VFD Vibes

What happens after the internship ends? Host Greg Weichman talks with three Yaskawa employees who started their careers as interns and went on to grow into leadership roles across the company. From technical support and engineering labs to product development and channel management, each guest shares how their internship experience helped shape their career path.

You’ll hear firsthand stories about meaningful projects, hands-on learning, mentorship, customer interaction, and the real-world challenges that accelerated their growth. Along the way, the conversation explores how internships build technical skills, professional confidence, and long-term relationships that can influence an entire career.

Whether you're a student considering an internship, an engineer early in your career, or a company thinking about talent development, this episode offers practical advice and real examples of how internships can become something much bigger.

00:59 Josh From Intern to Channel Manager
09:09 Josh Advice for Applicants
10:21 Ty From Intern to Senior Manager
17:27 Ty Advice Why Internships Matter
18:34 Mark Co Op to Engineering Manager
23:08 Mentor Moment and CLAIR Advice

Have a topic you want us to cover? Email marcom@yaskawa.com and let us know!

Internships are more than just summer jobs—they’re the starting point for real careers. Host Greg Weichman sits down with Nancy Flowers to break down how internship programs benefit both students and employers, and what makes Yaskawa’s approach stand out. With nearly two decades at Yaskawa and years of experience leading the intern program, Nancy shares how the company builds long-term talent pipelines through hands-on experience, mentorship, and meaningful work.

From how students find internships and stand out in the application process to how Yaskawa recruits, gathers feedback, and continuously improves the program, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at what a modern internship should be. Whether you're a student exploring your first opportunity or an employer thinking about developing future talent, this conversation is packed with practical insight and real-world perspective.

01:29 Internships: More Than Just a Summer Job
07:14 Real Work, Not Busywork: Inside the Program
09:56 Mentorship, Teams & Opportunities Beyond Engineering
12:55 The Skills Interns Walk Away With
15:36 How Feedback Shapes a Better Internship Experience
19:26 From Intern to Leader + What Sets the Best Apart

Have a topic you want us to cover? Email marcom@yaskawa.com and let us know!

When low voltage VFDs reach their limits, medium voltage takes over. Host Greg Weichman and guest Tim Scheidell break down what medium voltage (MV) really means and how MV VFDs differ from low voltage drives in system design, internal topology, commissioning, safety, and real-world applications.

 

With Tim’s experience working with large-scale drive systems, they explore multi-level architectures, power cells, harmonic performance, maintenance expectations, and the industries that depend on MV solutions. Whether you're new to medium voltage or evaluating when it makes sense to move beyond 480V systems, this episode gives you the clarity needed to understand where MV fits and why it matters.

 

02:23 What Counts as Medium Voltage
04:15 Why Step Up to MV
05:53 Design Differences Inside an MV Drive
15:22 Safety, Commissioning, and Maintenance
21:05 Where MV Is Used
22:52 When LV Still Wins
25:31 Future MV Trends

 

Have a topic you want us to cover? Email marcom@yaskawa.com and let us know!

In a world of fast shipping, online marketplaces, and shifting customer expectations, does the traditional distribution model still deliver? Host Greg Weichman sits down with Josh Julius, Yaskawa’s Industrial Channel Manager, to explore why the channel partner model remains a strategic cornerstone and what makes this model so powerful in the industrial automation space.

With over a decade of experience at Yaskawa, Josh shares real-world examples, challenges, and behind-the-scenes insights into what makes a great channel partner, how Yaskawa supports its network, and the growing risks of the gray market. They discuss the importance of local inventory, industry expertise, solution selling, and trust—showing how distribution partners act as force multipliers in delivering value to customers.

Whether you’re a distributor, an end user, or just curious about how the industrial supply chain really works, this episode breaks it all down.

03:17 Understanding the Distribution Partner Model
07:21 Real-World Examples of Distribution Value
09:05 Challenges in Supporting Distribution Partners
15:43 The Gray Market and Its Implications
18:39 Qualities of Strong Distribution Partners
23:25 Yaskawa's Support for Channel Partners
25:51 Future of Distribution and Final Thoughts

Have a topic you want us to cover? Email marcom@yaskawa.com and let us know!

Getting the most out of your drive goes far beyond the purchase. Host Greg Weichman breaks down what really makes a difference — from installation and motor selection to tuning, cooling, and preventative maintenance — all in order to help you extend the life of your VFD and maximize efficiency. Inspired by an article from Yaskawa technical training expert Paul Avery, this episode explores how proper setup, smart features, and simple upkeep can dramatically improve performance and ROI.

