Kevin Kucera with NW Signal Maintenance

Scott MacKenzie interviews Kevin Kucera from NW Signal Maintenance at Distribute Tech in Orlando, Florida. Kevin, a 34-year veteran in the electrical industry, discusses their niche services, including rail services and ultra-fast surge arresters. These arresters, developed in collaboration with Advanced Fusion Systems, operate in 300 nanoseconds and prevent electromagnetic pulse damage. They are compact, with a current range of 4-18 kV, and are designed to extend the life of lightning arrestor systems. Kevin emphasizes their importance in preventing equipment failures and reducing operational expenses. Contact details for NW Signal Maintenance are provided for those interested in their products.

Action Items

• [ ] Reach out to Kevin Kucera to learn more about the ultra-fast surge arrester product.
• [ ] Connect with Kevin Kucera on LinkedIn to stay updated on the EMP protection technology.

Outline

Introduction and Welcome

• Scott MacKenzie introduces the podcast, emphasizing its focus on industrial innovations and professionals.
• Scott welcomes listeners and highlights the importance of celebrating industry professionals.
• The podcast is broadcasting live from Distribute Tech in Orlando, Florida, with around 17,000 attendees.
• Scott introduces Kevin Kucera, the guest, and mentions his company, NW Signal Maintenance.

Kevin Kucera's Background

• Kevin shares his background, mentioning his 34-year career in the electrical industry and his experience in electrified transportation.
• He holds master electrical licenses in seven states and general engineering and contractor licenses in California.
• Kevin humorously recounts a story about meeting the president of the IBEW, Lonnie Stevenson, during a teacher training event in Ann Arbor.
• The story involves Kevin singing the national anthem and receiving a pen from Lonnie Stevenson.

NW Signal Maintenance Overview

• Kevin provides an overview of NW Signal Maintenance, focusing on their rail services contract and specialized equipment.
• The company installs cell phone systems and tunnels, and they perform wheel flat detection and under-bridge truck equipment maintenance.
• NW Signal Maintenance is also developing a new business unit around ultra-fast surge arresters in collaboration with Advanced Fusion Systems.
• Scott and Kevin discuss the importance of ultra-fast surge arresters, which operate in 300 nanoseconds and prevent electromagnetic pulse damage.

Technical Details of Ultra-Fast Surge Arresters

• Kevin explains that ultra-fast surge arresters extend the life of lightning arrestor systems and reduce operational expenses by minimizing equipment failures.
• The arresters shunt transients to Earth without interrupting the system, meeting and exceeding Mil Spec requirements.
• The technology is relatively new, with a low end of 4000 volts and an upper end of 18 KV, aiming to reach 72 KV in the future.
• Installation varies depending on whether it's done in an OEM switchgear or in the field, with live installations requiring shutdown procedures.

Applications and Future Prospects

• Kevin sees the ultra-fast surge arresters being integrated into the grid to protect medium voltage equipment over the next 50 to 100 years.
• He compares the size of their product to a large coffee cup, contrasting it with a 15 KV device that is much larger.
• The product is easy to install in OEM switchgear but requires careful planning for live installations.
• Kevin provides contact information for NW Signal Maintenance and encourages interested parties to reach out for more information.

Closing Remarks and Event Promotion

• Scott MacKenzie wraps up the conversation, emphasizing the importance of Distribute Tech and the energy utility space.
• He encourages listeners to connect with Kevin and explore the ultra-fast surge arresters for their applications.
• Scott promotes the Industrial Talk Podcast Network and invites listeners to be part of future conversations.
• The podcast concludes with a call to action for listeners to be bold, brave, and innovative in their fields.