For: www.wireville.com
"Heard On The Street" Column
Issue: September 2006
By: Frank Bisbee
Labels save big bucks
Communications and Datacom
infrastructure is very expensive and highly labor intensive to install and
service. It is shocking to consistently find cabling facilities in the
workplace with virtually no documentation (records, drawings, or labeling).
With millions of dollars invested in the physical information network, the
first and most important step to preserve the investment is “LABEL IT.”
Today, RHINO’s portable Industrial Labeling System is the most effective way to
add finished value to the network and associated hardware.
The strongest incentive to
have better documented cable is the need to control our costs. When wiring decisions are uncontrolled, we
suffer from “MAC Attacks” (Moves, Adds and Changes). With the constantly changing world of IT and
telecommunications, undocumented, and unmanaged MAC expenses can demolish
budgets and eat into our profits. In
reality, few records are kept, and of those even fewer are kept up to
date. MAC can reach 90% in labor costs that
cannot be reclaimed unlike the cable itself.
Properly documenting your network
installation will:
Save time
Save money
Add value
With proper documentation in
place, a decrease in labor costs, due to the ease of cable identification, can
be achieved. The complexity of your
network should determine the level of detail needed for labeling. Using the TIA/EIA-606-A (Administration
Standard for Commercial Telecommunications Infrastructure) is a good starting
point for formulating a strategy that fits your business.
With the addition of a
properly documented network infrastructure, a building owner/facilities
manager, can change a possible liability into an asset. Like the deteriorating effect of rust on
steel, cabling systems without labels will result in major expenses as the
technicians try to navigate the myriad of facilities in order to service or
repair the systems. Numerous studies have shown these “hidden expenses” add up
to a shocking 10% or greater of the service costs. Now, add the price of
down-time and the price is staggering.
Plan the project, purchase
wisely, install properly, label, test and document.
It’s a great business
practice.
But that’s just my opinion……
By: Frank Bisbee
"Heard
On The Street" Monthly Column
By
Claire Swedberg
It has been more than 60 years
since five marines and
one Navy corpsman were photographed raising the American flag on
In
November 2006, the
Designed
by Fentress Bradburn Architects, Washington, D.C., the $57-million project is
unique because of the 210-foot, 50-ton steel mast—representing the scene at Iwo
Jima—that angles up through the building and beyond.
Although
small Marine command museums exist around the country, until this new
construction, the Corps did not have a facility to house its thousands of
artifacts.
“We
didn’t have much capability of displaying our artifacts in a professional
manner,” said Brig. Gen. Jerry McKay.
The
museum project was divided into two parts. Centex Construction,
Securing the mast
One of
the biggest challenges was the atrium and mast, which is known as the
Leatherneck Gallery. The atrium includes an observation deck, for looking down
into the gallery floor, and land artifacts, such as a track vehicle. Four
airplanes hang from the ceiling. The 150-foot diameter circle gallery has walls
clad with travertine marble from
Installation
required 24-inch-thick concrete foundation walls that tower 45 feet tall and
support massive steel plate girder beams, which provide the necessary
structural framing for the monumental atrium skylight. The windowless structure
is built to include earthen berms up against perimeter walls—the wall thickness
was necessary to make them substantial enough to support that design.
The mast
serves as the center point of the building, and is on a mammoth scale. Putting
the mast in place was a significant hurdle. The steel structure arrived in
three pieces to be assembled in the field, then was raised with cranes, which
lifted the mast over the wall of the central gallery before it was anchored
into place by the rib beams. The mast was raised and closed in with heavy-gauge
stainless steel panels.
“I’ll
never forget seeing them lift that mast with two monstrous cranes,” said Tom
Barnett, Walker Seal project manager.
Because
of the angle and because it needed to be
installed before the building structure was completed, a temporary
shoring tower was built to hold the mast. The steel erector set in place
specific beams that created tripod-like support system for the mast.
“There
were lots of tolerance challenges in making sure the skylight framing and
aluminum cladding fit in and around the structural support framing and the
central mast that protruded through the apex of the skylight,” said Matt Dye,
project executive at Centex Construction.
The mast
slants out of building in a northwest direction and has a lighted ship’s ladder
up its interior with intermediate rest platforms. Wiring was needed for a
safety light on the mast top to make it visible to aircraft as well as to power
a smoke evacuation fan on the roof.
Fighting the wiring challenges
Installing
the branch electric into the 45-foot-tall structural walls was one of the major
electrical challenges.
“They had
to do some pretty meticulous planning to make sure they had their routing in
the right place,” Dye said.
Barnett
said the Walker Seal men did much of their work with a 135-foot-high lift, big
enough to hold two men and not much more. They installed 150 fixtures in the
ceiling, but spent considerable time bringing equipment up where they could use
it, then dropping down for more, since the lift had a limited weight capacity.
The
airplanes, already in place in the gallery, were another one of the project’s
challenges.
“We
worked over and under and around the airplanes hanging there,” Barnett said.
They
installed wiring in the steel framework around the gallery but making that
work, Barnett said, was piecemeal at best. Walker Seal did prewire the wireway
in 60, 8-foot-long pieces, then joined them together on the site.
“We put
in the wiring, the outlet boxes, ran the conduit, and then protected it as they
poured the concrete [for the walls],” Barnett said. “We were able to pull wires
through it so that was the proof that it worked.”
With
Centex Construction,
Immersion exhibits
After
getting the substructure wired, Walker Seal had more to do under a different
contract. Working with general contractor Design and Production, Walker Seal
would be responsible for wiring the exhibits and theatrical lighting. The same electricians who
connected the substructure also put together the exhibit work.
When the
exhibit area is completed, visitors who enter the museum will feel what it was
like landing on Iwo Jima, as well as the siege of
Visitors
start by passing through a surround sound theater where they are treated as new
recruits. They may be barked at by drill instructors, then will go through
simulations of battles of World War II, including
To make
all this happen, Design and Production built—and Walker Seal installed power
for—various audio/visual displays, as well as five central audio/visual control
rooms serving various galleries, said Dale Panning, Design and Production senior
systems engineer. The company also installed equipment racks with MPEG servers,
audio servers, interactive computers, amplifiers, digital processing, and show
control equipment.
The
control rooms are designed to sequentially turn on for a diagnostic self-check
each day, then synchronize with the other control rooms and displays such as
video projectors and plasma screens.
The
Ethernet-based system is automated, allowing an audio/visual staff member to
walk through the galleries each morning and confirm that all exhibits have
started up and are functioning properly before the doors open. The system also
can be controlled remotely from an Internet connection.
Design
and Production built and tested the racks for the gallery effects in its facility
before workers brought them to the job site for Walker Seal to install.
“The
immersion exhibits are intended to offer sound, the flashing strobe lights of
enemy fire and even a shaking ground,” Barnett said.
To
further the sense of immersion, the exhibits include a flat black ceiling with
a series of theatrical lights installed to create war-like lighting. Walker
Seal electricians installed motion detectors, which allow the launching of each
exhibit as someone enters the area. These are connected to the audio/visual
rooms where the programmed controls originate.
