For: www.wireville.com
"Heard On The Street" Column
Issue: January 2007
By: Frank Bisbee
In 2006, we said goodbye to a
well-respected and wonderful friend. Joe
Flynt (www.mohawk-cable.com
or www.belden.com )
will be fondly remembered.
BICSI got a new Captain to
steer the ship. We wish David Cranmer
success as he puts BICSI on the right course.
We also welcome back Dick Dunfee to the BICSI team. www.bicsi.org
Congratulations to Bruce
Nardone, who recently joined the Leviton team. Their new program sounds
exciting. Visit their booth at BICSI and
get the full story. (www.leviton.com)
The Connectivity Firm has
added Preformed Line Products to their already impressive line card of valuable
products. (www.preformed.com, www.theconnectivityfirm.com) Also, look for some new products at the SMP
Data booth at BICSI. (www.smpdata.com) with a
renewed focus on improved cabling products, pick up the new catalog from
What’s ahead in 2007?
In order to appreciate what
is coming in the world of cabling infrastructure, we must look back at the year
behind us. We recently interviewed
Michael Shannahan, VP Communication Planning Corporation (www.communicationplanning.com)
and Brian Chancey President, Area Communications (www.areacom.com) about their significant
developments during 2006. Both of these
regional communications installation firms agreed on two areas.
First, they both felt the
squeeze on costs. Gas and copper were at
the top of the list. These problem areas
are not likely to go away. So how do we
find revenue opportunities to offset the profit squeeze?
Mike Shannahan told us that
Communication Planning Corporation had opened new revenue streams as a result
of several powerful articles in the Electrical Contractor Magazine. “The security arena is filled with new
opportunities for the cabling contractor.
Video surveillance is HOT.”
Shannahan added, “Our fiber optic training from Light Brigade (www.lightbrigade.com) gave us the
capability of tackling these new revenue generators.” Brian Chancey also said they had captured new
ideas from trade publications like Electrical Contractor Magazine (www.ecmag.com), Cabling Business Magazine (www.cablingbusiness.com), and
Cabling Installation and Maintenance Magazine (www.cable-install.com). We also placed a premium on training. “That’s why we support BICSI.”
Many leading trade
associations have powerful training programs.
Check out:
·
BICSI www.bicsi.org
·
NECA www.necanet.org
·
AFCOM www.afcom.org
·
ACUTA www.acuta.org
·
CABA www.caba.org
·
BOMA www.boma.org
·
NAIOP www.naiop.org
·
FOA www.foa.org
·
NAHB www.nahb.org
·
ABC www.abc.org
And many other specialized
associations. For my money, light brigade is the premier training
source for fiber optics in the communications world. There are many new challenges and revenue
opportunities ahead, and fiber optics looks like the “top dog”
If you are going to BICSI, be
prepared to work. Digging out the latest
and greatest is the challenge.
“limited combustible cable is
still being pushed! Why? This product isn’t just stupid, it’s
wrong.” Commented Art Padgett (CATZ –
Communications A to Z) Padgett suggested that the readers might wish to do a
Google search for “Toxic Teflon” and follow the link to:
Teflon offgases toxic particulates at 446°F. At 680°F
Teflon pans release at least six toxic gases, including two
carcinogens, two global pollutants, ...
www.tuberose.com/Teflon.html - 45k - Cached
- Similar
pages - Note
this
After
a review of the toxic gas output from this key component to LCC cable, we
agree.
Cat
6 cables continue to gather market acceptance and 10Gig configurations are
gaining acceptance. These high
performance-cabling systems demand the best testing systems to ensure
performance and integrity. Fluke
Networks leads the pack by a large margin with their advanced DTX 1800
tester. Be sure to visit their booth at
BICSI. You will find many more powerful
cool tools for your business. www.flukenetworks.com
Also
at BICSI, check out the booths of:
·
Beast cabling
systems www.beastcablingsystems.com
·
Unique Fire Stop
Products www.uniquefirestop.com
·
Rhino (DYMO) http://global.dymo.com
·
ERICO www.erico.com
·
Minuteman www.minutemanups.com
·
Rexel www.rexel.com
·
Graybar www.graybar.com
·
Anixter www.anixter.com
·
CSC www.csc.com
We look forward to sharing “ALL THE NEWS
YOU CAN USE” in 2007 with you.
But that’s just my opinion,
Frank Bisbee
"Heard On The Street" Monthly Column
www.wireville.com
4949 Sunbeam Rd, Suite 16
Jacksonville, FL 32257
(904) 645-9077 office
(904) 645-9058 fax
(904) 237-0365 cell
frank@wireville.com
Cabling
manufacturer Hitachi HCM says that it has noticed a "strong" upward
trend in the adoption of 10 Gig screened (F/UTP) copper cabling systems,
particularly in markets where UTP has traditionally been the most popular
option. Hitachi Cable
Manchester sees it as a market-driven response to the limitations of UTP
cabling in 10Gb/s applications. The inclusion of
strict alien crosstalk parameters in the 10Gb/s standards posed major issues
for UTP systems. Although most major cabling manufacturers were able to meet
the 10GBASE-T performance requirements and limit alien crosstalk in a UTP
configuration, the resulting designs relied on increased cable diameters and
restrictive installation practices. These UTP
limitations significantly raised the profile of Screened 10Gb/s products, which
by virtue of their design, defeat alien crosstalk without major design or
installation changes. www.hcm.hitachi.com
Seminar to be given at the
BICSI Winter Conference Orlando, FL
January 2007 by James Carlini. Learn
from James Carlini, who pioneered the whole concept in 1985 and how his test
was used to compare downtown buildings and perform infrastructure assessments
in places like There
are more real estate organizations becoming aware of this concept as
competition heats up to attract the right tenant base. Economic development is becoming critical
with many municipalities as well. They
need to attract and maintain new businesses. The
old real estate adage of “Location, Location, Location” has to be updated to
“Location, Location ,Connectivity” as more municipalities find out that
Economic Development equals Broadband Connectivity. And, Broadband Connectivity equals good jobs. http://www.bicsi.org/Events/Conferences/Winter/2007/Schedule.aspx
General Cable Corporation
(NYSE:BGC - News) announced that Brian J.
