News From Curtis

MT. KISCO, New York, November, 2019. Curtis Instruments, Inc. announces that Dr. Howard J. Slater, PhD, B Eng (Hons), MIEE, has been appointed to the newly created position of Director of UK Engineering Centre (UKEC), the newest Curtis R&D Center to be located in Sunderland, UK. Dr. Slater is responsible for setting up this fully autonomous engineering center, which will supplement and complement the existing global Curtis engineering facilities in California, New York, Switzerland and China. The process of setting up this new facility is actively underway. The UKEC will be responsible for delivering motor controllers and custom products to the industrial sector, assisting in the further electrification of this industry. 

Dr. Slater earned a Post Graduate Certificate in Academic Practice from the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, after having received a PhD in Real Time Emulation Environment for Digital Control Development from the same educational institution. He also completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, where he earned a Bachelor's degree Eng (Hons) 1st Class Electrical/Electronic Engineering. He started his engineering studies at Gateshead Technical College, where he earned O.N.C. Electrical/Electronic Engineering (Merit) and H.N.C. Electrical/Electronic Engineering (Distinction) degrees.

Prior to joining Curtis Instruments, he has had three decades of progressively responsible, high-level engineering experience. Widely recognized globally as a leader in his field, his successful career encompasses the full spectrum of engineering, design engineering and engineering management. Most recently, Dr. Slater was Senior Engineering Manager at the motor speed controller design engineering company Sevcon Ltd. / BorgWarner, where he was responsible for jointly running the Development Department at BorgWarner's Gateshead Technical Centre. He was heavily involved in delivering electrification products into the automotive industry, with mechanical, hardware, software, control, systems, functional safety and validation engineering teams reporting to him. His expert career at Sevcon, a primary leader in the motor speed controller and electrification systems company, spanned 15 years of progressively responsible functions within the company, including as: Senior Engineering manager, Head of Research, and Motor Control Manager

We are confident that Dr. Slater's strong record of success, complemented by his well-rounded engineering expertise, are ideally suited for his new position at Curtis. He brings the right combination of vision, enthusiasm, technical skills and professionalism to lead the worldwide expansion of the vital Curtis motor speed controller product lines.

MT. KISCO, NY, October. 2019 . Curtis Instruments, Inc. announces that Mr. Joshua Caldwell has been appointed to the newly created position of Director of Product Management for Instrumentation, Human Machine Interface (HMIs) & Connectivity. In his new position, Mr. Caldwell will be responsible for the worldwide product management for these important Curtis product lines and to help solidify the global technical leadership position of the company.

Mr Caldwell received a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering degree from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where he is currently also in the final stages of completing a Masters of Science Degree in Computer Science.

Prior to joining Curtis Instruments, he has had two decades of progressively responsible experience. His successful career encompasses the full spectrum of engineering, sales and product management responsibilities. Most recently Mr. Caldwell was Senior Software Applications and Engineering Leader for CrossControl in Washington, DC, where he was responsible for the corporate business in North America, including go-to-market strategy, budget, customer management, resources and business planning. Previous roles have seen Mr. Caldwell responsible for software, systems and sales for major technical companies, including for Case New Holland and the Ford Motor Company. At Ford, he started as an intern and moved through their prestigious training program for five years, rotating through software, systems and launch engineering, sales and marketing functions. He also used his business, technical and software skills to serve others as a Peace Corps volunteer in Sierra Leone, Africa.

We are confident that Mr. Caldwell's record of success, complemented by his well-rounded business and technical skills, are ideally suited for his new position at Curtis. He brings the right combination of vision, enthusiasm, technical skills and professionalism to lead the worldwide expansion of these vital Curtis product lines.

Curtis Instruments, located in Livermore, California (Curtis CA), has been awarded a Top Workplaces 2019 honor by The Bay Area News Group. The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by research partner Energage, LLC, a leading provider of technology-based employee engagement tools. The anonymous survey measures several aspects of workplace culture, including alignment, execution, and connection, just to name a few.