“There
are a lot of players, a lot of people involved,” said Panning. “What’s unique
about this museum is the immersion experience as opposed to looking though
glass. Here you see, hear and feel the whole event. That’s what makes it
special.”
Walker
Seal also installed conduits and lighting for a meditation pathway that leads
to a chapel on the museum grounds.
McKay
said he expected commitment from the contractors involved in construction but
is pleased with just how much commitment experienced, not just from the
contractors and subcontractors as companies, but from the individuals working
on the site.
“It’s
fantastic. We’ve had a great group of people working on this. Walker Seal has
done a great job. Even the individuals seem to take pride in what they are
doing. We’re very excited about it,” McKay said.
This is
just phase one of the project. The Heritage Foundation hopes it will continue
onto phase two with an additional 79,000 square feet and exhibits that will
extend coverage of Marine history back to 1775.
For
Barnett, who is 69, this may be the opportunity of a lifetime.
“It
means a lot to me to be doing this now,” he said. “It’s an opportunity to work
on a job of a really special nature.” EC
SWEDBERG is a freelance writer based in
western
claire_swedberg@msn.com.
Pack Your Bags — Las Vegas Awaits
Just a month from now, the
BICSI 2006 Fall Conference will commence in
BICSI Golf Tournament in
When you attend the 2006 Fall
Conference, you have the opportunity to experience the Golf Tournament—a Monday
tradition at every BICSI conference. Network with your peers and clients at
Stallion Mountain Country Club on Monday, September 18, with an 8 a.m. shotgun
start. Attendees, exhibitors, guests and business colleagues are welcome to
participate.
Session Topics Survey
Have an influence on the next
BICSI Conference. If you have recommendations for topics to be featured, share
them by e-mail with Kim Osterman at kosterman@bicsi.org. The responses will be
compiled and presented to the BICSI Education Advisory Council for planning
track sessions at future BICSI conferences.
Hitachi Appoints Daniel Lee To Vice President Of Marketing
The Ubiquitous Platform
Systems Division of Hitachi America, Ltd., a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE:HIT - News), www.hitachi.us/tv,
today announced the appointment of 15-year consumer electronics veteran Daniel
Lee to the position of vice president of marketing. Lee will direct Hitachi's
U.S.-based marketing, communications and advertising strategies across the
company's complete line of consumer electronics, including high-definition
plasma, LCD and projection televisions, and DVD camcorders. Additionally, Lee
will be responsible for
"Daniel Lee brings a
wealth of experience and knowledge of the U.S. consumer electronics marketplace
to our company and his appointment will allow Hitachi to further expand its
flat panel brand awareness, prestige and market share," said Kenji
Nakamura, vice president and general manager, Hitachi America, Ltd., Ubiquitous
Platform Systems Division. "We are fortunate to have Daniel on board to
help us build on the strength of the
Mr. Lee comes to
Hitachi America, Ltd., Ubiquitous Platform Systems Division, produces and markets a wide variety of digital products for business and consumers. The division's Consumer Group markets high-definition plasma televisions and monitors, LCD projection and flat panel HDTVs, LCD projectors, and DVD camcorders and DVD players. The division's Business Group markets LCD projectors, professional plasma monitors, interactive panels and whiteboards and security and observation system products through value added resellers, system integrators, distributors and OEM.
Hitachi America, Ltd., a
subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd., markets and manufactures a broad range of
electronics, computer systems and products, and consumer electronics, and
provides industrial equipment and services throughout
Hitachi, Ltd., (NYSE: HIT - News; TOKYO:6501 - News), headquartered in
Tokyo, Japan, is a leading global electronics company with approximately
356,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2005 (ended March 31, 2006) consolidated
sales totaled 9,464 billion yen ($80.9 billion). The company offers a wide
range of systems, products and services in market sectors including information
systems, electronic devices, power and industrial systems, consumer products,
materials and financial services. For more information on
TED Magazine Wins Three ASBPE Awards of Excellence
Business Publication Editors Awards Recognize Editorial, Design Distinction
TED Magazine, the official publication of NAED, won three Regional
Excellence Awards from the American Society of Business Publication Editors'
28th Annual Awards of Excellence Competition. The national contest receives
more than 2000 entries each year. The magazine was recognized as part of the
Midwest-South Region of the ASBPE.
TED's recognitions include:
Regional Award for Editorial
Excellence for the regular column, Profit Report (July, November 2005). The
column is written by TED contributor Dr. Albert Bates, founder and
president of Profit Planning Group. It addresses profit-related issues,
challenges, and opportunities for electrical distributors.
Regional Award for Editorial
Excellence in the Individual or Company Profile category for Deep in the Heart
of Profit (May 2005), a feature article about Elliott Electrical Supply written
by TED Editor Michael Martin.
Regional Award for Design
Excellence in the category Contents Page or Pages for Departments and Features
(March 2005). The monthly section is designed by TED Magazine staff,
Misty Byers, managing editor and Randi Vincent, art director.
Check out the award-winning
article on Elliott Electric Supply. More…
Read the winning Profit Report Columns. More…
Corning Cable Systems Updates Downloadable Offering Of Hardware Product Drawings
Corning Cable Systems, part
of Corning Incorporated’s (NYSE:GLW) Telecommunications segment, has updated
its hardware product drawings, a useful tool for customers to use as part of
network designs and bid specifications.
These two-dimensional and
isometric drawings of LANscape® and LANscape Pretium™
Solutions hardware family products are available in PDF, as well as
AutoCAD-compatible DFX and Visio formats.
The drawings are offered free of charge for downloading from the Corning
Cable Systems Web site at www.corning.com/cablesystems/productdrawings. Unlike some other competitive tools that
require registration or membership in selective programs, you do not need to
register for this valuable tool.
This is the third edition of
the downloadable drawings, which Corning Cable Systems has made available to
customers for many years. Highlights
from the third edition include several LANscape Solutions innovations, such as
high-performance Pretium Connector Housings, the Fiber Zone Box for structured
cabling solutions, and several of Corning Cable Systems’ environmentally rugged
hardware closures for outdoor and industrial environments.
Corning Cable Systems
LANscape Solutions is a complete offering of products, services and support designed
to simplify fiber optic cabling requirements. For additional information on the hardware product drawings or any other
Corning Cable Systems product or service, please contact a customer service
representative at 1-800-743-2675, toll free in the United States, or (+1)
828-901-5000, international, or visit the Web site at www.corning.com/cablesystems.
About Corning Incorporated
Corning Incorporated (www.corning.com) is a diversified technology
company that concentrates its efforts on high-impact growth opportunities.
Corning combines its expertise in specialty glass, ceramic materials, polymers
and the manipulation of the properties of light, with strong process and
manufacturing capabilities to develop, engineer and commercialize significant
innovative products for the telecommunications, flat panel display,
environmental, semiconductor, and life sciences industries.
300-meter fiber horizontal: The good, the bad, and the political
There are basically two large
camps on the issue of a possible 300-meter fiber horizontal, divided mostly
along party lines—copper cabling manufacturers and fiber cabling manufacturers.
And then there are the rest of us that try to discern the “why” so we can
explain it to the architects, space planners and building owners who are our
customers.