Robinson has been promoted to Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer of the Company effective January 1, 2007. Robinson will report to
Gregory B. Kenny, President and Chief Executive Officer of General Cable. He
replaces Christopher F. Virgulak, who previously announced his decision to
leave the Company at the end of 2006. Virgulak will continue in an advisory
role for up to six weeks to ensure an orderly transition of the Company's
financial leadership. "As a leader with an
extraordinary reputation for integrity, teamwork and high professional
standards, Brian is well deserving of this recognition," said Gregory B.
Kenny, President and Chief Executive Officer of General Cable. "Brian has
led our Corporate Financial Accounting and Reporting Team and has been
instrumental in driving improved controls and best practices in our global
finance organization. He has also played an instrumental role in our Company's
major financing transactions, which have significantly strengthened the
Company's balance sheet, lowered our borrowing costs and improved our operating
flexibility." Robinson became the
Controller for General Cable in 2000 and assumed the additional responsibility
of Senior Vice President and Treasurer in March 2006. He began his career at
Deloitte & Touche LLP in 1991, and in 1997 moved from Robinson holds a Bachelor of
Science degree in Accounting from the Kenny continued, "For
over 20 years, Chris Virgulak has been a key contributor to the overall
strength of the Company and a great business partner to me. He leaves General
Cable having built a highly capable global finance organization and, for that,
I thank him on behalf of all our associates and our shareholders, and I wish
him all the best in the future." "I have had many
opportunities to contribute and grow professionally at General Cable and I
leave knowing that the Company has a deeper finance organization, a stronger
balance sheet, and is well positioned for the future," said Christopher F.
Virgulak. "I am certain Brian is the right person to lead General Cable's
financial team, and partner with Greg and other members of the Company's
Leadership Team to continue on their quest to profitably grow the Company on a
global basis." With $3.5 billion of
annualized revenues and 7,700 employees, General Cable is a global leader in
the development, design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of copper,
aluminum and fiber optic wire and cable products for the energy, industrial,
and communications markets. Visit our website at www.generalcable.com.
Hitachi America,
Ltd., a subsidiary of Hitachi, Ltd. (NYSE:HIT - News) announced that Steven King
has been named vice president of marketing and sales and deputy general
manager, and Collin Bruce as director of marketing for the Hitachi America,
Ltd., Embedded Business Group. Mr. King will be responsible for all
marketing and sales efforts for the Embedded Business Group in "Steven brings to this position a
true passion for embedded devices as well as a wealth of experience in both the
design and engineering of these systems," said Hiroshi Nakamura, vice
president and general manager of the Hitachi America Embedded Business Group.
"His knowledge of the market and ability to envision new devices will help
not only Mr. Bruce, in his new role as director of
marketing, will be responsible for all marketing programs for Entier. He joins "Collin brings a great deal of
experience to the table," said Mr. King. "With his broad industry
experience and most recent embedded experience, we expect to rapidly ramp up
our partnerships and design wins." www.hitachi.com.
Increasing
awareness and robust new construction activity have helped propel the growth of
the home automation market.
Wednesday's earthquake and aftershocks jolted
Carlini’s Comments, MidwestBusiness.com’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. The American
people should be outraged at getting a second-rate solution for something as
critical as its network infrastructure. It goes against what average consumers
demand in almost every other product and service arena. Speed is the
common measurement that cuts across many products and services as the general
metric for assessing whether or not a product is good, bad or world-class. Speed is Good Altering Gordon
Gekko’s “greed is good” line from the movie “Wall Street,” “speed is good”.
People want speed in everyday processes and should be demanding efficiency
rather than bureaucracy in the regulation of the network. Who wants a
slower car? Who wants to spend more time on a commuter train going to and from
work? Who wants to wait in a grocery checkout lane or in this season’s
favorite: the post office? Who wants to wait 10 to 15 seconds for downloading a
file if they can get it instantaneously? What about things
you can’t have today? What about
downloading a first-run movie in 10 seconds to watch on its opening day? Is
that too slow? Make that less than a second. What do most people do when going
to a far-away vacation destination? Take a train, a plane with two intermediate
stops or a non-stop plane? People take the
fastest route. They want to get to their destination as fast as possible. Most
people wouldn’t want to spend time waiting or traveling at a slower rate. The
same should hold true for their network infrastructure. Go on any trading
floor and tell the traders their line will be 250 milliseconds slower than the
person next to them for the session and see if you walk away alive. Go to those
same traders and say you’re installing a faster network connection for them and
they will be 250 milliseconds faster than anyone else on the floor. Technology should
take the “wait” out of everything. That’s what people want in everyday life.
While there are many reasons we could list, all you have to do is look around
you and see what people are doing. Going Against
Universal Truths A long time ago,
I came up with four universal network truths for viable organizations. This was
long before DSL, the “triple play” and Wi-Fi. Some things are always true and
are accepted as the basic framework for any type of viable network: While these
universal laws of networks are still relevant, we still have many people who
are clueless about them. Once you understand them, you realize you’re going to
have to spend some money to have the best network infrastructure and you’re not
going to tolerate anything that’s inferior. Second best is
not acceptable. It shouldn’t be sold in the Need an example?
Just check the stock prices of Ford, GM and If there was real
competition within the network infrastructure area, we would be using the Why Are We
Accepting Second Best? Today, we should
be looking at rolling out fiber to the premise (FTTP) or a wireless
equivalent that can provide gigabit capability. Anything in the planning stages
at this point should be looking at gigabit if not multi-gigabit speeds. Just like “best
practices” are a moving target, goals for bandwidth speeds are also a moving
target that have to be carefully understood. What target speed should be the
national goal? Is Current solutions
by AT&T – Project Lightspeed or U-verse – fall dismally short of putting With other
countries looking at gigabit speeds and universal coverage, our traditional
phone companies have tried to put the bureaucratic brakes on innovation and
global competition to milk another couple years of profits on copper-based
infrastructure that should all be replaced today. What was cutting
edge in American network infrastructure is now cutting corners to squeeze
another couple years of profits instead of making the investment to leapfrog
everyone. You haven’t sold me. Carlinism: Don’t sell me a painted-up stagecoach and
tell me it’s NASCAR. James Carlini will present how he
pioneered measuring building intelligence at the annual BICSI
winter conference in Orlando on Jan. 22, 2007. Also, check out his blog at CarlinisComments.com. 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.
