Blog Posts

Supplying Wind Power With Expert Manufacturing

Tue, 30 Apr 2019 13:46:39 +0000

Power is power, or is it? In the US, green power generation or renewable energy sources are the focus of much growth and development. When it comes to wind power, there are many critical components housed under the nacelle. Working together, these components transform the wind's kinetic energy into mechanical energy to turn the generator, which produces electricity.

Currently, U.S.-installed wind power boasts 80 percent of nacelle assembly and tower content is domestic. With wind turbine output and reliability steadily increasing, costs per kilowatt decreasing, sourcing of these items to competent experts becomes of greater strategic importance to turbine manufacturers and wind power project owners. As US wind power continues to grow, the need for expert manufacturing offering comprehensive solutions increases as well. Luckily, Sotek specializes in all things power generation. Our capabilities are designed around supplying wind power stators and rotors. With 35 years of experience, Sotek will stamp and laser cut your stator and rotor laminations from in-house designed-and-manufactured tooling. Our technicians will then skillfully inspect, stack, align, measure, weld, layer, deburr and machine your wind power rotors and stators. Our facility manufactures vent plates, end plates, stator bars, related components and offers skilled, certified welders to meet and exceed wind power's increasingly demanding specifications. Sotek performs manufacturing, assembly, and quality operations in-house in our Buffalo, New York facility; including lamination stacking, pressing, welding, thermal fit shaft insertion, final machining, and value-added services with our skilled, dedicated team of manufacturing and assembly technicians. We support your purchased items, logistics, and offer exceptional supply chain value. Sotek is an essential and seamless part of your wind power manufacturing team!

Powering The World

As the need for green, renewable energy grows, so does the need for larger, more efficient and complex wind turbine design. With Sotek's experience, skill and efficiency your wind power manufacturing can be cleaner, greener, more streamlined and effective. Leaving you more time to service your customer. At Sotek, we solve your sourcing problems, simplify your process, save you lead time, processing time, manufacturing steps, purchasing steps, paperwork, additional vendors, headaches-- adding value along the way. Our goal is to make your project as simple as possible from start to completion.

Sotek offers solutions to all your wind power manufacturing needs and it’s this easy to let us know how we can use our resources to help your project be successful!

Rotor and Stator Assemblies: Repair Processing and New Build

Mon, 22 Apr 2019 17:25:33 +0000

When it comes to rotor and stator services, Sotek has developed a seamless process for every project, every application. Adding efficiency and value to your project, Sotek offers full repair and rebuild capabilities so you can focus on your project. The "rotor", the rotating part of a motor or generator, typically inside the "stator", the non-rotating part of the machine with an air gap between them to allow proper rotation. Over time, with use, performance may degrade due to contamination, heat cycles, insulation breakdown, damage from use and other factors. Sotek is focused on establishing stator and rotor repair processes, customized to the specific needs of your project, providing exceptional value with effective and efficient component remanufacturing in support of repair operations or OEM new builds. Sotek does not repair individual motors or generators. We leave that to our valued customers.

Our 80,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility allows us to easily handle medium to high volume OEM builds and rebuilds, production volumes, or ongoing repairs and rebuilds from motor and generator remanufacturing companies performing overhauls. If you are looking for large rotor and stator manufacturing or repair for large projects such as an entire plant MRO of large motors, or overhaul a fleet of subway or locomotive traction motors--Sotek has got you covered!

With over 35 years of experience, we have worked with many industries to customize a program to rebuild and rebar rotors, quickly, efficiently and cost-effectively to meet new build or rebuild schedules. Sotek is able to process rotors for repair, rebar, steel restack, replace laminations or manufacture new rotors as required to support the needs of your program. Integrated into our re-manufacturing process, used rotors/stators are cleaned, disassembled, inspected, evaluated and re-manufactured to as-new condition.

Sotek's Rotor and Stator Rebuild Process

No need to replace the worn or damaged rotors or stators in your teardown program. We can expertly repair & rebuild them for you, for a fraction of the cost, saving you and your customer time and money. Sotek's streamline re-manufacturing process allows rotors and stators for repair to be put through a custom-designed process ensuring effective evaluation and rebuild providing performance to specifications. Our team will work with yours to design a process to evaluate failure modes, disassemble, renew, replace damaged components as required such as new stamped or laser cut laminations, rotor bars, end rings, etc., inspect for adherence to your critical specifications, carefully package and arrange return delivery into your new build or rebuild process.

