The Ideal Wire Pulling Solution

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One summer my family took a day trip to a certain amusement park in northern Illinois, and I brought a friend along with my siblings. During a long, hot wait in line for a roller coaster with my friend and middle sister, I saved a kid’s life–well, his leg.

A little boy across from us in the winding line somehow pushed his leg very far between two of the fence posts. The line started moving and his family is tugging the little boy’s leg to move him along, but that was not working and the boy was in pain. To this day, I don’t know what went through my head when I pulled my Chapstick out of my pocket, handed it to the family, and said, “here, use this to lubricate each side of his leg before removing it.”

The family looked at me oddly, but they did as I suggested and the little boy’s leg was freed from the fence. Then the family gave me back my Chapstick like I would still use it after it was on a kid’s knee.

Like that curious little boy, sometimes you need a little extra help to pull wire, which is where the 31-388 ClearGuide Lubricant from IDEAL comes in handy. It may not be a teenager with chapstick, but this quart bottle gets the job done!

  • Perfect for all electrical and datacom pulls
  • Also safe with all cable jackets
  • Easy to apply by hand, brush, or pump
  • Its exceptional lubricity creates a super fast pull
  • Plus it is an easy clean-up!
  • The clear and colorless lubricant has a polymer-based formula
  • controlled evaporation rate is great for shorter runs
  • Remains stable over wide temperature ranges–usable from 32°F to 180°F (-1°C to 82°C)
  • Dries to a semi-fluid film that won’t clog conduit
  • Non-toxic, non-flammable, and non-corrosive

With the 31-388 ClearGuide Lubricant you can also save the day!

~Kristine

Company News: Buddy Check 22 Core Value Award

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On Saturday October 9, representatives from Gordon Electric Supply awarded a $1,000 donation to the local chapter of the Buddy Check 22 organization at their sixth annual Veteran Suicide Awareness Golf Scramble held at the Oak Springs Golf Club in St. Anne.

The donation was part of a semi-annual company program that rewards a peer-nominated employee for their embodiment of the company’s core values:  reliability, compassion, teamwork, and resourcefulness. The winner chooses a charity to which Gordon Electric Supply will donate $1,000. The purpose for the Core Values Award, according to Gordon CEO Cara Gordon Potter, “is to recognize an employee’s exceptional contribution and reward them with the honor of supporting our community with a donation from Gordon to the nonprofit of their choice.”

The most recent employee honored with the Core Values Award is Nelson Gowler, Operations Manager at Gordon’s Kankakee branch, who was recognized by coworkers for his resourcefulness and reliability to find solutions and motivate his team. He chose Buddy Check 22 for their dedication to supporting local veterans’ mental health. “I want to get the word out that the men and women who served our country need our support in return,” Gowler noted, “and calling a veteran you know to check in with them” can have a positive impact on veteran suicide rates.

Pictured at the donation ceremony is Kelly Frey and Don Ball of Buddy Check 22 along with Nelson Gowler and Dan Korthauer representing Gordon. At the completion of the award presentation, a veteran ceremony preceded the team golf scramble that Nelson Gowler was among the participants.

**UPDATE** You can read about this in The Electrical Distributor and The Daily Journal.

~Kristine

You Light Up My Life

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(Thank you Keystone Lighting)

This was the title of an annoying song from 1977. For those of you that were not alive back in the 70’s, the top 40 radio station would play the top song every 15 minutes. This made sure it was embedded in your brain forever!

Well today we are talking about Keystone Lighting. They have a very versatile and inexpensive way to light up your life. (Or your parking lot, back yard, or any area you need lit up.)

The KT-FLED100-R1A-UNV-8CSB-VDIM is a Compact 100W General-Purpose LED Flood Light.

Product Features:

  • Uniform, wide flood design (NEMA 7h × 7w distribution pattern)
  • Heavy-duty, die cast aluminum housing featuring built-in glare visor and tempered glass lens
  • Powered by Keystone 0–10V dimming LED drivers
  • Keystone Color Select Technology: Adjustable CCT (3000K, 4000K, or 5000K)
  • Built-in dusk-to-dawn photocell behind translucent 3/4” threaded plug with anti-yellowing agent
  • Heavy-duty slip fitter mount and trunnion mount options included
  • Ambient operating temperature: ?20ºC/?4ºF to 45ºC/113ºF
  • UL listed for wet locations, IP65
  • 0–10V dimming, 10% min • Power Factor: >0.95
  • THD: 100,000 hours @ 25ºC/77ºF ambient fixture temp
  • Meets FCC Part 15, Part B, Class A standards for conducted and radiated emissions

This also comes in a 75 watt. Whichever you choose, you can’t go wrong!

