For: www.wireville.com
"Heard On The Street" Column
Issue: January 2011
By: Frank Bisbee
Bisbee’s Buzz
We should support our troops
in all ways possible. SEMPER FI.
Here is an important message from www.MikeHolt.com
Operation Finally Home
By
Belynda Holt Pinto
Our
nation is protected every day by the selfless men and women who serve in our
armed forces. Some of them sacrifice their very lives for our freedom and some
of them sustain tremendous injuries that will affect them for life.
One
great example of how someone from our industry is giving back is the story of
Dan Wallrath. He is a contractor in
To
see the incredibly moving work that Dan and his team are doing for our veterans
please click the following link: http://www.cnn.com/2010/LIVING/03/11/cnnheroes.wallrath.vets.houses/
If
you are interested in helping Operation Finally Home they are in need
of contractors, supplies, and donations to help make their program a
success.
Here is a link to how you can become a part of this amazing story
http://www.babasupport.org/index.php?id=6
We should support our
troops in all ways possible. SEMPER FI.
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
frank@wireville.com
Megladon® Announces New Product Upgrades for CATV Node Tails with HLC® SCRATCHGUARD® Terminations Sold Exclusively Through Draka Communications
The announced product line upgrade deals
specifically with the harsh outdoor conditions that these assemblies encounter.
The normal anodized aluminum entry connector has been replaced with a brass
product that prevents corrosion and surface deterioration at a higher level. In
addition, the PVC furcation tubing on standard node tails has been replaced
with a Hytrel product that creates significant protection against the
temperature cycling many areas in the
With the growing video on demand and streaming
video content on the web, a need arises for the highest quality fiber optic
products capable of delivering reliable performance. Industry leaders and
providers are having to transition into a more competent infrastructure to
conform to the now industry standard of high performance fiber optic networks.
Megladon’s SM APC HLC SCRATCHGUARD fiber optic
terminations are ideally equipped for network installers that are utilizing
high speed video networks. The HLC technology provides mating surface
durability and low loss; paired with an Angle Polish Connector we now have a
product that significantly reduces reflection, cutting down on interruptions in
any given network.
“Since partnering with Megladon to offer scratch-resistant HLC
technology in our CATV node cables last year, Draka has secured several key CATV
accounts including several top MSO’s. The technological superiority of
this optical endface coupled with BendBright-XS bend insensitive fiber has
generated significant inquiries about Draka’s advanced node cable assemblies
for today's rigorous communications environments”, said Greg Williams,
Marketing Director, Draka Public Networks.
“We
have continued to improve our CATV node tail offering”, stated John Culbert,
President of Megladon. “We began with the integration of Draka’s BendBright XS
glass and Megladon’s HLC terminations. Now with the addition of a new entry
connector and hytrel furcation tubing, this is a product that can withstand
extreme conditions. The MSOs are deploying this product with a new level of
confidence.”
For more information, please contact Draka’s National Sales
Manager - CATV, Jack Graves at jack.graves@ draka.com or download a node cable
spec sheet at www.drakaamericas.com/catv_connectorized_cable.cfm.
Megladon® Manufacturing Group Ltd., a subsidiary of
TyRex Group Ltd.®, is recognized as a leader in the fiber optic marketplace.
Founded in 1997, Megladon made it their mission to provide customers with fiber
optic products that far exceed industry standards to meet current requirements.
As technology innovators, Megladon created the HLC® (Hardened Lens Contact)
SCRATCHGUARD® termination, which has changed the market and taken it to the next
level. For additional information on Megladon and their patented processes
please visit the company’s website at www.megladonmfg.com.
For additional information regarding Megladon’s
variety of fiber optic products please contact John Culbert at 512.615.4687 or
by email at scratchguard@megladonmfg.com.
NEVER NEVER NEVER DRIVE AND TEXT.”
Frank,
I could not agree with you more about your above
statement. The other day I was in the left lane to turn on I75 and a guy
slowly pulled up behind me and as I looked in my rear view mirror and he was
texting a message. I thought well he seems to be able to do this and
drive as well. Then as I kept watching him he stopped texting and
realized he had gotten in the wrong lane and abruptly changed lanes to the
right forward lane and almost hit a person already moving in this lane.
He was oblivious to the fact that he was in the wrong lane while texting and
endangered another driver when he crossed a double yellow line trying to enter
the forward lane.
So your words are right on. By the way, I never TEXT in a
car.
Steve Dale, Executive Director
NLVCA – National Low Voltage Contractor Association www.nlvca.org
BICSI NEWS MAGAZINE (a BICSI’s publication) January/February 2011 issue is a new benchmark of excellence in the ITS industry
BICSI
NEWS MAGAZINE (a BICSI’s publication) January/February 2011 issue is a new
benchmark of excellence in the ITS industry This issue shows a continuing trend
towards a better reflection of the ITS industry through BICSI. From successful
“case history” stories to tricks of the trade, this magazine is on target. Each
issue reflects the professional world of Infrastructure and Transport Systems
in an interesting and informative format that educates the reader. We commend
BICSI and Betsy Conroy, Editor for delivering the goods (in print). We hope to
see the BICSI NEWS MAGAZINE or at least many of these fine articles on the
BICSI website. www.bicsi.org
BOMA - Important Announcement — National Issues Conference
Congress
has announced their 2011 legislative calendar, scheduling the week of March 20
as Constituent Work Week, which means they will be in their home districts
during the dates of the BOMA International National Issues Conference, March
21-22. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) introduced a completely
overhauled Congressional calendar including a new schedule that brings
lawmakers to their home districts for a full week each month.
Consequently, we are canceling the National Issues Conference in
The
year 2011 is going to be a tough one on a variety of important issues facing
our industry including carried interest, energy and tax reform. It
remains imperative that BOMA’s voice be heard loud and clear to
lawmakers. While we will not be storming the halls of Capitol Hill this
spring in mass, it does open up an opportunity for your local association to
set up appointments with your representatives while they are in your home
districts the week of March 20. Just as we do with the National Issues
Conference, BOMA will provide you with the position papers, background
materials, tools and leave behind packets to assist you with these
meetings. Additionally, we will be holding a free “How to Lobby Webinar”
the week of March 7 (specific date to be announced shortly) to walk you through
the issues, talking points and pointers for conducting successful meetings in
the district.
Thank
you for your understanding of why we need to recraft this important meeting
this year. And, even more importantly, thank you for your support in
conducting your own “National Advocacy Days” during the week of March 20.
Best
personal regards,
Ray
Mackey
Chair, BOMA International
Blizzards are bad for business? UPS is a must
Bad
weather often produces power outages that last from minutes to hours. Para
Systems, Inc. is a leading provider of power protection and management products
including the Minuteman® Uninterruptible Power Supplies (UPS) for computers,
servers, peripherals, voice and data communication systems, security systems
and other mission-critical equipment.
Para
Systems also provides the longest warranty plus excellent telephone reseller
sales and configuration support.
OFC/NFOEC is approaching quickly
Attend OFC/NFOEC March 6-10, 2011
High-Quality Science—Peer-reviewed presentations by experts
World Class Exhibition—500+ exhibitors
Show-Floor Industry/Business Programming—Real-life solutions to your current
business challenges
Unparalleled Networking—Engage face-to-face with speakers, colleagues, and
exhibitors
Comprehensive Programming—Notable plenary speakers, short courses, workshops,
panel discussions, poster sessions and More! Read More
Prysmian launches public offer for Draka shares
by
Stephen Hardy - Lightwave
January 6, 2011
JANUARY
6, 2011 By Stephen Hardy -- The potential battle for control of Draka Holding NV
is underway, as Prysmian has launched its public offer for ordinary shares of
the Dutch fiber and cable manufacturer. Meanwhile, upstart bidder Tianjin
Xinmao S&T Investment Corp. Ltd. asserted December 20 that it too would
proceed with its proposed bid, Bloomberg and other media outlets reported.
However, the company seems unexcited about the prospects of initiating a
hostile takeover.
Prysmian is offering €8.60 in cash plus 0.6595 newly issued Prysmian ordinary
shares for each Draka ordinary share. That equates to a total transaction value
of €840 million. Xinmao, with backing from China Minsheng Banking Corp. and
Rabobank, has offered an all-cash package worth €1 billion.
Prysmian’s offer is valid from today through February 3. An extraordinary meeting
of Draka shareholders will take place January 26 to discuss the Prysmian offer.
Prysmian first announced that Draka had accepted its offer November 22, 2010
(see “Prysmian
lays out Draka takeover offer”). However, the offer contained an out clause
that, for a price, would enable Draka to accept competing offers. Xinmao seized
the opportunity almost immediately to announce its larger bid (see “China’s
Xinmao to make all-cash bid for Draka”).
Despite the lower value of the offer, Draka has stuck with Prysmian as its
preferred purchaser. “In determining its position, the Boards have also taken
into consideration the positive advice received on 4 January 2011 from Draka's
central works council, the current status of the discussions with Xinmao and
the conditionality and execution risks attached to both the existing Offer by
Prysmian and the potential offer by Xinmao,” Draka stated in a release issued
yesterday.
“Draka has not received any further updates on the status of Xinmao’s potential
offer since Xinmao’s press release, dated 20 December 2010,” the statement
added. Bloomberg quoted Joop Krant of Catalyst Advisors, Xinmao’s financial
advisor in the potential transaction, as saying Xinmao would not launch a
hostile bid for Draka.
Wisconsin adopts latest edition of NFPA 1, Fire Code
January
13, 2011 – The state of
“Today,
perhaps more than ever, it is essential to provide the latest tools and
training to the firefighters and building professionals charged with protecting
people from fire,” said Joe Hertel, program manager of the Safety and Buildings
Division, Department of Commerce. “This code adoption will help to ensure that
the people and buildings of
Recognized
worldwide and adopted statewide in 18 states, NFPA 1 provides requirements
necessary to establish a reasonable level of fire safety and property
protection from hazards created by fire and explosion. Its primary purposes are
to address basic fire prevention requirements and to reference or extract the
fire prevention and protection aspects of many other NFPA codes and standards.
“The
Wisconsin Fire Service has a great deal of confidence in NFPA 1 as our fire
code,” said Chief Gregg Cleveland, chair of the state fire code committee and
chief of the La Crosse Fire Department. “With NFPA 1, we know that the fire
service has an equal voice in working with other fire safety and building
professionals to address issues that are important to protecting fire fighters
and the people and property in our communities.”
About
the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
NFPA is a worldwide leader in providing fire, electrical, building, and life
safety to the public since 1896. The mission of the international nonprofit
organization is to reduce the worldwide burden of fire and other hazards on the
quality of life by providing and advocating consensus codes and standards,
research, training, and education. www.nfpa.org
Free, Easy Access To Key Government Data On Electrical Contractors & Electricians
Info
on electrical contractors from the 2007 Economic Census, and official
government projections for electrician needs in 2018 – printed in six 2010
issues of tED magazine – was recently posted to The EleBlog (www.eleblog.com).
“After
the December issue posted, I noticed that these data did not appear to be
available anywhere else online,” explained Joe Salimando, freelance
writer/editor for the magazine and proprietor of The EleBlog.
“You
can wade through the Census Bureau site and the BLS projections, of course. And
anyone who receives the print issue of tED, or has registered for the digital
edition at tedmag.com, has seen or can access these articles.
“But
most contractors don’t read a distributor magazine. I obtained permission to
post these articles on The EleBlog – accessible without needing a password.”
Each
brief blog posting includes a link to a PDF download. The topics:
2007
Electrical Contractor sales by state: http://electricalcontractor.com/?p=1071
’07
work by building type: http://electricalcontractor.com/?p=1068
Maintenance
Grows Fastest: http://electricalcontractor.com/?p=1065
Direct
sales outpace subcontracting: http://electricalcontractor.com/?p=1062
11,000
more ECs in ’07 (than in ’02): http://electricalcontractor.com/?p=1052
and
BLS
projections for Electrician needs in 2018 (vs. actual figures from 2008):
http://electricalcontractor.com/?p=1059
ABOUT
THE ELEBLOG: Hosted at www.electricalcontractor.com,
the site covers info of interest to electrical contractors, construction and
economic trends, and also includes an occasional post about elephants.
