Fast Forward Franchise players –  Looking to own a business or expand an existing one? Franchising may be the answer By Bill O’Leary, EA Associate Editor

Conventions – Returning to the Lone Star State: Things to see—both mainstream and offbeat—while visiting San Antonio for the EASA Convention By Joseph S. Hoff, EA Associate Editor, and Bill O’Leary, EA Associate Editor

Conventions  EASA Preview – what to expect at the Texas convention in June

Conventions Automate 2015 –  Convention showcases the future of factory automation and robotics By Bill O’Leary, EA Associate Editor

Service Companies  Model motor shop expansion –  How Indianapolis company Horner Electric used all the resources at its command for a state-of-the-art expansion By Kevin Jones, EA Senior Editor

Power Systems  Confused about grounding? You’re not alone: A storm of misconceptions about the phenomenon persists With trilingual summary (read an online summary) By Richard L. Nailen, P.E., EA Engineering Editor

Accounting  Preventing financial fraud –  Like it or not, theft by employees is something you need to protect your company against By William H. Wiersema, CPA, EA Contributing Editor

Safety and Health  Reflecting on the year 2014 –  OSHA administrator assesses last year’s activities and ushers in a new year By Joseph S. Hoff, EA Associate Editor

Scroll down for more content from December’s Departments and Columns

Editor’s Comment   In this issue: San Antonio – an insider’s view … Spreading the news about your company … Help us in our pursuit of quality — please let us know if you discover printer errors or mailing late deliveries …Kevin Jones

Let’s Solve Your Problem  In this issue: Higher efficiency for slower-speed motors? …The motor grounding requirement …Out-of-phase current not all ‘magnetizing’  … Cable ampacity versus area … Frequency variation versus motor noise.. Edited by the EA staff

Business Briefs   In this issue: EIS, Inc., acquires Connect-Air International, Inc…. Emerson Process Management to automate a new 910-MW generating unit in Poland … Solcon USA moves into a new facility… Delta Electronics earns Taiwan ‘green’ award… Schneider CEO Jean-Pascal Tricoire receives leadership award at the Women’s Empowerment Principles event… Edited by Kevin Jones

Calendar briefs  In every issue and updated on the web. See our online calendar for current offerings.

Letters   In this issue: Expect thin-gauge steels in larger motors, from Steve Sprague, Sales Manager Proto Laminations, Inc. Santa Fe Springs, Calif

Utilities   In this issue: Florida Power & Light Co. opens new center for Smart Grid diagnostics … Dominion Resources invites applications for educational grants to fund energy, environment, and workforce development programs … Michigan State receives grant from Consumers Energy… Electric Power Research Institute honors American Electric Power and FirstEnergy with Interoperability award…Edited by Kevin Jones

Associations, societies & government activities   In this issue: American National Standards Institute of Washington, D.C. announces the schedule of events for World Standards Week 2015 … American Society of Safety Engineers signs collaborative agreement with Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) … National Electrical Contractors Association hosts delegation from Japan … American Wind Energy Association and the Solar Energy Industries Association publish handbook which details state compliance with wind rules PDF version of the 184-page handbook may be downloaded at no charge at www.awea.org . Manufacturing for Growth Meeting brought together manufacturers from three industry associations— AMT–The Association for Manufacturing Technology, the National Tooling and Machining Association, and the Precision Metalforming Association… Professional Electrical Apparatus Recyclers League reports strong response to certification plan … Edited by Kevin Jones

Training Briefs   In this issue:  AEP Ohio and Advanced Energy launch energy efficiency EMotor Rewind Pilot Program for motors – www.aepohio.com. … Isola Group issues new educational video series on laminates – www.isola-group.com/TES … National Fire Protection Association provides Certified Electrical Safety Worker (CESW) professional credential – www.nfpa.org … Hydraulic Institute enters Dubai training partnership with Ambeone DMCC/Marketways Arabia training institute… Edited by Bill O’Leary

Smart Grid   Is Big Brother spying on your energy usage? Civil liberties concerns regarding the Smart Grid even if exaggerated, cannot be ignored.  By Richard L. Nailen, P.E., EA Engineering Editor

Pumps   In this issue:  Georgia pump maker GIW Industries, Inc. wins county-wide award… John Crane of Chicago signs new agreement to upgrade Kuwait refineries… Metso Corp.opens new valve service center in Querétaro, Mexico… By the EA Staff

Names & faces In this issue: Dixie Electro Mechanical Services’ Joe Wilkinson … AMT–The Association for Manufacturing Technology’s Carlos Mortera, Knox Johnstone, , and Mario Winterstein… Shermco Industries’ Pat Beisert, and Paul Idziak… Appleton Group’s Victor Hoang… Helwig Carbon Products’ Gregg Johnson… Edited by Bill O’Leary

EA reader profile   In this issue: Leppert-Nutmeg’s Mike Shaw has overseen operations at the company in Bloomfield, Conn., through changes in the region’s industrial base. By Joseph Hoff

Direct and Current  In this issue: Most manufacturers to invest in new technology… Manufacturing expected to expand more slowly… Non-manufacturing activity grew in march… U.S. industrial production declines slightly… European industrial production rises…

And, in every issue:  Classified Advertising (Equipment, jobs, businesses for sale, business opportunities and services), Advertising Index, and your favorite cartoons, Motorhead and Generatorhead (illustrated by Mark Ziemann) and Cy’s Super Service (illustrated by James Estes)!