Issue: January 2006
By: Frank Bisbee

Bisbee's Buzz

Trends:

Understanding and properly forecasting the trends that are developing and their timetables is essential to minimize the negative damages from unplanned changes and maximize the opportunities to deliver cost control or competitive advantage through technology. There are two ways to look at this scenario. We could call it the "next great thing" or we could label it "Danger! Danger! Danger!" Picture those video clips that showed a few individuals walking out onto the beach as the water withdrew from the first wave of the tsunami. In retrospect they should have been running in the opposite direction with every shred of energy they possessed.

The demand for speed and the appetite for ever-larger bandwidth are reaching some crucial technology pinch points. Some observers feel that the infrastructure industry is approaching a barrier of obsolescence in several critical areas. Copper based transmission facilities, particularly unshielded twisted pair cable is pushing its upper limits on speed and distance. When you add radiation and EMP, the formula points towards a non-electric transmission path. Fiber optics has become a staple in the cabling backbone and seems to be extending the services into the work areas through methodologies like zone cabling.

The recent code changes requiring the removal of abandoned cable have placed cable technology under the microscope. Most of the 60 billion feet of copper based cabling installed and abandoned in the American workplace is only partially recyclable. The copper is readily recyclable; however, the jacketing materials used over the past 25 years contained heavy metals that make the recycling less cost effective. The other side of that blade is the potential for financial penalty of additional costs associated with HAZMAT (to properly handle the Hazardous Materials in the waste stream). The Fluoropolymer material, used to insulate most plenum cables, may be recyclable, if it can be identified and separated from the rest of the waste stream. Once again this may not be cost effective. At a bare minimum, we can strip the jackets and insulation from the copper cables and reclaim the copper in the recycling process. This is cost effective.

When we see these various trends bearing down on our future cable infrastructure (design, installation, and management), we must carefully choose our solutions based on current and downstream cost effects. Today, we are painfully aware that the change in computer technology has made the computer a commodity. During the past two decades, the cost of PCs has plummeted and the power of "the box" has soared. In this same period, the cabling costs for our network infrastructure have continued to climb. Copper cabling costs have been going up but fiber cabling has been going down. For horizontal applications copper and fiber have reached cost parity. Of course total cabling infrastructure cost goes up the more nodes you place on the network regardless of the media.

Can we expect the buyers to continue the pattern of re-cabling every time the industry comes out with a new improved "CAT #7,8,9…" of cable? Is there a limit on the copper based communications cabling? If so, when do we make the leap to total Fiber Optic Cabling? What are the costs (installation, maintenance, and "headroom") between these two battling technologies? Many experts have predicted that the fiber optic wave is on its way like some huge tsunami. How will this impact your facilities and your wallet?

If you are attending the BICSI Winter Conference this month, you may wish to hear the presentation "Optical Premises Network Trend" by David Velasquez, Corning Optical Fiber on Wednesday January 25, 2006 10:15 - 11:00 AM. Velasquez will cover global trends in premise optical networks to include bandwidth growth and its drivers, trends in optical transceivers/lasers, trends in different fiber types being used in enterprise/premise networks, standards update, optical connectivity and "what's next in optical fiber".


All of these questions are enough to give you a giant sized headache. But that's just my opinion.

Frank Bisbee
"Heard On The Street" column
www.wireville.com
Note our NEW Address
Communication Planning Corporation
4949 Sunbeam Road, Suite 16
Jacksonville, FL 32257
(904) 645-9077
frank@wireville.com

Cabling Resources at the BICSI Conference

EXHIBITS AND RESOURCES THAT PACK A PUNCH

DYMO - Get the whole story on all of the critical factors to develop a total labeling system. DYMO Labeling not only meets the industry standards but provides the path to maintain the value of your investment in the cabling and hardware infrastructure. www.dymo.com Booth 209-211

HITACHI CABLE MANCHESTER - In the last year alone, HCM had launched dozens of new cable products. At the BICSI Conference Exhibits, HCM will be focusing on those products designed specifically for Information Transport Systems (ITS) and the fact that all HCM products are RoHS compliant. Get the latest and greatest from HITACHI, the leading cable manufacturer. www.hcm.hitachi.com Booth 716

BEAST CABLING SYSTEMS - During 2005, Beast cabling Systems have made several upgrades in their installation system. The new improve system is more efficient than any cable installation system on the market. The savings reported by their customers are considerable. This is a tool that pays for itself. www.thebeast.us Booth 626-628

ERICO - The right infrastructure hardware for the cable support challenge is a must. If ERICO doesn't have it, you don't need it. When it comes to pathways and spaces, ERICO has got virtually "everything." They always seem to be the first to bring new technology to the contractor. www.erico.com Booth 801

FLUKE NETWORKS - The technology to confirm the physical layer is delivering the performance. Exciting news: as of December 2005, the two most trusted names in test equipment have become one - Harris (the Red trademark), the top name in tools and test sets, will be changing to yellow and blue - the colors of quality from the most trusted brand in the industry, FLUKE NETWORKS. Just when we thought Fluke Networks was the best of the best, they got better. www.flukenetworks.com Booth 623-625

UNIQUE FIRESTOP PRODUCTS - This Company delivers the most versatile and effective fire stop products in the market. No job is complete until the safety requirements are met. Not only will Unique Firestop Products provide you with the right materials and hardware to meet the code requirements, but they will also provide the proper verifiable training resources for your installers to do the job correctly. www.uniquefirestop.com Booth 1006

SUPERIOR MODULAR PRODUCTS and their parent company, PREFORMED LINE PRODUCTS - These companies deliver the highest level of technology available from any source.

PREFORMED LINE PRODUCTS - PLP is a leading supplier of high quality cable anchoring and control hardware and systems, overhead and underground splice cases, and high speed cross-connect devices. They serve energy, communications and cable television customers in the US and worldwide through strategically located manufacturing facilities in all major markets. They also provide products for special industry applications that are in addition to our primary markets. www.preformed.com Booth 720

SUPERIOR MODULAR PRODUCTS - Superior Modular Products, an ISO certified manufacturer of high-speed cross-connect products, has an impressive family of connectors from their copper product line. From SMP's A5E and Axcess 6 product lines, a collection of improved and redesigned products will be shown. The improved items set include a Wall Mount Cat 5e and Cat 6 Patch Panel redesigned to incorporate new A/B module and an easily removable cover, as well as the DCC24B/GBASET21 Gigabit Telco panel, which now offers a steel plate cover over the back of the panel for increased security on installed patch panels. Two new products will also be released from the A5E and Axcess 6 product lines, including a new Shielded Jack Pack, ZDIM8625BS, a 6-jack/Gigabit Telco module shielded to prevent EMI/RFI interference, and a new Hinged Bezel, BE08SXX designed to maintain clean secure connections for any UMJ style jack. This eight-position bezel features a hinged cover, which protects a RJ-11 or RJ-45 jack from dust and contaminants as well as provides easy end-user access. SMP will also be highlighting its shielded and unshielded cable assemblies available for several applications. www.smpdata.com Booth 718

Hitachi to Introduce New Products at BICSI, Orlando

Hitachi Cable Manchester (HCM) has announced that it will be using the January 2006 BICSI tradeshow in Orlando to promote some of its new products. In the last year alone, HCM has launched dozens of new cable products. At the tradeshow, HCM will be focusing on those products designed specifically for Information Transport Systems (ITS) and the fact that all HCM products are RoHS compliant.