Helping move the world

Whether your project is a major re-manufacturing contract for locomotive generators, rapid transit traction motors or new build OEM rotors and stators, Sotek can get them where they need to be. New components, expert assembly, evaluation. Sotek is a one-stop shop for fabrication and assembly services and offers a thorough process for each component, including new stamped or laser cut laminations, sanding and recoating with electrical insulation, stacking, welding, bonding, assembly, material and component sourcing, engineering, tool design and manufacture, customization, balancing, and CNC machining.

Sotek has been the leader in the manufacturing of precision metal stampings for use in large motors and generators for over three decades. We are registered to ISO 9001:2015 in stamping and laser cutting of rotor, stator, pole laminations, core stacking, welding, machining, tool and die manufacturing and maintenance. In fact, you can find Sotek workmanship in nearly every locomotive produced domestically.

When you're in need of high-quality rotor and stator services, Sotek is your go-to. Contact us today to get started!

Powering The World With Supply Chain Management

Fri, 15 Feb 2019 17:42:22 +0000

35 years of leadership in manufacturing precision laminations, stators, and rotors used in motors and generators requires an effective, well-developed process. With clients all over the globe, it’s vital that their manufacturing needs are met efficiently and accurately. Sotek has perfected a process offering streamline manufacturing, timely processing, and delivery. Sotek’s experienced team solves problems, delivers value. No matter your market or supply chain needs, let’s talk about them. You can always expect:

Expert manufacturing

Our supply chain management approach allows us to quickly and cost-effectively source materials & services required for your project, creating smooth, efficient integration of your needs. Working within our capable 80,000 square foot facility and network of value-added resources, we create efficient paths for each project and offer customized, flexible solutions to even the most demanding project requirements.

Whether your application is wind, hydro or traditional power generation, locomotive, rapid transit, defense, heavy industrial or remanufacturing of items for these industries, you can count on Sotek to save production and purchasing time while maintaining quality and adding value, all with a single purchase order. For example, if you need materials or components sourced, manufactured, machined, assembled or integrated for an electric drive system, Sotek is your one-stop shop!

We offer services including engineer-for-manufacturing, prototyping, customization, tool design, manufacture & maintenance, product assembly and sub-process as necessary to optimize your build. Partnering with a single, well-experienced industry-specific supplier like Sotek the best choice for your motor, generator manufacturing and remanufacturing needs.

Exceptional value

Beginning with 1 million pounds of silicon electrical steel inventory and buying power, effective and integrated in-house processing. Our supply partnerships work in unison. We have developed the best performers, offering quality, speed and value to enhance overall project performance.

Timely communication

A well-functioning supply chain requires great communication. Timely communication drives the manufacturing process.
We pride ourselves in relationships, partnerships and the value that comes from the depth and breadth of our experience. When unforeseen issues arise, each link in the chain communicates and adjusts to skillfully, efficiently work through changes to the best possible outcomes.

Sotek offers trusted suppliers to support the products and services we provide. Our
suppliers understand the need for performance, delivery, and quality; achieved by connecting with you to ensure specifications and expectations are communicated and understood. We interface with our suppliers as a direct extension of your manufacturing needs to manage details and overhead. From raw material to finished product, customized and shaped to plug into your process. Sotek knows how to maximize value. This value-added service is what makes us the ideal manufacturing partner!

The chain reaction

Operating as part of your supply chain we are equipped to handle your manufacturing needs. Our processes are reliable and bring unique value to each customer relationship. After 35 years, our team and partners have the ability to meet the requirements of virtually any project.

Sotek has an 80,00 square foot facility to guarantee a seamless, quality extension of your manufacturing. You can always expect friendly, personal service. We are passionate about our work, helping to power the world one project at a time. It's this easy to contact us to let us know how we can use our resources to help your project be successful!

It's this easy to contact us to let us know how we can use our resources to help your project be successful!