The precedent for use of a
300-meter fiber horizontal has already been set. TIA-942 Data Centers currently
allows a 300-meter fiber horizontal, but TIA-568-B.1 Commercial and TIA-570-B
Residential do not. We already know that it works, the question is within which
of the “unique premises environments” should it be considered as the “minimum
standard allowed” and why?
I decided to ask members of
each of these camps for some of the pros and cons regarding a ubiquitous
300-meter horizontal for fiber cabling.
The copper camp is quick to
quote studies, which are well over 30 years old, on typical lengths of
horizontal cabling that show most “existing cables” are about 150 feet long.
Oddly enough that is about the same as the length as a typical electrical
branch circuit. You see, during the era “under study” most of the “telephone”
cabling was terminated on the “other wall” in the electrical rooms. Given the
choice, would we design systems that way today? Probably not. It is interesting
to note that there have not been any “new” studies presented to the committee
for consideration, so the original 30-year-old study still stands as “typical.”
The fiber camp wants to
reduce the number of telecommunications rooms within the building as a “cost
saving measure,” which realistically is sort of the “all your eggs” (or in this
case network ports) “in one basket” approach.
This idea was first
introduced as a Centralized Optical Fiber Cabling System. But once TSB-72-1997
finally made its way through the committee process, the result (maximum
horizontal length of 90 meters) was quite different than what was originally
intended (maximum horizontal length of 300 meters) because it also included
copper cabling. Yes, I know what the TSB’s title says, but both media types
were covered in the original TSB-72 and later when the material was
incorporated into TIA-568-B.1.
Fewer telecommunications
rooms would mean less building space to power, cool, ground, etc., and few
network maintenance points. But too many cables concentrated into one
space—for example all the ports in a commercial office building—and you have
built yourself a data center.
It is true that dense
concentrations of network ports within fewer telecommunications rooms will much
improve the port utilization rate. However, the optical network equipment has
historically been more expensive than its copper counterpart. This is where the
fiber camp argues that an increase in use of optical network equipment will
encourage reductions in pricing due to higher volume purchases. I don’t know
that I would “buy” into that argument, but I do believe that over time, because
network speeds continue to increase, the cost of network equipment for optical
fiber and copper cabling will begin to approach parity, while the cabling
distances supported will become even further divided.
But is this a “commercial
building”?
When TIA began writing
premises cabling standards in the mid-1980s there were only two types of
buildings on their radar: residential and commercial. The method of determining
which was which, was fairly simple. If it is not someone’s home, then it is a
commercial building.
Using this classification
method, hospitals, schools, factories, power plants, data centers, office
buildings, etc. are all commercial buildings.
Today, we are seeing more
granularity within the standards, and many of these will someday have their own
“unique premises environment” standard.
However, the title of
TIA-568-C.1 is still “
It is my personal opinion
that the 300-meter fiber horizontal should be included in TIA-568-C.0, which
would allow use in all “unique premises environment” standards where it was not
specifically prohibited by an exception. For example, there would not be an
exception within data center or industrial standards but there would likely be
one within the commercial (office) building standard where the copper cabling
camp has a strong presence.
So what would happen in the
case of an airport or hospital for which there are no “unique premises
environment” standards? In my opinion, TIA-568-C.0 would apply and it would
then be the responsibility of the designer to determine if the 300-meter fiber
horizontal should be allowed.
Fiber’s limitation
What is seen as the limiting
factor in using fiber in the horizontal today? How do you power the Power over
Ethernet (PoE) and PoE Plus devices with optical fiber?
What we need is “just a
little DC.” Power over fiber?
The fiber-optic powering
system consists of a high-power laser diode, an optical fiber for transmission,
and a photovoltaic cell. Photovoltaic cells have been used for years in solar
panels to convert sunlight into heat or electrical energy.
The high-power laser diode is
the device that converts electrical energy (DC) into light energy, transmitted
through a medium. At the far end of the fiber-optic cable the photovoltaic cell
converts the light energy back into electrical energy (DC) where it is used to power
an electronic device like a WiFi antenna or a VoIP telephone. And the same
optical fiber that is used to power the device can also be used to communicate
with it. Now it is not only possible, but actually in production.
On 5 May 2006 JDS Uniphase
Corporation announced that its Photonic Power Business Unit has achieved
optical-to-electrical conversion efficiency greater than 50 percent on their
3-volt and 5-volt gallium arsenide (GaAs) Photovoltaic Power Converter (PPC).
The company reports that more than 10,000 units have been deployed serving more
than 50 customers, including Siemens, Raytheon, ETS Lindgren, and NEC. Yes,
things are about to get interesting.
Next month I plan to discuss
why, if 150 feet was typical, 100 meters was chosen as the maximum channel
length.
BY: Donna Ballast RCDD
Reprinted with full permission of
Cabling Installation & Maintenance a Pennwell publication – July 2006 issue
Southeast Builders, Designers Receive Prestigious Aurora Awards
The
Grammy’s of the Home Building Industry
Builders and
designers throughout the Southeast received prestigious Aurora Awards during an
industry gala last Saturday. The awards extravaganza coincided with the 2006
Southeast Building Conference (SEBC) tradeshow and educational conference.
“For this special
night of the year, the spotlight is on the Southeast’s finest builders and designers,”
says Valerie Cope, 2006 AURORA Award Chair. “The prestigious event creates
lifetime recognition for all winners.”
The nationally
recognized AURORA Awards honor builders, designers, architects and other home
building industry professionals in a 12-state southeast region stretching from
The Golden AURORA
Award and Best in State AURORA Awards are considered the premier AURORAs. All
winning photos are posted on theauroras.com.
2006 GOLDEN AURORA WINNER
Foley Design Associates, Architects Inc., Wild Heron, Panama City Beach, FL
Wild Heron is
comprised of numerous residential opportunities including home sites,
bungalows, custom-designed homes, and condominium residences. Wild Heron
threads Coastal Craftsman architecture through each residence and community
structure. The Coastal Craftsman style is a genuine complement to the natural
landscape surrounding it, using time tested finishes like slate, river rock,
split stone, glass, wood and historic metals. At the heart of Wild Heron is the
Greg Norman-designed Shark’s Tooth Golf Course, an Audubon International
“Signature Sanctuary.” World-class community amenities include a lakeside
fire-ring, pool, fitness center, boardwalk and an oak-grove park. Stocked with
kayaks and canoes, residents also have access to the Boathouse. A series of
walkways for both pedestrians and golf carts link all amenities. Members can
enjoy a private beach club with a pool, cabana, and grill located minutes away
on the sugar sand coast of the Gulf of Mexico.
2006 BEST IN
STATE
STATE
WINNER
Florida Foley Design Associates, Architects Inc.