Some of the products on display will be their new Premium Category 6 cable. The Premium Category 6 cable, an enhanced cable, falls between their Plus and Supra Category 6 cables in both price and performance. It's a high performance cable with significant headroom over the Category 6 standards. It's also available in a Reelex Pull-Box.

Also on display will be their new 6-strand and 12-strand indoor/outdoor plenum rated fiber optic cables. Also available in riser rated versions, the cables permit the installer to go between buildings, through plenum spaces and directly into telecommunications closets. Since you don't have to transfer from outside plant cable to inside plant cable, as required by the National Electric Code for outside plant cables, you save materials and time.

Another new product from the engineers at HCM is their Secura outside plant Category 6 POE cable. This 22 AWG cable is specifically designed to provide power, control and video to outside cameras. One of these cables, when used for a PTZ camera, can replace a coax for video, a two-conductor cable for control and electrical wiring for power.

While at the show, please visit booth 716 to learn about all the innovative products from Hitachi. www.hcm.hitachi.com

MINUTEMAN® UPS Introduces Three Feature-Rich 1U Rack Mount UPS Products

Executives with MINUTEMAN® UPS have announced the release of three new additions to their award-winning Enterprise rack-mount UPS line. The new line-interactive products, rated at 700VA, 1000VA and 1500VA, are designed to fit within a 1U rack slot while providing protection for sophisticated equipment from all aspects of power problems.

"This new product line is comprised of compact units with advanced features for the support of network infrastructure, Audio/Video equipment and Security/CCTV applications," said Rick Hunteman, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for MINUTEMAN UPS. "Developed to provide reliable and clean power in both AC and battery modes, its 1U design makes it an ideal solution for today's valuable real estate in racks and cabinets. Our aggressive pricing, feature rich design and unparalleled three year warranty make them the best UPS value available today."

MINUTEMAN UPS incorporated advanced features into the products including front panel displays with detailed indicators for UPS and AC status, along with load metering and battery charge percentages. Using line-interactive technology, all three units provide a true sine wave output, intelligent battery management, hot-swappable batteries, simultaneous support of USB and RS232 ports and MINUTEMAN's exclusive Independent Battery Bypass™ feature.

All models include two independently controlled output receptacle segments for load shedding of non-critical equipment during extended blackouts and supplying longer runtimes for critical devices. Additional remote power management and diagnostic features are provided with the bundled MINUTEMAN Sentry Business™ software or through SNMP support via an optional internal card slot.

The entire Enterprise 1U Rack-mount line is available through MINUTEMAN's standard domestic and international channels. Estimated retail pricing for the series ranges from US$429 to $699.

The Enterprise 1U line includes an industry-leading three-year parts warranty on all electronics and internal batteries. The MINUTEMAN Platinum Protection Plan® protects properly connected equipment for up to $40,000.

MINUTEMAN UPS manufactures uninterruptible power supplies and related equipment and SentryII power monitoring and diagnostic software.

MINUTEMAN UPS was founded in 1982 as Para Systems, Inc. The company is a wholly-owned operating subsidiary of Components Corporation of America, a privately-held corporation. A free sizing tool is available at www.sizemyups.com to determine which MINUTEMAN UPS may best meet an application's power protection needs. Additional information about MINUTEMAN® UPS and its products is available at www.minutemanups.com.

Corning Cable Systems Announces Price Increases for Selected Products

Corning Cable Systems, part of Corning Incorporated's (NYSE:GLW) telecommunications segment, announces a price increase in select non-contract and select list prices for products across its cable and hardware product portfolio in the Americas region.

Corning Cable Systems uses commodity raw materials like plastics and metals to produce its products, and costs for these materials continue to increase. Energy costs are also rising for production, as are transportation costs. Corning Cable Systems announced a similar price increase that took effect in early 2005, and the costs of manufacturing have continued to rise.

The new pricing structure will take effect in the first quarter of 2006.

"Our main objective has always been to provide our customers with innovative products with the highest quality products and services available, and we will continue to meet that commitment," said Larry Aiello, president and CEO of Corning Cable Systems. "However, with our supply chain costs continuing to rise, we have been left with no choice but to selectively raise prices." www.corning.com/cablesystems

Graybar Continues The Leadership Role

Last year, Graybar customers led the pack with significant growth in the datacom marketplace. 2005 was good and 2006 has already shown signs of more growth.

It is hard to hide their success. Customer support, competitive pricing, and top quality are the factors that continue to hold Graybar in the winner's circle. Visit their booth at BICSI - Winter Conference. Booth 208-211

The First Web-based Multi-Vendor Structured Cabling Design and Budgeting Tool has met with a big approval from consultants, contractors and designers that signed up for this program.

The Tool was anticipated to provide a 25 percent or greater increase in productivity with fewer errors. Actually, we are getting feedback that the program has delivered MORE than was expected. The savings of manpower and increased accuracy in the project designs have been stunning. We'll bring you more information on this in the next issue.

In September 2005, Graybar, a leading North American distributor of electrical and telecommunications service solutions and products and related supply chain management and logistics services, announced a 60-day free trial of the first multi-vendor Web-based design and budgeting tool for complex structured cabling projects - Graybar VIP Design Online.

The free trial was valued at more than $150 dollars. A one-year subscription to Design Online is $1,000, which is rebated with the specification or purchase of two Graybar Verified Independently for Performance (VIP) structured cabling projects during the 12-month subscription. For more information, visit http://www.graybar.com/DesignOnline/default.htm.

"We wanted to give structured cabling designers the opportunity to test-drive Design Online and experience its power firsthand," said Bob Weiland, National Market Manager - Commercial Market, Graybar. "Once they start using this tool, we believe they'll see the advantages of working this way instead of using their traditional design and budgeting methodology, which probably includes copying and pasting data into spreadsheets. Design Online eliminates this tedious process, saving valuable time while significantly reducing the potential for mistakes."

Design Online's simple point-and-click interface provides users with the ability to save an estimated 25 percent, if not more, on the time it takes to design, configure and budget structured cabling projects while reducing errors. For the first time within a Web-based design and budgeting tool, users have access to a centralized repository of more than 8,000 data communications products and their prices. Included in the database are 15 interoperable cabling and connectivity product lines proven to exceed industry standards by the Graybar VIP testing program. Users have the ability to manage multiple projects through the interface.

