Issue: February 2007
By: Frank Bisbee

Bisbee’s Buzz

Ray Gendron, The Founder of the BICSI Cares campaign passes away

Courtesy of Cabling Networking Systems Magazine. www.cnsmagazine.com

Ray Gendron was one of the finest, warm, and caring men that I have ever had the honor to know. FDB

Frank Bisbee
"Heard On The Street" column
www.wireville.com
Jacksonville, FL
(904) 645-9077
frank@wireville.com

BICSI BITS

by Laura Jirus

The winter BICSI Conference and Expo was a resounding success.  There was an energetic buzz in the atmosphere that resonated throughout the membership and staff of BICSI.  The excitement was palpable from the opening remarks of John Bakowski, RDCC/NTS/OSP/WD Specialist, President of BICSI, throughout the conference until the closing ceremony.

The whirlwind of the Winter BICSI Conference 2007 has died down; we have found our desks under the pile of “to do’s” that accumulated while we were on our conference “adventure.”  Now it is time to reflect on our time.

We were able to sit with David Cranmer, RCDD for a few minutes and have a chance to hear how motivated he is to “bring BICSI in line with the strategic plan that the Board of Directors has set forth.”  The strategic plan sets the stage to stimulate BICSI’s growth both in the U.S. as well as on an international level.  With David’s industry knowledge, and knowledge of BICSI as an organization, this challenge will be met with success. 

One of the changes David Cranmer has made as the new Executive Director was to appoint (with Board approval) Richard Dunfee, OSP as Director of Professional Development (PD).  Richard is no stranger to BICSI having served as BICSI Training Program Manager.  Richard Dunfee has been involved with BICSI since 1989 and is excited to be part of the team that will bring so much valuable knowledge into the industry. 

The presentations throughout this conference covered a wide range of specialties and issues.  The information that attendees received will enhance their industry knowledge and skill level.  Some of the presentations included (but not limited to):

·         “What happened to My Division 17?”  by John Kacperski, RCDD, of WTC Inc.

·         “20-Year-Old concept of Measuring a Building’s IQ Comes Full Circle” by James Carlini, Carlini & Associates

·         “Fundamentals of AV” by Jeffery Coil, RCDD of Graybar Electric

·         “Ribbon Cabling in the LAN & Data Center” by Doug Coleman of Corning Cable Systems

·         “Making Sense of AV” by Joseph D. Cornwall of Quicktron

·         “Broadband Opportunities in the Connected Community” by W. James Hettrick of U.S. Connected Communities Association

·         “Government Relations Update” by Richard Reed,  RCDD/OSP Specialist  BICSI Government relations

There were several luncheons on the schedule for the week.  We attended what always seems to be the most informative of the bunch.  The Fluke Networks luncheon is a “must – attend” for every conference.  The presentation, given by Hugo Draye, as always, was full of useful information that is easily transferred into the day-to-day operations of a contractor. 

Jan Lewis, BICSI’s Director of International Operations and Special Projects Liaison, was thrilled to see 25 nations represented during the International Regions luncheon.  “The enthusiasm of our international members is contagious,” said Jan Lewis.  During the past year, she had worked on the revitalization of the European Region with great success.  We look forward to seeing more on BICSI’s international side in the future.

We would like to say thank you to all the BICSI staff that give up time at home with families to make this event not only possible but also a venue that members want to plan to attend.  The comment we received most describing this BICSI was “friendly.”  This was partly due to Rick Westcott BICSI’s Services Consultant and Trisha Mendoza BICSI’s Manager of Membership Operations, operating the BICSI Central Booth that was located just across from attendee registration.  They were always ready to answer questions and spend time getting to know the members.  

As we walked around, people were sitting down and pulling out their laptops or they were at the conveniently located public computers quietly going through mail or just catching up on notes.  Ryan Settlemire, BICSI Webmaster/IT Administrator, kept the network up and running to make communication with home and work possible during this hectic time.

The opportunities surrounded us as we wandered up and down the aisles of the exhibit hall.  Attendees had a chance to stop by booths and have hands-on access to some of the innovations in our industry.  Exhibitor Product Forums held nightly in the Product Forum Theater gave a snapshot of new ideas and products.  This is a great way to get an overview of a variety of products in a short time. 

With 209 exhibiting companies, the attendees could cover every aspect of the industry.  There were the veteran companies that are a fixture of each BICSI Conference and there were the “newcomers” who are experiencing this phenomenon for the first time. 

Working their way up the aisles, attendees were given access to an environment where networking, sharing ideas, and learning new information that enables the attendee to start the year ahead of the game.  BICSI conferences are always packed with valuable information that can be used to further education, knowledge, and skills. 

Hats off to Georgette Palmer Smith, CMM (Director of Conferences and Meetings) who did an outstanding job coordinating the many details making this conference run smoothly.  Maarja Kolberg, Communications Manager, kept the information flowing with informative press releases during the conference.  To all whom we do not have room to mention, “THANK YOU “for all you did.  You are appreciated for the time and energy that you invest into each value-packed BICSI event.