Siemon Announces 40Gb/s Hybrid QSFP+ to SFP+ Fanout Cable Assembly for High-Speed Data Center Interconnects
Multi-legged, low power passive copper cable assembly allows users to connect
four ports of SFP+ based equipment to a single 40Gb/s QSFP+ interface
Watertown, Connecticut – January 5, 2010 – Siemon, a leading global
manufacturer of IT network cabling and infrastructure systems, announces the
release of a new QSFP+ (Quad Small Form-Factor Pluggable Plus) to SFP+ (Small
Form-Factor Pluggable Plus) hybrid passive copper cable assembly. These hybrid
fanout cables break a single 40Gb/s QSFP+ connector into four individual 10Gb/s
SFP+ connectors, allowing users to connect multiple ports of SFP+ equipment to
QSFP+ based equipment with a single, easy-to-manage assembly.
The direct-attach hybrid assembly’s four hot-pluggable SFP+ connectors are
factory-terminated to twin-axial shielded cable to provide superior signal
integrity in support 10+Gb/s high frequency data rates The assemblies are impedance
matched to ensure interoperability with SFP+ host ports and minimize insertion
loss.
The four 10Gb/s SFP+ legs feed into a single 40Gb/s capable QSFP+ connector.
The 4-lane QSFP+ form factor interface supports up to 10Gb/s per lane,
providing 40Gb/s composite data transfer rates. In terms of both physical
connector space and data throughput, a single QSFP+ connector can replace up to
four standard SFP+ connections, providing greater port density and reduced
system cost. Manufacture of Siemon’s SFP+ and QSFP+ interconnects is
automated, eliminating assembly variations for consistent and industry leading
signal integrity, including a unique termination process that optimizes cross
talk and return loss performance.
The Siemon QSFP+ to SFP+ hybrid cable assemblies were developed as a
cost-effective means of integrating higher-performance QSFP+ equipment with
current SFP+ systems in high-performance computing (HPC), enterprise
networking, video networking and network storage applications. Each end
of the hybrid assembly is compliant to the SFF specifications that define the
mechanical and electrical requirements for interoperability.
Designed for channel lengths up to up to 5 m, these low-power interconnects are
compatible with a wide array of data protocols, including InfiniBand 4X SDR,
DDR, QDR as well as Ethernet 10G, 40G (IEEE-802.3ba) and SONET electrical
failover 40G links. They also support Fibre Channel SAN 10G, 40G and SAN;
RapidIO and Myrinet 40G systems links. Siemon offers application specific
assembly solutions such as varied EEPROM programming options, wire gauges and
custom lengths.
This interconnect is part of the Siemon's high speed interconnect family, which
includes their Moray QSFP+ Active Optical Cable assemblies and MTP optical
fiber Plug and Play solutions as well as a variety of innovative
high-performance structured cabling products.
Learn more about Siemon’s high-speed interconnect products at: www.siemon.com/sis
Follow Siemon Interconnect Solutions on Twitter: http://twitter.com/siemonis/
Join Siemon on Facebook: http://www.siemon.com/go/facebook
Read our blog at www.siemon.com/sis/blog
###
About Siemon:
Established in 1903, Siemon (www.siemon.com) is a
global industry leader in the development and manufacture of high quality,
high-performance network cabling solutions. Siemon’s Interconnect Solutions
business unit (SIS) specializes in the development of high-speed interconnects.
Headquartered in
www.siemon.com/sis
www.siemon.com
CABA NewsBrief
Home Systems
3-D Blu-ray discs enter new year with some catching up to
do
One of the hottest trends for the TV industry in 2010 was the proliferation of
3-D devices such as HDTVs and Blu-ray players. One area that needs to catch up
in 2011, according to this report, is the development of more 3-D Blu-ray
discs, of which only about 40 were released last year. Home Media Magazine (1/3)
Video: Will CES boost the tablet battleground?
The 2011 International CES kicks off this week in
Verizon touts energy savings with home control system
As expected, telephone and FiOS TV provider Verizon is rolling out its own
“connected home” home control system, to compete with those from ADT, Comcast
and others, and will include some energy management functions such as
thermostat, energy readers, smart appliance and smart power strip control. Electronic House (12/29)
Philips introduces remote control wand
Philips promises remote controls with direct pointing and 3D gesture control
with uControl. The system consists of an infrared camera and RF transmitter in
the remote and an infrared LED beacon unit tracking the user's movements. On CE (12/27)
Broadband-over-power line gets a boost with Broadcom's
Gigle buy
Broadcom has closed its purchase of Gigle Networks, which develops technology
that is designed to support broadband home networking over existing power
lines. The maker of telecom semiconductors paid $75 million to add Gigle's
system-on-a-chip solution to its product suite. American City Business Journals/Los Angeles
(12/28)
Holographic phone calls are just a few years away, IBM says
The near future is filled with exciting technological advancements that promise
to change the way humans interact with one another, IBM says. According to the
company's predictions, within the next five years the industry will deliver
computers that can predict traffic, batteries that recharge themselves by
breathing air and 3D holographic phone calls that will bring Grandma right into
your living room. TechRadar.com (12/27)
Rovi buys OTT provider Sonic for $720 million
Rovi, a provider of next generation guidance solutions including TotalGuide,
discovery, metadata, advertising and networking technologies and Sonic, a
provider of digital video processing, playback and distribution technologies,
both leaders in the digital entertainment industry, together will bring an
end-to-end solution that enables integration across the ecosystem. The
acquisition of Sonic will enable Rovi to broaden its solutions to content
owners, device makers, retailers and operators. Telecompetitor (12/22)
Intel prepares for "perfect storm" involving
"smart" CE devices
Intel is working with a variety of hardware and software companies to develop a
line of Internet-connected "Smart TV" products, such as HDTVs and
set-top boxes, that will be on display at the 2011 International CES next month
in
TV maker Vizio aims low-cost strategy at tablets, phones
Vizio, which carved a profitable niche by producing low-cost TV sets, will try
to duplicate that success in the wireless arena with the introduction this week
of an Android-based tablet computer and smartphone aimed at consumers who are
looking for less-expensive alternatives to Apple products. Also this week,
laptop maker Lenovo will release a pair of tablets, according to published
reports. Bloomberg (1/2)
Netflix, YouTube are popular among owners of Web-connected
TVs
A study by The NPD Group reports that 57% of Internet-connected TV owners use
the devices to watch television shows and movies on Netflix, while 47% tap into
YouTube and 54% access music and photos. The research company said that
Web-tethered sets now make up almost 12% of flat-panel TV sales, a 38% increase
over 2009. Home Media Magazine (12/29)
Nintendo issues health warning on its 3DS
Children 6 and younger should not use the 3-D functionality in the
soon-to-launch Nintendo 3DS because it could harm the development of their
eyes, the company said. Nintendo said that all of those who play the new
handheld device, which allows for 3-D play without special glasses, should take
a break from the machine after 30 minutes, and if they start to feel ill, they should
stop immediately. InformationWeek (12/29)
Apple is said to be planning iPad 2 for more carriers
Apple's iPad 2 will bring more wireless carriers on board via a Wi-Fi + 3G
version for CDMA networks, according to an Asian media source, which says the
company is eager to meet the demand for 3G-capable tablets. The publication
also reports that Apple will ship half a million of the new devices next month.
One analyst pointed to a strong holiday season for iPad sales even as strong
competition looms. Barron's/Tech Trader Daily (12/28)
M2M technology powers a boom in connected devices
The rise of machine-to-machine communications sparked a boom this year in
so-called connected devices, a market that analyst firm Berg Insight expects to
grow by 32% a year to reach almost 300 million connections by 2015. Berg
estimates that the number of M2M subscribers rose 46% this year, to about 81
million worldwide. ConnectedWorldMag.com (12/27)
Study: By 2014, most TVs sold worldwide will be Web-enabled
More than half of all TVs sold around the world in 2014 -- 54% of them -- will
have the ability to connect to the Internet, according to a study by
Futurescape. In the same time frame, 40% of all televisions sold in the
Google downplays reports on Google TV delay
A spokeswoman for Google dismissed as rumor and speculation recent media
reports that the company has asked Logitech to stop production of a companion
device to the new Google TV platform. Instead, Google's Gina Weakley said, the
search-engine giant's goal "is to collaborate with a broad community of
consumer electronics manufacturers to help drive the next-generation
TV-watching experience, and we look forward to working with other partners to
bring more devices to market in the coming years." United Press International (12/27)
Sony to put $1.2 billion into production of image sensors
Sony said it plans to spend $1.2 billion in its next financial year to double
production of the image sensors that wind up in consumer-electronics devices
such as digital cameras and smartphones. The company also said it hopes to ship
about 23 million digital cameras during its current fiscal year, which closes
in March. The Wall Street Journal (12/28)
Despite streaming options, Blu-ray sales still grow
The increasing availability of low-cost streaming-video options may have cut
into traditional DVD sales, but more advanced Blu-ray discs are on track to
have a big 2010. While the DVD business fell 13% during the first three
quarters of the year, according to Nash Information Services, Blu-ray receipts
were up 75% going into the holiday shopping time frame, and Blu-ray discs now
are on pace to close out the year at about $2 billion in sales. The Wall Street Journal (12/24)
In consumer electronics, everything old is new again
The latest trend in cutting-edge consumer electronics is to wrap the gee-whiz
devices in a retro package. Examples of the timeline-warping movement include
old-time manual typewriters that have been rigged to work as USB keyboards and
$4,000 nostalgic jukeboxes that are actually iPod docks. New York Times (12/22)
CEA's Shapiro says innovation should drive U.S. growth
Gary Shapiro 's new book, "The Comeback: How Innovation Will Restore the
American Dream," contends that
Global set-top box market to hit 206 million units in 2014,
report says
The global set-top box market will reach 206 million units in 2014 after
growing at an annual rate of 4%, according to a report from Screen Digest, a
media analysis firm. The report predicts that the pay-TV industry will make up
nearly two-thirds of the annual STB market through 2014. Home Media Magazine (12/21)
Apple nears 1 million-unit milestone with Apple TV device
Apple will surpass the 1 million-unit sales mark for the device this week, the
company announced -- about three months after it unveiled a $99 version of the
device. The company says its customers rent and buy 400,000 TV shows and
150,000 movies every day. Reuters (12/21)
Growing pains are not likely to hamper 3-D TV
The nascent 3-D television industry is entering a phase that all new
technologies must pass through, where competing standards, a variety of product
choices and a lack of unified technologies leave many aspects of what the
future of the technology will look like up in the air. Think Blu-Ray vs.