Users estimate saving 25 percent or more on design time by:

1) Reducing the time to assemble material lists for a complex project by using ready-made templates and by eliminating the tedious clerical work of copying and pasting data into spreadsheets;

2) Decreasing configuration errors with built-in configuration rules;

3) Eliminating tedious phone, e-mail and fax communication by automatically generating budgets; and

4) Generating a robust, fully configured product graphic "on the fly" to give customers early visibility of a design.

Hats off to Graybar for bringing in another winner for their customers. http://www.graybar.com/vip/default.html

Preformed Line Products Announces Quarterly Dividend

The Board of Directors of Preformed Line Products (Nasdaq: PLPC - News) on Wednesday, December 14, 2005 declared a regular quarterly dividend in the amount of $.20 per share on the Company's common shares, payable January 20, 2006 to shareholders of record at the close of business on January 3, 2006.

Founded in 1947, Preformed Line Products is an international designer and manufacturer of products and systems employed in the construction and maintenance of overhead and underground networks for energy, communications and broadband network companies.

Preformed's world headquarters are in Cleveland, Ohio, and the Company operates three domestic manufacturing centers, located in Rogers, Arkansas, Albemarle, North Carolina, and Asheville, North Carolina. The Company serves its worldwide market through international operations in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, England, Mexico, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain and Thailand. www.plpc.com

New Year Resolutions

If you're married, dedicate at least one day a month to date your spouse. You may wake up every day in the same house, but with so many distractions vying for your attention, it's easy to treat your husband or wife as just a coworker. Take a day to give your spouse the intimate attention he or she deserves.

Unique Fire Stop Products, Inc. Announces "Endcaps" as the Ultimate Solution for Empty Sleeve Systems

Unique Fire Stop Products, Inc. is proud to announce a solution for the Sleeve Systems being harvested when abandoned cables are removed. "Endcaps" are for sealing the ends of empty sleeve systems. They are available for their Smooth Penetrator (EMT) as well as the Threaded Penetrator (Rigid) and come in 1 - 2 - 4 inch sizes.

Unique intumescent putty is included with the Endcaps. The putty can be taken from the Endcaps and used to seal the ends when the Sleeve is ready for cables. Rated from 1 to 4 hour systems, Endcaps are easy to install, reusable, and are inexpensive. Pricing and details can be found at www.uniquefirestop.com.

Hitachi Adopts RoHS Standards

Hitachi Cable Manchester (HCM) has taken a giant step forward in ensuring a cleaner, safer environment for the future. HCM is one of the first cable manufacturers in the world to adopt the Restriction of Hazardous Substances Regulations, typically referred to as RoHS, in the manufacture of all its copper and fiber optic communication cables.

RoHS, which originated in Europe, sets guidelines regarding the use of certain substances in the manufacture of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE). The RoHS regulations ban the sale of EEE in Europe that contain more than a well defined level of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) and polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE). The RoHS directive, also known as EU Directive 2002/95/EG will become mandatory in Europe on July 1st, 2006. In the United States, California has already crafted their own version of the standard (SB20), and it will become law in 2007. Twenty other states are currently drafting their own bills regarding the restriction of these substances and more are certain to follow.

In choosing to adopt the RoHS regulations early, Michael Gallant, Vice President of Quality and Administration said, "There really wasn't a reason to wait regarding the implementation of RoHS. If a positive environmental impact could be achieved by becoming RoHS compliant, we wanted to do so as quickly as possible. Our customers can be confident that they are installing not only one of the finest cables on the market, but one that's RoHS compliant as well." www.hcm.hitachi.com

Cabling is a big deal: Cabling Business Magazine is 15 years Young

CABLING IS A BIG DEAL. Cabling Business Magazine has been there every step of the way as we entered new territory and technology. Once the primary domain of the telephone companies, Cabling has evolved into the most important part of the Information Super Highway. If you were looking for the latest and greatest or step by step examples, you couldn't do better than Cabling Business Magazine. They have been there with "the right stuff" for the past fifteen years and it sure looks like we are going to need their help for the next 15 years.

Frank Bisbee, "Heard On The Street" Column - www.wireville.com

New Year Resolution

Take a vacation! Americans take an average of only 13 vacation days a year, and 26% take at all. Come on, now - even God rested on the seventh day.

NEMA INTRODUCES NEW FIRE SERVICE STANDARD

NEMA's Signaling Protection and Communications Product Section, representing elements of the fire alarm industry, recently released SB 30-2005, Fire Service Annunciator and Interface.

SB 30 was developed jointly by the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Building and Fire Research Laboratory, NEMA, and the U.S. fire alarm industry. The standard facilitates the development of uniform equipment for use by the fire service to display essential information during fires and other emergencies, and is intended for use by both incident commanders and first responders.

The tragic events of September 11, 2001, and the need for obtaining and distributing information about hazardous conditions in buildings in advance of the arrival of first responders provided significant impetus in the development of this standard.

SB 30 covers the design, operation, and arrangement of equipment intended to display essential data and status of building systems for use by firefighters in the role of first responders, as well as for incident commanders. It is also intended to cover requirements for firefighter interface equipment to provide real-time information of value in making rapid assessments in support of tactical decisions and for monitoring the safety of firefighters. It also contains a set of recommended fire service display icons for use in the graphical and spatial formats that are both functional and accessible at the scene of a fire or other hazardous situation. It is intended to increase life safety conditions by providing firefighters with key parameters associated with the conditions of the building where a fire emergency is occurring prior to their arrival on-scene.

"By using the form-factor data in this standard, manufacturers will develop intuitive firefighter and first responder user interfaces that readily display building information and facilitate rapid situational assessment," says Andrew Berzowski of the Signaling Protection and Communications Section.

SB 30-2005 may be purchased for $47.00 by visiting http://www.nema.org/stds/sb30.cfm, or by contacting Global Engineering Documents at (800) 854-7179 (within the U.S.), (303) 397-7956 (international), or (303) 397-2740 (fax). www.nema.org

Dave Sanders Does it Again! 2005 Telecommunications Speaker of the Year

For the third year in a row, CET Networking Education, an approved BICSI instructional facility, has awarded Dave Sanders, Leviton's Director of Voice & Data Sales, special honors for his impact on the telecommunications industry.

Dave speaks throughout the United States, spreading his "Winners Make Commitments, Losers Make Promises" philosophy with contagious enthusiasm. In addition to motivating thousands of people through his public speaking, Dave has taught several hundred of the 7000 RCDDs in the world, and is known for the phenomenal pass rate of his students.

As Dave puts it, "I want to help people approach work and life in new ways, to build in more success with less stress. It's my goal to encourage people to enjoy their work, while still focusing on good business practices."

He goes on to say "It's the Leviton management who have made it possible for me to get this award, because Leviton meets the challenges in today's competitive business world by caring about their customers and employees first, above all else."