Are you
in a commercial or campus environment? By that we mean a multi-building or even single
building facility. A typical campus installation could be like the following
example - two facilities consisting of buildings approximately 50 feet from
each other and connected by two 100-pair along with many UTP cables. As is common, these cables carry both voice
and data. The telco switch along with the computer network closet is located in
one building while dozens of telephones and PC’s are installed in the other. You may also be facing the demands of
installing and servicing some of the latest technologies in the networking
world such as CAT 6 and wireless Power over Ethernet (PoE) environments. What can
happen in this type of environment? Time
and time again, the same story is heard "During a thunderstorm the remote
building might lose communications with the main building. We would trace the problem to some hardware
failures and the vendor would repair the damage by replacing expensive
hardware. We have suffered downtime and
costs over and over again.” Does this
sound familiar? Stories like this come from everywhere such as the network manager
in Atlanta whose file server blows up every time lightning strikes nearby; or,
the IT manager in Kansas that reported multiple computer port failures during
storms; or, the computer and telecommunications manager at a state university
in Oklahoma who lost mother boards and communication ports during a major
lightning strike. These reports are similar to those of the school district in If this
sounds to you like these people are not having much fun during storms, you’re
right. The commercial environment, particularly a multi-building site, is the
single most vulnerable type of facility during a lightning storm. But lightning is not the only evil force lurking out there. There are also utility power faults where power is shorted to ground. Also, there are the more mundane culprits
such as normal utility switching operations, or even the effects of large
electrical loads inside the buildings themselves. Lightning
is an easy culprit to understand. Lightning can happen anywhere in the Campus
Setting Let’s talk for a moment about a multi-building campus
environment. The campus setting makes
the effects of lightning worse. There are three different ways a remote
building might get electrical power, and remember all of the computer and phone
equipment, as well as the data cable or telephone line, in these facilities is
tied to utility power. First, it is
possible for one building to receive power from the other. Another possibility
is that both buildings receive power from the electrical utility and both have
their own service entrance. The third possibility, like the second, is that
both have their own service entrances but utility power comes from two
different utility sources. In other words, one building is fed from one
utility substation and the other from a different substation. The point
to be made about this has to do with ground. Grounding, is a very misunderstood
concept, but for our purposes let’s think of ground the way a PC, router, or
PBX has to deal with ground. All communication has a signal or logic level that
can be measured with respect to ground or between wire pairs. The PC or other
equipment doing the communicating only understands the signal with respect to
this ground. If ground starts to move with respect to data, then that reference
may be lost. If the shift is large enough, then the device, which is connected
to both power ground and data will be damaged or destroyed. The term for this is "electrical
overstress." In a campus
environment, the ground reference of various buildings is constantly moving
with respect to other buildings. When lightning strikes, this shift will usually damage or destroy equipment.
Let's
assume for a moment that we have two buildings that are separated by 75 feet
and that one building is struck by lightning.
In just a few hundred nanoseconds tens of thousands of amps will be
flowing in the grounding system of the remote building. For an instant, this
current flow will raise the ground reference of the remote building several
thousand or even hundreds of thousands of volts with respect to the first building. At that instant,
a computer or phone switch looking down that cable will see the cable move
those thousands of volts with respect to its power ground. Of course this huge
ground potential difference will cause surge currents to flow in anything connected
between the buildings. So if the electrical overstress of the ground rise does
not kill the ports, there is always the surge current that can burn up chips,
motherboards and anything else along the path. As we described earlier, there are
several ways that commercial buildings and campus environments can get
power. Most commonly, power directly
from the same utility substation some distance away and is fed to the buildings
through their own separate service entrances. During lightning events, this
additional power ground length creates even more substantial ground differences
between buildings. The third case, where power is fed from different utility
sources, is the worst case of all. Now we have more distance between grounds
and the buildings will almost never be at exactly the same ground
potential. In any of these cases, ground
shifts between buildings will constantly cause the data line level to appear to
move with respect to ground. This can cause high error rates and retries in its
mildest form and outright damage in its worst form. Lightning is not the only
phenomena to cause these problems. Anything that shifts one building with
respect to another can cause similar if not more severe problems. If buildings
are fed from two utility sources, then utility switching can cause enough of a
ground shift to blow up ports. But even a large motor, like an air conditioning
system, can cause a shift that can be damaging or disruptive. Of course, any
construction or earth moving that might cut through utility lines causing a
short could cause a similar effect. Even downed power lines from high
winds can have a damaging effect. The
simple fact is that the communication port is extremely vulnerable to the
effects of the outside world, especially in a campus setting. Many of the data line protectors were developed by
manufacturers who began as power line protector suppliers. Most of us
understand how a power line surge protector works. When the voltage on one
line goes high, the surge suppressor diverts the surge energy from the line to
ground. Most of the data line protectors on the market work at the building
entrance by diverting surge energy to ground. It may
have already occurred to you that if a protection device is pumping current
into the ground system as far away as the building entrance that we will create
much the same scenario that ~-as just described as happening between two
buildings. One part of the grounding system will be shifted or raised with
respect to the other. In fact, service entrance protectors do just that. When
hundreds of amps of diverted current flow through the ground conductor, a
communications port at the other end of the line will see the line suddenly
raised with respect to its ground reference. If this difference is large
enough, the chip will be destroyed. The Cylix Solution The Cylix Corporation has the
answer to this dilemma. The protector is mounted directly on the device to be
protected. Now if the data line moves with respect to the chassis of the
protected device, the protector will fire and equalize any differential,
thereby protecting the port. Cylix dataline surge protectors clamp all lines to
ground when any of the lines go high. In other words, all of the lines are
balanced with respect to one another. This action ensures that no large voltage
will ever be presented across the port, unlike those that work like power line
protectors. An additional feature of the
Cylix protectors are that they also block any voltage rises from coming from
earth ground. (It should be noted that in the case of a
campus setting, a dataline protector must be on both ends of the data or
telephone cable. Inside each building, all devices connected to the cable should be similarly
protected.) The Cylix Corporation is the
leading developer and manufacturer of dataline surge suppression devices. Cylix devices are found worldwide protecting
almost any device that sends data over copper.