HD-DVD, but the uncertainty appears to be having little effect on 3-D TV
adoption, with 70% of broadcasters preparing to introduce 3-D content during
the next 18 months, according to IMS Research. UTalkMarketing.com (U.K.) (12/16)
Study: Web-connected devices gain ground with consumers
Internet-connected consumer electronics, according to a study from Parks
Associates, are attracting the attention of consumers. The research firm says
even though nearly a quarter of all U.S. households own at least one connected
device, about 3 million broadband homes will purchase a Web-connected TV this
year. "Connected devices are the future of content consumption and
entertainment in the living room as they capture the broader trends of
integration among different silos in consumers' lives," Parks principal
analyst Kurt Scherf says. CEPro.com (11/30)
Home repairs shouldn't be part of family budget cuts
As families tighten their budgets, there are some things homeowners should
never cut out, experts say. Home maintenance can end up costing much more if it
is not taken care of in a timely fashion. Cox Newspapers (1/4)
On-body computing coming soon
"Skinput" is an armband that projects a virtual keyboard onto a
user's palm or forearm and reads the sounds of tapping on different parts of
the body, and it eventually could be used to control electronic devices like
MP3 players or cellphones using "on-body computing. Ottawa Citizen (12/30)
NPD Group to acquire In-Stat
The NPD Group announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire In-Stat LLC,
an analyst-based research company focused on the mobile and digital
entertainment industries. The acquisition will further strengthen NPD’s analyst
businesses by expanding its global coverage in these market sectors. NPD also
owns DisplaySearch, an analyst services firm and the worldwide leader in flat
panel display and electronics market research and consulting. Research (1/5)
ZigBee Alliance begins developing 3-D sync standard
The ZigBee Alliance, a global ecosystem of organizations creating wireless
solutions for use in energy management, residential, commercial and consumer
applications, recently announced it is developing a new standard to deliver the
ultimate 3-D viewing experience, ZigBee 3D Sync. The standard will create more
flexible and efficient 3-D connections between 3-D HDTVs and 3-D glasses. ZigBee Alliance (1/4)
Manufacturers of "smart TVs" will make their
pitches at CES
If the flood of new product announcements already coming out of the 2011
International CES is any indication, so-called "smart TVs," which can
blend traditional viewing with downloadable applications and the Web, will
enjoy a robust year ahead. "Smart TV is an inevitable trend," said LG
Electronics' Baeguen Kang. "As people experienced smartphones and tablet
PCs, the larger screen on a TV is very attractive for apps and Web
content." The Wall Street Journal (1/3)
Large Building
Automation
Philips to deliver customized energy-efficient lighting
solutions through acquisition
Royal Philips Electronics announced that it has acquired Optimum Lighting LLC,
a privately owned company specializing in customized energy-efficient lighting
solutions for the office, industry and retail segments. This acquisition
complements Philips’ customer-centric innovation capabilities and strengthens
its global leadership position in professional lighting solutions. Webwire (1/5)
CABA releases 2011 North American Intelligent Building
Roadmap
The Continental Automated Buildings Association, through its Intelligent &
Integrated Building Council and new Research Program, has completed its 2011
North American Intelligent Building Roadmap. The Roadmap research project was
designed to outline long-term opportunities in the intelligent building
industry. AutomatedBuildings.com (1/5)
Institute for Building Information Modeling in Canada
launched
On August 11 and November 30, 2010 in
Green building industry is expected to grow in 2011
Green building is a burgeoning field, and 2011 is expected to bring more
innovations to the industry, according to this article. Some trends to expect
include more emphasis on indoor-air-quality products such as low-VOC paints and
finishes; lean construction practices that minimize waste, materials and time;
and more stringent building and energy codes. The use of building information
modeling, smart connected buildings and fuel cells is also expected to
increase. GreenBuildingPro.com (12/28)
Dutch art goes large on LED
Lighthouse LED screens are at the centre of a burgeoning new trend in the
California adopts greenest building codes in U.S.
Newly constructed hospitals, schools, shopping malls and homes in
Siemens Energy acquires the eHouse manufacturing business
of IES
Siemens Energy, Inc. is expanding its business portfolio by acquiring an eHouse
manufacturing division of Integrated Electrical Services, Inc. (IES), a leading
national electrical and communications service provider based in
New certification program focuses on energy use in
buildings
The Building Energy Assessment Professional (BEAP) certification certifies
individuals’ ability to audit and analyze residential, commercial and
industrial buildings, including determining project scope, collecting data,
analyzing building performance, interpreting results, evaluating alternatives,
submitting recommendations for energy conservation measures and assisting with
the implementation of these recommendations. ASHRAE (12/20)
NIST offers up resources for IPv6 migration effort
In an effort to promote the migration to IPv6 and to improve security, the
National Institute of Standards and Technology is offering two resources, one
of which provides insight on IPv6's new and expanded protocols and an in-depth
view of the differences between IPv4 and IPv6. GovInfoSecurity.com (12/29)
Government gets $4.5B to "green" buildings, slash
energy bill
The federal government is searching for a way to trim its $25 billion annual
energy bill. The federal government -- the largest energy consumer in the
The emergence of integrated systems
"Integration" and "interoperability" are buzzwords
discussed in the security industry for quite some time — do we dare say
decades? The consensus is that having systems that work together is key to
effective solutions for end-users in a variety of vertical markets, including
residential, commercial, healthcare, transportation and others. But it's
imperative that integrators, dealers, technology developers and manufacturers
provide open solutions at more than just the initial handshake level and more
deeply into the system solution.. SecurityInfoWatch (12/13)
Video: Microsoft Kinect to help in medical surgery
A team of researchers from the Virtopsy Project based at the
Smart buildings are set to become more popular
Smart buildings -- and the management of them -- are poised to boom, according
to Pike Research. The group says by 2016, smart building management will be a
$2.4 billion industry compared to a $900 million industry this year. The growth
will come as more investors and landlords realize the greater returns to be had
from using lighting optimization software, energy analytics systems and energy
waste-detection software. Fast Company (12/22)
Video: From the top
Get the latest insight by top executives in ICT with TIA Now's debut program,
"From the Top." In this newly launched program for TIA Now, Tim
Harden, AT&T's President of Supply Chain and Fleet Operations will give you
his assessment of the future of telecommunications. Following the presentation
by Harden, George Arnold of the National Institute of Standards and Technology
and now the National Coordinator for Smart Grid Technology for NIST will
present his unique perspective on smart grid and its future in ICT. Enjoy this
edition of "From the Top" and look out for new segments with ICT
executives in the coming weeks. TIA Now (12/21)
Army adopts new green building standard
The U.S. Army has incorporated Standard 189.1, a green building standard set by
ASHRAE that addresses energy efficiency, indoor environmental quality, site
sustainability and water use efficiency, in its new sustainable design and
development initiative. The Army's policy applies to the construction and
renovation of all new infrastructure in
BIM can help cut life-cycle costs for building owners
Telecoms have the potential to take lead in the cloud
Telecom companies are perfectly leveraged to stake a claim in the
cloud-services sector if they adopt the tools needed to properly make the
transition, according to IBM Tivoli's Denis Kennelly. To capitalize on these
assets, telecoms must focus on integrating their cloud offerings into a
converged network platform and adopting or enhancing maintenance solutions such
as automated provisioning, virtualization management and usage metering. ConnectedPlanetOnline.com (12/31)
Opinion: Predictions for smart buildings in 2011
According to Jim Sinopli, Managing Principal at Smart Buildings LLC,
traditional building management systems (BMS) from major international
manufacturers will become obsolete. The major systems are slow to adopt the
latest IT software and applications, their interfaces are not the customizable
dashboards users are looking for, their applications suites aren't broad enough
and they will have to be completely retooled to handle demand response
applications. Smart Buildings LLC (1/4)
Smart Glass Company's executive team expands
Research Frontiers Inc., a pioneer in the development and commercialization of
high-performance energy-efficient SPD-SmartGlass technology, announced that
effective January 1, 2011, Jack Derby and Gregory Grimes have been appointed as
new members to its expanded Board of Directors, and Seth Van Voorhees has
joined the company as its Vice President - Business Development and CFO, a
newly-created position. CityBizList (12/31)
Carnahan wants to 'green' federal buildings
Last month, President Barack Obama signed into law a bill sponsored by U.S.
Rep. Russ Carnahan, D-St. Louis, and three colleagues that aims to make a small
dent in those costs by training workers to reduce the amount of energy used in
federal buildings. The new law, called the Federal Buildings Personnel Training
Act, directs the federal government's landlord agency -- the General Services
Administration (GSA) -- to identify the skills that federal energy managers
need to operate buildings in line with industry best practices. The agency
would then work with industry and colleges or training centers to teach workers
those skills. St. Louis Beacon (1/4)
Opinion: HVAC and the American Dream
Rob Falke was contacted by a sharp young college student requesting an
interview concerning the American Dream and what it meant to the HVAC industry.
The discussion, and his paper that followed produced some ideas that can serve
us all well. What is the American Dream and what does it look like to our industry
in 2011? ContractingBusiness.com (1/5)
PNNL and partners to help commercial buildings cut power
use
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is teaming up in a public/private
partnership to dramatically reduce energy consumption in commercial buildings
by retrofitting existing structures or designing new ones. SmartGridNews.com (1/4)
Member Press
Releases
Laney College offers New Building Automation Certificate
and AS Degree Program
Starting January 24, 2011,
Other Items
New Offerings Create Largest, Most Diverse LFI Conference
in History
CNL partners with MatrikonOPC for secure OPC connectivity solutions
LFI 2011 OFFERS COMPREHENSIVE SHOWCASE, LAUNCHES BUILDING
INTEGRATION PAVILION FOR EAST COAST SHOW
EMerge Alliance Introduces First Registered Products for DC
Power Distribution
EMerge Alliance advances DC power distribution platform to focus on energy
efficient data centers
InduSoft partners with MatrikonOPC for OPC connectivity
Cortexa Releases New In-wall iPad Dock
SmartGrid Forum Explores Smart Grid Opportunities for Broadband Service
Providers
MatrikonOPC Introduces KNX OPC Server for Green Buildings and Data Centers
FieldServer Technologies Gateway aboard Latest U.S. Navy
Advanced-Tech Destroyer
CABA Research
Spotlight
Green Specs/LEED Specs
This report by Kalin Associates Inc. provides guidance to building specifiers
on how to evaluate product claims about green attributes for incorporation into
building designs. "By our definition, green products are those which
maintain or improve the human environment while diminishing the impact of their
use on the natural environment-in other words, sustainable."
Characteristics of green products include green manufacturing, recycled
contents, recyclable, low toxicity, and biodegradable. Who selects green
products (owners, architects, engineers, and contractors) and when in the
design/construction timeframe are they selected are discussed. A detailed
checklist is included. Read the full report as published in CABA's Public Research
Library. Paid CABA membership provides you access to the full CABA Member Research Library.
Education &
Training
CABA to hold Digital Home Forum
CABA’s Digital Home Forum, hosted by 3M, and to be held Thursday, February 17,
2011 at 3M World Headquarters in St. Paul, Minnesota will bring together
leading companies dealing with integration of consumer electronics and other
cutting-edge technology throughout the home. Attend the forum to learn about
current trends in the digital and connected home from a wide range of companies
working in this space and explore future research opportunities. Members of
CABA’s Connected Home Council will share their research and insights, along
with details about their current activities. Forum participants will be
encouraged to openly discuss the research strategies as they relate to the
industry and their respective organizations. Register now.
Free Webcast: Sustainability Planning: Short and Long Term
Objectives
“Sustainability” means different things to different people. This webcast to be
held Friday, January 21 at 12:30 pm ET spotlights global leaders in commercial
real estate who will help define sustainability goals, create a realistic
timeline for accomplishing those goals, and demonstrate how to measure success.
We will discuss the role of managers, owners, tenants, vendors, and other
stakeholders in implementing a successful sustainability program and achieving
short-term and long-term results. You’ll learn how to implement both physical
and social changes that will improve the performance of your business, increase
the value of your real estate assets, and contribute to environmental
stewardship.
Webcast: OPC UA in Building Automation
Just a quick reminder that the OPC Foundation and MatrikonOPC co-presented webcast
- OPC UA in Building Automation - will be happening next Wednesday, January
12th, 2011 at 11:00 am ET. Attend this presentation to learn how OPC, the de
facto standard for open data connectivity, can virtually eliminate your data
integration challenges and more specifically - how OPC UA based applications
are especially well suited to let you do more with your BA data than ever
before.
CABA News
CABA Intelligent & Integrated Buildings Council to hold
meeting at AHR Expo 2011
Please join CABA on Monday, January 31, 2011 for the CABA Intelligent &
Integrated Buildings Council meeting and reception at AHR Expo 2011. Highlights
from the CABA Intelligent Buildings Roadmap 2011 will be shared by Frost &
Sullivan. The meeting and reception will be sponsored by LIGHTFAIR
INTERNATIONAL. The event will start at 4 pm and will be held at Renaissance Las
Vegas, which is located next door to the
CABA undertaking "Aging-in-Place" study
The CABA Research Program is undertaking a new research project entitled
"Formulating a Growth Strategy for the Aging-In Population". The
purpose of this study is to identify a potential new market space by helping
seniors remain longer in their home. Areas of consideration involve understanding
the various inputs and outcomes of specific jobs/activities within the home
that affect the aging adult as they move about the home and take care of basic
necessities. This research project will help organizations understand the
opportunities for value creation amongst different groups within this
population. Ingersoll Rand and TELUS Corporation have committed to
participating in this study. To learn how your organization can become involved
in this study, please contact John Hall, CABA Research Director at 613.686.1814
x227, hall@caba.org.
CABA completes Intelligent Buildings Roadmap 2011
The Continental Automated Buildings Association, through its Intelligent &
Integrated Building Council and new Research Program, is pleased to announce
the completion of its 2011 North American Intelligent Building Roadmap. The
Roadmap research project was designed to outline long-term opportunities in the
intelligent building industry. The Roadmap provides an understanding of the collective
influence of emerging trends within the intelligent building industry, such as
energy efficiency, renewable technology, IT convergence and the integration of
buildings with the smart grid.
