PTDA Motion Control Panel Session: Accelerating the Opportunity in
Motion Control
Frank E. Hurtte, Jr.
The motion control and mechatronics segment continues to accelerate
at an unprecedented rate. Defined as the marriage of mechanical
motion and the electronics required to monitor and control the process,
motion control has become a catchword with industrial customers.
Power transmission distributors hold sway as the go-to guys of the
mechanical side of motion.
According to ongoing surveys, many PTDA members have responded to
their customer’s request for a “total solution” by
reshaping their offerings – carefully matching cutting edge
electronics with traditional products to form a broad ranging solution
platform.
Join an all-star panel as they debunk the mystery surrounding motion
control. This diverse group consisting of four distributors and a
manufacturer moved into motion control from different
backgrounds.
Hear straight from people who understand both Mechatronics and the
inter-workings of our industry. No “pie in the sky”
consultant pontificating on “professional
power-bands”—just real people, with straight talk and
real-world backgrounds. Whether you are an experienced motion pro
or someone just launching your own program, the collective experience of
this group will accelerate your opportunity in motion control.
Hear straight talk answers to the kind of questions you would
ask:
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Why did you decide to invest in the motion control business?
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Has participation in the motion control segment given you a
competitive advantage in your “traditional” business?
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How long did it take you to go through your launch into motion
control? What would you have done differently?
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What do you look for in a motion control supplier or
distributor?
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What is the supplier and distributor’s role in the sales
process?
The panel will include companies who approached the market from
historical backgrounds in electrical, power transmission and the fluid
power distribution industry.
Tim York (Vice President Automation Solutions – Standard
Electric Supply Co. of Wisconsin)
Tim is recognized for his efforts in leading a 91 year old
electrical apparatus supplier into the automation and mechatronics
market. Growth drivers in the automation and motion control market
have moved Standard from a single location Wisconsin-based operation to
a regional player with multiple locations across the
upper-Midwest. Mr. York is the current President of the
Association of High Technology Distributors and brings a unique view of
the motion control industry.
George Flolo (Vice President - Flolo
Corporation)
George’s “linkedin.com” profile proudly proclaims his
31 year membership in PTDA. Flolo’s company operates in the
hyper-competitive Chicagoland market. They provide a full line of
power transmission products. Things like bearings, couplings, belts and
gear reducers, and motors fill their linecard - but their offering
doesn’t stop there. Instead, Flolo takes a holistic approach
to solving customer motion problems. They offer electronic motion
controllers and systems integration expertise.
Chris Toothman (President and Owner - Power Transmission
Specialties)
Chris has been immersed in the Power Transmission industry since his
earliest days. As the second generation owner of a small
independent Southern California-based Power Transmission Distributor,
Toothman’s clients are some of the most high tech organizations on
the planet. They demanded complex motion control solutions and
Power Transmission Specialties responded. Chris is one of the
“next-generation” of PTDA owners and motion control is part
of his vision. The company vision statement proclaims a commitment
to expertise in PT, Motion Control and Plant Automation.
Bob Korb (Vice President Sales - OTP Solutions)
Bob packs a dynamic resume of industrial sales and marketing
expertise. Bob joined Ohio Transmission and Pump in 1996 and has
led the sales team through a marked shift from a narrow band of
traditional PT products to a broad array of solutions for Midwestern
manufacturers. So pronounced were these changes, Ohio Transmission
and Pump changed its name to OTP Solutions in January of this
year. OTP has been recognized by a number of publications serving
the Motion Control Industry and they were selected as one of the top
industrial suppliers in the country by Modern Distribution Management
Magazine in May of this year.
Dan Schnabel (Vice President/General Manager - Minarik
Drives)
Dan brings 22 years of Power Transmission experience with ten of those
spent managing the ever growing drive offering at Minarik Drives.
The drives created by Dan’s organization have grown in
functionality and processing power, and are being deployed in many
markets that were not viable just a few years ago. Today, even the
smallest form factor drives contain microprocessor systems which enable
motion oriented positioning. Mr. Schnabel sees a future where PTDA
distributors will use a defined process to go “outside the
box” to recommend exciting new solutions… where increasingly
intelligent products connect to create elegant solutions. To quote
Dan, “As people recognize the power these things carry,
we’re going to save a lot of them a lot of money.”
Frank E. Hurtte, Jr., founder of River Heights Consulting, brings
29 years of distribution industry experience and a lifetime in sales. He
is moderating the Motion Control Panel Discussion at the 50th
Anniversary Industry Summit. Learn more about the Industry
Summit and motion
control programming.
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