Maureen Levy Returns As Publisher For Cabling Networking Systems

Maureen Levy recently returned as publisher of Toronto-based Cabling Networking Systems Magazine.  Maureen, who has more than over 25 years of experience in the Canadian magazine industry, played a pivotal role in turning Cabling Systems, the former name of CNS, into a success story after it launched in 1998. She will also maintain her current role as publisher of Canadian Consulting Engineer.  Her publishing background includes industrial machinery and equipment, trucking transportation, construction industry and telecommunications. “I look forward to the opportunity of working with advertisers once again in this exciting market,” she says.   www.cnsmagazine.com

Leviton Launches New S3 Team

Leviton has been a leader in identifying and manufacturing solutions for the electrical and telecommunications industry for the past 100 years. As we celebrate our 100th anniversary, we are proud to announce a national support team comprised of skilled commercial cabling, design, and installation experts. These Leviton Specification

Engineers are service-driven individuals who are equipped to help build the best wired or wireless cabling infrastructure possible for Information Technology projects.

The S3 Team is available to help specifiers with all the practical information required to create solutions to their most challenging design and installation issues. This free service includes an abundance of materials available on the Leviton website, as well as access to local Leviton Specification Engineers, and provides answers to Information Technology questions in areas such as:

• 10 Gigabit Ethernet over copper using Category 6 and Category 6A UTP/ScTP

• 10 Gigabit Ethernet over fiber

• Data Center cabling design – “Change your equipment and not your cabling”

• Wireless Systems using 802.11a/b/g in a centralized or distributed architecture for the Enterprise

• Power Quality – solutions that enable a stable, consistent and Un-Interruptible power

• FTTx and Multiple Dwelling Unit (MDU) solutions

Let our highly qualified and industry recognized Registered Communications Distribution Designers (RCDD’s) help you Specify, Simplify and Succeed. Build the best Information Transport System that you can and let the S3 Team show you how “Leviton Makes It Easy”. www.leviton.com

CABA To Hold Intelligent Buildings Leadership Forum At INFOCOMM 07

CABA is pleased to announce that its Intelligent Buildings Leadership Forum will be held June 18 at the Anaheim Convention Center in conjunction with InfoComm 07. InfoComm is the largest tradeshow in the professional audiovisual industry, with 28,000 attendees anticipated, including more than 13,000 dealers, systems integrators, consultants, independent reps and VARs, 7,000 technology managers and 1,200 manufacturers expected to attend.

CABA's Intelligent Buildings Leadership Forum is an interactive executive event designed to bring together related "large building" stakeholder groups that have a vested interest in the technology driving integrated systems and intelligent buildings. This year, the Forum will focus on research findings from CABA's Intelligent Buildings Roadmap and on green building technology.

The Roadmap is a collaborative industry-funded research project designed to update CABA's Technology Roadmap (TRM) for Intelligent Buildings, a research report released in 2002. It explores the opportunities offered by emerging intelligent building technologies.

Paul Ehrlich, PE, of Building Intelligence Group LLC, will make presentations concerning the Roadmap at the Forum. Building Intelligence Group is the independent consulting firm that developed the Roadmap for CABA. The presentations will focus on the current status and imminent opportunities offered by the accelerating evolution and usage of intelligent building technologies.

The participating organizations in this CABA research project are: Cisco Systems, Direct Energy, ESC Automation/Delta Controls, Johnson Controls, HID Corporation, Honeywell International, Tridium, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories, Legrand North America, Lutron Electronics Co., Inc., Panduit Corp., Siemens Building Technologies, Tour Andover Controls, Trane Control Systems, and InfoComm International.

The Forum will also feature sessions on emerging green building technologies. Environmentally sustainable buildings call for integrated designs encompassing a "whole system" approach. The range of "green" design features is very diverse, with options that include energy efficient materials, passive solar considerations, and structural and mechanical components. CABA's Intelligent Buildings Leadership Forum will examine these design features, typically known as the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System.

"We are pleased that CABA has selected InfoComm as the site for its Intelligent Buildings Leadership Forum," stated Randal A. Lemke, Ph.D., Executive Director, InfoComm International. "CABA is recognized as North America's leading information source for building automation. The strategic collocation of CABA's Forum at InfoComm 07 will provide our attendees with a valuable additional source of intelligence on automation and green building technologies."

Ronald J. Zimmer, CABA President & CEO, responded, "We are extremely excited to participate in InfoComm and share this leading-edge research on the intelligent buildings sector."

For more information about the Forum's program, please go to www.caba.org/leadersforum. For more information about InfoComm 07, June 15-21 in Anaheim, California, please visit www.infocommshow.org.

About CABA
CABA is the only industry association to offer industry intelligence to stakeholders in all areas of home & building automation. CABA's resources cover areas such as HVAC, lighting, security, A/V, communications technologies, energy management and controls. A number of resources are available through the association including iHomes & Buildings magazine, research, CABA's forums, CABA's monthly eBulletin, Information Series reports, Event Reports and the CABA web site. Please visit www.caba.org for further information.