CABA supports NextGen Home Experience at 2011 International
Builders' Show
The Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA) is pleased to announce
that it will co-sponsor a VIP reception on January 12, 2011 at the NextGen Home
Experience during the 2011 International Builders' Show. There is an
opportunity to support CABA at this function. Download the sponsorship package to learn more about this
opportunity. For additional information, contact George Grimes, CABA
Business Development Manager, at 613.686.1814 x226 or at grimes@caba.org.
BUYOUT COMPLETED - CommScope shareholders approve Carlyle buyout
CommScope
shareholders approve $3.9 billion Carlyle buyout
On
Thursday December 30, 2010, 4:55 pm EST
CommScope
had agreed to be acquired for $31.50 per share in October. That was a 36
percent premium over its closing price before it announced it was in talks with
Carlyle.
The
company said about 99 percent of the shares voting Thursday voted to approve
the acquisition. The deal is expected to close in the first quarter of 2011.
Carlyle
invests in a broad range of industries, with about 8 percent of its holdings in
consumer and retail companies.
Draka Communications to Highlight Cost-Effective Flame Rated Cable Solutions at BICSI® 2011
Claremont,
North Carolina, (NYSE EURONEXT: DRAKA) – Draka Communications Americas will highlight
a new family of fiber cables designed for space-limited applications and cost
conscious network designers involved in campus and in-building applications at
the upcoming BICSI Show January 16-20 in Orlando, FL. Visitors to Draka's booth
# 1301 will be able to view Draka's ezPREP® Gel Free Central Loose Tube Cable
family. This streamlined cable design, is available up to 12 fibers and
provides multiple features and benefits desired by today's network operators
and
installers, such as:
Available
in riser and plenum flame ratings and can be deployed in all indoor
applications
Low-Smoke
Zero Halogen (LSZH) constructions available
25%
smaller when compared to traditional stranded loose tube cable
40%
lighter when compared to traditional stranded loose tube cable
Aluminum
interlock armor can be added to increase durability
"This
cable design provides a fiber drop solution that simplifies installation
practices and lowers overall network cost. This Draka cable product family is
standards compliant, can address any fire code listing requirement and can be
adapted to a number of special applications. The small cross section and
excellent handling properties make this cable a versatile product for
enterprise and campus uses", states Dean Yamasaki, Product Manager at
Draka Communications Americas.
"Since the entire product family is designed for indoor-outdoor
applications, its use eliminates the necessity for a transition point upon
cable entry into the building, which is another cost savings value-add."
Draka's
Central Loose Tube cable is available in a wide variety of fiber types
including Draka's BendBright® family of single-mode & multimode bend
insensitive fibers. Draka has sold over 6 billion feet of Bendbright bend
insensitive fibers since 2006.
Remember:
If you have gotten paranoid about counterfeit or non compliant connectors or
patchcords, DRAKA uses Megladon Mfg.
ScratchGuard® HLC terminations. Greg Williams, Draka Product Marketing
Manager said, “Only the best for our customers.”
About
Draka
Draka (Euronext Amsterdam: DRAK), headquartered in
Draka's activities are divided into three groups: Energy & Infrastructure,
Industry & Specialty and Communications. Draka Communications with its four
business units, Telecom Solutions, Multimedia Specials, Optical Fiber and Cable
Solutions is a global market leader in the development, production and sales of
fibers, cables and advanced network solutions. For more information visit us
online at www.draka.com/communications.
New FOA Lecture Series on Fiber Optics on YouTube
The FOA has begun offering a new
series of lectures on fiber optics on its YouTube channel. Two lectures are
already online and many more will be added in the future. The lectures are
intended to help anyone learn about fiber optics and to cover special topics
relevant to FOA curriculum for training organizations.
The FOA lectures are short (about 10
minute) lectures covering basic topics relevant to fiber optics. The first
lecture, Fiber Optics & Communications, provides a basic introduction to
how fiber optics is used in communications systems, including telephone and the
Internet, wireless, CATV, security, Smart Grid and more. The second topic,
Fiber Optic Safety, covers a very important topic, how to work safely with
fiber, and dispels some of the myths of fiber safety.
Future lectures will cover specific
technology issues about which we are often asked such as how fiber works, how
it is manufactured, how datalinks transmit data over fiber and how fiber is
tested. Topics of current interest such as changes in standards or new
applications will also be covered in the lectures.
The FOA Lecture Series can be found
on the FOA YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/thefoainc.
The
Fiber Optic Association, Inc. is an nonprofit professional society chartered to
promote fiber optics through education, certification and standards. Over 230
FOA-Approved schools around the world have certified more than 32,000 fiber
optic technicians. The FOA provides technical information free to the industry
to promote the proper application of fiber optics and premises cabling. The FOA
offers free online introductory fiber optic programs for everyone and training
for instructors at FOA-Approved schools. For more information on the FOA, see
the organization's website http://www.thefoa.org/,
email info@thefoa.org or call
760-451-3655.
GENERAL CABLE’S FRANKLIN, MASSACHUSETTS MANUFACTURING FACILITY
RECEIVES INDUSTRYWEEK’S
BEST PLANTS AWARD
AS
ONE OF THE BEST MANUFACTURING PLANTS IN NORTH
Highland
Heights, Kentucky – January 3, 2011 – General Cable’s Franklin, Massachusetts
manufacturing facility, which produces a complete line of GenSPEED® Brand data
communications, NextGen® Brand fiber optics and Carol® Brand specialty
electronics wire and cable for signal transmission, alarm, sound and security,
and professional audio/video broadcast markets, has been selected by Penton
Media's IndustryWeek magazine, the leading publication among senior
manufacturing executives, as one of the 10 Best Plants in North America.
IndustryWeek’s Best Plants Award Program, which started 21 years ago, is an
annual salute to outstanding manufacturing facilities that are on the
leading-edge of efforts to increase competitiveness, enhance customer
satisfaction, and create stimulating and rewarding work environments.
"IndustryWeek’s
annual Best Plants competition evaluates manufacturing facilities in multiple
categories, recognizing that operational excellence is not delivering good
quality at the expense of on-time delivery,” stated IndustryWeek’s Editor, Jill
Jusko, in the publication’s January issue. “Neither is it meeting productivity
goals at the expense of worker safety or by working harder but not smarter. It
is a comprehensive focus on excellence in all areas, with an unstoppable focus
on improvements that will further increase competitiveness and enhance customer
satisfaction.”
General
Cable’s
Competing
plants reported management practices and plant performance in categories such
as quality, customer and supplier relations, employee involvement, application
of new technologies, productivity, cost reductions, manufacturing flexibility
and responsiveness, inventory management, environmental and safety performance,
new product development and overall market results. The top 10 selected winners
demonstrated the rewards that are credited to manufacturers who strive for
perfection and never ease up on their efforts to improve.
“General
Cable is once again pleased to receive this award from IndustryWeek in
recognition of our manufacturing excellence,” said Greg Lampert, President and
Chief Executive Officer of General Cable North America. “We use the
IndustryWeek competition as a benchmark for comparing our manufacturing
performance against the best in the world. I would like to commend Mark
Thackeray, General Cable’s Senior Vice President of North American Operations,
Jim Clark,
“Lean
Manufacturing, combined with Six Sigma quality improvement tools, continues to
drive major improvements in all our manufacturing operations,” added Mark
Thackeray, Senior Vice President, North American Operations. “Our strategy to
achieve manufacturing excellence has made General Cable a much stronger company
today. Lean thinking is part of our culture of continuous improvement, along
with the engagement and contribution of our associates—something we call ‘OLPC’
or Operator-Led Process Control. The
“Since
2001, General Cable has had nine plants selected as finalists in IndustryWeek’s
Best Plants competition. Seven of those plants have gone on to achieve the
title of one of the Top 10 Plants in
Our
associates’ focus on manufacturing quality products, coupled with outstanding
on-time delivery, gives our customers the confidence to partner with us to
serve their product needs,” said Jim Clark,
The
complete list of winners and an in-depth profile on General Cable’s
General
Cable (NYSE: BGC), headquartered in Highland Heights, Kentucky, is a leader in
the development, design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of copper,
aluminum and fiber optic wire and cable products for the energy, industrial,
specialty and communications markets. Energy cables include low-, medium- and
high-voltage power distribution and power transmission products. The Industrial
and Specialty segment is comprised of application-specific cables for uses such
as electrical power generation (traditional fuels, alternative and renewable
sources, and distributed generation), the oil, gas and petrochemical
industries, mining, industrial automation, marine, military and aerospace
applications, power applications in the telecommunications industry, and other
key industrial segments. Communications wire and cable products transmit
low-voltage signals for voice, data, video and control applications. General
Cable, with annual revenues over $4.3
Latest Class of BOMA 360 Designees Demonstrate Excellence in Building Operations and Management
29
Buildings receive BOMA 360 Performance Program® designation
(
The BOMA 360 Performance Program evaluates properties on six major
areas of building management: building operations and management; life
safety/security/risk management; training and education; energy;
environment/sustainability; and tenant relations/community involvement. The
comprehensive nature of the BOMA 360 Performance Program means that every
aspect of building performance is assessed and scores are based on how
buildings meet an extensive checklist of best practices.
“Market research indicates that building owners and managers are
looking for ways to differentiate their buildings in the marketplace and
be more attractive to tenants,” noted BOMA International Chair Ray H. Mackey,
Jr., RPA, CPM, CCIM, partner and chief operating officer, Stream Realty
Partners, L.P. “The BOMA 360 Performance Program does exactly that by
recognizing outstanding achievement in every area of building operations and
management. BOMA 360 designees stand above the crowd as they enhance
asset value and set new standards of excellence.”
The new class of BOMA 360 buildings includes:
10 South
Chicago,
Owned by: 10/120
Managed by: HPT Management Services LP
120
Owned by: 10/120
Managed by: HPT Management Services LP
Owned
by: 1225 Eye Street NW Associates LLC
Managed by: Piedmont Government Services
Washington,
Owned by: BFP 1625 Eye Co. LLC
Managed by:
222
Owned by: Equity Office
Managed by: Hines
Owned by: 400
Managed by: Piedmont Government
Services
580
Building
Owned by: 580 Investors, LLC
Managed by: Cassidy Turley
800 North Brand
Owned by: Wells REIT
Managed by: Piedmont Office Management
9211 Corporate
Blvd
Owned and Managed by: Piedmont Office Realty Trust
9595 Wilshire
Owned by: CalSTRS
Managed by: CB Richard Ellis
Owned by:
Managed by: Crescent Real Estate Equities Limited Partnership
Owned by: CNL Plaza Ltd.
Managed by: CNL Commercial Real Estate
Concourse
Owned by:
Managed by: CB Richard Ellis
IDS
Center
Owned by: MB
Managed by: Inland American Office Management LLC
Owned by:
Managed by: Hines
Owned by: Wells Real Estate Funds
Managed by: Jacobs Real Estate Services
Mid
Owned by: TR Mid America Plaza Corp./KBS Realty Advisors
Managed by: CB Richard Ellis
One
Owned by: CSHV One
Owned by: Wells REIT -
Managed by: Piedmont Office Management
One
Owned by: Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
Managed by: Taylor & Mathis of
Owned by:
Managed by: CB Richard Ellis
Owned by:
Managed by: CB Richard Ellis
Owned by:
Owned by: 5599 San Felipe Ltd
Managed by: Tanglewood Property
Management Company, LLC
TIAA-CREF Southern
Owned by: TIAA-CREF
Managed by: Cushman & Wakefield, Inc.
Owned by: Piedmont Office Realty Trust
Managed by: Piedmont Office Management.
Wayne Lyman Morse United States Courthouse
Owned by: General Services Administration
Managed by: Public Buildings Service
Owned by: Metropolitan Life Insurance Company and Metropolitan
Tower Realty Company, Inc.
Managed by: CB Richard Ellis, Inc.
Wilshire Landmark
I
Owned by: CSHV Wilshire Landmark, LLC
Managed by: CB Richard Ellis, Inc.
To view all the buildings that have received the BOMA 360
designation, visit http://www.boma.org/getinvolved/boma360/Pages/360Buildings.aspx.