Wild Heron
Panama City Beach, FL
This Coastal
Craftsman style home is designed by Foley Design Associates, Architects Inc.
and is both the 2006 Golden AURORA Award winner and the 2006 Best in State
AURORA winner for
Georgia Studio for Civil Architecture, PLLC
The Ford Plantation Club House
Richmond Hill, GA
The design reflects
the Southern architectural tradition of joining building and nature in a
harmonious, organic, and dignified union. Echoing traditional plantation
architecture, the complex comprises three separate structures. The main
building contains members’ functions, dining and locker facilities as well as
back-of-house uses. The two flanking dependencies house a pro shop and
administrative offices. On the entry porch the four large and strongly
proportioned Doric columns relate to the scale and position of the live oaks
leading up to them. This alignment affects a visual connection and evokes the
theory of classical columns as having evolved from tree trunks. Embracing the
surrounding panoramic views, the building elevates the principal rooms and
porches that ring the perimeter. Deep porches connect outside to inside,
provide shade, and serve as outdoor rooms for social interaction.
North Carolina The Evans Group
Camp at Mount Lynn Lowry
Balsam, NC
Each of the homes
have been designed with numerous outdoor decks and seating areas most of which
overhang the waterfall creating a symbiotic relationship between the homes and
nature. The owner’s goal with the landscaping was to return the mountain to its
original state by only planting native and indigenous plant material that could
survive the harsh winters and add to the surroundings. All the rock utilized in
the walls and stairways came from the property during the construction and
anchoring of the homes. Rather than sidewalks, there are concrete stairways
complete with custom railings and light fixtures making the hike between homes
a little easier and strategically placed stone benches on which to rest. The
Camp was developed on the principals of Smart Growth and Sustainable
Communities with green philosophical values, appropriateness, variety, and
flexibility.
South
Carolina Schmitt Walker Architects, Inc.
Colt Residence
Spring Island, SC
The clients
wanted an architecturally unique home; strongly integrated with the site and
allowing them to experience the surrounding natural environment from inside.
The site is a heavily wooded area on the edge of a fresh water pond, with a
very strong sense of enclosure and privacy. The architectural program called
for four buildings; a two-bedroom guesthouse, a three-car garage, a shop for
woodworking and a three-bedroom house (3,600 sq ft.) A detailed site analysis
by the architect and landscape architect determined the most desirable location
for each of the building components, and preserved every tree on site
throughout construction. The extensive use of glass creates a strong visual
connection between living spaces and the wooded site while the open floor plan,
soaring roof forms, expressed structural system and expansive window (both
operable and fixed), all contribute to strongly situate this house in its
natural environment.
Virginia
Lessard Group, Inc.
Chatham Square
Alexandria, VA
Tennessee Scott H. Wilson Architect LLC
Private Residence
Nashville, TN
This home
renovation project was designed to allow a growing family to stay in their home
in an established neighborhood located close to downtown, work, and school. The
major spaces added were a new, enlarged kitchen with eating area, a new family
room, master suite, and deck on the main level. The upper level turned one
bedroom into two bedrooms with sitting area and bath. The solution adds new
space at the rear of the existing structure which minimizes the impact on the
streetscape and provides a better connection to the rear yard while adding much
needed space for the family. The stone and siding used compliment the original
brick and siding of the house and the steeply pitched gable roofs provide a
feeling of spaciousness to the compact design while adding a touch of whimsy to
the rear elevation. The new interior also opens up spaces previously isolated
to provide better flow for entertaining as well as enhancing family interaction
in the home. The new home demonstrates that a modest size home can feel
comfortable, flow well and provide ample space without requiring an extravagant
budget.
Texas Hnedak Bobo Group
Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center
Grape Vine,
TX
Entry to the
grand hotel immerses guests in the rustic details and architectural forms
representing historic
ABOUT THE AURORA AWARDS:
The AURORA Award
competition is open to builders, architects, interior designers, landscape
architects and other home building professionals in
AURORA Award
winners are announced each year in conjunction with the Southeast Building Conference.
SEBC is a 12-state regional conference attended by more than 18,000 home
building professionals. In addition to AURORA Award winners, the 28th
annual SEBC featured 1036+ product and service exhibits, the New Southern
Home, Hurricane Alley, 80+ Education Programs, Keynote Speaker Dick Vitale,
E-zone, and the Excel Awards. For more SEBC information, visit www.sebcshow.com.
Connected@Home Speakers Announced
October 15-17, 2006 /
Sheraton San Diego Hotel and
Our initial slate of industry
experts has been announced. Learn from these speakers as they outline the
challenges and opportunities in the connected home space:
AMX Corporation, Scott
Norder; VP, Residential Market Development
AT&T, Jonathan Cowper;
Associate Director - Customer Marketing & Experience
Bell Canada, Martin Cullum; GM Technology Development - Video Networks
CABA, Ron Zimmer; President & CEO
Campbell-Ewald, Ed Dilworth; Chief Contact Officer
Cisco Systems, Jeff Dean; Practice Lead - Rich Media Services
Cookson Consulting, David Skelly; Vice President & Managing Partner
Cookson Consulting, Tim Woods; President
Digitas, Katherine Dyer; Executive Vice President, Relationship Leader
Fleishmann & Walsh, Lawrence Freedman; Partner
Hewlett-Packard, TBD
Horizon Technologies, Ludo Bertsch; President
Ipsos-Reid, Mary Beth Barbour; Vice President
Ken Wacks Associates, Ken Wacks; President
Microsoft, Jonathan Cluts; Director - Consumer Prototyping and Strategy
SmartLabs, Inc., Ken Fairbanks; Vice President of Sales and Business Development
StayTuned, Frank White; Partner
SupportSoft, Inc., Bruce Mowery; Vice President
Whirlpool Corporation, Carol Priefert; Product Development Manager
Zanthus, Carole Wiedmeyer; Senior Research Consultant
Zanthus, Tracey Dobesh; Senior Research Consultant
Also, take advantage of the
Internet Home Alliance Research Council Collaborative Research Track. This
track will explore specific areas of interest, from a collaborative research
perspective.
--IPTV: Interactive
--SMB IT Needs Assessment Project
--Subsidized Media and Location Based Advertising
--Senior Living Project
--Digital Kitchen Project
Just Added!
CABA's Standards Summit and
Connected Home Council meeting.
Full agenda is available
online. CLICK HERE
Early Bird Deadline (Save
$250.00)
EARLY BIRD registration ends
August 31.
All delegates will receive
the following complimentary reports:
1) State of the Connected
Home 2005 ($2,100 value)
2) Connected Home Roadmap
Executive Summary
Take advantage of these free
reports and EARLY BIRD pricing, by registering today! CLICK HERE.
Our Sponsors:
Pulse~LINK, Inc.
AMX Corporation
INSTEON
Whirlpool Corporation
Building Industry Sponsor:
Hanley Wood
Endorsing
Associations/Supporting Publications:
Big Builder, Digital Home,
ECHONET Consortium, Home Gateway Initiative, KNX Association, MPEG Industry
Forum, HiddenWires, Wi-Fi
Lithium Ion Technology- Now Available From Hitachi Power Tools
Hitachi Power Tools (NYSE: HIT - News) today announced the launch
of its new line of Lithium Ion cordless products. Powered by HXP batteries from
Hitachi HXP batteries have a
life of approximately 1300-1500 cycles (# of times a user can recharge) as opposed
to about 500 times for recharging NiMH or NiCad batteries. Lasting 3x longer,
they do not have to be replaced as often saving the user money. They maintain a
steady charge from the moment the trigger is pulled until they need to be
recharged- ensuring the user will tap the full power during use. HXP battery
technology reduces the weight by approximately a pound per tool, which improves
manageability and lessens fatigue.