About InfoComm International
InfoComm International is the international trade association of the professional audiovisual and information communications industries. Established in 1939, InfoComm has over 4,100 members, including manufacturers, systems integrators, dealers and distributors, independent consultants, programmers, rental and staging companies, end-users and multimedia professionals from more than 70 countries. InfoComm International is the leading resource for AV market research and news. Its training and education programs, along with its separately administered Certified Technology Specialist (CTS) and corporately administered Certified Audiovisual Solutions Provider (CAVSP) company credentials, set a standard of excellence for AV professionals. InfoComm International is the founder of InfoComm, the largest annual conference and exhibition for AV buyers and sellers worldwide. InfoComm also produces trade shows in Europe, Asia, and China. Additional information is available at www.infocomm.org

AFL Telecommunications And Leviton Announce A Marketing & System Integration Alliance To Support Fiber-to-the-Home

AFL Telecommunications, a leading supplier of fiber optic products and services, and Leviton Manufacturing Company, North America’s largest producer of electrical and electronic wiring devices and manufacturer of voice and data solutions, announce a marketing and system integration alliance to support Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH). AFL will promote the alliance as part of the FTTH Made Easy™ program, a comprehensive solutions-based program designed to meet the needs of residential developers and builders seeking to integrate Fiber-to-the-Home within MDU and master planned communities.   

The alliance is focused on supporting end-to-end solutions through a combination of Leviton’s FTTH and industry-leading Integrated Network home technology portfolio, and AFL’s FTTH passive infrastructure, network electronics, and system integration expertise. “AFL is very pleased to welcome Leviton to the FTTH Made Easy™ program”, said Kent Brown – Director, Access Solutions. “FTTH is a powerful community amenity that drives value for the developer, builder and resident.  AFL’s relationship with Leviton connects the optical network to the in-home network and makes it easy for residential developers to implement FTTH within their communities.” 

“Leviton and AFL are perfect complements, bringing a wealth of in-home experience and product solutions together with industry leading access network solutions and integration services,” said Michael Mattei, Leviton’s Director of Fiber Business Development. 

Mattei states how the market tends to talk about homes passed and homes with fiber service at the side of the house, but that is where it ends. Often forgotten is the distribution within the home, to the jack on the wall, where we desire the speed and bandwidth that fiber delivers, in a media that our computers, TV’s and other electronics can accept. In 2006, Leviton wired several hundred thousand homes for broadband signal delivery to the den, kitchen or bedroom. “This alliance provides start to finish service and support for the implementation of a FTTH network encompassing both the active and passive elements of the design,” stated Mattei.

In addition to an end-to-end product portfolio, the program will also feature a portfolio of services, including; AFL’s FTTH Business Model and Leviton’s “Whole House” Integrated Network solutions. These services will provide residential developers with a single source for defining and implementing the value created by FTTH.  

AFL’s program integrates a variety of critical success variables, including: FTTH Business Modeling and network design services, outside plant infrastructure, network electronics and in-home technology solutions. Visit www.FTTHMadeEasy.com for more information.

About AFL Telecommunications
AFL Telecommunications, a division of Fujikura Ltd., is an industry leader in providing fiber optic products, engineering expertise and integrated services to the telecommunications industry. AFL manufactures, engineers and installs the fiber optic products and equipment that communications providers need to provide high-speed voice, video, and data services to their customers. AFL’s extensive experience in both design and application crosses all markets, from Telco, Broadband and Wireless, to Electric Utility, OEM and Private Networks. Visit us at www.afltele.com.

About Leviton
Established in 1906, Leviton Manufacturing Company, Inc. is one of the world’s most diversified electrical manufacturing companies. Leviton has more than thirty facilities dedicated to engineering, manufacturing and distribution of over 25,000 products for nearly every connectivity need. Leviton’s Voice & Data division is dedicated to producing complete copper, fiber and wireless network infrastructure solutions for enterprise, data center, and service provider applications.
www.levitonvoicedata.com

SMP Participates In Industry’s First 10GBASE-T 100 Meter Bit Error Rate Validation Testing With Solarflare

SMP Data Communications, a leading developer and manufacturer of high-speed cross-connect products for communication networks, recently participated in a comprehensive demonstration of 10GBASE-T products in operation at the Solarflare® Communications test facility in Irvine, California.

The validation trials to demonstrate 10GBASE-T operation over Category 6A cabling were performed on a 100 meter channel.  The trials were run in a 100 meter, worst-case channel configuration as specified in the draft TIA augmented Category 6 standard, currently under development in the TIA TR 42.7 subcommittee.  The channel configuration consisted of six around one (6A1) cables, bundled every eight inches.  The equipment used for channel performance validation was Solarflare Communications 10Xpress™ 10GBASE-T PHYs that are currently sampling to OEM customers.