Curtis is honored to be included as this award reflects the opinions of our own employees, indicating job satisfaction and a positive view of the company by our most important resource, our people. Curtis CA in Livermore is a Division of Curtis Instruments, Inc. Curtis manufactures specialized motor speed controllers for electric vehicles, high-tech products that help to run electric & hybrid powered vehicles-including industrial and utility vehicles. These products are used in millions of alternate energy vehicles worldwide. Curtis advanced motor speed controller technology allows for smooth acceleration and deceleration in forward and reverse. The Curtis CA company was founded as Curtis PMC in 1985, and was initially located in Dublin, CA. Curtis CA is one of the world's largest controller technical centers and is a highly specialized engineering facility focused on the design and development of advanced motor speed controllers for electric vehicles of all types. In 2000, the division became Curtis CA and moved to the present location. Curtis CA is ISO 9001:2015 certified and employs 94 people, predominately engineers and technicians. Employees commute from all over the Tri-Valley region, with 90% of staff living with a 30-mile radius from the Livermore facility.

Curtis Vice President of Engineering, Basar Alp stated, "Curtis is very proud of the long history of technical innovation and excellence. The top-notch California team has been an integral success factor of Curtis worldwide for more than five decades. The team is internationally recognized as experts in motor speed controller design for electric vehicles. We are immensely proud of our entire team, because at Curtis our number one operational tenet is People are our most important resource. Curtis California deserves this great honor. Congratulations to all."

July 1, 2019: Curtis Instruments Inc. is pleased to announce the establishment of the Curtis UK Engineering Centre (UKEC). The UKEC is a new Research & Development Engineering facility that will be located in the Newcastle / Sunderland area of England, a region that is rapidly developing into a high-technology hub.

The UKEC expands the company's industry-leading position as an expert electrification partner to OEMs and EV system suppliers. The UKEC will also significantly strengthen Curtis's ability to provide first-class systems engineering services to the major UK & European vehicle and mobile machinery manufacturers.

This new engineering facility will work closely with existing Curtis global engineering teams in California, New York, Switzerland, and China, deepening the company's powertrain electrification competencies. Ties with local colleges and universities will provide opportunities at the vocational, undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

The UKEC will be a business unit of Curtis Instruments UK Ltd. in Northampton, England, founded in 1974, which operates as the sales, technical support and logistics hub for Curtis in the UK and Ireland.

Curtis is now actively recruiting innovative and capable engineers with mobile electronics experience to join the UKEC team. Click here for further information.

This new controller by Curtis provides efficient, optimal control of permanent magnet drive motors for battery powered vehicles. Model 1226 is optimized for use on light duty Class III pallet trucks and sweeper scrubber floorcare machines. Highly flexible programmability allows these controllers to be applied on any low power PM motor application.

Model 1226 is easily programmed with Model 1313 handheld or 1314 PC programming station, or can be supplied pre-programmed. These controllers are compatible with industrial tiller handle wig-wag throttles such as the Curtis Model ET-190E. Troubleshooting and diagnostics are easy. Advanced speed regulation maintains precise speed over varied terrain, obstacles, curbs and ramps. Hydraulic Lift Lockout functionality protects the vehicle’s batteries from damaging level of discharge. These new controllers provide highly flexible I/O.

The Curtis Model AC F2-C is an Integrated AC Traction & DC Pump System Controller that offers unprecedented performance and value. This AC F2-C motor controller combined with a Half bridge DC hydraulic pump and proportional valve control system uses dual high-performance ARM Cortex microprocessors in a compact, package to deliver unmatched performance and a very flexible feature set.

Model AC F2-C is fully optimized for use as a Combi traction and hydraulic controller on 1.0 ton-2.0 ton class III pedestrian-operated powered pallet and stacker trucks. It provides vehicle designers with the ability to fully define and control the detailed dynamic performance of their vehicle's drivetrain and hydraulic pump system, and also provides comprehensive vehicle management and CAN master capabilities. Model AC F2-C is also suitable for traction and hydraulic pump control on other types of battery powered vehicles such as the small aerial scissor lift platforms.