When asked why Dave was selected for the award, Mike Cox, Founder of CET said, "Dave is a people developer, not just in work, but in life. He goes way beyond telecommunications. He cares about people, not just products." www.cetweb.com

Previously, Dave received CET's 2003 and 2004 RCDD International Instructor of the Year awards. Dave has been a CET instructor for over 4 years. He holds the prestigious BICSI "Triple Crown" - all three RCDD, NTS (LAN) and OSP certifications. Dave's award will be presented at the January BICSI conference in Orlando, Florida. In addition, CET is awarding a generous training scholarship to Leviton. www.leviton.com

US LEC EXPANDS IP-BASED SERVICE IN VIRGINIA

US LEC Corp. (Nasdaq: CLEC), a telecommunications carrier serving businesses and enterprise organizations throughout the Eastern United States, today announced the expansion of its MPLS VPN (Multi-Protocol Label Switching Virtual Private Network) service to southeast Virginia including the cities of Norfolk and Virginia Beach.

"US LEC's MPLS expansion into the Norfolk area enables our entire Virginia footprint with this advanced IP-based technology," said Jeff Blackey, senior vice president of marketing and business development for US LEC. "Now US LEC business customers throughout the Commonwealth have access to an advanced, redundant and highly scalable voice and data solution to connect multiple locations across Virginia or the rest of the US LEC MPLS footprint, all on a single, enhanced, fully-meshed network."

In addition to Norfolk and Virginia Beach, US LEC serves all other major Virginia areas including Richmond-Petersburg; Northern Virginia-Washington; D.C.; Blacksburg; Charlottesville; Fredericksburg; Lynchburg and Roanoke.

US LEC's MPLS VPN offers several critical advantages over traditional services including a fully-meshed and routed network and the prioritization of specific application traffic such as VoIP. The service can be scaled from fractional T1 speeds below 1.5 Megabits per second (Mbs) to DS3 (45 Mbs) to Ethernet Local Loop. US LEC offers both metro and wide-area networking options that allow customers to connect locally within a metro area or across large geographic distances.

"Our customers continue utilizing US LEC's MPLS technology for its geographic coverage, security, redundancy and clear migration path from their legacy systems to next-generation technology," said Blackey. "MPLS VPN provides a 'home run' solution for businesses who need all of these requirements to connect multiple locations."

US LEC's MPLS VPN service supports quality of service (QoS) guarantees, enabling the prioritization of traffic according to customer requirements. All priority traffic travels over available bandwidth first; then, as prioritized traffic decreases, all other traffic uses available bandwidth, ensuring full optimization. Since MPLS VPN is scalable, customers only buy the bandwidth required, reducing unnecessary costs. As needs grow, the customer can purchase more bandwidth.

"US LEC now offers a full suite of data networking solutions to fit a businesses needs - from MPLS VPN, to Internet VPN, to ATM to frame relay to digital private lines, there is a data networking solution to fit almost any requirement," Blackey said.. "Our diverse product set positions US LEC as one of the few carriers that can offer all of these services."

MPLS VPN is now available in more than two-thirds of US LEC's switching centers including - Atlanta, Baltimore, Charlotte, N.C., Fort Myers, Fla., Greensboro, N.C., Jacksonville, Fla., Miami, Norfolk, Va., Orlando, Fla., Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Richmond, Va., Tampa, Fla., Washington, D.C. and West Palm Beach, Fla. The company will continue to roll out MPLS VPN service to more of its switching centers in early 2006. www.uslec.com

General Cable Completes Silec Acquisition

General Cable Corporation (NYSE:BGC - News) a leading global supplier of wire and cable products for the energy, specialty, industrial, and communications markets, announced today that it has completed its acquisition of the Silec energy cable business of SAFRAN SA. The Company also announced that Grupo General Cable Sistemas, S.A., a wholly owned Spanish subsidiary of General Cable, which purchased Silec Cable, has secured both a term loan facility and a revolving credit facility, totaling 75 million Euros. This combined facility, which was arranged through Banco de Sabadell, SA, will provide Euro denominated borrowings to partly fund the acquisition cost of Silec Cable and for general corporate needs of the European group which now has pro-forma annual revenues approaching $900 million.

General Cable paid approximately 66.4 million Euros at closing which represented 85% of the estimated purchase price, subject to adjustment under the terms of the definitive transaction agreement. "We welcome all Silec Cable associates to General Cable and will immediately begin to work with their management team to fully realize the synergies created by this acquisition," said Domingo Goenaga, CEO of General Cable Europe.

Silec Cable, located in Montereau, France, began business in 1932, primarily to support the local energy and telecommunications infrastructure. With several focused factories in a campus setting, it currently occupies a site of 100 acres, with approximately one million square feet of manufacturing space under roof and approximately 1,000 full time employees. The Company also operates seven distribution centers in Europe and has a long history of technical achievement including pioneering the use of extruded insulations in very high voltage cables.

About 60% of Silec Cable's 210 million Euros of revenue in 2004 are linked to energy infrastructure. They are one of the leaders in Europe for energy distribution cables. In the high-voltage and extra high-voltage market, Silec is a recognized leader around the world providing the critical link to bring power from the grid into major urban areas. They have products supporting 63KV up to 500KV underground applications including state-of-the-art accessories such as pre-molded joints and engineering services such as design, installation and complete turnkey project capabilities. Approximately 85% of Silec's high voltage and extra-high voltage (HV/EHV) sales are exported around the world, with Silec Cable maintaining significant market positions in North and South America, Europe, the Middle East, and China. The business currently has a number of important projects in backlog including a technically demanding 345KV cable system to be installed in the US and several 500KV cable systems for hydro power plants in China.

Silec Cable's industrial and specialty business represents approximately 35% of revenues. These products include armored, rigid and flexible industrial power cables and Low Smoke Zero Halogen fire resistant safety cables, specialty cables for the heavy duty manufacturing market and products supporting oil, gas, and petrochemical exploration and electric generating activities both on-shore and off-shore. Silec Cable also has a small and highly focused copper and fiber communications business representing about 5% of their revenues, principally high-end data cables and patented ultra-compact uSHEATH optical cables which are very easy to install.

"The acquisition of Silec represents the latest step in positioning General Cable as a global leader in cabling systems for the energy exploration, production, transmission and distribution markets, which began with the 1999 acquisition of BICC Cable," said Gregory B. Kenny, President and Chief Executive Officer of General Cable. "General Cable now has over $1 billion of annual revenues leveraged to energy infrastructure markets around the world," he concluded.

The Spanish term loan of 50 million Euros is available in up to three tranches, with an interest rate of Euribor plus 0.8% to 1.5%, depending on certain debt ratios. The term loan is repayable in 14 semi-annual installments, maturing seven years following the draw down of each tranch. The revolving credit facility of 25 million Euros matures at the end of five years and carries an interest rate of Euribor plus 0.6% to 1.0%, depending on certain debt ratios. The combined facility is subject to certain financial ratios, the most restrictive of which is net debt to EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization).

On a pro-forma basis including the acquisition of Silec Cable, General Cable would have annual revenues in excess of $2.5 billion and over 7,000 employees. General Cable is a leader in the development, design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of copper, aluminum and fiber optic wire and cable products for the energy, industrial, specialty and communications markets. More information about General Cable can be found at www.generalcable.com.