Now Available:
DV18DL 18V Lithium-Ion
Cordless Hammer Drill
Offers a class leading 570
in/lbs of torque to hammer through the toughest jobs. A unique two-step speed
switch gives the user the ability to select from 4 different speed settings
(0-200/400/900/1800 RPM) for ultimate control. Lightweight at 4.9 lbs, the
DV18DL feels like a 12V tool, while offering the power and performance of an
18V.
DS18DL 18V Lithium-Ion
Cordless Driver Drill
Offers 560 in/lbs of torque
to drill and drive through tough materials. It is equipped with the same
two-step speed switch as the hammer drill above and weighs just 4.6 lbs.
KC18DAL 18V Lithium-Ion
3-Piece Combo Kit
This new pro-grade combo kit
includes the DV18DL 18V Lithium Ion hammer drill, the CR18DL 18V lithium ion
reciprocating saw and a powerful 14.4/18 Volt lantern equipped with a 5-position
adjustable handle.
DB3DL 3.6V Cordless Lithium
Ion Screwdriver
This tool is ideal for
tightening and loosening fasteners in odd or tight spaces. Weighing less than a
pound and producing a powerful 44 in/lbs of turning torque, the DB3DL will be a
staple in any tool bag or belt. www.hitachipowertools.com
Market Outlook: Inflation, anyone?
Interest rates are up, fuel
prices are on the rise, and the fear of inflation is causing the stock exchange
to jump around—so what gives?
by Joseph Sullivan
What gives may not be
inflation. Inflation happens when broad prices across a range of goods and services,
including labor, escalate in dollar price without escalating in real value.
Specific price increases due to product demand or the chocking down of sources
of supply are not inflationary.
So let’s look at the
biggie—the huge increases in the price of petroleum and natural gas. The
intrinsic value of a barrel of oil or an mcf of gas hasn’t changed a bit—and
the costs of many other things have sure gone up as a result. Isn’t that
inflation?
In a word, no, although it is
inflationary—in other words, the oil and gas increases do cause inflationary
pressure that can eventually contribute to inflation. Yet, inflation itself is
still very moderate.
So what’s the point of this
explanation? Who cares about economic definitions? Aren’t they just mere academic
word games? After all, if things cost more, it hurts—whether it’s inflation or
“just” rising prices.
Indeed so. But the strategies
for dealing with specific price increases can be very different from those used
to cope with inflation.
Before looking at strategies,
though, here’s what the second biggest shot in the mon-
etary policy world, the vice
chairman of the Federal Reserve, Roger Ferguson, has to say. Late in the first
quarter, he said the following in a speech given at
“[Rising energy costs have
boosted] prices for gasoline and other energy goods by raising the price of
non-energy goods and services as firms pass on increased energy costs and by
putting upward pressure on expectations of future inflation. Despite those pressures,
core inflation has, as I mentioned, remained contained….
“All told, increases in
energy prices over the past couple of years probably added about one-half of a
percentage point to core inflation in 2005, and…appears likely to add roughly
the same amount this year, provided that energy prices do not rise
significantly further.”
To those who lived through
the Jimmy Carter era of double-digit inflation and interest rates to match, a
percentage of inflation may be undesirable, but it is not something to lose
sleep over.
Of course, there are reasons
why energy prices are not more inflationary. For one, the economy has become less energy intensive.
Oh, it uses more oil than it did 20 years ago, but the amount of oil relative
to GDP is down. Way down. In fact,
The other big reason
inflation has not gotten out of hand is that, unlike the 1970s, the Federal
Reserve itself is determined to fight it. Unfortunately, there is a downside to
this.
The Fed’s biggest
anti-inflation tactic is to cool things down by raising interest rates. Raise
them they have, and there may be more to come.
What about copper? Current prices
are unheard of, regardless of how they bob up and down—and they are bobbing at
extraordinary levels. Doesn’t that shoot the theory that inflation is under
control?
Not really. The price of
copper has run up because of vastly increased demand—including demand from the
developing economies of
Taking all of that into
account, what can be done? That depends, of course, on the person asking the
question, and his or her opinion about inflation. Those who think the Federal
Reserve will indeed manage to keep it under control can focus on how to deal
with specific cost increases such as fuel, freight, and higher interest rates.
On the other hand, those who believe that the dollar is entering a phase of
declining value will have quite a different strategy.
In a scenario of controlled
inflation—but higher interest rates and fuel prices—the wise strategy is to
lower use of borrowed funds and control and pass through fuel costs. Here are
some practical ideas about how to get it done:
• Put more of a premium on inventory
management and collections. Anything that can be done to shorten the cash cycle
(the period between the day cash is paid for the inventory to the day funds are
actually collected for the sale) will reduce the need for borrowed funds.
• Analyze accounts payable
practices. Can better terms be negotiated? If not, squeeze as many days out as possible before
losing discounts. If rates get very high,
compare the annual interest savings on borrowed funds that can be gained
by paying later to the benefit of discounts from paying sooner—the result might
be surprising.
• Defer “optional” capital
expenditures, acquisitions, and other outlays that cannot be shown to be
extremely likely to generate a return substantially higher than the interest
savings that could be gained by paying down debt. Remember in the analysis that
interest savings are a pretty sure thing, while most business expenditures are
more risky and should draw commensurately higher returns.
Fuel surcharges and such are
pretty iffy, and when explicit, give competitors something to shoot at. Those
feeling the fuel pinch would be advised to:
• Ask for bids from local
delivery services (with specific service benchmarks as to times of delivery and
the like). These companies often have significant operating economies over a
distributor and can take a distributor partially out of the fleet and fuel
business.
• Consider moving to
night-time deliveries, as have some distributors in areas with bad daytime
traffic. Night runs encounter almost no traffic delays and can be much more
efficient. It is also easier to load the trucks up because the precise time of
delivery is not especially important at night.
• Finally, those who feel
that they must pass the costs through should consider doing so with a small
general price increase. Calculate what the fuel difference really is, and see
if a .5% to 1% price increase will cover it. The experience of many
distributors has been that except in tightly bid project business, customers
simply do not notice minor increases.
Be prepared
What if inflation really is
coming back? What is different? Lots of things. For example, because the value
of the dollar declines in inflationary periods, long-term debt with fixed rates
gets repaid with cheaper money. Those who think the dollar will inflate over an
appreciable period of time should consider shifting their debt structure
accordingly.
Hard goods increase in
nominal value as the dollar’s buying power shrinks. Therefore, somewhat slower turns
on better-moving items can actually help. Of course, genuinely slow-moving,
low-demand items never help under any economic scenario, so inventory must be
closely managed in any event. (By the way, LIFO tax accounting is an essential
inflation tool that can save huge sums of money.)
Will inflation pick up, or
will it not? Nobody knows. It boils down to the abilities of the Federal
Reserve Board—and while it has been very good at its job for a long time now,
every year beings new challenges. We can only stay watchful and keep a toolkit
of strategies close by in case it is needed.
Sullivan is president of JSA.