Bi-directional Ethernet traffic was sent over Solarflare’s 10GBASE-T link using two 10Gb/s traffic generators with XAUI interfaces. At the same time, bi-directional 10GBASE-T traffic was running on all six neighboring channels simulating a worst-case alien crosstalk environment. All channels were configured for the maximum 100m length with four connectors in accordance with IEEE 802.3an 10GBASE-T standard and the draft TIA 568-B.2-10 Augmented Category 6 standard. There were no CRC errors in the received frames on both ends over several hours of testing. 

 
Participating with Solarflare to provide representative channel configurations for the first functional testing of 10GBASE-T over Category 6A cabling demonstrates SMP’s ongoing commitment to provide state-of-the-art connectivity products.  These products not only exceed compliance to industry standards but are proven to perform as demonstrated by Solarflare’s 10GBASE-T validation testing. 

 “Our competition offers connectivity products that only operate effectively when combined with the cable they also manufacture, in essence a “tuned system” that costs the customer a premium and is not truly interoperable,” stated Bill Reynolds, VP and general manager of SMP Data Communications. “This is especially true with hard-to-meet emerging standards and protocols such as 10GBASE-T and Augmented Category 6.   SMP connectivity is designed to focus on verifiable throughput as well as ‘the standards.’ The US-made superior quality of our connectivity, derived from our own intellectual property, allows SMP to deliver connectivity that is economical and truly interoperable.  This testing is a testament to our products capabilities and quality designs.”

“This testing proves the reliability and robustness of the 10GBASE-T cabling and PHY products,” said Bruce Tolley, VP of marketing at Solarflare. “These products are available today.”  www.smpdata.com

Hitachi Introduces Streaming Media Software Technology for Digital Video Recording Products

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (Hitachi) announced today it has developed new software technology targeted toward digital video recording (DVR) applications, including set-top boxes (STBs), that utilize hard disk drives. Hitachi's AVSM(TM) software technology is designed to seamlessly manage the mix of high-definition video streaming and best-effort file operations, such as electronic program guides or background IPTV downloads present in STB applications. Through "smart" hard drive management, AVSM technology helps reduce duty cycle by up to 60 percent and eliminates disk fragmentation, ultimately helping to extend the life of the hard drive and the host STB system.

Today's consumers increasingly use their digital cable and satellite set-top boxes to record high-definition programs and stream digital media from the Internet, and they want that content available throughout the house. However, recording and playing back a high number of multiple programs, or streams, can place greater demands on the hard drive and the conventional STB file system.

"Hitachi is continually looking for ways to add value to our hard disk drive solutions. We will see a steady ramp in HDTV viewership and programming in the coming years, and the demands placed on the DVR set-top box will increase significantly," said Marcia Bencala, vice president, corporate strategy and product planning, Hitachi Global Storage Technologies. "Leveraging Hitachi's R&D efforts, we've developed AVSM technology to be complimentary to our hard drive solutions--to help address the quality and performance issues that are faced by STB OEMs and content service providers."

"Smart" Hard Drive Management

To address the heavy demands on the HDD, AVSM technology gives the STB system the ability to distinguish between streaming applications (movies, streaming media) and best-effort, non-real-time applications (electronic program guide, IPTV download, photo viewing). This helps to maintain quality of service (QoS) and protect against disk fragmentation. The AVSM software technology currently comprises a streaming file system and sophisticated I/O scheduler and ultimately makes hard drives work "smarter". It handles the multiple HDTV streams present in multi-room households and optimizes task scheduling to help maximize HDD performance. Simply put, AVSM technology promotes:

• Exceptional hard drive reliability and longer STB service life by lowering hard disk drive duty cycle and protecting file system integrity;
• Improved QoS and highly-predictable performance in multi-stream STB applications through reduction of file system fragmentation and related performance degradation;
• Easy integration with multi-vendor support, minimal system footprint and no additional hardware resource requirement on the STB.
• The ability to manage up to 14 HDTV (19.3Mb/s) streams from one 3.5-inch HDD.

By extending the value of the hard drive, Hitachi is able to offer customers increasingly sophisticated solutions to help consumers manage and enjoy their digital content. Building on that goal, Hitachi also announced today a capacity-record one-TB CinemaStar(TM) hard disk drive specifically tuned for DVR applications. AVSM technology, combined with one-TB capacity continues to encourage the growth of HDTV in the home through the availability of ultra-high capacity and smart management of digital video content. http://www.hitachi.com.

Distributor’s Impact on Contractor’s Profitability - Part II: The Contractors

The August 2006 Productivity column investigated the impact of the changing market facing electrical contractors. With the current and continuing expansion of commercial and residential construction markets, the needs of contractors are dramatically changing.

Electrical distributors provide the essential connection between manufacturers and the owners and specialty contractors. While the position of an electrical distributor has not changed, its role must change from one of distribution to one of supply. Distributors arrange and facilitate the transfer of materials from the factory to the contractor. Suppliers support the customers by responding to their needs. All of these relationships impact an EC’s profitability. Let’s illustrate with a short story:

The crew arrives at the job site at 6 a.m., preparing for the day’s work. With the toolboxes unlocked, assignments given, coffee procured and donuts eaten, the crew attempts to locate its materials. Crew members find all they need except for the six additional boxes and 20 feet of cable ordered yesterday. The materials will be on the next delivery truck and were promised for first delivery.

