New EMO III™ Oscillator Test Panel: An Interview with Matt Scott

I had the opportunity to speak with Matt Scott, district sales manager with Kadant Solutions, to learn more about the new EMO III oscillator test panel. Matt has more than 13 years of experience in the pulp and paper and tissue industries, having spent a decade as a field technician before moving into his current district sales manager role.

The idea for the EMO III test panel dates back to Matt’s first year in field service, when he was issued a large, suitcase-sized test panel that was cumbersome to transport. Noticing that much of the enclosure was unused “air space,” Matt asked if he could shrink the panel down while keeping only the essential components needed for testing. Drawing on his electronics background, he built a smaller, more portable version and began taking it into mills for use in the field. Over time, he produced several test panels, though each unit required nearly eight hours to build. As interest grew, Matt began working with the Kadant Solutions R&D team to develop a refined production-ready version.

V:     What is the EMO III oscillator test panel and what problems does it solve?

M:    The EMO III oscillator test panel is a compact version of a full EMO III control panel, built specifically for testing in the field. By stripping it down to just what’s needed, it’s much easier for technicians to travel with and use on the machine or a test bench. It allows for quick confirmation if an oscillator is working properly without relying on the installed control panel or swapping components unnecessarily.

V:     What’s the biggest impact on the customer?

M:    The biggest impact is flexibility. The test panel can run on standard power or a 24V battery, so technicians can easily carry it around the mill and test an EMO III oscillator right on the machine even in areas where power is limited. It also allows customers to test oscillators on a bench before reinstalling them, which saves time, reduces guesswork, and helps get equipment back up and running faster.

V:     What kinds of issues can the test panel help identify quickly?

M:    In many cases, customers are faced with an oscillator that isn’t performing as expected and must decide whether it needs to be rebuilt, replaced, or if the issue is related to field wiring or the installed control panel. The EMO III test panel helps quickly determine whether the issue is with the oscillator itself or something else, like the field wiring or control panel. Instead of swapping out a full oscillator just to troubleshoot, technicians can test it directly (on the machine or off) and know right away if it’s working. That saves time, avoids unnecessary rebuilds, and in some cases even allows troubleshooting during production to help minimize downtime.

V:     This test panel is designed for testing purposes only. Why is it important that it's not for continuous machine operation?

M:    The test panel is meant strictly for testing and troubleshooting, not for long-term machine operation. While it can be used temporarily in a pinch, it’s not designed for continuous production use because the enclosure isn’t waterproof and the heat tolerance over long periods hasn’t been evaluated. Using it as a tool helps ensure safe use while still giving technicians the diagnostic information they need quickly.

V:    What’s one feature you think will surprise people when they see it in action?

M:    Being able to use it with a battery! For example, on the wet end of a paper machine, finding a safe AC power source can be difficult due to water exposure, so being able to operate on battery power makes testing much easier and safer. It allows technicians to work without plugging in near water while still getting reliable diagnostic results.

V:     What’s the simplest “how to use it” explanation you’d give a service tech in 30 seconds?

M:    You simply power up the test panel, connect the cable to the oscillator, and turn it on. Once it’s running, the panel will either operate the oscillator normally or display a fault code on the screen. From there, the technician can quickly see whether the oscillator is working properly or identify what issue needs attention.