Weyerhaeuser Cuts Energy Costs by Adopting IEEE 841 Motors

When Weyerhaeuser—an international forest‑products leader worth $20 billion—set out to reduce its energy bill, the company faced the same dilemma as other manufacturers: rising power costs and the lure of energy rebates. What set Weyerhaeuser apart was the method it used to choose a motor.

With roughly 50,000 motors running across its facilities—accounting for 81 % of its electrical load—Weyerhaeuser needed a motor that combined peak efficiency with reliability and low maintenance. Rather than selecting on price alone, the firm assembled a cross‑functional team led by senior scientist John Holmquist, a Fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. The team adopted the IEEE 841 standard as the baseline for motor performance, a rigorous benchmark that ensures high reliability, efficiency and durability.

Six manufacturers supplied sample motors for evaluation. Each unit was rigorously tested, disassembled for inspection and scored on more than 170 performance metrics. The results showed that the Reliance 841 XL Premium Efficient motor met or exceeded every IEEE 841 requirement and offered the added advantage of widespread availability from Reliance stock centers across the U.S. and Canada.

Holmquist noted, “I’m excited to partner with Reliance and standardize on a motor that serves all segments of our industry—from forest products to pulp and paper. The 841 XL is engineered for severe duty and delivers the quality, reliability and energy efficiency we require.”

Key attributes that impressed the team included a precision‑balanced rotor for smoother operation, reduced vibration and extended bearing life, and the use of Conrad bearings with end isolators that further prolong motor longevity.

Payback analyses indicated that the 841 XL would be installed in all new applications. Holmquist called older standard motors “economically obsolete” and urged the company to replace them. The team compared the short‑ and long‑term costs of repairing versus replacing failed motors and found that any motor of 50 hp or less should be swapped out for the 841 XL. Motors 60 hp and above would be evaluated individually.

Holmquist added, “In many cases, replacing an in‑service motor makes financial sense. We recommend retrofitting any motor with a payback period of less than 3.5 years.”

To test the approach, Weyerhaeuser partnered with the North American Paper Corporation (NORPAC), a joint venture between Weyerhaeuser and Nippon Paper Industries. Located in Longview, Washington, NORPAC is the second‑largest newsprint mill in North America, operating 24/7 and producing 750,000 tons of high‑quality paper annually.

Leadership at NORPAC understood that rising electricity costs were beyond their control, so they prioritized energy savings. By fall, the plant had retrofitted over 200 older motors with the Reliance 841 XL, significantly reducing operating expenses.

Mark Higginson, NORPAC’s senior support engineer, says, “Our systematic approach—identifying inefficient equipment and replacing it during scheduled shutdowns—continues to deliver incremental gains.” With a monthly power bill of roughly $4 million, Higginson estimates that each motor swap cuts the bill by several percentage points. Coupled with local utility rebates, the payback for a 841 XL is less than one year.

Ultimately, the data-driven strategy and rigorous calculations paid off on both paper and in practice. Weyerhaeuser has lowered energy and maintenance costs, reduced downtime and cut total cost of ownership at NORPAC.

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