He has a national practice helping electrical distributors improve profits, buy
and sell busi-nesses and business units, and plan for the future. He can be
reached at 972-463-1125 or joe@joseph-sullivan.com.
Reprinted with full permission of TED
magazine – July 2006 issue www.tedmag.com
RHINO Non-adhesive Tag Fills Labeling Market Void
RHINO, the industrial division of DYMO Corporation, a NewellRubbermaid company,
is pleased to announce the addition of Non-adhesive Tag to its line of label
printer cartridges. This new product was developed to fill a void that
currently exists in non-adhesive labeling applications.
Non-adhesive labels are required in applications that use plastic holders, such
as on distribution panels, electrical wiring, or modular outlets. To date,
non-adhesive labeling products have posed a variety of problems. These labels
are often manufacturer-exclusive and non-interchangeable among components, or
they require a supply of books and cards of individual letters and numbers to
be kept on hand. In some cases, they are on perforated sheets that must be
printed using an office printer or plotter and can result in waste if only a
few labels are needed.
“The problem with most non-adhesive labeling products,” explained Lea Ann
Schmidt, Sr. Product Manager for RHINO, “is that they either require
printing at the office – which is just not feasible for efficient field
installations, or they require many different products be carried into the
field such as various size labels and books of letters and numbers. RHINO
developed its new Non-adhesive Tag cartridges to eliminate both problems.”
New RHINO Non-adhesive Tag cartridges drop into hand-held, electronic RHINO
label printers (RHINO 5000 or 3000) in the same way that other adhesive-style
label cartridges do. Installers simply enter the label text and size they need
and press “print”. The label information is output on the non-adhesive tag in
the exact size the installer needs, right at the job site. The need for
individual or various size tag inserts is eliminated, saving the installer
space in his toolbox and money in his pocket. As a bonus, RHINO labels make
installations look polished and professional.
Doug Waldal, Global Director of Rhino, added, “The benefit of the new RHINO
Non-adhesive Tag cartridges is that they offer installers more flexibility on
the spot, saving time and reducing labeling inventory levels and costs.
Installers can cut the inserts exactly to the size they need – all from the
same cartridge. And, an installer can print just one or many labels at any
given time. It’s an incredibly flexible solution to a long-standing problem
with non-adhesive labeling applications.”
The new RHINO Non-adhesive Tag cartridges are available in 1/4” (6mm), 3/8”
(9mm), 1/2” (12mm) and 3/4” (19mm) widths, in lengths of 18’ (5.5 m).
Available in both white and yellow colors, the label material is
constructed of non-adhesive polypropylene, providing excellent durability,
rigidity and printability. RHINO Non-adhesive Tag cartridges work in both the RHINO
5000 and the RHINO 3000 label printers.
RHINO Non-adhesive Tag cartridges retail from $15.99 - $17.99. The RHINO 5000
and RHINO 3000 retail for $149.99 and $99.99 respectively. All are available
now through your local distributor. For more information please visit
www.rhinolabeling.com.
About RHINO
RHINO is the industrial division of the DYMO Corporation, a
NewellRubbermaid company. RHINO engineers and manufactures professional-grade
label printers for residential, industrial and commercial use. The best-selling
RHINO 5000 and RHINO 3000 label printers were designed with easy-to-use
features that greatly reduce labeling time including one-touch “hot keys,”
automatic sizing, fast print output, and split-back labels. Learn more at
www.rhinolabeling.com.
Light Brigade To Coordinate FTTX Centre At ECOC 2006
Nexus Media Communications
Ltd, organisers of the 2006 European Conference for Optical Communications
(ECOC) exhibition, are delighted to announce that The Light Brigade, Inc. will
be the FTTX coordinator for the Fibre to the User (FTTX) Resource Centre
at this year's event in Cannes, France.
FTTX is leading the
implementation of fibre optic technology, reaching to homes and businesses
throughout the world. The multi-stand FTTX Centre will be located within
the exhibition hall from 25th - 27th September and will be a focal point for
those manufacturing, integrating, installing and implementing FTTX. The Light
Brigade will coordinate exhibits, literature, lead retrieval, displays,
signage, applications notes, standards and the ECOC FTTX exhibits
directory. The Light Brigade will be actively involved in interfacing
with the ECOC exhibitors and organizations for this new addition to the ECOC
conference. Those wanting information about the Centre should contact
William H. Fulton, the FTTX Resource Centre Coordinator, via email at bill@lightbrigade.com.
The Light Brigade, Inc.,
based in
View From the Board :IP ready for prime time
Despite what some
heel-dragging IT industry veterans in
By Brantz Myers
Internet Protocol (IP)
communication products and services have proven their ability to help
organizations streamline business processes and diminish costs.
For years, Canadian companies
have been realizing the benefits that carrying all forms of communications --
voice, video and data -- across a common, IP infrastructure can bring.
Yet despite solid and
progressive implementations in
Perhaps it is time to stop
wondering about IP and start benefiting from it.
No
need to run
It is no longer a question of
if customers will deploy IP; it's a matter of when. Consider that
telecommunications vendors have divested from PBX development and now have all
their R&D in IP going forward.
Also, consider that IP is
being applied to every application -- in enterprise, industry, public sector
and the home. Despite perceptions, current implementations are demonstrating
the technology is ready for prime time, and that one network in fact makes
processes easier and more effective.
Take, for example, Canadian
surgeon Dr. Mehran Anvari who in 2003 performed a routine anti-reflux operation
on a patient and made medical history -- and continues to do so. In scenes
straight from science fiction, the founding director of the Centre for Minimal
Access Surgery (CMAS) at
Within IT circles, the
operation served as a powerful demonstration of the types of highly-advanced,
robust applications that service providers are being asked to support on their
networks, increasingly based on IP technology.
Even more remarkable: this
surgery was done across an IP network belonging to a major carrier. With tens
of thousands of other enterprise data packets on the network, CMAS was able to
perform real-time surgery with a robotic assisted device on one end and a
surgeon on the other. Dr. Anvari has since performed more than 22 live
tele-robotic surgeries.
Too often I hear from colleagues
about issues such as delineating different traffic types, despite the fact this
was solved a long time ago. Canadians and people across the globe are investing
in IP. It's not just talk anymore. Cisco Systems Inc. has sold 400,000 IP
phones in
Globally, Cisco is displacing
12,000 Time-division multiplexing (TDM) phones every business day with more
than 8 million IP phones shipped. To date, Cisco has deployed over 5 million
unified messaging seats; 985,000 contact centre seats and 144,000 MeetingPlace
(IP Conferencing) licenses.
Cisco is not the only one
seeing an interest in IP. In May 2006, Infonetics Research announced its most
recent projections for VoIP deployments in
As well, 36% of large, 23% of
medium, and 14% of small North American organizations interviewed were already
using VoIP products and services in 2005.
The top drivers for deploying
VoIP included having an integrated phone system across multiple locations,
scalability, operational cost savings, and converging voice and data networks.
How could IP not be a viable
option, given these figures?
Automating
the process
An IP network reduces the
headaches that multiple, disparate, disconnected and in some cases proprietary
networks can cause.
