November 27, 2007 Held at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando from October 7-10, IBIE featured the latest equipment, ingredient, and supply solutions from industry suppliers. Of 15,000 registrants, 61% were owners, presidents, managers, or C-level executives and 90% played a role in the purchase of new products or services. Collaboration between ABA, AIB, and Disney Institute provided attendees with access to cutting-edge technical and management information.

November 26, 2007 NEMA announced that the Kite & Key honorees are Robert Boteler, Director of Marketing, Industrial Solutions Motors at Emerson Motor Co.; Donald Mader, Senior Vice President at Underwriters Laboratories (UL); and Everett Scherrer, Rea Magnet Wire Co.'s Vice President of Technical Services. The award recognizes individuals who have advanced the interest of the electrical industry through active and sustained involvement in NEMA activities.

November 26, 2007 NEMA has published NEMA HP 6-2007 Electrical and Electronic Silicone and Silicone-Braided Insulated Hook-Up Wire Types S (600 V), ZHS (600 V), SS (1,000 V), ZHSS (1,000 V), and SSB Braided (1,000 V). It covers requirements for silicone rubber-insulated stranded wire that is used in the internal wiring of electrical/electronic equipment. Standard permits continuous conductor temperature ratings of -55 to +150ºC for tin-copper or +200ºC for silver-copper with tin- or silver-coated conductors.

November 23, 2007 The EPSA Best Practices Survey, used in states that have competitive procurement for electric power resources, identified 5 elements recommended for use in a state model rule for the NARUC and FERC. Elements that characterize competitive bidding regimes include integrated resource/least cost planning; a Request for Proposal (RFP) process; independent oversight; clearly defined role for the utility; and procurement of renewable power resources.

November 23, 2007 Jonathan Lesser, Ph.D., expert on competitive electricity markets, said that electric industry restructuring has provided benefits to Pennsylvania consumers and businesses, such as shifting risk from ratepayers to investors. In a white paper titled The Benefits of Electric Restructuring to Pennsylvania Consumers, he offers several points including that since restructuring its electric industry in 1996, the state's nuclear plants alone generate almost 2 million megawatt-hours.

November 21, 2007 The EPSA filed a request with the FERC that the Commission grant rehearing of its September 18, 2007 Order Granting Extension of Broad Constrained Area Mitigation for the Midwest Independent System Operator (MISO). The request states that the FERC erred in permanently extending the BCA mitigation on the basis that the MISO market intends to make progress regarding resource adequacy in the near term. Also, the cost-benefit analysis MISO filed was fatally flawed in its conclusions.

November 21, 2007 The EPSA released Decoding Developments in Today's Electric Industry - Ten Points in the Prism, which finds that global conditions, increased demand, and needed industry investments to address environmental concerns will continue to put upward pressure on electricity prices. The study also notes the role competition plays in enabling customers to better manage their electricity use and employ innovative energy efficiency and demand reduction tools.

November 21, 2007 Presidential Rank Awards recognize exceptional long-term accomplishments in public service by career senior government executives. Distinguished category honoree is Charles W. Clark of NIST Physics Laboratory and NIST-University of Maryland Joint Quantum Institute. Honorees in Meritorious category include Richard F. Kayser Jr., NIST Acting Deputy Director, William J. Boettinger of NIST Materials Science and Engineering Laboratory, and Paul S. Julienne of NIST Physics Laboratory and JQI.

November 21, 2007 NIST has completed licensing agreement with ELIA Life Technology Inc. of New York, NY for tactile graphic display device and fingertip graphic reader. Tactile display allows person to feel succession of images on reusable surface by raising 3,600 small pins into pattern that can be locked in place, read by touch, and then reset to display next graphic in line. Each image is sent electronically to reader where special software determines how to create matching tactile display.

November 21, 2007 In response to inquiries from academia, industry, and other government labs, NIST published a database on properties of solid materials at temperatures ranging from cryogenic to room temperature. NIST researchers located, evaluated, and validated data, and resolved any conflicts resulting from different test methods and sources. Database covers range of materials from traditional engineering stainless steels to fiberglass epoxy, exotic regenerator materials, and Kevlar.

