Bogdan Botoi — Division Manager for Automation and Control, E.B. Horsman & Son

CEW 17 EB Horsman logo 400

Oct 13, 2020

By Blake Marchand

Bogdan Botoi is Division Manager for Automation and Control with E.B. Horsman out of British Columbia.

Before joining the company, Bogdan spent a number of years as an electrical engineer across different industries. Working as a lead designer with cREO in the semiconductor industry. “I did everything from system engineering to PLC design to motion control,” he noted. From there he took a job with a pharmaceutical company as senior medical devices engineer. “We developed new innovative medical devices and automation for production lines to build those devices.”

After three years, Bogdan moved industries once again, as an electrical engineering manager in power generation. It was in this role that he began taking on more of a management role. While still involved in commissioning and field work, he was responsible for leading a team of engineers as well as their in-house panel shop.

“It was very different,” he said. “I was looking for a change.

“I moved from medical devices, semiconductor industry where everything was clean, and the first thing I saw on the production floor was a generator larger than a locomotive. So, that was my new world.”

Bogdan noted he enjoyed the challenge.

“There was a lot to learn, I was managing this engineering group, coordinating 10 to 12 people, as well as being involved with the panel shop and the field crew for commissioning.

“It was challenging, it was interesting, it was good.”

Bogdan would then take a step up, taking a similar role with Wayjax as electrical engineering manager for Canada. 

“I was deeply involved in all aspects of design and commissioning, but in more territories and different products,” he said in comparison to his previous power generation role.

In the meantime, Bogdan got an MBA with the intention of taking on more management positions, which would influence his decision to pivot his career in 2016 and take his current position with E.B Horsman & Son. 

While with Wayjax, Bogdan was a customer of E.B Horsman & Son, and the company had an opening in BC for divisional manager for automation and control. This was interesting for Bogdan because it was an opportunity to use his experience as an engineer while taking on more of a business development role.

“That attracted me a lot. Because now I can use my experience, both in management and engineering to guide the group and get involved in all these industries. We are very much hands on, we are not your typical electrical distributor where you just sell stuff. We get down to the ‘nitty-gritty’ with the customer, to help them define their design.”

Bogdan elaborated on this last point, explaining, “For some of our customers I designed their system myself, just to help them with the initial stage. Where they couldn’t afford to pay someone to do it or they didn’t know exactly what they needed.”

Wholesale is becoming increasingly competitive with e-commerce being a major factor, and you’ll also see that manufacturers, in some instances, will sell directly to end-users. That increases the competition level.

“That creates a bit of a challenge because cost-wise you’re not as effective. On the other hand, with the added value we provide something more than other companies do. We have a very strong automation and controls group as well as process instrumentation, data communication and lighting.”

This is how a company like E.B Horsman & Son can distinguish itself, not just from other wholesalers, but within the overall competitive landscape.

“You don’t give me a part number and I sell you that part. No, we help you refine and define your system, find the proper solution and we’re very honest with our customers.

“This helps us establish trust.”

These types of services is particularly valuable given the pace of IIoT and the associated trends and technologies.

“The industry is going to transform quite a bit in the near future.” IoT, cloud computing, edge computing and these data driven technologies will undoubtedly impact the trend toward smart data. Alongside the focus customized solutions, like they are doing with Rittal and custom panels. 

“It’s one thing to get the data, but it’s a different thing to know where to place it, how to use it, what you understand from it ” he said. “All these data analytics are going to be crucial for all the industries we are in.”

Understandably, this fluctuation and change is a major challenge for the industry, but one that Bogdan says is invigorating, “it gives you this energy to keep going and reinvent yourself.”