The first truck of the day arrives. More material arrives but without a pallet jack. One crew stops to help carry it all to the sixth floor.

The next truck shows up, a different distributor. The general didn’t leave instructions for this truck to have access to a restricted area. The foreman spends 15 minutes trying to locate the project manager (PM). The truck will have to come back tomorrow to try again.

Now the project foreman is on the cell phone with the PM trying to track down yet another order. The truck is en route but not expected to arrive until 10. The crew can do nothing but wait.

Finally, the truck arrives with 20 feet of cable and five boxes. The sixth box was backordered, but all six are needed. The five are stashed in storage. Maybe the distributor will get more in today, and someone can go pick it up.

A return is packed and waiting, ready to be picked up. The driver doesn’t have the return authorization paperwork; the crew moves the material back to a safe place to wait until tomorrow.

Next comes a third-party shipper with a truck that doesn’t fit inside the fence. The electricians must unload 400 fixtures, only 50 of which will be installed this week.

To the contractor, labor matters. Delivery matters. Even though the contractors constantly fight for the lowest price, in reality, price is secondary. Without the lowest prices, and often even with the lowest prices, contractors are unable to recover from the labor losses associated with handling materials instead of installing.

Distribution faces a paradox. This is the result of a shift in the entire electrical construction industry, away from the historical industrial work and toward a growing commercial and residential market. Historically, the industrial market was as good a fit for electrical distributors, with their focus on the manufacturers, as it was for contractors.

Over the past 30 years, the commercial and residential components expanded until now where they make up almost 60 percent of the electrical construction market. As the economy shifted, the needs of each side also shifted. ECs are facing new challenges, and as a result, electrical distributors are being forced to change their operating philosophies in order to meet their customers’ needs.

To profitably respond, electrical distributors must understand the needs of each player in the supply chain, from the manufacturers all the way through to the end-users, beginning with their financial models and cost drivers.

·           Financial model: A company’s financial model is determined by its cost structure, which is the combination of its fixed and variable costs, profit and revenue bases and cost drivers. Electrical contractors’ costs are primarily driven by variable costs. In fact, 85 to 90 percent of the operational costs of any specialty contractor, including electrical contractors, are typically allocated as variable costs, regardless of whether the contractor is a union or an open shop.

·          Variable costs: Variable costs are the costs associated with completing a project: labor, materials, rental expenses, etc. Variable costs increase as sales increase because of the costs required to complete a project. For example, an eight-story building with 200 fixtures on each floor requires twice as many fixtures as a four-story building with the same plans. The cost of the fixtures is a variable cost, as is the cost of installing each one.

·          Fixed costs: Fixed costs define the costs required to operate. Fixed costs typically remain constant throughout the year and include general and administrative costs, salaries, insurance, property taxes, carrying costs of inventory and other expenses.

·          Profit: The relationship between net profit, variable cost and fixed cost is shown in Figure 1. In order to recognize a profit, earned revenues must exceed both the variable costs and fixed costs. The break-even point (BEP) is the point at which both variable and fixed costs are covered.

Contractors and distributors, just as every other business, achieve top performance by minimizing both their variable and fixed costs through error reduction, process improvement and customer awareness. However, the biggest return in terms of cost reduction comes from targeting the cost drivers, that is, the elements of a particular financial model that have the biggest impact on the end cost of providing any product.

Profits, the money remaining after all costs are addressed, made up only 3 percent of the typical contractor’s revenues in 2001. This dropped to a measly 1.7 percent in 2004. In other words, a $1 million project returned only $17,000 in profits to the electrical contractor.

The biggest cost driver for the electrical contractor is its labor, a true variable cost. The longer it takes to install materials, the higher the labor cost. As shown in Figure 3, by targeting its variable costs, a contractor can reduce its overall costs, achieve its break-even point much earlier and recoup the difference as profits.

Electrical contractors earn their money by installing electrical components. Recall from Figure 2 that labor costs typically require 44 percent of the typical contractor’s revenues. Any reduction in the cost of labor goes straight to the contractor’s bottom line. Industry research has shown that approximately 40 percent of labor’s time is spent handling materials instead of installing. The benefits from supplier services can help the electrical contractor significantly reduce the time currently spent on material handling, allowing this time to be applied instead to productive installation.

With the shift toward commercial and residential work, the needs of contractors are following suit. Commercial work is faster and less specialized, with materials and specs that vary widely from project to project. Contractors need suppliers who can help address the labor costs by providing the right materials in the right quantity, correctly packaged and delivered to the right place at the right time.

Using their labor for any purpose other than installation can turn a job from a potentially profitable, successful project into a money loser, even going so far as to turn it into a killer job that single-handedly wipes away all profits made by every other project in the company. By refocusing customers away from price and onto the labor savings that can be gained by correctly using the supplier to manage the materials, the situation can turn into a win-win for all involved.