Founded in 1987, the company’s corporate headquarters are located in
Principal Application
Engineer / Applications Engineer Supervisor Leviton Voice & Data, a
division of Leviton Manufacturing Company, Inc., is pleased to announce that
Asef Baddar will lead its Applications Engineering Department as Principal
Application Engineer / Applications Engineer Supervisor. Already a strong part of the
division, Leviton’s Applications Engineering Department is committed to
customer support excellence. Asef will lead the AE team as it focuses on the
continued improvement of customer facing deliverables such as phone support,
customer complaint resolution, web content, training, technical publications,
and general technical customer support services. Asef brings thirteen years of
structured cabling experience from General Cabling Company where he was a
senior Applications Engineer. He is well respected in the industry for his
knowledge and for being a problem solver. Leviton is proud to add Asef to its
long list of industry experts. www.leviton.com
The
2006 NAED Employee Compensation Report is available for $95 for survey
participants and $295 for non-participants. For more information or to purchase
a report, contact NAED Customer Service at (888) 791-2512 or
customerservice@naed.org. Fact
Sheet: Electrical
Distributor Trends – 2003 to 2005
Executive & Employee
Compensation Controlling Health
Insurance Costs Impact of Scale of
Operations The above results are
based on an NAED compensation survey conducted in April 2006 and reflects
compensation in place through December 31, 2005. Contact Sonia Coleman at scoleman@naed.org to access
print resolution graphics. ### About NAED NAED is the trade association for the $70+ billion
electrical distribution industry. Through networking, education, research and
benchmarking, NAED helps electrical distributors increase profitability and
improve the channel. NAED’s membership represents approximately 4,100 locations
internationally. Web site: www.naed.org
Organic growth is fueled
by increases in electrical and telecom markets and enhanced ERP
capabilities that provide greater business visibility Graybar, one of the
nation's leading distributors of electrical and communications products and
related supply chain management and logistics services, reported $3.78 billion
in sales through the first three quarters of 2006, an increase of 18.9 percent
over the same period last year. The company also posted a 70.1 percent increase
in operating income over the first three quarters of 2005. "Our strategy is one of
organic growth focused on our core business," said Robert A. Reynolds Jr.,
chairman, president and chief executive officer of Graybar. "Although
favorable economic conditions are contributing to our growth, it is our ability
to anticipate and respond to customer’s' needs that ultimately drives our
business. Our ERP system provides real-time access to valuable business data,
which helps us increase our productivity and improve our ability to react to
market conditions. Graybar's leading-edge information technology and
logistics capabilities are continuing to raise the bar on performance and value
for our customers." According to Reynolds, it is
the company's ability to leverage its infrastructure combined with the
dedication of its employee-owners that is producing solid bottom-line
results. Graybar's net income of
$46.7 million for the first three quarters is more than triple last year's
performance for the same period. This year, the company opened
several new locations and expanded its security product line, adding value for
current customers and providing solutions for new customers, such as security
dealers and installers. Graybar also secured five contract renewals with the
Department of Defense valued at more than $220 million. Graybar looks forward to
continued business growth by meeting customer’s' needs with its extensive
product and service solutions, national capabilities and advanced technology. ### About Graybar Graybar,
a Fortune 500 corporation and one of the largest employee-owned companies in
The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA)
International and the U.S. Green
Building Council (USGBC) announced the signing of a Memorandum of
Intent (MOI) to work cooperatively to promote energy efficiency and
environmentally responsible building operations and maintenance practices to
the BOMA community of building owners, operators and property managers who
collectively represent 9 billion square feet of commercial real estate. The
announcement was made at the recent Greenbuild Conference and Expo held Nov.
15-17 in Among the initiatives outlined in the MOI
are joint promotional activities including collaboration at BOMA's North
American Commercial Real Estate Congress® and The Office Building Show in New
York City in July 2007 and USGBC's Greenbuild Conference and Expo in Los
Angeles in October 2007, as well as joint educational offerings including
Web-based seminars on energy efficiency and green building practices. BOMA will
be working with USGBC as a Top-Tier partner, one of a very exclusive group of
organizations including the Urban Land Institute and the American Institute of Architects
that recognizes the tremendous need for moving real estate to a more
sustainable approach. As a Top-Tier Partner, BOMA will be working directly with
USGBC on program development for Greenbuild 2007 and beyond. "This collaboration with USGBC reflects
the commercial real estate industry's continued and growing commitment to
promoting energy efficient and environmentally responsible buildings,"
said BOMA International Chairman and Chief Elected Officer Kurt R. Padavano,
RPA, CPM, FMA, SMA, and chief operating officer of Advance Realty Group of "Collaboration
and sharing best practices are the keys to success," said Rick Fedrizzi,
president, CEO & founding chair, U.S. Green Building Council. "BOMA is
one of the most respected and influential organizations in the building industry,
and we are proud to be partnering with them to help further green building
practices in the commercial real estate sector." ##### The Building Owners and Managers
Association (BOMA) International is an international federation of more than 90
local associations and affiliated organizations. BOMA's 16,500-plus members own
or manage more than 9 billion square feet of commercial properties in The U.S. Green Building Council is the
nation's leading coalition of corporations, builders, universities, government
agencies and nonprofit organizations working together to promote buildings that
are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthy places to live and
work. Since its founding in 1993, the Council has grown to over 7,200 member
companies and organizations; an 80-person professional staff; a broad portfolio
of LEED® programs and services; an extensive educational offering; the
industry's popular Greenbuild International Conference and Expo; and a network
of more than 60 local chapters, affiliates and organizing groups. For more
information visit: www.usgbc.org.
The VoiceCon Spring 2007
Conference -- www.voicecon.com/spring
-- will be our biggest and best ever. Registration is open and you can save up
to $500 by taking advantage of our "Early Bird" and "Team"
discounts. Register today at http://voicecon.p0.com/t.d?pF_AH3eAPc-=https://secure.voiceconspring.com/200 7/portal/registration/MLNEVF01 In addition to presenting
leading executives from the industry like Louis J. D'Ambrosio, President and
Chief Executive Officer, Avaya; Mike Zafirovski, President and Chief Executive
Officer, Nortel; and Charles Giancarlo, Senior VP and Chief Development
Officer, Cisco, and President, Cisco-Linksys LLC, VoiceCon is proud to present
IT executives who'll share the lessons learned from leading their companies in
migrating to IP Telephony, Converged Networks and Unified Communication. People
like Johan Krebbers, Group IT Architect, Royal Dutch Shell, and Alok Kapoor,
Managing Director, Merrill Lynch Global Private Client Technology. VoiceCon Spring 2007 also
will present a special Conference-Within-a-Conference on Next-Gen Contact
Centers. This two-day program, running March 5-6, will focus on the technical,
market and organizational realities that accompany the migration of your The full conference program
is available for viewing at http://voicecon.p0.com/u.d?nF_AH3eAPc-_FXmfP=330&s=MLNEVF01
and there are plenty of other reasons why you need to be at VoiceCon Spring
2007. For example: * An Exhibition with ALL
the Major Players: VoiceCon Spring is the ONLY industry event where you'll find
all the major system vendors and service providers gathered in one location.
