Electrical Business Review: Specials Magazine

Testing and commissioning an electrical substation is a race against time and complexity. Behind every seamless first energization is a story of quiet precision, exhaustive testing, and methodical execution. For nearly 45 years, Asplundh Electrical Testing (AET), a NETA-accredited company, has made this process effortless with its extensive testing and commissioning expertise, helping clients hit their goals from day one. The company specializes in electrical testing, maintenance and commissioning for electric utilities, power generation plants, and commercial/industrial facilities. Core services include relay protection and control, substation commissioning, testing and maintenance, power transformer oil processing, troubleshooting, and repairs. The company invests heavily in the development of its workforce. AET provides annual safety and human performance training, helping technicians recognize error-likely situations or “traps” and how to use the human error prevention “tools” to minimize the frequency and severity of incidents, safeguarding assets and keeping projects on schedule. AET’s safety record is among the best in the industry. AET has also emphasizes developing its workforce in technology and leadership, empowering team members to grow and improve. Supervisors and managers regularly undergo leadership training, helping cultivate a culture where employees feel valued and motivated to stay. As a result, AET has a notably low turnover, with many team members staying for 15 to 20 years or more. Such deep experience is a powerful asset in upholding high-quality service delivery and attracting the next generation of skilled professionals. Combined with the latest test equipment and extensive back-office field support, the company’s people-first approach continues to drive sustainable growth in a challenging service-driven industry. AET is well positioned to meet any upcoming industry challenges, including the growing demand for high-performance, safe, and reliable electrical infrastructure improvement projects that are delivered on time and on budget. All made possible by a team of NETA-certified test technician professionals who bring technical knowledge and a performance-driven mindset to every job.

Every minute of downtime in industries like steel, oil, food processing, or municipal utilities can mean thousands of dollars in losses, safety risks, or public service disruptions. Whether it’s a failed pump at a wastewater plant or a stalled gearbox on a food production line, what businesses need isn’t just a patch job—they need a partner who can deliver reliable, long-lasting solutions with a fast turnaround. That’s where American Electric Motor (AEM) comes in. For over 50 years, AEM has kept critical operations running through precision motor and gearbox repair, custom machining, VFD and circuit board repair, and crane services. With the capacity to handle motors up to 5,000 horsepower and load testing up to 600 horsepower, AEM has become the go-to shop for urgent and complex repair needs. The company serves a wide range of industries, including municipal wastewater systems, industrial cooling towers, and large-scale food processing operations. Its clients include both private companies and public entities such as the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and local municipalities. “If it leaves this shop with our tag on it, our guys put their heart and soul into it. That motor or gearbox is going to perform the way it’s supposed to,” says Michael Cole Porter, owner and president. Legacy Reclaimed, Quality Reinforced Since Douglas Massey opened AEM in a modest two door shop in midtown Memphis in 1973, a hallmark of the company has been unwavering craftsmanship. As AEM expanded into its 2.5 acre facility in 1996, every new piece of equipment and every additional team member carried forward Massey’s exacting standards. That legacy continued when his grandson, Michael Cole Porter, first set foot in the shop at age 12—learning welding and mechanical repair side by side with veteran machinists. Those early lessons in precision and accountability became Porter’s guiding principles. When AEM briefly passed to an outside owner in 2011, those principles were tested—and then reaffirmed. Porter’s decision to reacquire the company in 2015 wasn’t just a change of ownership; it was a restoration of AEM’s founding ethos. His grandfather returned as a consultant, ensuring that the company’s decades of know how and quality control remained intact.