Together with the new Curtis model 3140 CAN LCD display and the new user-friendly Curtis Integrated Toolkit, the Curtis model AC F2-C is the ultimate Class III truck control system. 

The Curtis E model controllers utilize a powerful dual-microprocessor logic architecture to provide improved performance and surpass the requirements of the latest international functional safety standards. The Curtis Model 1269E provides energy efficient control of asynchronous AC induction motors performing on-vehicle traction drive duties. It offers vehicle developers a highly cost-effective combination of power, performance and functionality.

Intended for electric and hybrid vehicles using 72 to 108V nominal system voltage for high power circuits, and a 12V chassis-grounded system for low-power control circuits. Software upgrade allows use with surface permanent magnet synchronous motors. 

Mount Kisco, New York. May 2019. Curtis Instruments, Inc. is honored to announce that Henry B. Schacht, currently a special limited partner at the prestigious private equity investing company Warburg Pincus, has been elected to the board of directors of the corporation. Since 1995, Mr. Schacht held high-level management positions at a Warburg Pincus, including as managing director and senior advisor. His distinguished success record includes positions as Chairman and CEO at Lucent Technology and Cummins Engine Company, both major Fortune 500 companies. 

Mr. Schacht's extensive corporate leadership experience with international technology companies will be a significant asset to Curtis Instruments, a global electric vehicle technology leader. 

He began his business career at the American Brake Shoe Company in 1956. Following service in the U.S. Navy and graduate school, he joined the Irwin Management Company, an investment firm in Columbus, Indiana in 1962. In 1964, Mr. Schacht joined Cummins Engine Company, Inc., in Columbus as vice president -- Finance. He moved up the ranks at Cummins, holding key positions in Cummins International and later domestic operations before he assumed duties as president in 1969, when he was elected to the board of directors. In 1973, he became president and chief executive officer, and four years later became chairman and chief executive officer. He retired from Cummins in 1995, and was named chairman and CEO-designate of Lucent Technologies later that year. Mr. Schacht stepped down as chairman of Lucent Technologies in February 1998 having served as the company's first chairman and CEO from 1995 to 1997, during its launch and first year as an independent company. He also served as a consultant to Lucent from 1998 until 1999.  He returned to Lucent in 2000 as chairman and CEO, tasked with revitalizing the company, having most recently served as chairman of the Lucent spinoff, Avaya. 

Mr. Schacht received his MBA with Honors from Harvard University University and he holds a Bachelor of Science from Yale University. In addition, he was awarded numerous honorary degrees, including M.S, Ed.D, D. Sc and Humane Letters titles from Harvard, Yale, Dension, DePauw, Penn State, Trinity College and Worchester Poly Technical.

His eminent career includes guiding and contributing his skills as a member of the board for not-for-profit organizations, such as the Resources for the Future and the Health Effects Institute. He served on Paul Newman's Committee to Encourage Corporate Philanthropy. He is an honorary trustee of the Brookings Institution and a trustee emeritus of the Culver Educational Foundation. He is a former member of The Business Council and the Business Roundtable. He was also a trustee of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, former chairman of the board of trustees of The Ford Foundation and a former trustee of Yale University and The Rockefeller Foundation. Additionally, he was a Fellow of the Academy of Arts and Sciences and a member of the American Philosophical Society.

He had also served on the board of directors of globally recognized corporations CBS, AT&T, the Johnson & Johnson Corp., the Chase Manhattan Corporation and Chase Manhattan Bank, N.A., the New York Times Company, Knoll Inc. and Alcoa Inc. 

He and his wife Nancy live in Sleepy Hollow, New York. 

James Wood, affectionately known by everyone as Jim, has served on the Curtis Instruments, Inc. Board of Directors since June 2002, including as Chairman of the Compensation Committee. During his 17 years tenure as a highly respected Curtis director, he has left an indelible imprint on the course of the company, helping to guide and mentor the Curtis, which benefitted greatly from his extensive experience, positive outlook and good-natured personality. He has been a pillar of Curtis' success and a vital contributor to the course of the company with his wise council and assistance, including through two periods of global recession.  