~Woody

The Tribe Has Spoken: This Downlight Kit Will NOT Be Voted Off the Island

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Have you ever noticed that in the early seasons of the television show, Survivor, the winners often were able to fit in with all of the factions and adjust their personality to stay in the game? Now, the later seasons are full of gimmicks that the worry of the contestants surviving extreme conditions is no longer a concern. There is the beauty versus brawn season and the battle of the genders, but as a viewer I don’t feel as worried about their survival as those first four seasons.

So, if the networked hired me to produce a Survivor-styled show for our industry, I would make sure the Sylvania 79751 LED recessed downlight was a contestant. It would be the contestant who knew how to make alliances with everyone else! Seriously, it is versatile enough for a range of applications like healthcare, hospitality, office, property management, residential, retail, and even durable for dry, damp, or wet locations. It has something to offer everyone on the island.

Its versatility is only one of its benefits, though. Check out what else the Sylvania 79751 LED recessed downlight can offer the tribe:

  • RT5/6 16 Watt LED Lamp Type with 5 or 6 Inch Nominal Aperture Size (Round aperture shape)
  • Airtight, Ultra LED Brand with initial intensity of 1200 Lumen
  • 3000 K color temperature & color rendering index 90
  • Beam angle is 80 degrees with an efficacy of 75 Lumen per Watt
  • RoHS Compliant and has FCC approval
  • It is lead-free and can replace up to 100W Incandescent

Hopefully my reality show pitch is picked up by a network, but until then keep this downlight kit in mind if you are trying out for Survivor.

~Kristine

Company News: Moving On Up!

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We are excited to announce the promotion of four Gordon team members this summer.

Rodney Ponton

Rodney Ponton has been promoted to Inside Sales Representative. Rodney began working at Gordon in 2019 as a part-time warehouse associate while attending Governor’s State University for a bachelor’s degree in computer science, which he completed this spring.

“Rodney will be a great addition to the team. I am really excited to see Rodney grow in his new role. He is smart, caring, and enthusiastic,” said Nelson Gowler, Operations Manager. These traits and his prior experience are a key asset to the inside sales team, who work directly with customers, fulfilling orders and forming relationships with daily customers.

You can read The Daily Journal news brief about Rodney’s promotion here.

Ernie Martin

Ernie Martin has been promoted to the Returns and Purchasing Coordinator position at Gordon Electric Supply. He will be working with the purchasing and warehouse teams to manage inventory accuracy and coordinating returns.

Previously, Ernie worked as a warehouse associate at the Kankakee branch where he helped ship and receive orders. His familiarity and experience with inventory management “should make for a smooth transition,” said Kim Boswell, Purchasing Manager at Gordon, adding that “Ernie’s promotion to the purchasing department is a natural fit and we’re very excited for him to join our team.”

News of Ernie’s promotion is featured in tED Magazine’s newsletter and website here.

Rob Burgess

Rob Burgess has been promoted to Team Leader of Web Order Management for Gordon Electric Supply. He began working at Gordon in 2016 as an eCommerce Sales Representative, bringing years of previous customer service experience.

In the past few years, Rob started leading the training of new web team members. These leadership and mentoring abilities will be key assets in his new role, which will include monitoring order processing productivity to ensure all orders meet established deadlines, developing and modifying procedures to improve efficiency and accuracy, and training team members to guarantee consistency of service.

“I’m excited for this new chapter in my career and eagerly await the challenge,” said Burgess, adding that he is “grateful to work for such a supportive company that has given me every opportunity to succeed.”

News of Rob’s promotion is featured in tED Magazine’s newsletter and website here.

Justin Routson

Justin Routson has been promoted to the position of Receiving Specialist. With seven years of experience and knowledge of Gordon logistics, Justin will be a vital resource for the sales and warehouse teams.

His hard work and positive attitude have made him a valuable part of the Gordon family through the years, according to Dave Brza, Warehouse Manager. Justin has often helped with the training of new warehouse associates and is familiar with the procedures for shipping and receiving as well as proficient moving stock with the forklift.

Gordon Electric Supply, a distributor of electrical and lighting supplies, is located at 1290 N. Hobbie Avenue in Kankakee. For more information, call 815-936-4700 or visit www.gordonelectricsupply.com.