For example, real time, deterministic
protocols for process automation and control is a requirement for the factory
automation and manufacturing industry, so it has traditionally had separate
networks for real-time control.
Manufacturing was a laggard
when it came to IP because it was thought the technology couldn't handle its
needs, and wasn't reliable enough.
Fast forward to today: We are
now seeing all of the leading global manufacturers abandoning old, expensive,
proprietary, non-flexible protocols and moving their automation systems to the
very same IP networks their business and voice traffic flows on.
There is no doubt IP
communications offer unprecedented integration of interpersonal communications
technology with other critical business data. It is time to overcome the fear
of the unknown, and realize that IP is not a technology on the horizon. It is
in fact here and being used now by Canadians in a wide range of industries.
The sooner this is accepted,
the sooner Canadian customers will be able to reap the benefits.
Brantz Myers is Director
of
Reprinted with full permission of CNS
Magazine (Cabling Networking Systems) – July/August Issue 2006 – www.cnsmagazine.com
• Early outlook for 2007: A late 2005 outlook for 2007 from
• OECD 2007 numbers: The Organization for Economic Cooperation &
Development, a multinational organization, issued these fourth-quarter over
fourth-quarter growth rates for U.S. GDP: 2005, + 3.7% (over 2004); 2006, +
3.4% (over 2005); 2007, + 3.1% (over 2006).
• Slowdown into 2007: “Growth of both real GDP and payroll employment
should begin slipping to below-trend rates beyond mid-2006. In the process, the
unemployment rate should gravitate upward and get back to 5% by mid-2007. We’re
viewing the upcoming slowdown…as fundamentally positive…[it] will help extend
the life of the current economic expansion.”—David Seiders, chief economist,
National Association of Home Builders, in his May 3 “Eye on the Economy” column
• What if the bird flu hits? “Businesses need to plan on having 40%
of their workforces out if a flu pandemic strikes,” according to a Feb. 28
Reuters report. The key question is: When does the bird flu, which has killed
93 people who have come into contact with birds, mutate into a virus that can
pass from human to human?
“No one can say,” the Reuters
report noted, “but World Health Organization and other experts say a pandemic
of some disease is inevitable.” Note that they are saying “some disease”—not
necessarily that the bird flu will mutate and devastate humans. —Compiled by
Joe Salimando
Datacom,
Home Networking, etc.
• Connected entertainment:
“The market for home networking and connected entertainment devices will grow
at an astonishing rate over the next few years,” according to ABI Research. The
total value of home networking hardware, gateways, network storage devices, and
networked entertainment devices will rise from $14 billion “in end-user revenue”
last year to more than $85 billion in 2011.
• Digital home market:
According to BCC Research (of the
• Global
broadband: By 2010, there will be more than 6.5 billion residents of the
planet Earth. According to In-Stat researchers, by the end of that year, 413
million households around the globe will subscribe to broadband.
• Home
networking revenue: Also according to In-Stat (August 2005): “Revenue
derived from annual networking hardware shipments and from equipment that
incorporates a home networking connection will jump from almost $9 billion in
2004 to more than $21 billion in 2009.”
• Security
and cabling: The cabling alone for video security systems “is projected to
grow from $548 million in 2005 to $1.4 billion by 2010,” according to Frank
Murawski of FTM Consulting, as reported by Access Control & Security
Systems.
• Small
business internet use: Small business spending on Internet access will rise
from $4.4 billion in 2005 to $8.2 billion by 2009, according to In-Stat
(January).
• 10-Gig
ports market: Market researchers at CIR say the market for 10Gbps ports on
telecommunications and datacom equipment will grow from $2.1 billion this year
to $4.8 billion by 2010. In ports shipped, that’s 221,000 ports this year and
1.6 million ports in 2010.
• VoIP grows: From the
Telecommunications Industry Association: There were 4.2 million VoIP customers
in 2005; the figure should reach 18 million by 2009. —Compiled by Joe Salimando
Reprinted with full permission of TED
Magazine – July Issue 2006 www.tedmag.com
CommScope Celebrates 30th Anniversary
CommScope, Inc. (NYSE: CTV - News), a world leader in
communications cable and connectivity solutions, celebrates its 30th
anniversary today. On August 16, 1976, Chairman and CEO Frank M. Drendel and
EVP and CFO Jearld Leonhardt joined with a group of investors to purchase the
coaxial cable manufacturing line of products from Superior Continental
Corporation that had $10 million in sales the previous year. Thirty years
later, CommScope has become a global leader in cable and connectivity solutions
for communication networks with annual sales of nearly $1.5 billion into more
than 120 countries.
"Today, while we are
still a broadband cable leader, CommScope is much more than the coaxial cable
manufacturer we were in 1976," noted CommScope Chairman and CEO Frank M.
Drendel. "We are a global leader in highly engineered cable and
connectivity solutions for nearly every 'last mile' communications market:
wired and wireless, business and residential; both at home and abroad.
"What technology makes
possible, CommScope makes a reality, matching the accelerating growth in video,
data, voice and wireless services with continued innovations," Drendel
continued. "Our 'last mile' products and technologies bring content-rich
broadband services into the home. Now we are leading the 10 gigabit-over-copper
revolution in enterprise networks, supporting higher bandwidth and more
demanding applications in the workplace. We're also building upon our
innovative aluminum coaxial cable technology for wireless transmission systems,
and we offer a full line of fiber optic cables for communications uses.
"As they have from the
very beginning, our employees remain another major cornerstone of CommScope's
long-term success. Their commitment to quality, innovation and integrity has
helped us take care of our customers' needs and rise to the top of our
industry," Drendel concluded.
CommScope has 12
manufacturing locations located on five continents, more than 4,400 employees
and more than 1,300 patents and patent applications worldwide.
About CommScope
CommScope (NYSE: CTV - News; www.commscope.com)
is a world leader in the design and manufacture of "last mile" cable
and connectivity solutions for communication networks. Through its SYSTIMAX®
Solutions(TM) and Uniprise® Solutions brands CommScope is the global leader in
structured cabling systems for business enterprise applications. It is also the
world's largest manufacturer of coaxial cable for Hybrid Fiber Coaxial
applications. Backed by strong research and development, CommScope combines
technical expertise and proprietary technology with global manufacturing
capability to provide customers with high-performance wired or wireless cabling
solutions.
This press release includes
forward-looking statements that are based on information currently available to
management, management's beliefs, as well as on a number of assumptions
concerning future events. Forward-looking statements are not a guarantee of
performance and are subject to a number of uncertainties and other factors,
which could cause the actual results to differ materially from those currently
expected. For a more detailed description of the factors that could cause such a
difference, please see CommScope's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. In providing forward-looking statements, the company does not
intend, and is not undertaking any obligation or duty, to update these
statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. http://www.commscope.com
Despite Healthy Near-Term Prospects, Slower Growth Looms On The Horizon For Industrial Controls
NEMA’s Primary Industrial
Controls Index dipped 0.4 percent from the first quarter to the second quarter
of 2006. However, this quarter’s lower
reading for the index does not necessarily reflect significantly weaker market
conditions; instead, it likely suggests demand for industrial controls has
merely cooled from the torrid pace of growth observed over nearly the past two
years. Indeed, the industrial controls
index increased 6.5 percent compared to the same period a year ago and has
risen 11 consecutive quarters on a year-over-year basis.