However, to profitably make the shift from a distributor to a supplier, electrical distributors need to understand their own financial model as well. In the next article, we will investigate this model and then how the contractor’s model and the distributor’s model can be effectively used to reduce the costs on both sides. EC

DANESHGARI is president of MCA Inc. He is a consultant for various electrical and general contracting companies. WILSON, a professor at Franklin University, is the director of research for MCA Inc.

Reprinted with full Permission of Electrical Contractor Magazine February issue 2007

www.ecmag.com

Anixter's 2007 Communications Products Catalog Now Available

Anixter Inc. (NYSE: AXE - News), the world's leading distributor of communication products, electrical and electronic wire & cable and a leading distributor of fasteners and other small parts ("C" Class inventory components) to Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), announced the release of its 2007 Communications Products catalog.

Anixter's 2007 Communications Products catalog is a completely redesigned industry resource that includes more than 1,100 pages and over 15,000 part numbers of the latest products and solutions for all of your communication needs. This catalog continues to be an easy-to-use reference tool Anixter customers count on for day-to-day product needs and information on the latest products and technology.

"The catalog has proved invaluable to our company for the ordering process. Our company provides complete network integration and we rely on the well organized and descriptive character of the catalog to order the correct product for each job."

Keeping pace with emerging technologies, our 2007 catalog highlights the latest copper and fiber network cabling systems being deployed in the marketplace from industry leading manufacturers. It also features all of the ancillary structured cabling accessories required to support these systems such as racks, cabinets, cable management and power management products, tools and test equipment.

Some of the specialized sections of the catalog include 10 Gigabit Ethernet data cabling systems, IP Surveillance, Wireless, Power over Ethernet, and Access Control systems. The new IP Security section provides a snapshot of the latest networked products being deployed in the security market. All of the products included in the catalog are searchable through a user-friendly index that includes both the manufacturer name and part number. Additionally, an updated glossary of current industry terms and acronyms are also available in the catalog.

Another new enhancement of the 2007 Communications Products catalog is the addition of the Anixter Standards Reference Guide in the catalog's Appendix section. The guide highlights up-to-date networking industry standards developed by the TIA/EIA, IEEE and ISO organizations.

Anixter offers several additional catalogs including the newly released 2007 Broadcast and Entertainment catalog, the Security Solutions catalog, Wire & Cable catalog, and an on-line eCatalog. Anixter's new 2007 Communications Products catalog is available in print and on CD. This and other Anixter catalogs can be ordered by visiting our Web site at http://anixter.com/literature

How Savvy Contractors Boost Their Estimating Productivity

Contractors who use software from McCormick Systems to estimate and manage electrical and automated building systems projects will gather April 18-21 in Phoenix, AZ for the company's annual User's Conference.

This year's renewal will be the 25th annual. The event includes two full days of meetings plus access to an on-site computer "lab." Users can use the lab to try out ideas they hear during the conference, with or without help from McCormick staff.

"Our customers tell us they want to be able to do more estimates, faster, and more accurately, with the same resources – in terms of people and equipment," says Todd McCormick, the company president. "Our agenda this year primarily focuses on those concerns."

An additional agenda item is a popular annual segment, "What You Have On Your Computer That You Aren't Using." Many elements included as "standard" items in the estimating software can be overlooked by contractors, including:

·         Options for keeping pricing current

·         Project Documentation

·         Accessing your estimating system remotely

·         And, of course, an abundance of information on Estimating

            For more information, see www.mccormicksys.com.

Corning Introduces Handheld Fusion Splicers

Corning Cable Systems LLC, part of Corning Incorporated’s (NYSE:GLW) Telecommunications segment, introduces two new handheld fusion splicers.  The OptiSplice^™ Ribbon Fusion Splicer and the OptiSplice One Fusion Splicer are ideal for use in various local area network (LAN) environments.

The OptiSplice Ribbon Splicer, a handheld 1- to 12-fiber fusion splicer, provides improved speed and performance when compared to previous generation multi-fiber splices, all in a handheld package. The OptiSplice One Fusion Splicer is the next-generation single-fiber splicer. It features an intuitive user interface, dual cameras, toolless maintenance, an ultra-fast heat-shrink oven and high-capacity Li-Ion battery, in a reduced-size fusion splicer.

The handheld fusion splicers are ideal for locations where space and tight working conditions are a concern. Both units are available with modular accessories for use in different LAN applications. The robust splicers feature a splice area cover that serves as a wind protector and robust rubber bumpers for harsh environments.

The OptiSplice One and OptiSplice Ribbon Splicers have an ergonomic layout in which the splice area, screen and keypad face the operator. The compact size allows the splicers to be placed close to other network equipment for efficient workflow. In addition, the fusion splicer case converts into an aerial splicing platform.

