June 9, 2008 FABRICATOR's Industry Award 2009 and TPJ's Industry Award 2009 are open to individuals or companies in metalforming and fabricating industry or tube and pipe fabricating and producing industry who have successfully improved operations, attained business growth, and contributed to local and industry communities. Winners will be recognized on cover of Feb 2009 issue of The FABRICATOR and Jan/Feb 2009 issue of TPJ-The Tube and Pipe Journal®, respectively, and will also be featured in article.

June 9, 2008 Addressing 2008 annual membership meeting of Greater New Jersey Motorcoach Association in Atlantic City, NJ, NTSB Chairman Mark V. Rosenker urged motorcoach executives to take action when accidents occur and make safety improvements that will bring industry closer to accident-free environment. Rosenker focused on most notable highway accidents in recent years and safety recommendations that have resulted from NTSB investigations.

June 9, 2008 At meeting on June 10, 2008, NTSB will focus on 3 specific items. It will address Bombardier/Canadair Regional Jet CL600-2B19 that ran off departure end of runway after landing at Cherry Capital Airport, as well as incident when METRA 107 collided with 6 automobiles in queue formed at 366 ft wide highway-railroad grade crossing. Board Members will also review several recent accidents and incidents that highlight dangers of human fatigue within airline operations.

June 9, 2008 At urging of nation's Transportation Security Administration union, the American Federation of Government Employees, TSA made changes to Image Mastery Assessment Policy. However, those changes are not adequate and TSA must continue to modify policy. AFGE is concerned that policy doesn't address that TSOs are trained and tested on different images, gives discretion to Federal Security Directors to retain and restrain, and still counts failures under old inadequate protocol.

June 9, 2008 According to ELFA's Monthly Leasing and Finance Index, which reports economic activity for $600 billion equipment finance sector, overall new business volume for April increased 16% when compared to same period 2007. Originations month-to-month also improved, climbing to $7.2 billion in April from $7.0 billion in March. Receivables in the less-than-30 days category were 96.9% in April, while charge-offs declined to .77% in April from .83% in March.

June 9, 2008 On April 18, 2008, Board of Standards Review of ANSI approved ANSI/AMCA STANDARD 320-08, "Laboratory Method of Sound Testing of Fans Using Sound Intensity." This standard establishes method of determining octave band sound power levels of fans, which is reproducible when all requirements of the method are met. Intended to apply to fans of all types and sizes, standard is limited to determination of airborne sound emission for specified setups.

June 6, 2008 The ELFA has launched Equipment Finance 101, an informational website at www.equipmentfinance101.org offering information that businesses and other organizations can use to learn about equipment finance options. Information on the site includes types of finance products, a loan/lease comparison, a glossary of terms, an analysis to help determine suitable financing options, fact sheets on industry sectors, and topical bylined articles.

June 6, 2008 Scheduled for June 8-12 in Atlanta, GA, AWWA Annual Conference and Exposition is expected to draw more than 10,000 water professionals and 500 exhibitors. Professional program will include specialized water resources track, with sessions looking at water desalting, source water protection, planning and management, and groundwater. Conservation track will focus on water rates, drought planning, conserving energy, and new conservation tools.

June 6, 2008 Supporting metalforming workforce, PMAEF Board of Trustees awarded $5,000 to Friends of the Workforce Investment Board for replication of M-Powered program, which prepares workers for skilled jobs in metalforming. National Institute for Metalworking Skills received $10,000 to support Precision Machining Technology competition at 2008 SkillsUSA competition, and $10,000 went to WIRE-Net to support "School-to-Career: Youth and Adults Forging Careers in the Metals Sectors" initiative.

June 6, 2008 Located one mile south of the previous facility in gated, fenced complex, Huntsville Airport project consists of 228 ft tall control tower and 10,500 sq ft base building. TRACON is more than 800 sq ft with 3 radar positions, 2 radar assistant positions, and supervisory console. In addition, facility includes Weather Systems Processor and Rapid Deployment Voice Switch, which combines ground-to-air and ground-to-ground frequencies in single unit.