The broader market index, the
Primary Industrial Controls and Adjustable Speed Drive Index, continued higher
in the second quarter and reached the highest level in its five-year
history. Nonetheless, the signs of a
slowdown are apparent in this index as well, as it increased just 0.5 percent
between the first and second quarter of 2006.
Again, however, overall market conditions remain robust compared to a
year ago as the index rose 9.3 percent on a year-over-year basis.
Demand for industrial
controls and adjustable speed drives is expected to remain healthy over the
near term, as record corporate profits provide the impetus for additional
spending on capital equipment and a weak dollar and relatively healthy economic
conditions abroad stimulate foreign demand for
Industrial controls, as well
as other manufactured goods, will continue to see solid demand, but the robust
pace of growth that has prevailed for the last three years is expected to
dissipate, reflecting the
Inflation is also a major
concern. Even as the Federal Reserve has
hiked interest rates on a piecemeal basis non-stop for the past two years, measures
of core inflation have crept higher, surpassing what many consider the Fed’s
range of comfort. Should pressure on
core prices continue to build and the Fed accepts a higher rate of inflation,
it could precipitate an environment of accelerating inflation. On the other
hand, further reining in the money supply with higher interest rates, at a time
when the economy already appears headed for a slowdown, courts the risk of
recession.
The Industrial Control
Business Indices are issued quarterly by NEMA. The Primary Industrial Control
Index represents
This index represents monthly
sales information collected by NEMA from its members, the major industrial
control manufacturers in the
NEMA is the trade association
of choice for the electrical manufacturing industry. Founded in 1926 and headquartered near
VoIP Industry Pioneer Shawn Lewis Chosen To Speak At Digital Hollywood Conference In San Jose
Digital
Building
Blocks 2006 is expected to attract more than 2,000 top industry executives to
the event.
Lewis,
who wrote the patent for the first Softswitch and SS7 Media Gateway, is a
recognized industry pioneer and technology innovator. He co-founded CLEC XCOM
Technologies, Inc., at the time of the Telecommunications Act in 1996 and directed
its acquisition by Level 3 in 1998. His next venture, set-top box vendor River
Delta, sold to Motorola. His third successful venture, Caerus, Inc. and its
three subsidiaries: Volo Communications, Caerus Networks, Inc., and Caerus
Billing & Mediation, Inc. empowered carriers and service providers to begin
selling advanced services and realizing revenues and profits immediately. The
market enthusiastically responded to Caerus' approach and service offerings,
and VoIP, Inc. acquired Caerus, Inc. in 2005.
"We've
always pushed the envelope to develop the most advanced technology and to
create applications with exciting features and functionality that revolutionize
the industry," Lewis stated. "For instance, we just launched the
world's first free web-click phone-to-phone calling service, and currently
develop leading-edge applications for high-profile customers in this
space," he added.
Interested
parties are invited to test some of VoiceOne's latest applications -- free of charge
-- in the company's Virtual Lab, http://Labs.Voiceone.com.
Labs.Voiceone.com offers an open forum for users to review, test free of charge
and provide feedback on new IP communications services developed by VoIP, Inc's
subsidiary, VoiceOne, and to discuss their ideas with VoiceOne product and
service developers.
About VoIP, Inc.
VoIP, Inc. is a leading provider of turnkey Voice over Internet Protocol
(VoIP) communications solutions for service providers, resellers and consumers
worldwide. The company is also a certified Competitive Local Exchange Carrier
(CLEC) and Inter Exchange Carrier (IXC). Through its wholly owned subsidiary,
VoiceOne Communications, LLC, the Company provides a comprehensive portfolio of
advanced telecommunications technologies, enhanced services, broadband
products, and fulfillment services to the VoIP and related communications
industries. Current and targeted customers include IXCs, CLECs, Internet
Telephony and Conventional Telephony Service Providers (ISPs and ITSPs), cable
operators and other VoIP Service Providers in the
About Digital Hollywood
Digital Hollywood debuted in 1990 and has been among the leading trade conferences in its field
with top executives in the film, television, music, home video, cable,
telecommunications and computer industries attending each year. For more
information, go to www.digitalhollywood.com/BuildingBlocks.html.
Light Brigade to Host FTTx Workshops at FTTH Conference
The Light Brigade will
instruct two pre-conference workshops at the upcoming Fifth Annual FTTH Conference and Expo
to be held October 2-5, 2006 at The Venetian Resort in
The first workshop, Fiber
Optic (FTTH) Fundamentals (Fiber 101), is an introduction to fiber optics
and the various components of an optical system. Attendees will gain an
understanding of the tasks and disciplines associated with fiber-optic
communication systems. The workshop covers the basics of fiber optics as well
as optical fibers and cables, connectors, fusion splicing, closures, panels,
testing, splitters, and system design.
The workshop concludes with an overview of FTTH/PON terminology,
architectures, topologies, and systems.
The second workshop, Outside
Plant Passive Optical Networking (Fiber 102), focuses on fiber to the
home/passive optical networking. It will provide the attendee with an
understanding of the basic theory, principles, and challenges for outside plant
passive optical networking. The workshop covers optical fiber and cables,
splicing, connectors, panels, closures, installation, testing, restoration, and
safety. Also included are FTTH/PON-specific topics such as wavelength division
multiplexing, splitters, topologies, transmitters/receivers, OLT/ONT, PON
formats, standards, and specifications.
Both courses have been
approved for 6 BICSI RCDD credits, 6 OSP/RCDD credits, and 6 OSP/Install
credits.
More information on the
conference, workshops, and registration is available at the FTTH Conference website.
Introducing New NECA Vice President John Negro
Nelson Electric Company,
Member:
Company Information
John Negro purchased Nelson Electric Company in 1977 at the age of 28. Since
then, his company has offered customers a full line of electrical contracting
services, including low-voltage, lighting maintenance and infrared technology
work. Nelson Electric has the personnel and equipment necessary to work on a
wide variety of projects, whether commercial, industrial, or residential.
Background
Negro says that, throughout his entire life, he always knew he wanted to be an
electrical contractor. “My grandfather
was a NECA contractor in the Cedar Rapids/Iowa City area,” he recalls. “At the age of 12, I began working summers
and weekends for him. After his grandfather closed his business in 1969, Negro
worked for a few other contractors before finding his way to Nelson
Electric. He started out on a service
truck and then worked as a foreman before becoming the sole proprietor. When Negro first purchased the company, it
was a small but steady operation that had eight employees doing residential
work. Since then, Nelson Electric has
grown to be a full-service business with a peak of 120 employees.
Involvement With NECA & NECA Honors
Nelson Electric has been a NECA member since 1969. In 1979, just three years after Negro
purchased the business, he was elected to hold an office within the Cedar
Rapids/Iowa City Division of NECA‚s Iowa Chapter. “Since then, I have
served in every office of the division including the local committees such as
the Labor/Management, Joint Apprenticeship and Training, Fringe Benefits and
Membership Committee