For more information on the BOMA 360 Performance Program, visit www.boma.org/GetInvolved/BOMA360.
***
About BOMA International
The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International
is an international federation of more than 100 local associations and
affiliated organizations. Founded in 1907, its 16,500-plus members own or
manage more than nine billion square feet of commercial properties. BOMA
International’s mission is to enhance the human, intellectual and physical
assets of the commercial real estate industry through advocacy, education,
research, standards and information. On the Web at www.boma.org.
NAED ADDS TO THE QUIVER OF TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
New CEP Prep Courses Available on the
Are you thinking about taking the Certified Electrical Professional (CEP) exam,
but are not sure how to prepare for it? The
CEP – Outside Sales Preparatory Course
Module 1 – Selling Products and Services
Module 2 – Managing Accounts
Module 3 – Using Company, Industry and Personal Resources
Module 4 – Sample Exam
CEP – Inside Sales Preparatory Course
Module 1 – Selling Products and Services
Module 2 – Preparing, Processing and Managing Sales Orders
Module 3 – Enhancing Customer Relationships and Services
Module 4 – Using Company, Industry and Personal Resources
Module 5 – Sample Exam
The CEP prep courses can be purchased individually, as a package, or through
our VIP Access to the NAED Learning Center. Learn more about the CEP exam
(www.naed-cep.org). Contact Member Services at 888-791-2512 or memberservices@naed.org
to order these courses today.
Greenest of the Green Award
Has your company gotten on board with the green movement? Get noticed for your
efforts! tED magazine’s GreenRoom publication has created a new awards program
that will showcase the ‘Greenest of the Green’ NAED electrical distributor
member.
Designed to recognize electrical distributors that have taken an active role in
greening their own operations, entrants should have completed one or more of
the following:
Built or retrofitted a facility with energy efficiency products
Implemented sustainable warehouse and/or building enhancements
Installed energy efficiency products (lighting, sensors, etc.) in
the office or warehouse
Installed renewable energy sources
Implemented energy saving fleet management strategy
Created and/or implemented a corporate sustainability policy
Achieved or applied for LEED Certification or EnergyStar
documented score
Winners will be presented with the award at the 2011 NAED National Electrical
Leadership Summit in
NAED Names David M. Crum as Incoming Western Region Vice President-Elect
Industry veteran with 14 years of experience in the electrical distribution
channel
“It truly is an honor to be selected by my peers as the incoming
vice president-elect,” said Crum. “NAED is an invaluable tool to this industry
and I encourage all of our members to take advantage of the networking and
educational opportunities the association has to offer.”
Crum has been in the industry for 14 years and has served on
NAED’s Western Region Council since 2004. He believes that participating in
NAED allows distributors to get to know, understand and engage with their peers
and industry associates. Crum stated that NAED is full of resources to help
develop employees along with many tools to improve efficiency on the
operational side of the business.
Crum is a graduate of the
Founded in 1976, Crum Electric Supply has ten branches in
As an NAED regional vice president-elect, Crum will serve on the
NAED Board of Directors, help lead the region’s conferences, council meetings,
and other events. He will also participate in NAED’s Membership and Strategic Focus
Committees.
The Western Region is currently under the leadership of Rocklan
Lawrence, president and CEO of National Electric Supply Inc., in Albuquerque,
N.M. Beginning in May, Andrew Akers, vice president of D & S Electrical
Supply Company in Pocatello, Idaho, will take up leadership for 2011-2012.
NAED <http://naed.informz.net/z/cjUucD9taT0xMDMyOTk5JnA9MSZ1PTc1MTEyMTA1NSZsaT00MzQwMjk2/index.html>
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 operates in approximately 4,400 locations internationally.
NEMA Launches Vids for Grids with Smart Grid Educational Videos
ROSSLYN,
“Switchgear,”
filmed at NEMA member Eaton Electrical, explains how high voltage and large
currents can be controlled efficiently in a large industrial facility as well
as a university campus. “Surge Arresters,” filmed at NEMA member Hubbell
Power Systems, shows how distribution arresters and ground lead disconnectors
improve grid reliability. They are available at www.youtube.com/vids4grids.
Future
videos will address capacitors, conductors, connectors, dynamic line ratings,
energy storage, flywheels, industrial automation, lighting management systems,
and meters. NEMA expects to release one new video per month.
According
to NEMA President and CEO Evan R. Gaddis, there is a dire need for workforce
training in the electric power sector.
“Smart
Grid is our future,” he said. “An aging workforce has created a brain drain in
the electric power sector. This series will introduce Smart Grid concepts to
tomorrow’s engineers.”
In
collaboration with member manufacturers, the series features Smart Grid
equipment, explains electrical engineering concepts, and portrays careers in
power engineering. Curriculum has been developed in conjunction with
V4G
is one of 54 Smart Grid workforce training programs funded the Department of
Energy through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, commonly
referred to as ARRA or the Stimulus. It is the only one funded in
NEMA
members participating in V4G include A123, Beacon Power, Cooper Power Systems,
Eaton Corporation, Hubbell Incorporated, Itron, Leviton, Rockwell Automation,
Southwire Company, Thomas & Betts, and The Valley Group (a Nexans Company).
Video services are provided by Metro Productions.
NEMA
is the association of electrical and medical imaging equipment manufacturers.
Founded in 1926 and headquartered near
###
NEMA.
Setting Standards for Excellence
Visit
our website at www.nema.org
HARMAN continues to develop line of loudspeaker packages for Leviton and Leviton Renews Exclusive Partnership with HARMAN
January
11, 2011 —
The
line of JBL speakers features indoor in-wall and in-ceiling speakers,
all-weather outdoor speakers, home theater speakers, subwoofers, and a complete
surround sound home cinema system. In addition, Leviton will continue to offer
the harman kardon A-BUS® multi-room amplified audio system.
“JBL
and harman kardon are recognized, trusted names in home audio,” said Dean
Lipke, director of marketing and customer service for Leviton Network
Solutions. “The power of these brands, combined with Leviton’s reputation with
builders and strong relationships with distributors and contractors, creates a
perfect solution for equipping homes and MDUs with reliable home networking
connectivity and quality entertainment systems.”
All
of Leviton’s Connected Home solutions, including the harman kardon and JBL home
audio solutions, are available through the company’s residential products
reseller network. For more information, visit Leviton.com/connectedhome.
About
Leviton Network Solutions
Leviton
Network Solutions is part of Leviton Manufacturing, Inc., a century-old company
offering more than 25,000 products and devices for homes, businesses, and
industries. The Network Solutions division is dedicated to producing complete
network infrastructure systems for the enterprise, data center, government,
education, health care, and residential markets. Copper, fiber, and power
solutions include structured cabling systems, enclosures, PDUs, and much more.
All Leviton products are engineered to exacting standards and offer guaranteed
performance. For more information, visit Leviton.com.
Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Introduces Industry’s First Dual-Heater, V-Groove Fusion Splicer
The
Type-46 fusion splicer features a built-in dual heating system, making it the
fastest fixed V-groove splicer on the market for faster deployment and cost
savings for data center, enterprise network, FTTx, Fiber-to- the- Home, central
office, and other network applications. The unit is compatible with
Sumitomo’s field installable connector, the Lynx2 CustomFit ® Splice-On
Connector.
Research
Triangle Park, NC, December 9, 2010 — Sumitomo Electric Lightwave
(www.sumitomoelectric.com),
a leader in fiber optic product manufacturing announced today the availability
of the industry’s first fixed V-groove fusion splicer with a dual heating
system. The built-in dual heating system of the Type-46 TomCat® plus
fusion splicer improves splicing efficiency and productivity by 70%.
The
splicer’s advanced electronic design, which accommodates a built-in dual
heating system and simultaneous operation, streamlines the splicing process and
reduces the bottle neck of “heater wait time” by 88%, making it the fastest
V-groove splicer on the market. With a typical heater cycle time of only
40 seconds and splice cycle of only 14 seconds, TomCat plus speeds
deployment and reduces labor time and costs.
By
incorporating passive diameter alignment splicing technology, TomCat plus
yields the repeatable and consistent low loss results required for the
increased reliability and performance for today’s data center, enterprise
network, outside plant, structured cabling, and FTTx applications. Designed for
portability, user-friendliness, precision, and speed — without foregoing
affordability― the TomCat plus also features automatic heater and splice
start functions, a 5.6 inch adjustable monitor, internal memory for up to
2,0000 splicing points, and adjustable battery-saving settings.
“As
the first company to have innovated and introduced simultaneous dual-heater
operation technology to the industry, we are pleased to launch yet another
dual-heater splicer that further improves efficiency and lowers deployment
costs for our customers, comments Joshua Seawell, Sumitomo’s product
manager for its Lightwave Network Products division.
The
RoHS compliant Type-46 TomCat plus joins Sumitomo’s Type-25e TomCat handhelds
and Type-39 FastCat splicer that can be used with the Lynx2 CustomFit Splice-On
Connector for on-site customized field terminations.
About
Sumitomo Electric Lightwave: Sumitomo Electric Lightwave (SEL), located
in Research Triangle Park, NC, is dedicated to tailoring fiber optic
networks through the manufacturing of optical fiber cable,
ribbon-configured network solutions, fusion splicers & accessories,
termination products, FTTx solutions, and its FutureFlex®Air-blown Fiber®
System. SEL is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Electric Industries, a
global leader in the innovation, development, and manufacturing of
products to advance the information and communications industry. For more
information, please call 800-358-7378, email us at info@sumitomoelectric.com, or visit
us at www.sumitomoelectric.com.
CERRO WIRE - Creative Wire Solution Speeds Construction at Chicago Hospital
When
the busy
Using
SLiPWire, a THHN product that does not require additional lubrication for
pulling, saved time and money because cables did not have to be lubricated for
each pull. The hospital was also the first major project to use a new wire
feature called True Sequential Footage, which installers found to be a valuable
time saver in determining how much wire was left on a reel, where the
installers were in a pull, and in planning future pulls.
Rather
than use the standard method of delivering master reels and cutting lengths at
the job site, the project relied on a creative cutting solution, where cuts
were run inline at the wire jacketing line. Reels were delivered with the exact
length needed for each wire pull location.
The
fortunate combination of the lubricated wire, accurate wire measurement, and
the creative wire cutting solution helped ensure that the complex building
wiring was completed on time and on budget.
Multifaceted
hospital project demanded creative solutions
Founded
in 1926, Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare serves more than 400,000 patients in the
The
new facility offers patients access to high quality inpatient care in a new
866,000 square feet acute care hospital with 259 private rooms over 5 floors, a
full array of outpatient services in the existing
In
addition, the CyberKnife Center of Chicago will also be moving to the new
campus. CyberKnife provides a computer-controlled radiosurgery system, and the
new center will be the first in the
Meade
Electric, the project’s electrical contractor, knew that the building wire
supplier chosen for the project had to be able to provide the highest quality
product and exceptional delivery to meet the needs of such a large and complex,
multi-building project. Meade chose
Cerrowire to provide building wire, in cooperation with Steiner Electric and
Callas/Kingsley Electrical Sales, Cerrowire’s manufacturer’s representative
agency.
Wire
product saves time and money
One
of the reasons Cerrowire was selected was its new product, SLiPWire, a
thermoplastic high heat-resistant nylon-coated (THHN) wire that does not
require additional lubrication for pulling.
Meade was looking to save time and money by not having to lubricate the
cables for each pull. SLiPWire is a co-extruded cable, meaning the PVC and
Nylon layers of the jacketing are extruded onto the cable simultaneously. This results in a much better looking and
superior performing cable, since the two layers have a much tighter bond. Meade employees found that this kept the SLiPWire
cables from tearing and allowed the product to bend and corner much more
easily.
“Cerrowire’s
SLiPWire nearly self-pulled,” said Dan McGovern, Meade Electric’s project
manager.
In
February of 2010, Cerrowire interviewed Meade Electric installers when the job
was about 80 percent complete and about 40 percent of the wire had been
energized. They found very few problems with the wire, including remarkably few
nicks or tears, and no grounds or shorts.
The
SLiPWire cables also feature True Sequential Footage, which uses a footage mark
to document remaining wire, beginning with zero at the bottom of the reel and
ending with the finished length at the top. The accurate footage mark allows
for quick identification of the re-order point, guaranteeing the full purchased
wire length and reducing random lengths.