NGLIA Establishes Its Brand With Official Logo, New Website

The Next Generation Lighting Industry Alliance (NGLIA) has launched a new website to provide electroindustry professionals, government officials, and the public with information about solid state lighting systems and the latest developments in that industry. NGLIA, which has also adopted a new logo, promotes the understanding, implementation, and use of semiconductor light sources in specialty and general lighting systems.

Solid state lighting systems are lighting applications that use light-emitting diodes, commonly called LEDs, organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), or light-emitting polymers. The solid state lighting industry is attempting to integrate solid state light sources with lighting systems, as well as develop new applications in order to fully exploit the technology's potential.

The website, located at www.nglia.org, provides an opportunity to those interested in joining the alliance and participate in its activities. It also contains a member-only area that serves as an online repository for member-related information.

Kyle Pitsor, NEMA vice president of government relations, says, "The new site acts as a great resource for information related to solid state lighting, while accommodating the needs of NGLIA members. It provides the community a platform that is both interactional and educational."

The NGLIA website was developed by NEMA/WEB, the association's web development arm. The primary mission of NEMA/WEB is to help its customers with their web development and other web-related communications needs.

The Next Generation Lighting Industry Alliance (NGLIA) was formed in 2003 to foster an industry-government partnership to accelerate the technical foundation, and ultimate commercialization, of solid state lighting systems. The alliance was designated in 2005 as the "industry partner" by the U.S. Department of Energy for its Solid State Lighting (SSL) program. The SSL Program is being undertaken to research, develop, and conduct demonstration activities on advanced solid state white lighting technologies based on inorganic and organic light emitting diodes (LEDs and OLEDs). www.nema.org

Legrand to Acquire ICM Group and Solidify Its Leadership in Cable Management Systems

The Legrand Group announced it has signed an agreement to acquire ICM Group, Montbard, France, the marketer of Cablofil® brand welded wire cable trays. The acquisition, which is subject to approval by French regulatory agencies, establishes Legrand as the world's leading supplier of cable management systems.

"By acquiring ICM Group and the Cablofil brand, Legrand achieves a global leadership position in the cable management systems market," said John Selldorff, President and CEO of Legrand North America. "Strategic acquisitions, such as this one, product innovation, and investment in sales and marketing drive Legrand's strong performance and growth."

In 2004, ICM Group had net sales of about $118 million (€100 million). High demand for the Cablofil line drove the company's 14 percent annual growth rate for the last eight years, with approximately 60 percent of revenue now generated internationally. ICM Group has close to 500 employees and operates six manufacturing plants in Europe and the United States. Cablofil employs 55 people in the United States and has its headquarters in Mascoutah, Illinois.

"The cable management segment of the market is growing rapidly, and together we are in an excellent position to meet this increasing demand," said Tim Place, President of Cablofil, Inc. "This is a unique opportunity for our customers as well as our employees."

Cablofil provides support and protection to power and communication cables in both commercial and industrial buildings. While there is some product overlap between Cablofil and Wiremold/Legrand, a leader in wire and cable management solutions, power, and data quality products, neither company anticipates significant problems or customer concerns with the acquisition. There will be no near-term changes to product lines or the way Wiremold/Legrand and Cablofil go to market. www.onqlegrand.com

MINUTEMAN® UPS Launches First Models In A Complete Line Of Surge Protection Products

Executives with MINUTEMAN® UPS are proud to announce the release of two medium range surge protection models as part of a comprehensive line of MINUTEMAN SURGE products that address the non-UPS, power protection markets.

The MMS900 and MMS2100 are two introductory product models that feature seven surge-protected outlets with safety covers and a seven-foot power cord. These ergonomically designed products are transformer-friendly and provide 900 joules, (MMS900), and 2100 joules, (MMS2100), of energy absorption. The MMS2100 also offers a single input port and two output ports for phone, fax or modem surge protection.

The MMS Surge Line was developed to provide spike and surge protection for all types of sensitive electronic products ranging from PC's to Home Theater, Audio/Visual, Telecommunications, and CCTV equipment, as well as general electronic appliances. The launch of the MMS Line is the first step in a multi-phase process to expand MINUTEMAN's traditional single-phase UPS product line, introducing MINUTEMAN to new markets and customers. "For over twenty years, MINUTEMAN's philosophy has been to offer uninterruptible power supplies with advanced features at prices below equivalent competitive models. We intend to bring this same value to the surge market." Said Rick Hunteman, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for MINUTEMAN® UPS, adding: "This is just the next step in MINUTEMAN's evolution of becoming a total solution provider in power protection."

Both the MMS900 and MMS2100 are now available to all markets. Estimated retail pricing for the models will range from $15.99 to $22.99.

MINUTEMAN® UPS is a manufacturer of uninterruptible power supplies and related equipment as well as SentryII® power monitoring and diagnostic software. A free sizing tool is available at www.sizemyups.com to determine which MINUTEMAN® UPS can best meet an application's power protection needs.

MINUTEMAN® UPS was founded in 1982 as Para Systems, Inc. The company is a wholly-owned operating subsidiary of Components Corporation of America, a privately-held corporation. Additional information about MINUTEMAN® UPS and its products is available at www.minutemanups.com.

Important NECA-IBEW Message Cements Connection With Customer Satisfaction

NECA-IBEW team members must "collectively elevate our game" - and create happy customers - according to a groundbreaking DVD now making the rounds of the electrical construction industry.

Designed to strengthen the unionized electrical construction industry's commitment to excellence, the State Of Our Union 2005 focuses on provocative messages delivered by IBEW President Edwin D. Hill.

Hill calls for a renewed focus on customer service, the centerpiece of an innovative labor-management strategy to regain market share. "We must prove ourselves today and every day," Hill says. "The more professional and productive we are, the more likely we are to get work."

Distributed to 17,000+ contractors and 350+ IBEW construction local unions, the video acknowledges that IBEW members are construction's most highly skilled electrical workers. But this, Hill says, is negated by some customer perceptions.

Can those perceptions be changed? Hill challenges any IBEW members who are "just coasting along" to shape up -or move on. Even small increases in productivity and customer satisfaction, he asserts, will strengthen the ability of IBEW-employing contractors in bidding on and winning a larger share of the market.

In addition to generating new momentum for change throughout the IBEW, the 23-minute DVD has attracted interest from construction unions and management groups, as well as representatives of other industries.

www.necanet.org      www.ibew.org

New Energy Tax Incentive Available January 1, 2006; Coalition Launches Promotional Campaign

The Commercial Building Tax Deduction section of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, signed in August, established as of January 1, 2006 a new deduction for expenses incurred for energy-efficient commercial building property. As the effective date of the provision nears, the Commercial Building Tax Deduction Coalition has set up a website at www.efficientbuildings.org to provide information and guidance on how the new tax incentive works.