Blake Marchand is Associate Editor with Kerrwil Electrical Group

Related Articles


Changing Scene

  • Wesco Opens State-of-the-Art Facility in Eastern Canada to Support Influx of Megaprojects in the Region

    Wesco Opens State-of-the-Art Facility in Eastern Canada to Support Influx of Megaprojects in the Region

    Wesco International has recently announced the grand opening of a new state-of-the-art facility on Higney Avenue in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada, making this the largest facility of any distributor in the Atlantic region. The new building, facilitated by Touchette Real Estate, a division of Groupe Touchette, will feature Wesco’s comprehensive suite of services and solutions including… Read More…

  • PataBid Nominated for Canadian Choice Award in Software Services

    PataBid Nominated for Canadian Choice Award in Software Services

    PataBid is proud to announce its nomination for a Canadian Choice Award in the Software Services category. This recognition highlights PataBid’s commitment to supporting the electrical contracting community across Canada by providing innovative estimating software solutions that streamline estimating processes and ensure predictable and profitable projects. Read More…


Sponsored Content
The Easy Way to the Industrial IoT

The way to the Industrial IoT does not have to be complicated. Whether access to valuable data is required or new, data-driven services are to be generated, Weidmuller enables its customers to go from data to value the easy way. Weidmuller’s comprehensive and cutting-edge IIoT portfolio applies to greenfield and brownfield applications. Weidmuller offers components and solutions from data acquisition, data pre-processing, data communication and data analysis.

Visit Weidmuller’s Industrial IoT Portfolio.


ADVANCED Motion Controls Takes Servo Drives to New Heights (and Depths) with FlexPro Extended Environment Product Line

Advanced Motion Controls is proud to announce the addition of six new CANopen servo drives with Extended Environment capabilities to their FlexPro line. These new drives join AMC’s existing EtherCAT Extended Environment FlexPro drives, making the FlexPro line the go-to solution for motion control applications in harsh environments.

Many motion control applications take place in conditions that are less than ideal, such as extreme temperatures, high and low pressures, shocks and vibrations, and contamination. Electronics, including servo drives, can malfunction or sustain permanent damage in these conditions.

Read More


Service Wire Co. Announces New Titles for Key Executives

Bruce Kesler and Mark Gatewood have been given new titles and responsibilities for Service Wire Co.

Bruce Kesler has assumed the role of Senior Director – Business Development. Bruce will be responsible for Service Wire’s largest strategic accounts and our growing Strategic Accounts Team.

Mark Gatewood has been promoted to the role of Vice President – Sales & Marketing. In this role, Gatewood will lead the efforts of Service Wire Company’s entire sales and marketing organization in all market verticals.

Read More


Tri-Mach Announces the Purchase of an Additional 45,000 sq ft. Facility

Tri-Mach Elmira Facility

Recently, Tri-Mach Inc. was thrilled to announce the addition of a new 45,000 sq ft. facility. Located at 285 Union St., Elmira, ON, this facility expands Tri-Mach’s capabilities, allowing them to better serve the growing needs of their customers.

Positioning for growth, this additional facility will allow Tri-Mach to continue taking on large-scale projects, enhance product performance testing, and provide equipment storage for their customers. The building will also be the new home to their Skilled Trades Centre of Excellence.

Read More


JMP Parent Company, CONVERGIX Acquires AGR Automation, Expanding Global Reach

Convergix Automation Solutions has completed the acquisition of AGR Automation (“AGR”), a UK-based provider of custom, high-performance automation design and systems integration primarily to the life sciences industry.

Following Convergix’s acquisitions of JMP Solutions in August 2021 and Classic Design in February 2022, AGR marks the third investment in Crestview’s strategy to build Convergix into a diversified automation solutions provider targeting the global $500+ billion market, with a particular focus on the $70 billion global systems integration and connectivity segments. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

Read More


Latest Articles

  • How Advanced X-Ray and AI Inspection Technologies Optimize Quality Control and Reduce Costs in SMT Manufacturing

    How Advanced X-Ray and AI Inspection Technologies Optimize Quality Control and Reduce Costs in SMT Manufacturing

    Explore how Omron’s latest X-Ray machines and AI-driven solutions are setting new standards in manufacturing efficiency and quality control. The manufacturing landscape is swiftly evolving, and Omron is at the forefront with its innovative PCB inspection machines. These systems offer profound insights into SMT production process, enhanced quality control, and can significantly reduce labor costs. Advancements… Read More…

  • KUKA Establishes New Software and Digital Business Segment

    KUKA Establishes New Software and Digital Business Segment

    Software is playing an increasingly important role in mechanical engineering. What used to be mostly solved mechanically is now done by electronics and the associated software. “With KUKA Digital, we are expanding our offering in order to position ourselves broadly for a market with strong growth potential. Our customers need products, solutions and consulting approaches to digitalize… Read More…