The units’ high-intensity LEDs provide splice area illumination for use in low-light environments. The LEDs can also illuminate the interior of a splice closure or other piece of hardware, making the OptiSplice^™ One and OptiSplice Ribbon Handheld Fusion Splicers perfect for restoration purposes. The splicers also contain factory and user-defined programs for common fiber types, and a USB interface for data output and software upgrades.  www.corning.com/cablesystems.

Individuals Recognized At BICSI Annual Awards Banquet

During the annual BICSI Winter Conference in Orlando, three individuals received awards for their efforts to help advance the telecommunications industry. More than 6,000 telecommunications professionals attended the four-day event, which included technical presentations, association meetings, and more than 200 exhibitors featuring the latest products and services.

The Harry J. Pfister Award for Excellence in the Telecommunications Industry was presented to Ray Keden, RCDD, a member from San Leandro, CA. The award was established in 1982 by the University of South Florida (Tampa, Fla.), to recognize the lifetime achievement or major accomplishment of an individual in the telecommunications industry. It promotes the efforts of an individual who enhances the professional, scientific, technical or educational aspects of the industry. The presentation was made by Mel Anderson, Ph.D., USF College of Engineering.

Keden currently serves on BICSI’s Codes Committee and Standards Committee. The ever-prestigious BICSI Registered Communications Distribution Designer (RCDD^®) designation and ITS Technician credential are just two of his many educational accomplishments. He holds an MS in Electrical Engineering and has contributed to the ITS industry for more than 40 years.

His career began in Germany as a telecommunications technician. Since then, he has worked with many U.S. and international companies on new product launches and designs. He has contributed to the writing of many U.S. and International standards, including the International Pathways and Spaces Standard and the Telecommunications Pathways and Spaces Standard.

The David K. Blythe/University of Kentucky Distinguished Service Award was presented to Rita Recalcati, a BICSI member and Country Chair from Italy. The award recognizes the volunteer spirit of BICSI members and spotlights one individual as the BICSI member of the year for outstanding efforts in promoting BICSI’s educational programs and commitment to professional development within the telecommunications industry.

Recalcati has more than 17 years of industry experience, and has been a member of BICSI for 10 years. She was involved with inception of BICSI in her region, and currently serves on BICSI’s Nominating Committee. She is best known for the behind-the-scenes work and support for the region while being a BICSI pioneer in establishing a local BICSI presence. She now covers BICSI activities in two countries, while supporting MCI, an association management company in Brussels, Belgium.

Stephen Banks, RCDD was presented with the Larry G. Romig Committee Member of the Year Award. BICSI developed the award in recognition of the volunteer work performed by its members and to honor one individual for exemplary efforts and dedication within a BICSI committee.

Banks is Chair of the Systems Design Subcommittee of the Technical Information & Methods (TI&M) Committee, which is charged with writing and updating BICSI’s technical manuals and for the development of additional technical publications. He is a highly respected member of the telecommunications community, both in his region and globally. He has spent a lot of time and effort, largely at his own expense, to help write BICSI manuals.

Banks started his career at GEC Telecommunications in 1972, working on Strowger electromagnetic exchanges and moving on to the digital switched computer solutions on System X. He then transferred to GEC's Defence Projects Division and was the design authority for a number of large government and defense IT projects in the 1980s, before leaving GEC to run the projects group for a fiber optic distributor.

After spending 18 months as an independent consultant, he joined Alcatel in 1997 as the UK market development manager for fiber and copper LAN cables. His duties were to promote and support the company's cable products with consultants and end users. He also provided technical and product support to the connectivity partners who needed Alcatel cables for their solutions. Following the creation of Nexans from Alcatel, Banks transferred over to the Cabling Solutions side of the Nexans business.

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BICSI is a professional association supporting the information transport systems (ITS) industry with information, education and knowledge assessment for individuals and companies. BICSI serves more than 24,000 ITS professionals, including designers, installers and technicians. These individuals provide the fundamental infrastructure for telecommunications, audio/video, life safety and automation systems. Through courses, conferences, publications and professional registration programs, BICSI staff and volunteers assist ITS professionals in delivering critical products and services, and offer opportunities for continual improvement and enhanced professional stature.  www.bicsi.org

CABA Releases Micro & Small Business Needs Assessment Study

The Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA), through its Internet Home Alliance Research Council, has completed a needs assessment study on managed services for micro and small business.

The study assesses the current state of the managed services market and identifies areas for further development.

The report finds that the most popular managed services for micro and small businesses consist of Web hosting, email and messaging services, servers, routers and LAN installation and maintenance, data backup, storage, security and other related services.

The report also determines that target customers prefer to work with local specialty service providers, or alternately, with manufacturers directly and that small businesses have a distinct interest in annual contracts provided there are clear, substantial cost-savings compared to a pay-as-you go arrangement.

"In general, micro and small businesses do not have dedicated information technology or telecom support personnel," states Ronald J. Zimmer, CABA President & CEO. "Instead, this report shows that they have staff with other primary responsibilities that manage these products or services. This needs assessment helps service providers obtain a more complete sketch of the needs of micro and small businesses in order to improve their marketing and product development efforts."