The reference "gentleman and a scholar" is often overused, but seldom as applicable as here. Every Curtis colleague who ever had the pleasure to come in contact with Mr. Wood was positively affected by his sincerely kind disposition. Indeed, he never missed an opportunity to give an uplift to everyone he met. One of his noticeable personality traits is that no matter who you are, no matter what your station in life, your job status or social ranking, whenever you meet Jim Wood he will treat you as an equal, with kindness, courtesy, dignity and respect. He enriches everyone in his orbit and that's just one reason why he is so highly admired by everyone. He is truly a remarkable and exceptional individual.

Mr. Wood was employed by the Bank of New York from 1954-1982 as Vice President in the investment and trust areas. From 1982 until he retired in 2002, he served as a First Vice President with the Smith Barney investment firm, where he provided investment guidance to individuals, foundations, and retirement funds. 

He graduated from Deerfield Academy and Haverford College following service in the U. S. Navy. Among his many accomplishments, he has served on the boards of Haverford and Bryn Mawr Colleges, the Howard Memorial Fund, and the Jewish Foundation for the Education of Women. He also chaired the board of the American Bible Society, and served on two Advisory boards of the W. K. Kellogg Foundation. 

Mr. Wood helps make the world a better place by actively supporting a wide variety of local not-for-profit charity and environmental organizations, as benefactor and philanthropist with: Bedford 2020, the Boys & Girls Club, Neighbors Link and the Lions Club, and that's only the tip if the iceberg of his collective good works. He and Mrs. Wood were also named Mt. Kisco's Citizens of the Year in 2004.

Curtis will miss Jim Wood as we bid him farewell with deep gratitude and profound respect. 

February 2019. Mount Kisco, New York: The new Curtis Model 1220E brushed DC permanent magnet motor controller for electric power steering and steer-by-wire systems fully meets EN1175 1:1998+A1: 2010 standards. This controller is exclusively designed for Curtis Vehicle Control Language (VCL) enabled AC-traction controllers. The steering motor functions as an actuator to change the angle of the wheels thereby changing travel direction. Model 1220E interprets the steering command input and wheel position feedback, to steer the vehicle. Intended applications are class-3 material handling vehicles such as pallet trucks, stackers and similar industrial vehicles.

The controller features absolute and relative position control modes. Model 1220 e has 20 kHz Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) switching frequency to ensure silent operation. Advanced PWM techniques produce low motor harmonics, low torque ripple, and minimized heating losses, resulting in high efficiency. Powerful features include configurable homing methods, center offset, and end-stop protection. Model 1220e, with CANopen system communication, operates with 24V and 36/48V nominal supply voltage and 60A 1-minute current rating. Hour meter and diagnostic log functions are integrated. The Curtis 840 Spyglass can be connected to show traction and steering information such as BDI, hour meter, fault, traction speed, and steered wheel angle. Model 1220 e is designed for maximum safety with dual redundant configuration of all safety relevant parts. Fault output can be used to turn off traction controller’s main contactor and EM Brake. The new controller provides Separate input paths to each micro for all input and feedback signals. Following error check ensures the wheel position tracks the steering command.

Model 1220e meets or complies with relevant US and international regulations:

• EMC: Designed to the requirements of EN12895:2015.

• EN1175- 1:1998+A1:2010.

• UL recognized per UL583.

• Designed to the EN13849 standard achieving a PL=d, Category 3 for all Safety Functions.

• Electronics sealed to IPX4.

Regulatory compliance of the complete vehicle system with the controller installed is the responsibility of the vehicle OEM.

