrial customers cutting back on their capital expenses as a result of the continuing poor economic reality, the emergence of renewable energy markets present an opportunity for PCT to create growth and save jobs in Southern Oregon. With many new wind farms planned nationally, especially in northeastern Oregon, the need for transformers on wind farms is seen as a tremendous opportunity. Representative Walden, who sits on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, was invited to tour PCT's 120,000 sq. ft. facility and saw several transformers in various stages of production. He was able to observe first-hand the amount of labor hours and natural resources required to manufacture a single transformer. With the nation's power grid and transmission infrastructure in dire need of overhaul and upgrade, along with the growth of renewable energy markets, there is an enormous opportunity for this Oregon company to constructively share its knowledge and expertise with regard to transformers and electrical energy; and maintain jobs in the process. To learn more about Pacific Crest Transformers and about the nation's energy infrastructure, please see a short video titled "The Economic Report" at www.PacificCrestTrans.com http://www.pacificcresttrans.com/newsandevents/viewPressRelease.action?id=15 On January 26, 2010 Pacific Crest Transformers (PCT) was presented with both the Above and Beyond Award and the Patriotic Employer Award. These awards were presented to President and CEO, Glen Monigold, along with nominating employee, Gunner's Mate Chief James Strickland, a member of the Navy Reserve. Each award carries special significance and recognition. The Patriotic Employer Award was presented to Glen Monigold as an individual who supports the Guard and Reserve's successful military missions around the world. As nominating employee, Chief Strickland said in his nominating remarks, "Mr. Monigold, is an ex-Army officer and has, on numerous occasions, expressed his pride and gratitude to me for placing myself in harm's way in service to our country." The other award, the Above and Beyond Award, was presented to PCT. The Above and Beyond Award is presented to a business, its managers and its staff. This recognition is awarded for providing a supportive and appreciative workplace for the military service of employees and their families. This support is recognized as surpassing that which is stipulated in the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. As part of his nominating comments, Chief Strickland had this to say, "At no time has the issue of hardship to the company by my absence been raised. My immediate supervisor, Mr. Don Landrum has repeatedly been in contact with my spouse to ensure her well being and he emails me regularly". Chief Strickland has since returned home from his mission and was able to be present when these awards were presented. Two other PCT supervisors, Allan Chisum and Gene Lewis, have received recognition for their support of employees who are actively serving abroad. Pacific Crest Transformers is currently anticipating the safe return of two members of the Oregon National Guard still deployed overseas. PCT continues to offer an environment of support and appreciation for our actively serving employees, as well as those of any active serving man and woman. These awards were presented to Pacific Crest Transformers on behalf of the Department of Defense and the Oregon Committee of Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve. http://www.pacificcresttrans.com/newsandevents/viewPressRelease.action?id=13 Pacific Crest Transformers recently published an Ad on Custom-Designed High-Quality Transformers for Wind Farms, in the US Infrastructure Magazine. http://www.pacificcresttrans.com/newsandevents/viewPressRelease.action?id=8 It is this time of year that we all tend to take stock of our lives. In these trying economic times the picture that's painted isn't always very pretty. Many are looking at layoffs, the possibility of foreclosures, stacks of bills that aren't getting any smaller and unfilled food cupboards. The anxiety that many are feeling, at this time of year in particular, just to provide food for their families is increasing by leaps and bounds. As individuals take stock of their lives, companies are looking at their bottom lines. Countless companies are seeing expenses soar and profits drop through the floor. But Pacific Crest Transformers, a design build manufacturer of liquid filled transformers for the industrial market, has been fortunate. While they have not seen the kind of growth that they were striving for this year, they have still grown. They have increased efficiencies, significantly improved their safety record, and are kicking off a new product line for 2009. Recognizing their uncommon situation PCT and its employees sought ways to reach out to their community in Medford, OR. Over a period of seven business days the 140 employees donated nearly 1,100 food items, that's almost 8 items per person in a food drive for Access Inc, a local organization that provides help to the needy. In addition to the food donated from the employee's pockets, PCT donated an additional $1,000 which translates into approximately 5,000 lbs of food for those in need PCT has also expanded its philanthropic endeavors to include donations to the American Heart Association, and Southern Oregon Drug Awareness. It is PCT's hope as a company and as individuals in Southwest Oregon that these donations will go a long way to help those in their communities get through these difficult times. It is also PCT's hope that their generosity will encourage other companies and individuals that find themselves in this same uncommon situation to show their gratitude in similar ways.