True
Sequential Footage uses Doppler lasers to ensure precision far more accurate
than a mechanical counter. The non-contact capabilities allow for zero slip and
zero wear compared to a contact counter during the cutting process. Testing
indicates that the measurement system is accurate to one-tenth of a percent.
Normally,
a wire distributor would cut the wire and serve the end user (contractor). The
“On
a job of this size, installers may spend more than 18 months pulling wire, so
scheduling wire delivery is very important,” said Cerrowire’s Marketing Manager
Dale Crawford. Cerrowire had an employee at the wire plant serving as a liaison
to the contractor, who worked as a scheduler to ensure good communication and
guarantee the plant had the lead time needed to produce and deliver wire to
keep up with the construction progress. Close coordination meant cuts would be
made as they were manufacturing the wire and footage could be run exactly to
what was needed. No cutting needed to be done by installers, which saved
significantly on time.
As
Meade’s project manager McGovern explains it, the system worked because of a
collaborative effort that consisted of the contractor supplying information on
wire lengths needed for the schedule in a timely manner, a distributor who was
willing to act as a coordinator rather than providing cutting service, and
Cerrowire’s ability to produce inline these specific lengths with markings for
where it goes on the job.
Foremen
cite sequential footage guarantee as key to project success
Of
all the interesting features of the project, the hands down winner from the
point of view of the job foremen was the wire’s accurate footage marking. If for any reason a pull was interrupted and
identification of where the wire was going was removed, installers could look
at the markings and use the building plans to quickly identify exactly where
each piece of wire belonged. No guess work was needed, even though all
identification may have been removed.
Meade
Electric foreman Bob Sinnot said, “I loved the footage marks. They are the best
thing about the wire. You start with the
top of the reel, and you know how much you pulled off and how much is left on
there. When your next pull comes up, you
know how much you have left to use, instead of guessing or peeling it all off
and trying to take a measurement. It is
really nice.”
Foreman
John Becker agreed. “The numbering on the cable is a really useful
feature. So many times you have to
re-reel a reel, because one feeder is short.
You can lose track, but with this product, you just have to look at the
number, and you can instantly tell where you are. From day to day, you know where you left off,
just by looking at the numbers.” He added, “The cable itself seems tougher than
other brands. We found that when we used the hydraulic bender, we could bend
the wire in an absolute 90 degree angle, and there was absolutely no rippling
or breaking of the jacket.”
The
collaboration between Meade Electric, Cerrowire, Steiner Electric and
Callas/Kingsley Electrical Sales was a team effort that facilitated timely
delivery of the product without incident, allowing the complex project to stay
on schedule and within budget.
CERRO WIRE INTRODUCES TRUE SEQUENTIAL FOOTAGE™
Allowing
for precision wire cutting and cost control
Cerro
Wire LLC, a leading manufacturer of copper electrical building wire and cable,
introduces True Sequential Footage™, a sequentially printed cable reel that
provides accurate wire length with each cut. True Sequential Footage prevents
the need to carry excess cable inventory, providing precision length, accurate
footage, and cost control.
True
Sequential Footage uses a footage mark to document remaining wire, beginning
with zero at the bottom of the reel and ending with the finished length at the
top. The accurate footage mark allows for quick identification of the re-order
point, guaranteeing the full purchased wire length and reducing random lengths.
This better controls end-of-reel scrap.
The
need to carry excess inventory is reduced with the precision cutting allowed by
True Sequential Footage. Wire normally lost on each cut made with less accurate
cutting systems (3 to 8 percent) is saved when True Sequential Footage’s
precision footage marking system is used.
True
Sequential Footage uses Doppler lasers to ensure precision far more accurate
than a mechanical counter. The non-contact capabilities allow for zero slip and
zero wear compared to a contact counter during the cutting process. Rigorous
accuracy tests show that Cerrowire’s measurement system produces an accuracy of
better than plus or minus one percent.
“Cerrowire
developed True Sequential Footage to address a problem that plagues every
electrical distributor – the need to carry more inventory to cover wire cutting
inconsistencies,” says Rick McDonald, President of Cerrowire Electrical
Distribution. “True Sequential Footage isn’t just one of our best products;
it’s one of the best and most innovative products out on the market.”
QuickTreX® Launches Fiber Whips™ Pre-Terminated Fiber Optic Assemblies
Custom
factory pre-terminated fiber optic assemblies come with dB loss test results.
Fiber
Whips are made with high quality ceramic ferrule connectors, which are
staggered inside for less bulk. Each connector is individually plastic wrapped
to prevent contamination by pulling lubricants and/or other contaminants. They
are available in ST, SC, or LC connector types.
For
various uses and applications, Fiber Whips have many options of fiber types,
fiber core, connector types, lengths, and number of strands. Available in
Singlemode, Multimode and 10Gig Multimode fiber types, the Fiber Whips can be
ordered in lengths ranging from 50-5000 feet, depending upon the type of
assembly required. Many options are available on specific indoor (plenum) and
outdoor types. See the list below.
Pulling
eyes constructed of super-strong polyethylene mesh can be factory installed on
one end, both ends or none, and are recommended for easy installation and a
level of protection when pulling. The mesh tightens itself around the strands
and connectors, keeping them securely in place, which provides a high level of
protection for each fiber strand and each connector. The end clip is made to
swivel freely to prevent the cable from twisting during the pull. Heat shrink
tubing adds to the strength of the pulling assembly. Two-millimeter color-coded
buffer tubes are installed on each strand for extra durability before, during,
and after the pull.
“Popular
with end-users and installation contractors, Fiber Whips™
Pre-Terminated Fiber Optic Assemblies require no training and no startup costs,
and are the best and most reliable factory termination with very low back
reflection,” says Tony Casazza, President of QuickTreX. “These connectors
require precise pre-measurement as well as potential lead time when ordering,”
he adds.
To
obtain additional information, call QuickTreX at 800-642-8320 or visit the
website at www.quicktrex.com.
Types
of QuickTreX Fiber Whips™ Pre-Terminated Fiber Optic Assemblies
Indoor
(Plenum) Pre-Terminated Assemblies
Multimode, 10-Gig Multimode, Singlemode.
2, 4, 6, 12, and 24
Factory
pre-terminated. Comes with dB loss test results. Factory installed optional
pulling eyes over the terminated ends are recommended for a level of protection
when pulling. High quality ceramic ferrule connectors. Available in 4, 6, 12,
and 24
Fiber Types: Multimode, 10-GIG Multimode, Singlemode
Connector Types: ST, SC, LC
Available Length: 50 - 5000 Feet
Pulling Eye: one end, both ends, none
Fiber Core: 62.5/125, 50/125
Indoor/Outdoor
Pre-Terminated Assemblies
Multimode, 10-Gig Multimode, Singlemode.
4, 6, 12, 24, and 48
Factory
pre-terminated. Comes with dB loss test results. Factory installed optional
pulling eyes over the terminated ends are recommended for a level of protection
when pulling. High quality ceramic ferrule connectors. Available in 4, 6, 12,
24, and 48 Strand.
Fiber Types: Multimode, 10-GIG Multimode, Singlemode
Connector Types: ST, SC, LC
Available Length: 50 - 5000 Feet
Pulling Eye: one end, both ends, none
Fiber Core: 62.5/125, 50/125
Indoor/Outdoor
Interlock Armor Pre-Terminated Assemblies
Multimode.
6 and 12 Strand.
Factory
pre-terminated. Comes with dB loss test results. Factory installed optional
pulling eyes over the terminated ends are recommended for a level of protection
when pulling. High quality ceramic ferrule connectors. Available in 6 and 12
Strand.
- Excellent crush and impact resistance
- Superior flexibility and bend limiting properties
- Complete rodent protection
- Saves installation cost - eliminates metallic conduits or raceways
- Rugged tight-buffer design for ease of termination, installation and long
life
- Ideal for industrial - factory applications, physical security applications
Fiber Types: Multimode
Connector Types: ST, SC, LC
Available Length: 50 - 2,000 Feet
Pulling Eye: one end, both ends, none
Fiber Core: 62.5/125, 50/125
Outdoor
Pre-Terminated Assemblies
Multimode, Singlemode.
4, 6, 12, and 24 Strand.
Factory pre-terminated.
Comes with dB loss test results. Factory installed optional pulling eyes over
the terminated ends are recommended for a level of protection when pulling.
High quality ceramic ferrule connectors. Available in 4, 6, 12, and 24 Strand.
Fiber Types: Multimode, Singlemode
Connector Types: ST, SC, LC
Available Length: 50 - 5,000 Feet
Pulling Eye: one end, both ends, none
Fiber Core: 62.5/125, 50/125
Outdoor
With Messenger Pre-Terminated Assemblies
Multimode, Singlemode.
4, 6, 12, and 24 Strand.
Factory
pre-terminated. Comes with dB loss test results. We can factory install
optional pulling eyes (see options below) over the terminated ends for a level
of protection when pulling (recommended). High quality ceramic ferrule
connectors. Available in 4, 6, 12, and 24 Strand.
Fiber Types: Multimode, Singlemode
Connector Types: ST, SC, LC
Available Length: 50 - 5,000 Feet
Pulling Eye: one end, both ends, none
Fiber Core: 62.5/125, 50/125
About
QuickTrex
QuickTreX®
is a manufacturer of high quality datacom products - such as copper cabling
hardware, fiber optic cable assemblies, tools and testers - catering to the low
voltage cabling industry for use in premise networks, security, and electrical
applications. QuickTreX was founded to fill a need for products that are in
tune with the technicians who use them. The QuickTrex R&D team is
continually researching, staying ahead of developing trends in the market
place, in order to offer quality innovative products.
To
obtain additional information, call 800-642-8320, or visit the website at www.quicktrex.com.
Both Shielded and UTP Versions of Siemon’s Z-MAX 6A Cabling Systems Verified for ISO/IEC 11801 Category 6A Component and Channel Compliance
Independent, third party testing confirms that shielded and UTP Z-MAX 6A
connecting hardware and cable achieve both component compliance and full
channel compliance with the published version of ISO/IEC 11801
Watertown, CT. December 15, 2010. Independent, 3rd-party ETL testing
confirms that both shielded and UTP versions of Siemon’s Z-MAX 6A connectors
and cable exceed all category 6A component performance parameters specified by
newly published amendment 2 of ISO/IEC 11801, 2nd ed. and both IEC 60603-7-51
and IEC 61156-5 for category 6A connecting hardware and cable. As the
ISO/IEC category 6A component performance requirements are more stringent than
those set for category 6A components by TIA-568-C.2, achieving ISO/IEC
compliance is considered a stron gerindicator of overall category 6A system performance
capabilities.
Performed by Intertek, an industry-recognized ETL testing provider, the
assessed NEXT loss, return loss, insertion loss, FEXT loss, TCL, TCTL, DC
resistance, DC resistance unbalance, PSANEXT loss, and PSAFEXT loss
performance. The Z-MAX 6A shielded and UTP connecting hardware and cable
showed performance headroom across all tested parameters.
In addition to component compliance to the more stringent ISO/IEC requirements,
independent 3rd-party testing conducted by UL verifies that Siemon’s Z-MAX 6A
shielded and UTP end-to-end systems both exceed category 6A/class EA channel
requirements specified by ANSI/TIA-568-C.2 and amendment 1 of ISO/IEC 11801 2nd
ed. Z-MAX channel compliance includes both 100m, 4-connector topologies and
short-reach, 5m, 2-connector topologies. This short link capability is
particularly beneficial in data centers, where cabling channels are typically
shorter. Shorter overall lengths can reduce cabling costs, decrease
cable slack and create more easily managed pathways to improve airflow and
thermal management.
“Along with the ISO/IEC and TIA category 6A channel test results, this ETL
confirmation of component compliance further cements Z-MAX performance
leadership,” Explained Robert Carlson, Siemon’s VP of Global Marketing.
“Z-MAX has remained the highest-performing, fastest to terminate shielded
or UTP category 6A system since its launch in January 2009.”
Carlson attributes the Z-MAX 6A connector’s high performance and industry
leading termination time to its an exclusive linear termination module. The
linear Z-MAX termination module eliminates split and crossed pairs and allows
conductors to be laced quickly into position without pair crosses, thereby
maintaining and protecting cable pair geometry for optimized transmission. This
efficient conductor lacing process, combined with the simple, patent-pending
Z-TOOL™ allows both shielded and UTP Z-MAX 6A outlets to be terminated in as
little as 60 seconds from start to finish, including cable preparation.
