October 17, 2007 Scheduled for Jan 26-30 in Palm Springs, CA, LabAutomation2008 conference and exhibition will feature K. Barry Sharpless, Ph.D., W.M. Keck Professor of Chemistry at the Scripps Research Institute. Sharpless received Nobel Prize in 2001 for his discovery of general reactions of catalytic asymmetric epoxidation, dihydroxylation, and aminohydroxylation. He will lead plenary line-up and plans to discuss click chemistry, his synthetic stratagem for rapid discovery of chemical function.

October 17, 2007 When ARM International convened its 2007 Annual Meeting from Oct 7-10, attendees focused on building more successful businesses with "5 Ingredients for Molding Success - Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost, and Morale". Distinguished lineup of speakers and seminar leaders offered expert guidance in both large- and small-group forums. Combined with traditional tabletop exhibits and industry networking, meeting delivered formal and informal educational opportunities.

October 16, 2007 Supported by Fieldbus Foundation EMEA Executive Advisory Council and Fieldbus Foundation EMEA Steering Committee, Norwegian Marketing Committee was established to promote adoption of FOUNDATION(TM) technology throughout Norwegian market through training seminars, discussion forums, and trade show participation. Committee's plans for 2007/8 include exhibiting at PA-Messen 2007, development of end user seminar schedule, and establishment of local End User Council.

October 16, 2007 Maximizing capabilities of ZigBee and supporting larger networks, ZigBee PRO Feature Set includes network scalability, automated device address management, group addressing, wireless commissioning, and centralized data collection. Fragmentation feature divides longer messages and enables interaction with other protocols and systems, while frequency agility enables networks to dynamically change channels should interference occur.

October 15, 2007 According to revision of ANSI/UL 1479 Fire Tests of Through-Penetration Firestops Standard, changes have been made in samples used to evaluate firestop systems, which previously required chase wall. Systems involved affect penetrations through concrete floor/ceiling assemblies and wood framed floor/ceiling assemblies where penetrating item is contained within cavity of fire-resistance-rated wall assembly. Revision eliminates chase wall and requires that penetrant be exposed to fire during test.

October 15, 2007 Signed by UL and TTBS management, agreement promotes use of UL Standards for Safety in ongoing development of national safety standards in Trinidad and Tobago via formalized consulting, communication, and information exchange protocols. This is the 4th such agreement announced by UL in support of its public safety mission and brand globalization initiatives.

October 12, 2007 According to preliminary data issued today by U.S. Department of Commerce, total steel imports fell 22% in August to 2.32 mmt, down from July's level of 2.98 mmt. Imports of hot-rolled steel fell 4% in August to 176,438 metric tons, while cold-rolled imports also fell in August, down 22% from July 2007 levels to 102,269 metric tons. Total steel imports in 2007 are down 24% on year compared to August 2006 totals, and imports of hot-rolled steel are down 48% for first 8 months of 2007.

October 12, 2007 UL and the Standards Institution of Israel (SII) announced an agreement to promote the use of UL Standards for Safety in the development of national safety standards in Israel via formalized consulting, communication, and information exchange protocols. Signed by both UL and SII management, it is the 3rd such agreement announced by UL in support of its public safety mission and brand globalization initiatives.

October 12, 2007 The SME RAPID Conference and Exposition will be held at the Coronado Springs Resort and Convention Center in Lake Buena Vista, FL on May 20-22, 2008. The move was made to take advantage of the more than 16,000 manufacturing establishments, which include medical, aerospace, and defense industries, located throughout the state. Speakers are being sought to offer information on selection and applications as well as discussions of new technology advances.

October 12, 2007 WESTEC 2008 Advanced Productivity Exposition and Conference, to be held March 31-April 3, will include nearly 600 exhibitors representing technologies such as advanced machine tools; cutting tools and accessories; and manufacturing technology application and solutions. The Back to Basics program aims to establish the event as a resource for developing, sourcing, maintaining, and upgrading the talent base/labor pool needed to sustain U.S. manufacturing and remain globally competitive.