You can find the complete list of sponsors and exhibitors at http://voicecon.p0.com/u.d?rl_AH3eAPc-_FXmfA=340&s=MLNEVF01 * Your time is respected:
The VoiceCon Spring program is designed to meet one fundamental goal: To
present high-level, forward-thinking, relevant and reliable information that
will help you make the best possible decision for your network, your company and
your career. * VoiceCon cuts through the
hype: VoiceCon doesn't advocate one solution over another. Instead, VoiceCon
presents the facts--how products have tested in the labs, how they've worked in
real-life deployments, and the realistic prospects for technology evolution. * VoiceCon Tutorials:
You'll receive objective, reliable information that you can use to plan your
network evolution. Topics include the VoiceCon IP-PBX RFP session, IP Telephony
Security, Integrating Microsoft's Live Communications Server and IBM's Unified
Communications & Collaboration into IP Telephony, SIP, Security, the Basics
of IP Telephony and updates on the major product announcements. * Assess the impact on your
organization: VoiceCon's in-depth sessions will include analysis of how the new
technology changes business and organizational relationships. Learn how
enterprise IT organizations are bringing voice, data and applications staff
together to plan, deploy and manage converged, IP Telephony networks and
unified communications. In short, VoiceCon Spring
has one overriding objective: Answering your questions about building the IP
Telephony platform that will power your enterprise in the future. It will help
you decide why, when and how to invest in this new technology, and how to get
the most from your investment. -------------------------------------------- REGISTER NOW AND SAVE UP TO
$500 -------------------------------------------- Register today to take
advantage of the $300 early payment discount off the full event registration
fee. If you register as part of at team of two or more you can save an
additional $200 for a total savings of $500 per person! To ensure that you receive
your discount please use Priority Code MLNEVF01 when you call 1-800-470-5417 or
register online at https://secure.voiceconspring.com/2007/portal/registration/MLNEVF01. I look forward to seeing
you in Orlando at VoiceCon Spring 2007. Fred S. Knight
General Cable Corp. has
announced that Brian Robinson has been promoted to the position of chief
financial officer effective Jan. 1, 2007.
Sensor
networking technology ZigBee should start finding significant adoption in
commercial building applications in 2008, according to a new study published by
ABI Research.
Organizations
are starting to focus on more sophisticated and valuable applications of
wireless data networks, In-Stat reports. Market
for wireless multimedia networking to exceed 50 million units by 2010: Park
Associates Industry
adoption of next-generation specifications will provide a substantial boost to
the market for wireless multimedia networking, prompting growth in excess of 50
million wireless network devices by 2010, according to The Wireless Multimedia
LAN: Requirements and Outlook. In-building
wireless systems deployments to grow by 20% annually Customers'
dependence on wireless communications and their adoption of high-bandwidth 3G
cellular services are the primary drivers of the global growth of in-building
wireless systems that extend and create wireless coverage indoors.
With an ever-increasing
number of businesses involved in cross-border trade and the trend toward
international harmonization of technology accelerating, the distances between
countries and cultures becomes shorter every day. As the world grows smaller,
the National Electrical Contractors Association’s global outreach expands in
direct proportion, with help from some powerful partners. For just about a year now,
the independent research organization that NECA established in 1989 has been
operating under a revised name. “ELECTRI International—The Foundation for
Electrical Construction” better fits its mission to offer electrical
contractors the opportunity to learn about and grow with the new world economy. Last month, a major
conference held in Melbourne, Australia, focused on just what this new economic
order means for our industry. It was the annual conference of the Federation of
Asian & Pacific Electrical Contractors Associations (FAPECA), and the theme
was “Business Opportunities Across International Borders.” Discussions centered
on topics such as meeting technical standards in other nations, labor mobility,
dealing with regulatory barriers, dealing with language and cultural barriers,
and, of course, the benefits of international networking among electrical
contractors. NECA is affiliated with
FAPECA—as well as the International Association of Electrical Contractors
(AIE), which represents National Electrical Contractor Associations throughout
Europe—through our membership in the International Forum of Electrical Contractors.
NECA, FAPECA and AIE jointly established the forum in 1996. However, our
involvement with international exchange goes back further. For one thing, NECA has been
sponsoring International Study Missions for years. These organized annual trips
bring U.S. contractors into direct contact with the management and work force
of electrical contracting firms in other countries to encourage the interchange
of ideas, technologies and best practices. The most recent trip was to Russia
and Finland this summer. After welcoming firms from
around the globe as individual members for years, NECA began establishing
International Chapters about two decades ago. Now, there are 12 of these
groups, each of which is a national or provincial trade association for
electrical contractors within its own country. These International Chapters
extend NECA’s reach throughout Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and now
Honduras and El Salvador. In fact, one of the purposes
of this column is to welcome our newest international affiliates. And, while I
can’t help showing off how proud I am of all of NECA’s international ventures,
I must say I am particularly pleased with what my association is doing to
support Spanish-speaking contractors and electrical workers—and the U.S.
contractors that work with them. It’s becoming clear that
businesses today must be multilingual and culturally sensitive. NECA is meeting
the need by translating our key publications and reference materials for our
members and affiliates south of the border. These include an insightful
foundation study on “New Business Opportunities for Mexico and U.S. Electrical
Contractors.” In addition, we have provided
management education to more than 1,500 of our Latin counterparts thus far.
Thanks to seed money from ELECTRI International and the continuing support from
NECA’s three chapters in Mexico, our industry has established the Electrical
Technology Institute to offer courses for Mexican electricians and managers and
for U.S. contractors who are considering Mexico as a potential new market. And that, in the final
analysis, is what NECA’s involvement in international affairs is all about.