The Curtis Model 1351 System Controller provides 26 multi-function I/O for application in stand-alone or CAN connected systems. With ample user code space and the newly enhanced real-time VCL 2.0 programming language, OEMs can use Model 1351 to develop a wide range of vehicle and system control applications as the master or a slave in a multi- module installation. The 1351 System Controller was designed for a wide variety of applications, such as material handling vehicle masters, base controllers for aerial trucks, operator interface in man-up platforms, land based installation controllers replacing PLCs, ICE and Hybrid system controllers, hydraulic manifold control and many others. This advanced controller features highly flexible I/O as pins are multifunctional and easily configured to match any application, and with the Curtis Vehicle Control Language (VCL), an easy to program “C-like” language providing all the power and flexibility to control any application. VCL programs run protected and securely; monitored for proper operation to protect the system from erratic behaviors. Model 1351 provides speed, safety and simplicity with dual 32-bit microprocessors to achieve powerful performance and safety. The microprocessors cross check each-other continuously for proper operation to ensure reliable control of your application. 1351 can perform user developed Safety Functions to EN13849 Category 2 PL=d and limited Category 3 functions using the I/O redundancy and built-in SRDO functions. This system controller also features comprehensive CANbus control. With two Independent CAN ports, Model 1351 offers a wide range of connectivity options. Each port can run different rates and protocols, with full CANopen and/or J1939 compatibility. Model 1351 is ideally suited for hybrid vehicles or to bridge CANopen ports at different bit rates.

Curtis Instruments, Inc., is pleased to announce the promotion of Steve Lacker as Director of Engineering of the Eugene P. Finger Technical Center, located in Mount Kisco, New York on the headquarters campus. In this important capacity, Mr. Lacker reports to Mr. Basar Alp, Vice President of Engineering, and is responsible for the operation and management of this vital design engineering division, which focuses on product design of Curtis vehicle instrumentation, battery management and power conversion products. The New York R&D center, one of the company’s four R&D/ engineering centers, employs 20 highly specialized engineers and technical staff.

Mr. Lacker joined the company in 1993 as Electrical Engineer and has held progressively responsible engineering management positions in the company spanning nearly 26 years, including as Group Leader – Instrumentation and Engineering Manager. As a trusted colleague to the recently retired Vice President of Engineering Steve Tomasiewicz, he held key engineering roles responsible for the development of major Curtis product development projects that are marketed worldwide, predominately for electric and hybrid vehicles of all types.

He holds a Bachelor degree of Engineering in Electrical Engineering from Manhattan College in Riverdale New York.   

Curtis is confident that he is the right colleague to lead this vital New York R&D into the future. He is a proven manager who brings the right combination of experience, technical competency and enthusiasm, to this highly important managerial function.

Curtis Instruments, Inc., is pleased to announce the promotion of David Wilkes as Managing Director of Curtis Instruments (UK) Ltd., located in Northampton, England. In this important capacity, Mr. Wilkes reports to Mr. Mark Ankers, Vice President of European Operations, and is responsible for the operation and management of this vital sales and service subsidiary serving the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Egypt, Israel and English-speaking Africa.

Mr. Wilkes joined the company in 1986 as OEM sales engineer and has held progressively responsible sales management positions in the company spanning 32 years, including as General Sales Manager and Director of Sales. He held key roles responsible for the development and growth of Curtis UK as one of the largest Curtis subsidiaries in Europe. In the past years, David Wilkes has achieved great things in sales management and this experience will assure that he will bring his knowledge and experience to continue to expand our customer base and to serve our existing customers with the best possible products and reliable customer services.

Curtis is confident that he is the right colleague to lead this vital UK subsidiary into the future. He is a proven manager who brings the right combination of experience, technical competency and enthusiasm, to this highly important managerial function.

Curtis Instruments, Inc., is pleased to announce the promotion of Michael Bachman as Executive Director – California Division, one of the company’s four R&D/ engineering centers, located in Livermore, California. In his new capacity, Mr. Bachman is responsible for the operation and management of this vital design engineering division, which focuses on product design and EV system integration of Curtis PMC brand motor speed controllers, one of the primary Curtis product lines. The Curtis California R&D center is one of the world’s leading high-tech engineering design centers specializing in motor speed technology, and employs 85 people.