In addition to educating the community about the commercial building tax deduction provision, the main objectives of the website are to promote the provision's proper implementation and use, and keep the community informed about the activities of the coalition.

"Efficientbuildings.org was developed to support the coalition's mission. The website acts as a resource for commercial building tax deduction information and serves as a reference to all parties involved, be it a coalition member or commercial building owner," says Kyle Pitsor, NEMA vice president of government relations. "The coalition hopes that the website is welcomed by the community and that it will eventually become a major vehicle for promoting energy-efficient technologies."

The Commercial Building Tax Deduction Coalition, convened by NEMA, with members including standards-developing organizations, manufacturers, building and trade associations, government officials, energy efficiency groups, and others, is working to ensure that the provision is implemented smoothly and to promote awareness and information about the benefits that all stakeholders derive from energy-efficient commercial buildings. The provision is effective for property placed in service from January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2007.

In addition to providing related tax deduction information and implementation guidance to its visitors, the website lists contact information for the members of the coalition. It also contains a list of related rules and links to resource organizations. All past press releases, articles related to the coalition, and other communications pieces can be found in the Press Room.

The Commercial Building Tax Deduction Coalition website was developed by NEMA/WEB, the web development arm of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association. The primary mission of NEMA/WEB is to help its customers with their web development and other web-related communications needs. www.nema.org

EPA Fines Teflon Maker DuPont for Chemical Cover Up

· EPA Fines Teflon Maker DuPont for Chemical Cover-Up
· Largest Administrative Fine in Agency's History Shows Seriousness of Polluting Babies' Blood and Drinking Water

http://www.ewg.org/issues/pfcs/20051214/index.php

Today the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will fine Teflon maker DuPont $16.5 million for two decades' worth of covering up company studies that showed it was polluting drinking water and newborn babies with an indestructible chemical that causes cancer, birth defects and other serious health problems in animals. The chemical is in the blood of over 95 percent of Americans.

After learning about the company cover-up from an Environmental Working Group (EWG) petition, EPA brought its lawsuit against DuPont in July 2004.

Today's fine is the largest administrative fine the EPA has ever levied under a weak toxic chemical law. However, as EWG noted, the $16.5 million fine is less than half of one percent of DuPont's after-tax annual profits from the Teflon product when averaged over the 20-year cover-up.

"What's the appropriate fine for a $25 billion company that for decades hid vital health information about a toxic chemical that now contaminates every man, woman and child in the United States? What's the proper dollar penalty for a pollutant that will never break down, and now finds its way into polar bears in the Arctic and human babies in their mothers' wombs? We're pretty sure it's not $16 million, even if that is a record amount under a federal law that everyone acknowledges is extremely weak," said EWG President Ken Cook.

"We commend EPA's professional staff for responding to EWG and taking DuPont to court for multiple violations of federal pollution laws involving the Teflon chemical. In an administration that habitually favors polluting industries, this fine, at the very least, should have prompted DuPont to apologize to the public for its actions. What we've heard instead is a company lawyer dismissing the settlement as nothing more than business as usual, with no expression of having failed its obligation as a corporate citizen," Cook said.

"That's the attitude, detailed in the company's internal documents, that got DuPont into this trouble to begin with, and clearly the fine hasn't changed the corporation's culture. That is a good reason not to trust that DuPont won't do this kind of thing again," Cook said. www.ewg.org

For additional information, see www.dupontcouncil.org

Another Good Reason To Join CABA

We joined CABA (Continental Automated Building Association) last year and we have been very pleased with the membership benefits. As an example, we have received a host of valuable information, including their research available to their members. New "Research Papers" are now online and searchable (members only).

CABA continues to provide timely research and information on integrated systems and home/building automation. To that end, six (6) Research Papers have recently been placed in the CABA Research Library at http://www.caba.org/aboutus/public.html. This is one association that is a worthwhile investment. Smart buildings are "the next big thing".

Job Openings For Fiber Techs in New Orleans Reconstruction

As a result of the development of the FOA Installer Database (http://www.thefoa.org/index_installers.html), we received a call today from a contractor looking for 40 fiber optic and telephone installers to reconstruct the communications systems in New Orleans and other areas devastated this year by hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Fiber optic techs interested in this work should have relevant experience and their own tools. Companies with a full complement of OSP installation gear are welcome (and encouraged!) to apply. Housing is a problem and may require living in trailers or campers. Please do not contact The FOA - contact the company directly! Jerry Belle T1 Communications http://t1communications.com 1-770-460-1998

Please pass this along to any fiber optic techs you think may be interested.

We're broadcasting this note to many of our contacts, so excuse us if you get more than one copy! And remember -please do not contact The FOA - contact the company directly!

Jim Hayes
VDV Works LLC http://www.vdvworks.com
1119 S Mission Road #355, Fallbrook, CA 92028
Phone: 1-760-451-3655 Fax 1-781-207-2421 Cell: 1-760-703-9565
Email: jim@vdvworks.com or jeh@jimhayes.com
Website: http://www.JimHayes.com
VDV Works, Tech Support For The Voice Data Video Industry

CA Certifies Fluke Networks' OptiView as "ca smart," users will see faster problem detection and resolution across all seven layers

OptiView(tm) Integrated Network Analyzer Certified as Interoperable with Unicenter® Network Systems Management (NSM)
Fluke Networks, award-winning provider of Network SuperVision(tm) solutions for the testing, monitoring and analysis of enterprise and telecommunications networks, announced that CA has certified OptiViewtm Network Analyzers as interoperable with CA's Unicenter® Network Systems Management (NSM) r11.

This integrated solution streamlines the approach to network analytics and problem resolution. Typically Network Management Systems have been deployed to provide a strategic view of the network, while specialized network analyzers are deployed to provide greater vision into root cause and problem isolation. The integration of Unicenter® NSM with OptiView Integrated Network Analyzer for portable network analysis and OptiView Workgroup Analyzer for distributed network analysis allows network operations to obtain greater insights and full 7-layer visibility, increasing the speed and efficiency of network problem detection and resolution.

"The integration of Fluke Networks' monitoring technologies with CA's Unicenter enterprise and service management solutions enables customers to incorporate granular network insight into a coherent, efficient overall strategy for optimizing service levels and reducing the cost of infrastructure ownership," said Melvin Estrada, Business and Product Manager for Unicenter Network Management solutions at CA. "The viability of these combined products has been proven in real-world situations, and is indicative of how well our products are integrated and how effectively they manage even the most sophisticated network environments."

"Fluke Networks and CA have teamed up to provide a broader and deeper enterprise systems management approach for our mutual customers," said Lisa Schwartz, Solution Marketing and Alliance Manager, Fluke Networks. "The combination of our solutions enables network professionals to work from a single user interface to access features such as remote data collection, detailed reports and remote user interfaces for troubleshooting. This strategic combination significantly extends Fluke Networks' leadership in the enterprise test, monitoring and analysis markets."