The Z-MAX 6A outlet also features exclusive diagonally oriented IDC contact
technology. This unique diagonal configuration maximizes distance between
contacts within side-stacked outlets compared with traditional rectangular
contact layouts. Maximizing pair-to-pair separation between adjacent outlets
minimizes alien crosstalk and enables ultra-high density patching,
accommodating up to 48 ports within 1U (one rack mount space) in either
shielded or UTP options.
Z-MAX 6A is supported by multiple work area faceplates and surface mount
options in addition to a full suite of Siemon data center cabinet, rack and
cable management products. To learn more,visit http://www.siemon.com/us/zmax/.
Follow Siemon on Twitter: http://twitter.com/siemoncabling/
Join Siemon on Facebook: http://www.siemon.com/go/facebook
###
About Siemon:
Established in 1903, Siemon (www.siemon.com) is an
industry leader specializing in the manufacture and innovation of high quality,
high-performance network cabling solutions. Headquartered in Connecticut, USA,
with global offices, manufacturing and service partners throughout the world,
Siemon offers the most comprehensive suite of copper (unshielded and shielded
twisted-pair) category 5e, category 6 (Class E), category 6A (Class EA) and
category 7/7A (Class F/FA), and multimode and singlemode optical fiber cabling
systems available. With over 400 patents specific to structured cabling, from
patch cords to patch panels, Siemon Labs invests heavily in R&D and
development of industry standards, underlining the company's long-term
commitment to its customers and the industry.
The Coming Renaissance of Electrical Contracting
By:
Houston Neal
Houston
joined Software Advice in 2007, just shortly after the company was started. He
spends most of his day writing for the company blog and getting the word out
about Software Advice's resources. He enjoys researching and reporting trends
in software and technology, and has a particular interest in mobile
technologies.
Director
of Marketing, Software Advice
on 2/10/2010
In
the next ten to twenty years, “electrical contractor” will no longer be a
suitable job title for electricians. They will transition into “energy
contractors” to support the fast-growing green construction market.
We
see this as a coming renaissance in electrical contracting. There has been a
revival of interest in the electrical trade as home owners and corporations
adopt alternative methods (e.g. solar, wind, etc) to power buildings. What’s
driving this? Federal incentives, lower material costs and savings from reduced
energy spending.
Projected Growth of Renewable Energy Jobs for Electricians
A study by the American Solar Energy Society projects
renewable energy jobs for electricians to grow approximately 900% by 2030, just
in the state of Colorado.
To
take advantage of upcoming opportunities, electricians will need to “green”
their skill-set and re-brand themselves. We’ll share more on this later. First,
let’s take a look at the trends driving this change.
Green
Construction is on the Rise
According to a 2009 Booz Allen Hamilton study,
green construction will skyrocket over the next five years. The report projects
green construction to generate $554 billion dollars in GDP, provide $396
billion in labor earnings and support or create over 7.9 million jobs from 2009
to 2013. These figures are way up from the previous 8-year period. From
2000-2008, GDP from green construction was just $173 billion, labor earnings
was $123 billion and number of jobs created was 2.4 million.
Economic Growth from Green Construction
This growth comes directly from increased demand for green buildings, which is
largely driven by cost savings from reduced property operating expenses, and by
new regulations from federal legislation (e.g. American Clean Energy and
Security Act).
Clearly,
environmentally friendly construction affects the architecture engineering
construction (AEC) industry collectively. But how will this impact
electricians?
Electricians
are in High Demand
The growing green construction market will create new demand for electricians.
And to keep up with demand, electricians will need to diversify their
skill-set. We obviously expect to see electricians working on solar
photovoltaic and wind turbine installations, but that’s just the beginning.
They’ll work on building retrofits, mass transit and light rail projects,
“smart” electrical grid transmission systems and more. Here are a few examples
of the unique places we expect electricians to find work:
·
Lighting system upgrades – There are an estimated
2.2 million commercial buildings in the U.S. that have antiquated lighting
systems (old fixtures, ballasts, lamps and controls). Additionally, all federal
buildings are required to switch to Energy Star lighting products by the end of
2013 (in accordance with the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007).
Some of these upgrades can be handled by the local maintenance guy, but others
will require the expertise and skill of electrical contractors.
·
Parking lot electrical outlets – A state bill in Minnesota will require half of
new parking facilities to include outlets to charge electric vehicles. Who will
install these docking stations? Electricians of course. Members of the
Minnesota Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 292 are already preparing to provide labor for these projects. If
successful, we expect other states and cities to follow Minnesota’s example.
·
Wind turbine manufacturing – According to a report from the American Solar
Energy Society (ASES), a typical 250-person wind turbine manufacturing company
has two electricians as employees. This isn’t a large number, but it’s an
example of the variety of job opportunities available.
·
Electric vehicle electricians – Jobs for electricians will also emerge in
adjacent industries. For example, electricians will need to be trained in auto
mechanics – or auto mechanics will need to be trained in electrical contracting
– in order to meet demand for electric vehicle maintenance. And the career
outlook is good: electric vehicle electricians make an average of $39-$59
thousand a year.
For
additional information on green job opportunities for electricians, check out
this article from the National Electrical Contractors
Association (NECA).
LEED
Creates New Opportunities
Projects applying for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
status are growing just as fast as the rest of the green construction market.
With many LEED credits being electric- and energy-related, electricians will
have an opportunity to win work on these projects. However, they’ll need to get
versed on credit requirements, and should even consider becoming a LEED
accredited professional (AP). LEED projects get an extra point for having an AP
on the job, which could be a selling-point when bidding on jobs.
Here’s
a sample of credits that require the knowledge and skill of electricians.
|
Title |
Credit |
Requirements |
|
Alternative
Transportation — Low-emitting and Fuel-efficient |
Sustainable
Sites (SS) Credit 4.3 |
Install
alternative-fuel fueling stations (e.g. stations for charging electric cars)
for 3% of the total vehicle parking capacity of the site. |
|
Light
Pollution Reduction |
Sustainable
Sites (SS) Credit 8 |
Internal
lighting - Reduce input power (by automatic device) of interior lights by at
least 50% between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. Electrician will select and install
fixtures and controls to meet requirements. |
|
Optimize
Energy Performance |
Energy
& Atmosphere (EA) Credit 1 |
Demonstrate
a percentage improvement in the proposed building performance rating compared
with baseline building performance rating. The higher the building energy
efficiency level, the more LEED points are awarded. Electrician will work
with utility company to assess energy performance and identify most
cost-effective energy efficiency measures. |
|
On-site
Renewable Energy |
Energy
& Atmosphere (EA) Credit 2 |
Install
and use on-site renewable energy systems (solar, wind, etc) to offset
building energy costs. |
|
Green
Power |
Energy
& Atmosphere (EA) Credit 6 |
Engage
in at least a 2-year renewable energy contract to provide at least 35% of the
building’s electricity from renewable sources (wind, solar, wave, geothermal,
or biomass). Calculation of two-year expected energy use is required, along
with kWH cost of the green power from the serving electric utility.
Electrician should provide projected monthly cost required to obtain this
point. |
|
Controllability
of Systems—lighting |
Indoor
Environmental Quality (IEQ) Credit 6.1 |
Provide
individual lighting controls for 90% (minimum) of the building occupants to enable
adjustments to suit individual task needs and preferences. |
Electricians
Must Act Now
With so many opportunities on the horizon, contractors need to make sure
they’re ready to win jobs. To get started, they must gain the skills and
knowledge to take on green projects. Both the International Brotherhood of
Electrical Workers (IBEW) and National Electrical Contractors Association
(NECA) offer education programs for green electrical work.
Next,
contractors should market and promote their new green credentials. Update your
website and other marketing materials, syndicate a press release to trade
magazines and local media, and get more exposure online by joining directories
(e.g. CalFinder.com) or advertising in search engines.
Finally,
update your bidding process to make sure you win those green electrical jobs.
You’ll need to bid accurately to ensure job profitability, but competitively to
make sure you win the job. This means having up-to-date pricing information on
materials and labor. Good electrical estimating software will have specific
capabilities to estimate solar panel installations and other types of renewable
energy jobs.
Really
good article, I agree that more electricians should look at green alternatives.
Comment
by David Builderman
February 11, 2010 @ 11:50 am
Interesting
and insightful article. Good jobs in the future that cannot be outsourced.
Comment
by Gary Stearns
February 14, 2010 @ 7:31 pm
As
a commercial real estate investor and developer, I believe what Houston Neal is
speculating about makes sense. Traditionally, we in the industry rely on
engineers to point out energy saving opportunities in our buildings. However,
in general we do not speak with engineers as often as we speak with
electricians and mechanics who more frequently visit our buildings in response
to routine repairs and maintenance. As such, if these parties were more versed
in energy saving opportunities connected to their particular trade, they are in
an excellent position to make suggestions to clients. Building manager clients
will certainly listen if the ROI is attractive. For example, switching from T12
to more efficient T8 lighting and electronic ballasts could easily be done by
an electrical contractor. The key is that the electrical contractor must be
able to provide an estimate of the cost and the return on investment. The same
would be true for the installation of an energy management system in the
building. Electrical contractors will certainly need training in this area, but
the returns could be quite lucrative.
Comment
by Anthony Buonicore
February 17, 2010 @ 12:29 pm
This
is a really great article! It’s clear that you have done your research. I look
forward to seeing whether or not your predictions will come true – though I’m
sure they will! Great points.
Comment
by Lesley
LEED AP
February 19, 2010 @ 1:49 pm
This
is a very interesting article that has clearly been researched. I would like to
point out that the electricians themselves are the labor hired by electrical
contractors. The shift brings up particular concepts especially in respect to
the entire industry being taken over by this more powerful “energy contractor.”
The theory is good, but many contractors are set in their old world ways and
may not make this transition since they are happy being electrical contractors.
On the other hand, this energy concept would allow an existing contractor to
expand his or her business into other markets and hopefully in turn return a
larger profit. We may even see a merge of new companies that never existed
specializing in particular areas of energy. I am sure those who are supportive
of the USGBC would like to see an increase in this kind of subcontractor, for a
good one would seem to be more environmentally friendly and possibly more
beneficial to a seasoned developer. Finally, I would point out that Anthony is
completed right when he brings up return on investment since developers are
really the ones who get loaned the money from banks and the ones who decide
what to do with the money! Maybe we will see an increase in developer education
too!? J/K it is too bad that most developers are too busy riding around in
their boats to be studying up and researching great concepts like these!
Comment
by Matt Black
February 19, 2010 @ 6:09 pm
Very
good future lies ahead for Electricians.
Comment
by Wayne Frese
March 1, 2010 @ 8:40 am
Yeah,
they need to get up to speed fast to take advantage the swelling “green”
racket, especially in the public sectore. Seems like nothing can stop it, not
even common sense in many cases.
Comment
by CMS
April 29, 2010 @ 4:20 pm
I
am one of those electricians expanding their horizons. Neal Hit it on the mark
I will be reading more of his articles. I belive you will see the oldd
ccontractors go by the way side and new ones emerge from this green technology.
Comment
by John Wright
April 30, 2010 @ 7:30 pm
This
is best for the planet
Comment
by Landis wright
May 26, 2010 @ 11:09 am
We
will be seeing a lot of jobs in line with this industry in the future.
A growing number of electricians installs telephone, computer wiring and
equipment, and fire alarm and security systems. They also may connect motors to
electrical power and install electronic controls for industrial equipment.
Comment
by Barry Atkins
of Electrical Test Equipment
August 30, 2010 @ 2:39 am
http://greeneconomypost.com/green-building-electrical-contracting-11266.htm
Siemon Adds LC Fiber Optic Adapter Lock to its LockIT™ Line of Secure Network Accessories
Innovative adapter lock can be used to secure LC optical fiber ports in data
center equipment, patching fields and work areas
December 21, 2010 – Watertown, CT - Siemon, a global leader in network
infrastructure, announces the launch of its LockIT LC optical fiber adapter
lock. Joining Siemon’s LockIT line of secure network connectivity, this
new, tamper-proof adapter lock protects against unauthorized access to unused
LC ports. The adapter locks require no special connectivity and can be
utilized to secure nearly any LC optical fiber-based network infrastructure.