June 6, 2008 According to report titled Supporting Innovation and Economic Growth, 70% of R&D Credit goes directly to fund high-skilled job growth. Research and Experimentation Credit, allowed to expire by U.S. Congress on December 31, 2007, has spurred more than $6 billion in innovation-producing investments that have funded wages for skilled employees across 17,700 small and large companies in all 50 states. Without incentive, U.S. risks exporting high-skilled jobs to other countries.

June 6, 2008 To facilitate nominations process, ANSI has compiled set of guidelines that outline sectors that are currently underrepresented in ANSI's Board of Directors. Due by June 9, nominations require biographical statement and letter of corporate support. Candidates will be referred to Board Nominating Committee and nominations by that Committee will be subsequently balloted for election by ANSI membership. Guidelines and nomination forms are available in ANSI Online Library.

June 6, 2008 Scheduled for July 24-27, NSPE 2008 Annual Conference will include speakers and informative seminars as well as array of special events. Participants can earn up to 19 professional development hours at education sessions with topics covering PEs in the LEED world, global energy issues, emerging technologies, sustainable design, risk management, profitability, best practices, and stress management. Attendees can network with engineering leaders and make important business connections.

June 6, 2008 To reduce traffic fatalities in U.S., AASHTO released report titled Driving Down Lane-Departure Crashes. Report highlights examples of states that are experiencing reductions in crashes and fatalities through successful leadership and systematic improvements. For example, Missouri DOT experienced 25% reduction in lane-departure related fatalities from 2005-2007 after installing lane-departure countermeasures such as rumble stripes, pavement markings, and cable median barriers.

June 6, 2008 On October 2, 2008, the ANSI Homeland Security Standards Panel will host 7th plenary session at U.S. Chamber of Commerce in Washington, DC. Plenary will address Public Law 110-53, Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act of 2007, specifically Title IX on Private Sector Preparedness. Interactive panels will include Standards Involved in the Title IX Program, Accreditation/Certification Program, Business Case for Certification under PL 110-53, and Cyber Security.

June 6, 2008 On May 28-29, Committee on Consumer Policy of ISO marked its 30th anniversary at its annual meeting in Seoul, Korea. COPOLCO discussed request from ISO Council that it consider expanding its scope, networking, and participation to include non-governmental organizations representing societal interests. Council raised issue because of ISO's evolving work program, which addresses subjects such as social responsibility, energy, climate change, and sustainability.

June 6, 2008 Global Standards and Information Group, part of NIST's Standards Services division, provides Standards in Trade Workshops to inform foreign standards officials of U.S. practices in standards and conformity assessment. Prospective workshops will cover specific sectors and targeted countries where training in U.S. system of standards development, conformity assessment, and metrology may facilitate trade. NIST will consider recommendations based on which workshops would be most useful.

June 6, 2008 In May of 2008, ANSI welcomed Omni Industries Holdings Ptd Ltd; Jacobs Technology, Inc; FL Heat Pump; Flint Energy Services, Inc; TrimQuest; Debix; Kroll's Fraud Solutions; ChoicePoint; AT&T; IdentityTruth; NETGEAR; and Royal Caribbean Cruises, Ltd. Under Institute's umbrella, diverse constituency works to improve quality of life for all citizens by developing, implementing, and promulgating voluntary consensus standards and related conformance assessment systems.

June 5, 2008 According to panelists in roundtable discussion hosted by NAM; its research, education and workforce affiliate, The Manufacturing Institute; and Equipment Leasing and Financing Association, exports have accounted for 46% of growth in U.S. economy over past year and are supported by financing sector. Capital goods exports, including automotive vehicles and parts, account for 34% of total U.S. exports and nearly half of manufactured exports.

June 5, 2008 Supported by NAM, and cosponsored by AWS, FMA, and SME, FABTECH® International and AWS Welding Show will take place Oct 6-8 at Las Vegas Convention Center. Event is expected to bring estimated 20,000 attendees and more than 800 exhibitors. Thousands of buyers and sellers will gather to exchange products and services, network with peers, preview new products, problem-solve, and educate industry on latest technologies. Sessions will emphasize developments in forming, fabricating, and welding.