It’s not just an intellectual pursuit. Rather, it reflects the pursuit of new
opportunities for our industry in a brave, new world. Printed with full permission of Electrical Contractor
Magazine www.ecmag.com
By: Milner Irvin - President,
NECA Major security product
manufacturers explored the electrical contractor’s growing role in integrated
building systems (IBS) during Security+Life Safety Systems magazine’s first
panel discussion at the 2006 International Security Conference & Exposition
(ISC East) Oct. 23 in New York. Leaders from Bosch Security Systems Inc.,
Honeywell Power Products (HPP) and Extreme CCTV Inc. discussed the “paradigm
shift” as more electrical contractors enter IBS, driven by the increasing
demand for a clean, uninterruptible power supply with communication—especially
with increasingly complex systems. “When you talk about IBS, you
can’t talk about the parts and pieces—that’s the whole concept—it’s a holistic
approach to building,” said Leon Chlimper, vice president, systems, Bosch
Security Systems Inc. With 46 percent of electrical
contractors now specifying, designing and installing security and life safety
systems, the debut session raised key issues among the attending security
integrators on how they can effectively work together and what was the need for
education. “We’re seeing the electrical
contractor more and more becoming that one-stop solution,” said David
Pieklowski, regional business development manager, Extreme CCTV Inc. “The
electrical contractor is now becoming a spec writer. So how do you become a
good spec writer? The difference is knowledge.” Security+Life Safety Systems
Publisher John Maisel said a recent research study conducted by the magazine
shows that about 80 percent of all electrical contractors surveyed are involved
in design/build, making up about 43 percent of their gross revenue. “The introduction of the IBS
contractor is really being driven by the increasing demand for total
integration of traditional electrical power with low-voltage communication
systems,” said Maisel, who is also publisher of Electrical Contractor magazine. Honeywell Power Products
General Manager Gene Pecora said that two “megatrends” in power are tying
systems together and using video. “There is small-C convergence
when you see fire systems, access control systems and software tied together
but still fully functional, and big-C convergence tying in building controls,
energy and fire controls on the same system,” said Pecora, whose background is
in the fire industry. “Seventy percent of my R&D is in power over
Ethernet,” he added. “I’ve seen a lot of this integration in the fire category.
It’s highly controlled by code, which brings some standardization and
functionality.” “More owners are suggesting
they’d prefer not to have five or six subcontractors when they can narrow down
the number,” said Maisel. “What has happened with electrical contractors and
IBS is that the demand for single-source responsibility has really caused a
growing number of electrical contractors to expand their sphere of activity to
include integration, maintenance and installation.” Security+Life Safety Systems
was the only attending trade publication to offer an educational session at ISC
East. EC
KITCO Fiber Optics has been
named again to the Military Training Technology "Top 100" List for
2006. The Top 100 is compiled by
Kerrigan Media International and Military Training Technology magazine, and
provides a listing of companies that have made a significant impact in the
military training industry during the past year. Military Training
Technology approached more than 600 candidates to provide information for the
awards and also invited any interested companies to apply. Based on submissions
and additional information, the publication's editorial board and a panel of
independent experts involved in the simulation and training community then
selected 100 winners. Companies were selected based on various criteria, which,
in part, included total military sales, end-user feedback, innovations and need
for the solution. KITCO Fiber Optics is a
leading provider of fiber optic connectorization products, training and
consulting services to the military and commercial communications
industry. We specialize in the design
and fabrication of fiber optic tools, tool kits and custom cable assemblies;
producing private label kits for a number of major connector manufacturers and
selling our own broad line of commercial and military products. We develop curriculum and provide commercial
and military training worldwide, and serve as the U.S. Navy's sole shipboard fiber
optic trainer. Our highly skilled field
services team can respond to your fiber optic requirements anytime, anywhere - rapidly providing the
best solutions for overcoming system problems or delays.
By Darlene Bremer Integrated Building Systems
(IBS)—which merge together all of a building’s systems, including lighting,
security and fire and life safety—represent tremendous opportunities for
electrical contractors. It is a market that will eventually out-grow the
traditional electrical market. Success will depend on the electrical contractor
being able to provide value to the customer and demonstrate that the final
integrated product will fulfill its needs. There are various ways that a
building’s systems can be integrated, but they all rely on communications
protocols, such as BACnet, LonWorks, Modbus and, for lighting, Digital
Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI). BACnet is a U.S. national
standard, a European prestandard and an ISO global standard; it was developed
under the sponsorship of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and
Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). It is a data communication protocol for
building automation and controls networks, and its governing set of rules cover
everything from what kind of cable to use to how to perform a particular
request or command in a standard way. LonWorks, developed by
Echelon Corp., San Jose, Calif., is a flexible and expandable standards-based
control networking platform upon which manufacturers can build products and
applications. Once called LonTalk, the LonWorks platform is an international
standard, alternatively known as ANSI/EIA709.1, SEMI E56.5, IEEE 1493-L and
EN14908, among others. As an open technology, LonWorks allows devices from one
manufacturer to communicate directly with products from another manufacturer. Designed by Modicon for use
with its programmable logic controllers (PLC), Modbus is a communications
protocol that has almost become a de facto standard in industry, since it
represents the most commonly available means of connecting almost any
industrial electronic device. Modbus is used in master-slave applications to
monitor and program devices, to communicate between intelligent devices and
sensors and to monitor field devices. It is also used in applications where
wireless communication is required. On the other hand, DALI is a
dedicated protocol purely for lighting control. However, it is effective for
setting scenes and for getting feedback concerning faulty light sources.