Fluke Networks and Computer Associates demonstrated the NSM/OptiView integration at Interop 2005 in Las Vegas. The demonstrated solution made it possible for the Interop's Event Network (eNet) network operations center (NOC) team responsible for the Interop's eNet network infrastructure to obtain greater insights and full 7-layer visibility, increasing the speed and efficiency of network problem detection and resolution. Details can be found at www.flukenetworks.com

Anixter International Inc. Announces Addition to Board of Directors

Anixter International 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 that its Board of Directors has been expanded with the appointment of Linda Walker Bynoe as a director, effective as of January 1, 2006. The addition of Bynoe increases the number of directors to 11. Bynoe has also been named to serve on Anixter's Compensation and Nominating & Governance Committees.

Ms. Bynoe is currently President and Chief Executive Officer of Telemat Ltd., a project management and consulting firm based in Chicago. Ms. Bynoe also manages a private equity investment portfolio. Prior to joining Telemat in 1989, she held positions in the Capital Markets Division of Morgan Stanley (1978 - 1989) and in public accounting (1975 - 1978), where she obtained her license as a Certified Public Accountant.

Ms. Bynoe currently serves as a director of Dynegy Inc., a wholesale power generator; Simon Property Group, Inc., a real estate investment trust engaged in the ownership and management of retail real estate; Prudential Retail Mutual Funds, a diversified fund complex; and Fidelity Life Association, a mutual insurance company.

"We are delighted to have Linda join the Anixter board and look forward to working with her," said Robert Grubbs, President and Chief Executive Officer. "We expect that her extensive experience in providing transactional and strategic advisory services to diverse clients will help us capitalize on the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead." http://www.anixter.com

2006: Finally Our 'Big Year' or Yet Another Flat Year?

Published on 12/28/2005

Carlini's Comments, ePrairie's oldest column, runs every Wednesday. Its mission is to offer the common man's view on business and technology issues while questioning the leadership and visions of "pseudo" experts.

Some people think 2006 will be the big year we've been talking about for several years now while others say it'll be another flat year. Are we going to push into some new technology fields and attract some new headquarters or just remain trying to catch up?

"Next year is going to be a big year." We always hear that at the end of the year. In the last couple years, it hasn't been true. Next year looks to be a relatively flat year. This year was no exception.

In January 2005 at the annual Executives' Club of Chicago breakfast, they made predictions for the year. I remember the vast majority of people saying the Dow would at the end of the year wind up at about 11,000. Just a few people said the Dow would be significantly higher and some pessimists said it would be significantly lower.

If you go with the philosophy of Henry David Thoreau that "men usually hit what they aim at," you wonder if perception becomes reality.

Because most people thought it was going to be a flat year, that's exactly how they steered their organization. When you see an overwhelming response to the question of growth and energy as a flat endorsement of neutral, you begin to fulfill that "ringing endorsement" by putting off hiring, expansion and everything else that would push organizations further than the status quo.

Nothing was set as a big goal at the end of this year. That's exactly how most (if not all) organizations wound up. If the goal was set higher at the beginning of the year, we would have made a better attempt to get beyond where we targeted even if we didn't attain our goals. If the vast majority of people said we would hit 13,000 on the Dow, maybe we would be somewhere in the upper 12,000s.

Next year will be a big year for many reasons. First of all, it's an election year and most people are looking for change. Some candidates have already been making progress with voters and the media.

Governor Race Will Be Big

I believe the governor's race in Illinois will be big. The candidates are all over the place as far as capabilities and personal experiences and I believe people want to see a big change.

On the Republican side, we have Bill Brady, Ron Gidwitz, Jim Oberweis and Judy Baar Topinka looking at giving a good challenge to the Democrats. The Democrats will have Rod Blagojevich and Edwin Eisendrath debating in the primary.

This should be a good race in the primaries. There should be real issues discussed on both sides rather than the typical Illinois rhetoric. All the candidates should be looking at discussing pertinent issues including competing in the global economy, attracting new businesses and job creation. They should be providing some realistic solutions to strengthen the state's current and future economic policy.

They better not get into the petty political accusations that many prior candidates have used in the past for showcasing their skills in an election. That will turn off the voters and may even cause a backlash. People are looking for some sophisticated debates rather than the traditional trash talk.

Pensions Becoming a Big Issue

With the questionable short funding of some of the automobile manufacturer pension funds as well as airline pensions, how solvent is our state pension funds? That's a good question that more people are starting to raise as some are seeing potential problems down the road.

Are we giving too lucrative a pension to teachers and state government workers? Are we going to have enough taxpayers to foot the bill in 10 or 20 years? GM and Ford are both going through some pension issues. If either should go bankrupt, it will be the taxpayers who support paying the retirees their pension fund.

What about all the Illinois workers who aren't paying into social security or the companies that employ them? How will that impact everyone else's retirements?

People Want Change

No one's talking about keeping the status quo going in Illinois.

Illinois has been sluggish in regaining momentum in a post-9/11 economy and the average person is picking up that perception. In talking with a cross section of people from various fields, the consensus is that something has to change in the way Illinois runs its internal operations as well as how it promotes and attracts outside businesses to locate and remain in Illinois.

In the last year or so, there are more people looking at broadband connectivity and its impact on local economic development. Some people have seen the close correlation and are being more vocal about it.

This may be a wake-up call to some politicians who keep focusing on past accomplishments that are getting older by the year and have made little impact on the economy. Horse-and-buggy politics and horse-and-buggy politicians aren't going to have their typical impact on the voters next year.

Carlinism: An old committeeman had it right: "Vote! Vote! Vote!" No votes, no change.

Upcoming Half-Day Seminars

Center for Commerce & Economic Development
McHenry County College
8900 U.S. Highway 14, Crystal Lake, IL 60012
info@ccedtraining.edu

Where's Your Money Going? (What Color is Your Bentley?)
Thursday, Feb. 23, 2006; $89
Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance & Issues
Thursday March 23, 2006; $109
These practical seminars provide you and you staff with valuable insights from someone who has worked on major projects in the public and private sector and has been an expert witness in civil and federal courts.
Learn from someone who has reviewed facilities and negotiated multimillion-dollar contracts for hardware and network services as well as for multimillion-dollar court cases on major projects. For reservations, please call 815-455-0718.

James Carlini is an adjunct professor at Northwestern University. He is also president of Carlini & Associates. Carlini can be reached at james.carlini@sbcglobal.net or 773-370-1888.
Click here for Carlini's full biography.
Copyright 2005 Jim Carlini

COMPOUND PRODUCTION AT FOUR EUROPEAN SITES STRENGTHENS CAPABILITY OF TEKNOR APEX AS GLOBAL SUPPLIER TO WIRE AND CABLE INDUSTRY

Wire and cable compounds developed by the Vinyl Division of Teknor Apex are now in production at four facilities in Europe, it was announced today by industry manager Mike Patel. Teknor Apex will provide details on the product line and the company's European sales network during Wire Düsseldorf 2006 (Stand 09 / E14).