The LockIT system is designed to provide physical layer security without
adding complexity or impacting overall functionality and density.
The LockIT adapter lock snaps securely into any industry-standard LC port,
blocking cord access and preventing tampering. Removable only with a specially
designed key, the lock fits flush within the port, providing full access to
adjacent ports regardless of density, and it is brightly colored to allow
network personnel to quickly identify locked ports. These new secure
components are system and cabling performance independent, allowing it to
secure any active equipment LC port, or passive LC patching, plug and
play or work area port..
The Siemon LockIT product family also includes a comprehensive line of secure
copper RJ-45 network connectivity, including a tamper-proof RJ45 outlet lock
and lockable patch cords in shielded and UTP 10Gb/s category 6A and category 6
configurations. The LockIT RJ-45 copper outlet lock, patch cord and new
LC fiber adapter lock all utilize the same universal key, included with the
system.
“The obvious benefit is a very cost-effective and easily-implemented deterrent
against malicious access to the network through unsecured connectivity,”
explained Tony Veatch, Siemon Director of Product Management. “But LockIT
is also an excellent way to protect against accidental connectivity errors,
acting like a ‘lock-out/tag-out’ system for the network infrastructure. We see
great interest in such a solution in public areas including conference rooms,
airports and classrooms. This simple, effective product is suitable for
industries such as transportation, finance, retail, hospitality, and education,
as well as in mission critical data center applications.”
To learn more about Siemon’s LockIT system, visit www.siemon.com/go/lockit
Follow Siemon on Twitter: http://twitter.com/siemoncabling/
Join Siemon on Facebook: http://www.siemon.com/go/facebook
###
About Siemon
Established in 1903, Siemon is an industry leader
specializing in the manufacture and innovation of high quality,
high-performance network cabling solutions. Headquartered in Connecticut, USA,
with global offices, manufacturing and service partners throughout the world,
Siemon offers the most comprehensive suite of copper (unshielded and shielded
twisted-pair) category 5e, category
6 (Class E), category 6A (Class EA) and category 7/7A (Class F/FA), and multimode and singlemode
optical fiber cabling systems available. With over 400 patents specific to structured cabling,
from patch cords to patch panels, Siemon Labs invests heavily in R&D and development
of industry standards, underlining the company's long-term commitment to its
customers and the industry.
The Future of the Network Revolves around TIA 2011
As
the next billion users come online, the complex web of technologies that make
up the global network will face critical issues that must be addressed to keep
everything spinning.
Keeping
up with the exponential need for bandwidth, the demands of users for a 100%
reliable always-up network that is protected from disruption, and keeping their
information secure is a big job. Success depends on innovation and cooperation
within the industry. TIA 2011: Inside the Network focuses on solutions for the
most important information communication technology issues we will face in the
coming years. Join your peers and industry leaders at TIA 2011: Inside the Network, May 17-20, 2011 in Dallas, Texas.
Registration opens February 1, 2011. Visit www.tia2011.org
for details.
TIA Statement on Matt Roberts Taking the Helm of United States Information Technology Office in Beijing
Washington,
D.C. (January 3, 2011) – Grant Seiffert, President of the Telecommunications
Industry Association, released the following statement today about Matt
Roberts, who has just joined the United States Information Technology Industry
Office (USITO) in Beijing as Managing Director.
“Matt
brings an enormous wealth of China experience to his new position as Managing
Director of USITO. With over 20 years of experience of leading and
building organizations in China, Matt is ideally suited to leading USITO as it
represents our member companies in the important Chinese market.”
“Matt
has a unique blend of experience in policy advocacy, business development and
government relations that will make USITO an even more effective voice for the
U.S. high-tech industry in China. We are delighted to welcome him
aboard.”
Mr.
Roberts has worked in leadership positions at numerous organizations in China,
including About.com, BlackInc China and, Dow Jones Company. He
succeeds Dr. John Chiang, who is leaving USITO after two years of dedicated and
valuable service.
TIA
is one of five parent associations of USITO. Founded in 1994, USITO was
established with the primary goal of assisting innovative U.S. high-tech companies
to access and further open the world's single largest emerging market for
information and communications technology products and services.
About
TIA
The Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) represents the global
information and communications technology (ICT) industry through standards
development, advocacy, tradeshows, business opportunities, market intelligence
and world-wide environmental regulatory analysis. Since 1924, TIA has been
enhancing the business environment for broadband, mobile wireless, information
technology, networks, cable, satellite and unified communications. Members'
products and services empower communications in every industry and market,
including healthcare, education, security, public safety, transportation, government,
the military, the environment and entertainment.
Join
TIA at its new annual industry event - TIA 2011:
Inside the Network - at the Gaylord Texan in Dallas, May 17-20, 2011.
TIA
is accredited by the American
National Standards Institute (ANSI). Visit tiaonline.org.
TIA's
Board of Directors includes senior-level executives from ADTRAN,
Alcatel-Lucent, ANDA Networks, AttivaCorp, Cisco Systems, Ericsson, Inc.,
GENBAND, Inc., Henkels & McCoy, ILS Technology, Intel Corporation,
Intersect, Inc., LGE, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia Siemens Networks, OneChip
Photonics, Openwave, Inc., Panasonic Computer Solutions Co., Powerwave
Technologies, Qualcomm, Research In Motion, Sumitomo Electric Lightwave
Corporation, Tellabs, Tyco Electronics, Ulticom, Inc., Walker and Associates
and WirefreeCom, Inc. Advisors to the Board include FAL Associates and
Telcordia Technologies
HCM is First Cable Manufacturer to be UL Verified TIA 568-C.2
Manchester,
NH, January 5, 2011
Hitachi
Cable Manchester is pleased to announce that it is the first cable manufacturer
in the world to receive TIA 568-C.2 verification from Underwriters
Laboratories. The verification, which
covers all Category 5e, 6 and 6A copper communications cables, demonstrates
that the cables meet the performance requirements of the TIA standard. End users installing cables with UL
verification can be confident their infrastructure will support any and all
applications intended for that category of cable. The 568-C family of standards is replacing
the 568-B family, which was released in 2001, as well as all subsequent addenda.
About
HCM
HCM,
located in Manchester, NH manufacturers a complete line of copper and fiber
optic cables for the communication industry.
Over 3,500 different cable products are manufactured at this facility. In addition to Category 6A cables, products
include Category 6 and 5e cables, outdoor Category 5e and 6 cables, indoor and
outdoor fiber optic cables, armored fiber optic cables as well as plenum-rated
indoor/outdoor fiber optic cables.
To
learn more about HCM products and where you can purchase them, please contact
HCM toll free at 800-772-0116 or visit the HCM website at www.hcm.hitachi.com.
About
Underwriters Laboratories
UL is an independent product safety certification
organization that has been testing products and writing Standards for Safety
for more than a century. UL evaluates more than 19,000 types of products,
components, materials and systems for more than 66,000 manufacturers annually.
In total, there are more than 20 billion UL Marks appearing on products
worldwide each year. UL's global family of companies and network of service
providers includes 68 laboratory, testing and certification facilities serving
customers in 102 countries. For more information, visit: www.ul.com/newsroom
NECA NEWS
WindTronics
Builds National Installer Network Through Alliance with NECA
01/10/2011
New
alliances with NECA and other skilled worker organizations create green jobs
and easier access to wind energy for consumers and businesses.
Community
Center Off to Bright Start Thanks to St. Louis Electrical Connection
01/08/2011
A
new North St. Louis community center will open in 2011 with new electrical
service to support medical, business and other needs thanks to a $20,000
donation by the Electrical Connection – a partnership of NECA’s St. Louis
Chapter and IBEW?Local Union 1.
NJATC
Introduces Rigger/Signal Person Train-the-Trainer Course
01/06/2011
The
NJATC’s new two-day Rigger/Signal Person Train-the-Trainer course will be
offered initially at six of our joint training centers in the near future.
These classes are primarily for outside AJATC instructors, company and local
union safety directors, and other individuals who will be teaching and issuing
the qualification cards now being required by OSHA, but all members are
eligible to enroll.
Stand Down
to Help Prevent Slips, Trips and Falls
01/06/2011
NECA’s
Southeastern Line Construction Chapter is urging participation in a “Safety
Stand Down” on Tuesday, January 11. NECA’s national organization encourages all
contractors, inside and outside, to consider joining in this activity aimed at
preventing worksite injuries — either on that date or a day of your choosing.
Let the chapter know if you're participating.
NECA
Responds to OSHA 2011 Regulatory Agenda
01/04/2011
Jerry
Rivera, NECA Director, Safety, reviews OSHA's 2011 regulatory agenda and breaks
down what actions could affect electrical contractors and NECA's planned
responses to those items.
Join Us for
a Free Webinar On Recordkeeping
01/03/2011
US
Department of Labor Agencies to Host Live Web Chats
01/03/2011
Graybar
Donates $250,000 to ELECTRI International
12/30/2010
In
a "give back" program sponsored by Graybar and Graybar ESP program
manufacturers, a portion of every 2010 purchase by NECA-member contractors of
participating manufacturers’ products was earmarked as a direct contribution to
ELECTRI International. As a result, the Foundation has $250,000 more to invest
in critical industry research, management education, and supervisory training
programs.
Last
Newscast of 2010: Watch Now!
12/27/2010
While
2010 was a rough year for the electrical construction industry, NECA members
have made important strides in breaking into new markets, changing some of the
ways they’re doing business, and forging new connections.
Perfect
Storm Makes This Perfect Time to Combat Employee Misclassification
12/24/2010
The
economic downturn, budget deficits at all levels of government, increased
auditing by the IRS, and the continual proliferation of anti-misclassification
legislation have created a “perfect storm,” making this the right time to step
up the assault on employee misclassification on all fronts.
New York,
Connecticut and Pennsylvania Get Tough on Worker Misclassification
12/24/2010
Nearly
three dozen states have adopted, or are considering adopting, laws to combat
worker misclassification. New laws recently passed in
Chapter
Executive Gauthier Promotes EVs and Oregon's NECA-IBEW Team
12/17/2010
Developing
Guidance on Crane & Derrick Rule Tops OSHA's To-Do List
12/17/2010
Developing
guidance for enforcing the final rule for cranes and derricks in construction
is slowed by the sheer size of the regulation and some points of contention.
Nevertheless, OSHA is moving forward on this task as well as rule-making
related to confined spaces, responsibility for identifying workplace hazards,
PPE, highway work zones, and nail guns.
Online
Grounding & Bonding Course Offers Essential Learning — Plus CEUs, Low Cost,
and Convenience!
12/11/2010
Grounding
and bonding fundamentals and the different requirements necessary for their
correct application are fully discussed in an online course offered through
NECA’s Management Education Institute. It provides 0.8 continuing education
units (CEUs) upon completion and costs only $75 with a NECA-member promotional
code ($85 for non-members)
NECA Newscast - December 2010
While 2010 was a rough year for the electrical construction industry, NECA
members have made important strides in breaking into new markets, changing some
of the ways they’re doing business, and forging new connections.
Watch
the latest (and last 2010) NECA Newscast to hear what NECA CEO John M. Grau,
NECA contractors, and the NECA Women’s Peer Group have to say about good things
on the horizon for the industry.
NECA
has provided over a century of service to the $130 billion electrical construction
industry that brings power, light, and communication technology to buildings
and communities across the
MARK YOUR CALENDAR and BE THERE = NECA 2011
NECA 2011 San Diego is your place to meet your
peers, discover new products and services, explore new markets, grow your
company's business and boost productivity, train with the experts and enjoy the
best
October
22-25, 2011 -
http://www.necaconvention.org/
·
Best Practices
·
BIM
·
Energy Audits
·
Energy Code Compliance
·
Labor Relations
·
NEC 2011 Code Changes
·
NFPA Compliance
·
Project Labor Agreements
·
Workforce Productivity
·
Smart Grid Technologies
·
Electric Vehicles
·
Transmission and Distribution
·
Solar and Wind Energy
·
Security and Life Safety
“This show is a must do for the exhibitor with big goals
this year.”
Frank Bisbee, Editor of Heard On The Street (HOTS) monthly news column.
REMEMBER TO RECYCLE, REDUCE AND REUSE