According to DALI-AG, this makes the technology useful to tie into building
automation systems where remote supervising and service reports are required. According to Chris Hollinger
and Heath Klein, systems integration product managers for Siemens Building
Technologies, Buffalo Grove, Ill., the choice of a communications protocol when
designing an integrated building depends on the systems being considered. “Each building system must be
examined separately to determine what integration solution works best,”
Hollinger said. However, at the most basic
level, building systems are integrated through sensors and controls that allow
individuals to program specific lighting and environmental scenarios for their
spaces, according to Barry Haaser, senior business director, LonWorks
Infrastructure, for Echelon Corp. “The goal is to provide a
building and its users with connectivity between all systems and devices,” he said. There are two fundamental
methods of building integration; native takes parts from different suppliers
and integrates them to make a single homogenous system, while system-level
means building separate, discrete and fully functioning systems, such as
lighting, security, etc., and then tying them together at the system level. “Trying to integrate a
building using the native method is difficult because the components come from
different manufacturers, and even though they are supposed to communicate, they
rarely do so well,” said Ian Rowbottom, principle application engineer for
Lutron Electronics Inc., Coopersburg, Pa. However, using the system-level
approach to building integration means that the fully functional system from
each manufacturer can then use the correct communication protocol to tie the
systems together. True integration, agreed Jack
McGowan, president of Energy Control Inc., Albuquerque, N.M., means finding
commonalities between building systems and using the appropriate communication protocols
to program them to provide cooperative sequences of operations that offer
increased value to the building owner. “Integration is a continuum
from mere communication to interoperability and interchangeability that
provides the building owner with a value proposition,” he said. However, it is estimated that
less than half of completed IBS systems use the full potential of integration. “A building’s integrated
system is more likely to be separate systems that share the same network or
platform, but aren’t actually programmed to interact with each other fully,”
said Bob Riel, vice president of Dynalectric Co., San Diego, Calif. Then again, as the IBS market
grows and matures, more and more smart devices are being developed that are
Internet protocol (IP) enabled and not proprietary, which allow building owners
to integrate similar systems into the building management network for the
purpose of having centralized oversight and operation of the building’s
different systems. “Smart devices include lighting
sensors, occupancy sensors, and HVAC equipment that communicate with each other
over the building’s Ethernet and provide sophisticated programming that
automates the interoperability of different systems,” said Ross Holly, project
manager at Rosendin Electric Inc., San Jose, Calif. Similarities and differences While there are differences
between all of the widely used communication protocols, they are the same:
their primary purpose is to facilitate communication between devices, according
to Klein. Another common thread between BACnet, LonWorks and Modbus is that
they all conform to the European Open System Interconnection standards and
provide a migration path for data to be communicated to higher level devices.
Furthermore BACnet and LonWorks are similar in that they are open architectures
originally designed for the native integration method. “Both of these protocols,
however, are being used today for intersystem communication as part of the
natural evolution of IBS,” Rowbottom said. Even DALI is the same as the other
protocols in that it allows the building’s lighting control system to
communicate with individual fixtures, although it is not really used, Rowbottom
added, for building-wide integration purposes. The differences among the
protocols, however, is what electrical contractors need to be most concerned
about when providing customers with an integrated building solution. According
to Hollinger, BACnet is a system-level protocol designed specifically for
building automation, while LonWorks is more useful for device-to-device
communication. “Modbus has its roots in
industrial processing control, while DALI is specific for use in lighting
applications,” he said. In addition, according to Rowbottom, BACnet and
LonWorks are more complicated to program than Modbus and DALI and require
formal training and software from ASHRAE or the manufacturer, respectively. It is important to realize
that each of these protocols is also different in the way it communicates, in
its functions and features, how it is installed and configured, and in the way
it is managed. “But they were all developed
to provide building owners with a way to expand, extend and enhance their
building automation systems without being confined to any one particular
manufacturer,” McGowan said. Specialized expertise A large percentage of
building automation systems being installed today use system-level solutions,
such as BACnet or LonWorks, rather than proprietary protocols. “I think most solutions
providers can provide these system protocols but not necessarily support them,”
Klein said. This fact requires that those
electrical contractors who want to take advantage of the opportunities this
market provides need to understand the protocols as well as the actual media
cabling involved. For example, LonWorks requires specific wiring be used to
enable devices to talk to each other, while BACnet has five network types that
it supports. “To succeed, contractors need
to understand more than the electrical system of the building but also its
automation, HVAC, information technology and security systems,” McGowan said.
They need to know how these other systems operate and interact so that they can
provide an integration plan for the owner that fits its needs. In the future,
McGowan said, contractors need to be aware of technological migrations toward
the use of Ethernet communication and XML language protocols as buildings
become smarter and operate as individual microcosms. “To survive and prosper in
the future building construction industry and to provide owners with the
intelligent building systems that they will demand, contractors need to become
full building integrators rather than providers of electrical systems.” It is also advised that
contrac
10 Gig Screened Cable Demand Is High
"20-Year-Old Concept of Measuring a Building’s IQ
Comes Full Circle,"
What "intelligent amenities" should a building have? What building is
right for a tenant comparing connectivity, reliability, automation and other
elements? Marketing a building or campus becomes totally different once you
ask, "How smart a building do you need?" instead of "How much
space do you want to lease?"
General Cable Announces Brian J. Robinson As Chief Financial Officer
Hitachi America Appoints Industry Veterans To The Embedded Business Group Marketing Team
Steady Growth Expected For North American Home
Automation Markets
A recent study from Frost & Sullivan found that it earned revenues of
US$1.2 billion in 2005 and the research firm estimates this number will reach
US$2.4 billion by 2012.
"The ever increasing awareness among homeowners about the benefits offered
by the home automation market has driven the growth of this market," says
Frost & Sullivan Research Analyst David Lee.
"This increase in awareness is mainly due to the entertainment aspect. The
manufacturers, to some extent, have been able to educate the homeowners and
make an offering as a package along with the entertainment."
The lack of proper training for installers affects the sales of home automation
systems. Proper installation is essential for a system to function effectively.
Hence, training for installers about the products becomes imperative.
"A properly installed system can further improve the potential of the home
automation market," explains Lee.
"Word of mouth publicity about the benefits of the system can certainly
help in driving the sales. This can effectively occur only when the system
performs efficiently which is dependent on its installation.
"Therefore, this challenge needs to be addressed immediately in order to
further increase the market potential of home automation systems."
Industry associations and conglomerations must arrange for necessary resources
to train the system integrators, contractors and installers, he added.
Although manufacturers do train individual dealers, training under one roof
would definitely benefit the home automation system sales, Lee said.
Earthquake Exposes Worldwide Telecommunications Vulnerabilities
According to the Pacific Telecommunications Council (PTC), the disaster
highlights the vulnerability of international telecommunications in a global
economy that has grown dependent on real-time communications.
It also raises the stakes for US$500 million in planned investments in new
transpacific undersea cables.
"Natural disasters can expose weaknesses in global communications,"
said Ken Zita, who served as a telecommunications advisor to the U.S.
Government following the Asian tsunami. Zita, conference chairman of PTC'07: Beyond
Telecom, will host telecommunications executives from over 60 countries at
PTC'07 next month where emergency communications and disaster management will
be highlighted.