Manufacture of the Teknor Apex products is being carried out by licensees and toll compounders in Ireland, Scotland, Spain, and Switzerland. Among the compounds are Apex (R) vinyl and a new series of halogen-free flame-retardant products whose trade name is Halguard (R).

"Our European-made compounds carry established Teknor Apex trade names because they are manufactured precisely to Teknor Apex specifications, provide properties and performance that are identical to U.S.-made counterparts, and have the same safety-agency recognitions, such as those of UL and CSA," said Patel. "At Wire Düsseldorf, we expect that wire and cable manufacturers serving European markets will be especially interested in our capability to supply RoHS-compliant formulations of all our Apex products, as well as totally halogen-free compounds."

With establishment of European compound production, Teknor Apex strengthens its capability to provide identical compounds to wire and cable companies no matter where in the world they manufacture, noted Patel. The Vinyl Division's affiliate, Singapore Polymer Corporation, now produces the full range of Teknor Apex wire and cable compounds for customers throughout Asia.

Also to be featured at Teknor Apex's Wire Düsseldorf stand is the recently introduced FreeFlex range of plasticizer-free vinyl-alloy jacketing compounds, which provide better resistance to embrittlement at very low temperatures than conventional vinyl and avoid loss of physical properties caused by plasticizer volatilization or migration.

The VINYL DIVISION of Teknor Apex Company is a leading manufacturer of compounds based on PVC, including Apex (R) flexible vinyl, Flexalloy (R) vinyl TPEs, and Fireguard (R) low-flame, low-smoke compounds for wire and cable. Headquartered in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, U.S.A., the Division is an international supplier to the appliance, automotive, construction, medical device, wire and cable, and other industries. Other plastics businesses of TEKNOR APEX include the Chemical Div. (plasticizers), Thermoplastic Elastomer Div. (TPEs), Specialty Compounding Div. (toll and custom compounding), Teknor Color Company (concentrates), Chem Polymer (engineering thermoplastics), and Singapore Polymer Corp. (diverse compounds and master batches). Visit the web site: www.teknorapex.com.

Draka Comteq Announces Fiber Cabling Price Increase

Draka Comteq, a supplier of optical fiber cabling, announced a price increase for its fiber cables in North America.

It said key raw materials used to manufacture these cables -- including plastics, aramid yarns and steel -- have seen unprecedented and continuing cost increases over the past months.

"We remain focused on providing our customers the highest value fiber cabling products and solutions," said Allen Griser, director of marketing at Draka Comteq.

"The unavoidable increase in commodity material costs makes this price increase necessary. We continue to actively manage material costs and volatility to ensure a steady reliable supply of quality fiber cabling."

The company said an updated price structure will go into effect during the first quarter of 2006. www.draka.com

HCM Introduces Outside Plant Category 6 POE Cable

Hitachi Cable Manchester (HCM), a leader in the manufacture of communications cables, is now offering a new Category 6 cable designed specifically to accommodate Power Over Ethernet applications that require an outside plant cable. The cable, designed for outdoor aerial, conduit or direct burial applications, utilizes a rugged polyolefin overall jacket and filled with non-conductive water-blocking gel.

"Our new SecuraTM OSP cable gives owners the freedom to utilize the cable's benefits in outdoor applications," said Steven Kenney, Strategic Marketing Manager for HCM. One of the growing applications for this cable is video over twisted pair. Video systems, such as those by NITEK, utilize twisted pair technology to provide power and control signals to their video products, as well as to receive video signals, all on the same cable. The SecuraTM OSP cable allows the user to reach outside cameras without the expense of running electricity or conduit to the camera. Since the new SecuraTM Category 6 OSP cable utilizes 22-gauge copper for its conductors, the cable can handle power, video and pant/tilt/zoom requirements for virtually any camera on the market.

The SecuraTM OSP cable is also an enhanced Category 6 cable. Providing significant headroom to the TIA/EIA 568-B.2-1 standards, the Secura OSP cable can allow you to extend your network to locations that may have previously been cost prohibitive. www.hcm.hitachi.com

Beast Cabling Systems Strives to Meet Growing Demand

Beast Cabling Systems, innovator of systems and processes that result in more efficient and more durable installation of cable, announced that Frank A. Gordon (Tony) will fill the newly created position of National Director of Sales.

With several years of sales management experience within the construction industry, Tony has worked directly and indirectly with many of the manufacturers, suppliers, and prime contractors in the structured cabling industry. In his new position, he will call on National Accounts, coordinate the efforts of the regional sales staff and direct the hiring of several new sales representatives.

"The need for Cabling Installation Management (CIM) systems in our industry has never been more important", said Greg Bramham, vice president business development for Beast Cabling Systems. "Because of the major impact CIM has on every segment of our industry, the demand for systems like the Beast has exploded. Tony's leadership will help us manage this sales growth and insure we continue to provide the highest levels of training and product support for our new and existing customers. We are very fortunate to have him on the management team", said Bramham. www.thebeast.us

BEAST CABLING SYSTEMS - During 2005, Beast Cabling Systems have made several upgrades in their installation system. The new improved system is more efficient than any cable installation system on the market. The savings reported by their customers are considerable. This is a tool that pays for itself. www.thebeast.us If you are attending the BICSI 2006 Winter Conference in Orlando, you should check out this powerful new system in Booth 626-628

While You Are At BICSI

The industry media is your door to a myriad of valuable information about codes, standards, new products, and creative applications. The various media (online and printed) publications are hard at work gathering and reviewing "all the news that you can use". Most of the publications are available at no cost to the subscriber.

At the upcoming BICSI, visit the booths of Electrical Contractor Magazine (booth 908-910) www.ecmag.com and PennWell's® Cabling Installation & Maintenance Magazine (booth 502) www.cable-install.com. There will also be a media distribution location for many other publications. Among the many BICSI attendees, there will be representatives from Cabling Business Magazine www.cablingbusiness.com, TED (The Electrical Distributor) Magazine www.tedmag.com, Network Cabling Magazine www.networkcablingmag.ca, Lightwave Magazine http://lw.pennnet.com/home.cfm, CNS (Cabling Network Systems) Magazine www.cnsmagazine.com , and Communication News www.comnews.com . They are there to gather the "latest and greatest" for their readers.

Professional Development

Stay current with the latest cabling, fire, electrical, building and life safety requirements, technologies, standards, and practices with industry conferences, seminars, and expanded training offerings.

While the publications bring us a wide range of industry news, training is still a major challenge for our industry. There are numerous training programs available. BICSI (www.bicsi.org) is probably the most well known cabling training outlet. We have also reviewed other top notch programs from Cabling America (www.cablingamerica.com), Light Brigade (www.lightbrigade.com), NJATC (National Joint Apprentice & Training Committee for the Electrical Industry)(www.njatc.org), Mike Holt Enterprises (www.mikeholt.com), and NFPA National Fire Protection Association (www.nfpalearn.org). Don't forget many of the manufacturers have outstanding product specific training programs.