The report was completed with the guidance and financial support of AT&T, Cisco Systems, Costco Wholesale, Hewlett-Packard, Level Platforms and SupportSoft through CABA's collaborative research model.

"We are extremely pleased to have led industry participation in this research project," says Jeff Dean, Senior Manager, Service Provider Internet Business Solutions Group at Cisco Systems, Inc. "This research report will allow Cisco and other participating companies to make more informed decisions in terms of existing and prospective customers."

The report "Microbusiness & Small Business Managed Services Needs Assessment Study" is currently available to Internet Home Alliance Research Council members. It will be available for sale through CABA's eStore at www.caba.org/estore.

About CABA
CABA is the only industry association to offer industry intelligence to stakeholders in all areas of home & building automation. CABA's resources cover areas such as HVAC, lighting, security, A/V, communications technologies, energy management and controls. A number of resources are available through the association including iHomes & Buildings magazine, research, CABA's forums, CABA's monthly eBulletin, Information Series reports, Event Reports and the CABA web site. www.caba.org

Teknor Color Company Introduces Large Range Of RoHS-Compliant Color Concentrates For Wire And Cable

Two new series of color concentrates comprised of 16 colors for PVC and ten Munsell (R) colors for polyethylene comply with the RoHS requirements specified by the European Union, according to Teknor Color Company, which will introduce the new colors at Interwire 2007 (Booth 3409).  The concentrates are for use with a wide range of PVC and polyolefin compounds used in the wire and cable industry.

“These new concentrates have been formulated with pigments that comply with RoHS regulations yet provide the same coloring efficiency and electrical performance obtained with standard concentrates,” said Anne Upton, wire and cable market manager. “They make it possible for wire-industry manufacturers in the Americas to serve customers in Europe as well as to meet growing restrictions on the use of certain metal-containing compounds in the domestic market.”

Both series are available in bead form (the exception is PVC black, which comes in dice form). They include:

● 16 concentrates for use with PVC. The carrier resin for these concentrates is lead stabilizer-free PVC. The colors are: Aqua, Black, Blue, Dark Blue, Brown, Dark Brown, Gray, Green, Light Green, Orange, Pink, Purple, Red, Dark Red, White, and Yellow.

● 10 Munsell colors for use with PE and TPEs. The colors are: Black, Blue, Brown, Gray, Green, Orange, Purple, Red, White, and Yellow.

As applied to pigments used in color concentrates, RoHS regulations restrict the use of lead-, cadmium-, and chromium-containing substances.

www.teknorcolor.com.

Ortronics/Legrand Introduces Clarity10G Six-Port Module Patch Panels

Ortronics/Legrand, a global leader in high performance copper, fiber and wireless structured cabling solutions, introduces Clarity10G patch panels now available in the traditional multi-port adapter format. Utilizing an innovative method of circuit isolation, the Clarity10G patch panels support the alien crosstalk requirements of IEEE 10G and TIA Augmented Category 6 cabling specifications without requiring the use of individual jacks for panel termination.

Fully supporting all of the internal and alien requirements of 10 Gigabit Ethernet in a traditional panel format marks another major advancement in UTP connector technology from Ortronics/Legrand. The Clarity10G panels utilize Ortronics' innovative technique of synchronized reactance to minimize internal crosstalk while reducing the injection of common mode noise that is a significant source of alien crosstalk. These new panels also include Tactical Isolation Zones, a concept first introduced with Clarity 10G jacks to provide additional safeguards against noise radiating from the connector and to defend against the influence of alien noise sources on the connector.

With these technologies, combined with Ortronics previously developed advancements of dual reactance and center tuning, the result is a nearly transparent signal path for enhanced signal-to-noise (internal and alien) performance.

The new product family will be available in flat or angled versions, with

24 or 48 ports.  Clarity 10G multi-port adapter panels support preferred panel termination practices with mechanical accommodations for easier lacing of the larger insulated conductors of 10 Gig cables, providing a labor-saving alternative to the individual jack panel.

The new Clarity10G patch panels were featured at the BICSI Winter Conference in Orlando, FL . www.ortronics.com

HAI Snap-Link Wins 2007 CES Innovations Design And Engineering Award

HAI, the leading manufacturer of integrated automation and security products since 1985, announces that the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) has awarded HAI's Snap-Link with a 2007 CES Innovations Design and Engineering Award in the Integrated Home Systems category.  An independent panel of preeminent industrial designers, engineers and members of the press selected the winners.  Additionally the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA) endorsed and acted as advisors to the Innovations awards.  The judges determine the winning products based on user value, unique and novel features, contribution to the quality of life, and the aesthetic and design qualities of the product.

Snap-Link is a USB key that plugs into any computer and directly communicates through the secure Ethernet port on an HAI home control system.   It gives homeowners the ability to check and adjust lights, security, temperatures, webcams, and more.   It is very secure, easy to use, with no installation or on site computer required. Moreover, there are no monthly fees associated with this software.  Snap-Link is currently shipping and has a suggested retail price of $99.