October 12, 2007 The 2007 class of the College of Fellows includes John S. Agapiou, PhD, FSME, Technical Fellow; Lothar F. Bieg, PhD, FSME, Technical Staff; Wayne J. Book, PhD, FSME; and Ekkard Brinksmeier, Dr Ing, FSME, Chair. Subir Chowdhury, PhD, FSME; Shoichi Kuroda, FSME; Masahiko Mori, PhD, FSME; Mamidala Ramulu, PhD, FSME; and Moshe Shpitalni, DSc, FSME were also elected. Recipients are recognized as key contributors to the social, technical, and educational progress of manufacturing.

October 12, 2007 According to Sept 2007 Business Conditions Report, which provides economic indicator for manufacturing, metalforming companies expect business conditions to remain fairly steady during next 3 months. Just 36% of respondents forecast increase in orders, while 44% expect no change, and 20% anticipate decrease in orders. However, current average daily shipping level compared to past 3 months improved in September.

October 11, 2007 The EPA has proposed the National Emission Standard Hazardous Air Pollutant (NESHAP) rule, which would impose workplace standards and reporting requirements on companies that engage in paint stripping using methylene chloride or use hazardous air pollutants for surface coating. Those affected include engine part, vessel accessory, and boat trailer manufacturers as well as any company that applies HAP surface coating to finish plastic or metal parts.

October 11, 2007 NIST announced 56 new awards for innovative industrial research and development projects under the Advanced Technology Program (ATP). Technologies represented include medical diagnostic techniques, alternative energy sources, manufacturing, semiconductor electronics, transportation, nanotechnology, energy conservation, and automated language translation. The projects were chosen in a competition announced last April and represent the last to be funded under the ATP.

October 11, 2007 As part of wireless initiative, Fieldbus Foundation, HART Communication Foundation, and Profibus Nutzerorganisation e.V. will develop specification for common interface to wireless gateway. Work will be based on WirelessHART(TM) technology of HART Foundation and emerging ISA SP100.11a standard. Project includes development of use cases, requirements, and specifications for wireless communication with intelligent field devices in process measurement and control applications in automation industries.

October 10, 2007 NEMA is welcoming the following companies as associate members: Engineered Polymers, Industries, provider of prime polymers; Greenlite Lighting Corp., provider of CFLs to Canada and U.S.; and ELTEK International Laboratories, evaluator of electrical insulating materials and electrical devices. Others include Environmental Management Consultants, Inc., J.R. Bailey Utility Consulting, and Allen Ray Associates.

October 10, 2007 Introduced to U.S. House of Representatives by Congressmen Brad Sherman (D-Calif.), Steve Chabot (R-Ohio), and Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), Intellectual Property Rights Enforcement Act bill seeks to ensure continued improvement in U.S. interagency coordination, as well as international coordination among nations committed to fair trade and shutting down counterfeiting and piracy networks. Legislation will also require executive branch to report to Congress about progress toward meeting national goals.

October 10, 2007 Conducted as public-private partnership over next 3 years with Commerce's International Trade Administration, Market Development Cooperator Program involves informational events on wide range of issues with counterparts in 9 Latin American countries that have negotiated or are in the process of enacting free trade agreements with U.S. One-third of program's budget will cover standardization, certification, energy efficiency, environmentally conscious design, and counterfeiting.

October 10, 2007 OSHA announced the outcome of its Lead in Construction Standard lookback review in the Federal Register. According to Edwin G. Foulke, Jr., certain construction jobs still experience high levels of airborne lead and the standard is still needed to ensure employees are protected from high lead exposure. Retrospective reviews of final standards and regulations are conducted in accordance with review provisions of Section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act.

October 10, 2007 According to Daniel J. Meckstroth, Ph.D., Chief Economist for the Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI, the August 2007 report shows that the August decline in manufacturing is a readjustment of production schedules following unsustainably strong production growth in the prior 2 months. Manufacturing production was revised up in June and July from 0.6% to 0.7% each month. Meckstroth also said that export demand is keeping factories' output expanding.