Make A Splash: Pool Timer Time!

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Since the pandemic hit everyone has been spending time at home. The winter was brutal, stuck in 4 walls, staring at each other.

Now it is summer and time to get outside. A lot of people are still not going places. These are the people that can still stand to look at each other.

Pool sales have been through the roof!! Giving relief to the boredom of watching movies, playing board games and trying not to kill each other.

Pools can be expensive to run. Leaving the pump on all the time is not necessary, but it does need to run. No one wants a green pool.

The Intermatic P1100 pool timer series is easy to install and can save a lot of money.

These plug-in timers are grounded and utilize a flip-open enclosure rated for outdoor use. Great for providing timer function to pumps, landscaping or holiday lighting.

Features

  • 2 ON/2 OFF settings per day with removable trippers, more ON/OFF events with addition of extra trippers
  • Minimum 30-min ON/OFF time
  • Built into outdoor rated enclosure with clear or black flip cover
  • Grounded standard or locking type style NEMA plug and receptacle
  • Plugs directly into wall outlet

 

 

 

 

P1100 series

~Woody

Partner Spotlight: ABB Is Out Of This World

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You can find cable ties at building sites, transportation stations, computer labs, and even at sea. But did you know that you can now find ABB cable ties on a different planet?!

Yes, you read that correctly. ABB is officially out of this world.

In fact, ABB products have been provided to the NASA space program since 1973 with some cable ties from active missions still in use. Now, the Ty-Rap cable ties are part of the Mars Perseverance rover that landed on February 18 ,2021 for its current exploration of Mars. Even with the advanced equipment of the rover, wires are secured with cable ties like you would manage cables at your own home.

The Mars Exploration Program, which includes the Perseverance rover, seeks to answer further questions about Mars and its potential for supporting life. With a partner like ABB we can look forward to many more years of exploration!

Partner Spotlight: Leviton Prepares For The Future

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In April 2021, Leviton announced their new five-year partnership with the electrical training ALLIANCE (etA) that will include training kits, funding, instruction, and technical expertise to achieve the shared goal of shaping our nation’s electrical workforce into the most advanced and best trained in the world.

The partnership will provide a variety of resources from Leviton focusing on a mixture of learning tools to which all etA training centers will have access to the variety of digital and hands-on instruction. As stated in the press release from Leviton, specific programs in the partnership include:

  • “Wiring device endowments and training kits for regional etA chapters known as Joint Apprenticeship and Training Committees (JATC’s). Each kit demonstrates features and installation requirements.
  • Factory technical support provided at the local level to regional JATC’s.
  • Support to etA’s National Training Institute (NTI) help annually at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
    • $5000 Scholarship grant to a deserving NTI Graduate as part of the etA’s Advanced Studies Program.
    • Financial support of NTI logistics and operations.
  • Site use at Leviton Live Experience Centers for etA personnel. Access offers the opportunity f or etA to conduct regional meetings as well as experiential learnings with cutting-edge electrical equipment installed in real-world applications.”

The future is indeed bright for our industry!

Company News: Cat Buckley Joins the Team!

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In mid-May, Cat Buckley joined the Gordon Electric Supply team as a new e-commerce customer service representative where she will connect with online customers, handling customer service inquiries and processing orders.

Longtime customer service representative, Margaret Lamb said, “Cat is truly proving to be a great addition to our team” and that she is impressed with “how quickly she has become a valuable asset.”

It is no surprise that Cat settled into the position with the experience she brings from previous roles in customer service and management. We look forward to seeing her growth in the months to come.

A news brief about Cat’s hiring was featured in the July 7th edition of The Daily Journal.

~Kristine

You hear the buzz, then feel the sting!

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Summertime is great: The warm weather, sunshine, and days at the pool. But then there are the wasp, hornets and bees! There is no greater pain then getting stung by one of these little demons.

For electricians, they are really a pest. Always in light fixtures and outdoor boxes, waiting for their often unsuspecting prey.

So I was very excited when I found out that CRC has the 14010 Wasp & Hornet Killer Plus.

This stuff is great because you don’t have to be close to the flying menace to take them out! It can shots up to 20 feet. If you aim is good, and you want to take a chance, you can take them out in midair. The CRC 14010 Wasp & Hornet Killer Plus is also:

  •  Fast-acting
  • A high-strength insecticide
  • Ergonomic with a trigger that provides control, even with gloved hands

We’ve added it to our summer electrical work must-haves!

~Woody