Whether you’re an installer, end user, or sales professional, this episode offers a high-level guide to better drive reliability, energy savings, and system longevity. Tune in to learn how a few key best practices can turn your VFD into a long-term advantage for your operation.

02:08 Importance of Proper Installation
02:58 Motor and Motor Cable Considerations
05:54 Model Your Motor with Auto-Tune
06:38 Advanced Drive Features for Efficiency
08:26 Maintaining Your VFD for Longevity
11:05 Preventative Maintenance Checklist
14:09 Future of VFD Maintenance with AI

Have a topic you want us to cover? Email marcom@yaskawa.com and let us know!

Getting grounding and bonding right isn’t just about meeting electrical code — it’s about protecting your equipment, preventing EMI, and keeping your VFDs running the way they should. In this episode of VFD Vibes, host Greg Weichman welcomes back application engineer Joe Pottebaum to break down what proper grounding and bonding really mean.

Joe explains the difference between system ground, equipment ground, and protective earth — and why confusing these terms can lead to nuisance trips, premature failures, or even dangerous conditions. You’ll also hear best practices for grounding VFDs and motors, insights on shielded cable vs. conduit wiring, and a real-world look at problems like ground loops, noise, and EMI.

With decades of field experience, Joe shares practical advice for installers, engineers, and troubleshooters alike — showing how good grounding and bonding choices can prevent costly downtime and extend the life of your drives.

02:07 Defining Grounding and Bonding
06:55 Best Practices for Grounding VFDs
15:14 Cables, Conduits, and EMI 
21:33 Troubleshooting and Real-World Examples
28:03 Protecting Your Investment
31:52 How to learn more or get help

Have a topic you want us to cover? Email marcom@yaskawa.com and let us know!

Not all three-phase power systems are created equal — and the wrong setup can spell trouble for your VFDs. In this episode of VFD Vibes, host Greg Weichman sits down with application engineer Joe Pottebaum to unpack the world of power system configurations and their impact on variable frequency drive applications.

From the fundamentals of single-phase versus three-phase power to the nuances of wye, delta, corner-grounded, and high-resistance grounded systems, Greg and Joe cover the configurations you’re most likely to encounter in the field — and the implications each has for your installation. You’ll hear how these systems evolved, why grounding strategy matters, and what can go wrong if you don’t match your VFD to the supply.

Along the way, Joe shares field-tested advice on dealing with imbalanced systems, open-delta supplies, and ungrounded installations — plus how Yaskawa drives are built to handle real-world conditions that challenge other brands. Whether you’re an installer, engineer, or troubleshooting tech, this episode gives you the knowledge to spot risks before you press “Start.”

 

01:54 Single Phase vs. Three Phase Power
02:50 Applications of Single Phase Power
06:22 Three Phase Power in Industrial Settings
10:05 The Evolution of Three Phase Power
16:27 Grounding and Safety in Power Systems
25:06 Resistance Grounding and Line-to-Line vs. Line-to-Ground Faults
29:24 Challenges of High Resistance Grounding
32:14 System Grounding Standards
36:11 Impact of Ungrounded Systems
46:03 Delta vs. Wye Connected Systems
48:15 Yaskawa's Solutions for Imbalanced Systems

Have a topic you want us to cover? Email marcom@yaskawa.com and let us know!

Technical training doesn’t just support our products—it empowers the people who use them. Host Greg Weichman sits down with John Autero, Manager of Technical Training Services at Yaskawa, for an inside look at how the company delivers hands-on education across drives, motion, and solar technologies.

John shares how Yaskawa built a training program from the ground up—offering everything from e-learning and virtual classes to in-person workshops and a full-fledged technical roadshow. With decades of experience and a passion for teaching, he explains why great training isn’t just about what’s taught, but how it’s delivered. Whether you're brand new to VFDs or a seasoned field tech looking to sharpen your skills, this episode reveals how Yaskawa's training services help teams learn faster, troubleshoot smarter, and stay up to speed.

01:03 Meet John Autero: Shaping Yaskawa's Training Programs
06:05 Training Formats: Online, In-Person, and Hybrid
09:42 The Traveling Technical Training Road Show
12:37 Learn With Yaskawa: Learning Management System (LMS)
16:30 Diverse Training Content: From Basics to Troubleshooting
19:55 Utilizing Learning Paths within the LMS
22:00 Specialized Instructors: Expertise and Experience
24:20 Certification and Continuing Education Credits
27:08 Customer Feedback and Satisfaction
32:02 The Future of Training: AI and New Technologies
37:53 Providing Feedback and Custom Training Requests

To dive in visit training.yaskawa.com

Have a topic you want us to cover? Email marcom@yaskawa.com and let us know!