INMR was launched five years ago with an editorial content strictly focused on electrical insulators. There are a number of reasons why this Journal realized a rapid acceptance in the marketplace.
First of all, insulators represent a US $ 2 billion/year industry worldwide and, until our Journal first appeared, this industry was not being adequately served by other publications. Secondly, there have been significant advancements in insulator technology during the past decade and users of insulators, such as electric utilities, naturally wanted to keep abreast of these important developments. Finally, the entire high voltage field has become increasingly internationalized as free trade and deregulation of electricity supply have opened up many world markets to new competition. This meant that both users and suppliers of insulators needed to become more acquainted with the various potential international sources.
These are the factors which we believe have contributed to this publication’s success and which will continue to guide its major emphasis in the coming years.
According to a major survey covering readers in over 30 countries and undertaken by an independent group of consultants, INMR was consistently judged to be better than most other publications in the field of electrical transmission and distribution.* Readers tell us that they like the editorial style and appreciate the fact that our articles are independent and objective and always involve first-hand visits and direct interviews with the people behind the stories.
In addition, this survey also indicated that many readers throughout the world would like us to cover yet additional subjects in the field of transmission and distribution.
Based on this reader feedback, more and more articles have appeared which focus on the applications of insulators to electrical apparatus such as switchgear and indeed to new designs and functions of such apparatus in general. At the same time, articles have appeared which had little to do with insulators but rather covered related subjects intransmission and distribution. In this issue, for example, are two articles - one about new NaS battery technology for load levelling at substations and the other dealing with new applications and technology in HVDC - which well illustrate that this publication is continually expanding its coverage of subjects with a direct interest for readers.
So, while we will continue to emphasize our traditional focus on insulators, arresters, bushings and cable terminations, we will also offer readers many additional articles as well.
Why are we doing this?
In a nutshell - we want to be one of your important sources of independent, objective information about international developments in transmission and distribution technology.
Marvin L. Zimmerman