"Despite the latest network management technologies, traffic concentration
remain susceptible to strong natural hazards."
David Lassner, President and Chairman of the Board of Governors for PTC and CIO
at the
"Everything from billions of dollars in international trade to personal
communication with family is silently carried by our industry … When we go
dead, the world goes dead."
Speed is Good: Consumers Shouldn’t Accept Second-Rate Network Solutions
Click here for
Carlini’s full biography.
Dataline and Telco Surge Protection: the Why’s And
How’s In Commercial Environments
When Lightning Strikes The Campus Or Commercial Building Environment
At this point it may seem reasonable to look for some type of protective device
that would equalize this shift from the data to the power ground. There are any
number of devices called dataline protectors on the market for this purpose.
Most of them are designed to do two things. First, they divert surge energy to
ground. Second, they are installed where the cable enters the building. Let's
look at these two design considerations and see if they solve the problem.
Asef Baddar Joins The Leviton Voice & Data Team
Electrical Distributor Employee Compensation Grows Sharply with Economy, NAED Survey Reports
A period of strong, sustained sales
growth has led to sharp increases in electrical distributor employee
compensation between 2003 and 2005, according to the 2006 Employee Compensation
Report from the National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED).
Conducted bi-annually in conjunction with 40 other distribution trade
organizations, the survey provides detailed information on compensation and
benefits among both NAED-member companies and among distributors in a broad
range of industries. Survey results are based on data gathered in early 2006.
During the two years from 2003 to 2005, CEO compensation at electrical
distributors increased by 15 percent after being flat between 2001 and 2003,
the report said. Bonuses account for an average of 35 percent of CEO
compensation. Other top management received increases averaging 12 percent.
The largest beneficiary of the booming economy was the outside sales force,
whose compensation is tied to sales. Their compensation grew by an average of
25 percent. Operating employees’ compensation rose by 7 to 10 percent.
The report also offers good news in the area of health-insurance costs, where
the rate of cost increases slowed considerably. Costs of the typical insurance
plan rose by 10 percent from 2003 to 2005, compared to a 25-percent hike
between 2001 and 2003. The slower rate reflects a general leveling in
health-insurance costs along with shifting of some costs to the employee.
NAED’s Employee Compensation Survey offers comprehensive results in two
volumes:
2006 NAED Employee Compensation Report Highlights
To sign up for NAED's weekly newsletter, go to www.naed.org and click on
"News Room" and then "Subscribe Newsletters." Or click on
this link.
NAED Online Press Room: www.naed.org/naed/news_main.asp? showtype=naed
Graybar Continues Trend of Double-Digit Growth Through
Third Quarter of 2006
BOMA International And U.S. Green Building Council Sign Memorandum Of Intent
Commercial Real Estate Industry to Benefit from BOMA and USGBC
Collaborations to Promote Environmentally Responsible Building Practices
VoiceCon Spring Delivers On The Issues That Matter Most
General Manager, VoiceCon
Publisher, Business Communications Review
General Cable Appoints New CFO
Robinson, who replaces Christopher Virgulak, will report directly to president
and CEO Greg Kenny.
He became the controller for General Cable in 2000 and assumed the additional
responsibility of senior vice president and treasurer this past March. www.generalcable.com
ZigBee To Find Traction In Commercial Building Automation In 2008, Says ABI Research
ABI says there are three major markets for sensor networking: the home,
commercial buildings, and industrial facilities, and ZigBee aims to cover them
all. In the home, there are alternatives to ZigBee, and in industry there are
some questions about its suitability.
But according to senior analyst Sam Lucero, commercial building automation is a
market where ZigBee is competitively positioned against other wireless sensor
technologies.
"Commercial buildings represent a huge addressable market of field
equipment currently using wired field buses to connect sensors and actuators
with lighting, heating, ventilation, access control, and safety systems,"
he says.
"ZigBee's features and functionality are very well suited to commercial
building applications."
Of the five top vendors of building automation systems, which together control
about 70% of the market, four -- Johnson Controls, Siemens, TAC, and Trane --
have introduced wireless products based on ZigBee in the past year, and the
fifth -- Honeywell -- is moving toward doing so.
Over the next five years, up to 20% of commercial building automation system
field equipment may "go wireless," seeking the lower costs, better
control, and greater flexibility that such systems deliver, ABI said.
Wireless Data Network Market Booming: In-Stat
In addition, the number of users in 2006 having at least one wireless data
application in the field has increased significantly, the high-tech market
research firm says.
Most organizations start with basic applications such as wireless e-mail and
virtual private networks (VPNs), but the larger and more experienced organizations
have plans for more sophisticated solutions.
"The widespread adoption of wireless data technology, which has been
forecast as expanding quickly 'two years from now' since the late 1970s, is
finally here," says Bill Hughes, In-Stat analyst.
"The nature of the productivity benefits vary by vertical market, but the
value is universal."
The new report from Parks Associates predicts that annual sales and shipments
of wireless multimedia-capable devices, including home networking gears,
personal computers, and fixed and mobile consumer electronics, will grow from
2.5 million units in 2006 to nearly 52 million units by year-end 2010, due in
large part to standardization in the market.
"Multiple factors are driving the move by both manufacturers and service
providers in embracing wireless connectivity," said Kurt Scherf, vice
president and principal analyst with Parks Associates.
"Service providers are looking for greater ownership in developing home
networking solutions, operators need to reduce CAPEX costs in deploying home
networking equipment, new content services are on the rise, and consumers are
invariably in favor of eliminating cables. These are all positive signs that
the 802.11n and WiMedia solutions -- among the many home networking options --
will continue to drive growth in new home networking applications."
According to a new study from ABI Research, deployments of these systems are
expected to result in revenues in excess of US$3.6 billion and a growth rate of
20% annually by 2011.
"People spend a significant amount of time indoors and not surprisingly
they also expect indoor access from their outdoor wireless service," said
ABI research analyst Dan Shey.
"As a result, commercial buildings will be a major focus of the
in-building wireless systems industry, affecting carriers, businesses, building
owners, equipment manufacturers and solutions providers."
Further information on the study is available at www.abiresearch.com .
Small World, Big Opportunities
S+LSS Panel Discussion Uses Key Issues To Open The Door To IBS
ITCO Fiber Optics Again Named to "Top 100"
Military Training Technology List
Integrating Lighting, Security, And Fire And Life Safety Systems