Mr. Bachman is a renowned expert in motor speed controller design for electric vehicles of all types, and a longtime trusted technology leader within Curtis. He joined the company in 1995 as Senior Project Leader and has held progressively responsible engineering management positions in the company spanning nearly 24 years, including as Director of Engineering. As a trusted colleague to Steve Post, the founder and longtime Vice President and Managing Director of Curtis, California,

he held key engineering roles responsible for the development of over 15 major Curtis product development projects and he helped bring to market some of the company’s most important controller technology.

He holds a Bachelor of Science – Electrical Engineering degree from Penn State University. Mr. Bachman reports to Mr. Basar Alp, Vice President of Engineering.

Curtis is confident that he is the right colleague to lead the California Division into the future and that he brings the right combination of experience, technical competency and enthusiasm, wide ranging skills and professionalism to lead this highly important managerial function.

Curtis Instruments, Inc., headquartered in Mount Kisco, New York, since 1960, is proud and pleased to announce the hiring of Basar Alp as Vice President of Engineering. In his new capacity, Mr. Alp is responsible for global product engineering management, product design and EV system integration of all Curtis products, including motor speed controllers, instrumentation, battery management systems, chargers and related technology. Mr. Alp will be responsible for the Curtis worldwide R&D locations in New York (instrumentation and battery management), California (motor speed controllers), Switzerland (wheelchair mobility) and China (motor controllers and instrumentation).

Mr. Alp has spent his entire professional career in the automotive industry, spanning 17 years in progressively responsible engineering functions. He specialized in control system engineering, including a decade with General Motors and seven years as with Continental Automotive, most recently as Director of Engineering.

He holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the University of Rochester, a Master of Science in Controls Engineering from the University of Delaware in Newark, DE, and a Bachelor of Science degree from the Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey.

Mr. Alp will be critical in helping Curtis continue its global innovation and excellence in electric vehicle technology, as the company is poised to expand its portfolio in the high-voltage electric vehicle market segment. As an expert in EV system integration, Mr. Alp will focus on global product and system development projects that will advance Curtis' market position and technical leadership, in product as well as engineering partnerships with Curtis customers - electric vehicle manufacturers.

The new Vice President of Engineering has already actively assumed his new position and is actively engaged in helping Curtis continue its global product design and development success. We are confident that he brings the right combination of enthusiasm, wide ranging skills and professionalism to lead this highly important global function.

Curtis Introduces New AC Induction Motor Controller - AC F2-A

Aug. 28, 2017, Mount Kisco, NY - The new Curtis AC motor speed controller AC F2-A for Class III pallet trucks is an AC Motor Controller with powerful performance and value. This new controller provides a uniquely high specification at an unprecedented price point. This new AC induction motor controller (inverter) uses dual high performance ARM Cortex microprocessors in a compact package to deliver unmatched performance and a very flexible feature set.

Model AC F2-A is fully optimized for use as a traction controller on 1.0 ton-2.0 ton class III pedestrian-operated powered pallet trucks. It provides vehicle designers with the ability to fully define and control the detailed dynamic performance of their vehicle's drivetrain, and also provides comprehensive vehicle management and CAN master capabilities. It is also suitable for traction or hydraulic pump control on other types of battery powered vehicles. Together with the new Curtis Model 3140 CAN LCD display and the new user-friendly Curtis Software Suite, Model AC F2-A is the ultimate Class III truck control system.

The compact, rugged features heavy-duty M6 busbars for motor and battery connectors and comes with a sealed, 23-pin AMP seal I/O Connector. This controller is impervious to most oils, solvents, degreasers and other chemicals often encountered by industrial vehicles. The new CE marked and UL583 recognized controller is rated for IP65 environmental protection as per IEC 60529 and exceeds latest global conformance requirements for functional safety, electrical safety and EMC.

Model AC F2-A is easily configured to work with any AC induction motors with Curtis motor auto-characterization setup.

Curtis has just rolled out a new corporate overview video that provides a synopsis of the Curtis worldwide operations. It only takes 5 minutes to view on YouTube. See the video here.

Curtis also just published a printed Quick Facts pamphlet to highlight the most pertinent facts about the company in a nutshell. To see the online flipbook on this website, simply go to the Top Menu and select: "Brochures" then "Quick Facts."