November 21, 2007 The PMA is accepting registrations for Regional METALFORM, which will be held at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex in Birmingham, AL, on April 1-3, 2008. More than 300 companies will display their products in 94,000 sq ft of exhibit space. Fabricating, stamping, assembly, and tool and die companies will be among the exhibitors, as well as companies showcasing value-added technologies such as material handling and packaging.

November 21, 2007 According to the November 2007 PMA Business Conditions Report, metalforming companies expect a significant decline in business conditions during the next 3 months. Metalforming companies also expect incoming orders to dip during the next 3 months, but current average daily shipping levels compared to the past 3 months have remained steady. The number of metalforming companies with a portion of their workforce on short time or layoff increased to 13%.

November 20, 2007 NEMA's Primary Industrial Controls Index registered a 0.6% gain between the second and third quarters of 2007. Growth was stronger for the Primary Industrial Controls and Adjustable Speed Drives index, which increased 2.5% from the second quarter. Along with real GDP of 3.9%, gains came amid recession in housing market, with economic growth bolstered by factors such as consumer spending, inventory investment, and an improved balance of trade.

November 20, 2007 AWWA and NRWA have agreed to advance common goals and promote each other's products, as well as raise public awareness about the water industry and promote public policy. Nilaksh Kothari, AWWA president, and Rodney Tart, NRWA president, signed a memo of understanding (MOU) at NRWA's annual conference in Philadelphia. MOU states that the respective presidents will meet at least twice a year and will appoint a joint workgroup to develop an annual action plan.

November 20, 2007 At ASHRAE's 2008 Winter Meeting, from January 19-23 in New York, the role of operation and maintenance in achieving net-zero-energy buildings will be highlighted in a 2-part seminar on January 22 titled Net-Zero Energy Buildings: The Impact of O&M Practices?. Also featured at the meeting will be 12 other sessions in the technical program covering topics such as definition, simulation, thermoeconomics, and the future use of net-zero energy buildings.

November 20, 2007 A look at how building information modeling (BIM) is changing the building industry will be presented in a seminar at ASHRAE's 2008 Winter Meeting on January 20. The session seeks to provide practical information from practicing HVAC&R design professionals on how to begin the process of implementing BIM into a design or construction practice. In addition, ASHRAE has also established a Building Information Modeling and Interoperability Steering Committee.

November 20, 2007 ASHRAE is funding research to update heat and moisture production rates from pigs and their housing facilities, which are the foundation for effective design and operation of HVAC&R systems. The ASHRAE technical committee on plant and animal environments is sponsoring the project, which seeks to research how changes in genetic potential, nutrition, housing strategies, and production systems have changed swine heat and moisture production rates.

November 20, 2007 Boat manufacturers certified under the NMMA Boat/Yacht Certification program include Alerion Express, Aloha Pontoons, Chaos Boatworks, Dakota Boats, Escape Watercraft, Glasstream, Mares Marine, and Marine Technology. Also certified are Marlin Yachts, Mikelson Yachts, Navigator Yachts, Pegiva, Ribcraft, Sea Hunt, Sonic, True North Yachts, and Waco. Certification is an NMMA membership requirement beginning with all products manufactured for model year 2007.

November 20, 2007 The CMMA Board of Directors recently approved a reorganization plan being presented to members during the annual CMMA General Meeting on January 14, 2008, in conjunction with the Toronto International Boat Show. Subject to final approval at the meeting, the plan would consolidate CMMA and its work in the areas of government relations, statistics, membership, and communications with NMMA Canada. Consolidation efforts would take place over the next 12 months.

November 19, 2007 Dropping to 37 from 47.9 one month ago, NEMA's Electroindustry Business Confidence Index indicates that external conditions facing electrical equipment manufacturers have deteriorated in recent months. By contrast, future conditions reading for North America gained ground, climbing 3 points to 42.6. EBCI gauges business confidence of electroindustry in Asia, Europe, North America, and Latin America, and is based on monthly survey of senior managers at NEMA member companies.