May 10, 2013 Interim procedural guide by American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) provides documented, optional process to extend current, unexpired AAMA product certification to any edition of AAMA/WDMA(/CSA) 101/I.S.2(/A440), North American Fenestration Standard/Specification for windows, doors, and skylights (NAFS), for 2 years for products that have had no changes. Procedural guide, AAMA 106-13, Interim Procedural Guide for Extension of NAFS Certification, goes into effect May 1.

May 10, 2013 EPA announced 17 enforcement actions for violations of Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (RRP) rule, which protects homeowners and tenants from dangerous lead dust that can be left behind after renovation, repair, and painting work. Specifically, actions include 14 administrative settlements assessing civil penalties of up to $23,000 and 3 administrative complaints seeking civil penalties of up to statutory maximum of $37,500 per violation.

May 10, 2013 Deutsche Messe has exported trade shows from Germany to Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS), which are often cited concerning world's growth markets, and Turkey. Deutsche Messe will continue its global expansion in coming years; 7 new trade fairs are currently planned. These include ComVac Asia, Industrial Supply ASIA/SOUTH AMERICA/INDIA and RENEX SOUTH AMERICA in 2013; TPA ITALIA and MDA NORTH AMERICA in 2014; and INTRALOGISTICA ITALIA in 2015.

May 10, 2013 IPC APEX EXPO® 2012 has been recognized by Trade Show News Network (TSNN) as one of top 250 trade shows in USA. Current ranking of 166 marks improvement from 2011's rank of 189. According to IPC's Alicia Balonek, 2012 show surpassed its participant and exhibition goals and marked 26% increase in attendance over 2011. Preliminary post-show survey feedback from attendees of 2013 show has been positive, and IPC APEX EXPO 2014 is set to take place March 25–27 in Las Vegas, NV.

May 10, 2013 Scheduled for May 14, 2013, AIA webinar seeks to demystify machine vision software so engineers and project teams can make informed engineering decisions about what tasks may be possible and how to accomplish them. Important take away concepts include: how software represents images, how concepts of color space and frequency domain are made operational, and how image analysis — morphology, edges, kernels, histogram equalization, and pattern matching works.

May 10, 2013 During the 68th Annual Leadership Summit and Industry Expo in Las Vegas, RIA introduced its executive committee and board of directors. Executive committee includes Samuel J. Bergman as President, Scott Stamper as 1st Vice President, Chuck Violand as Vice President, Jonathan Miko as Secretary, Michael Goldberg as Treasurer, and Frank L. Headen as Immediate Past President.

May 10, 2013 As a result of discussions between members of EPMA who are active across AM supply chain, it has been formally agreed that EPMA will launch new sectoral group with immediate effect. European Additive Manufacturing Group will aim to increase awareness of AM technology, with special focus on metal powder-based products; enable benefits of joint action; improve understanding of benefits of metal-based AM technology; and assist in development of International standards for AM Sector.

May 10, 2013 According to May 1 construction spending report by U.S. Census Bureau, nonresidential construction spending declined 2.9% in March. Year-over-year total nonresidential construction spending is down 1.2%, and total nonresidential construction spending stands at $555.08 billion on annual basis. Respectively, private and public segments registered monthly declines of 1.5% and 4.5% in construction spending. Residential construction spending was up 0.7% for month and 17.8% year-over-year.

May 10, 2013 ASQ has joined Smart Manufacturing Leadership Coalition (SMLC), a public-private partnership developing testbeds and training for next generation manufacturing technology platforms. Subject experts from ASQ hope to assist SMLC develop workforce training, tools, and innovations to implement breakthrough smart manufacturing technologies. While indirectly involved in SMLC initiatives for months, ASQ recognizes SMLC efforts align with ASQ's long standing role in manufacturing.

May 9, 2013 From June 10-14, representatives of industry, academia, and government from four continents will meet in Burr Ridge, IL, to conduct work on international standards for agricultural and forestry equipment. International Organization for Standardization will convene meeting of its TC23 technical committee on Tractors and Machinery for Agriculture and Forestry, and several subcommittees, for technical discussions related to tractors, safety, sustainability, and equipment compatibility.

May 9, 2013 BIO and ViS Research Institute announce initiative to improve efficiency of clinical development for pediatric therapeutics. BIO and its member companies will work with ViS, using its online analytics platform to evaluate global pediatric clinical research infrastructure, identify pediatric patient populations, and empower clinical research collaboration. By leveraging ViS Analytics, clinical trials can be conducted faster and easier, helping to deliver treatments and cures to children.

May 9, 2013 TRIB is working with American Commercial Tire Network (ACTN) to develop video highlighting environmental benefits of tire retreading. Once produced, video will be placed on TRIB's website and YouTube channel, displayed and distributed at trade shows, as well as offered to news outlets. Citing tire retreading as "one of the original green industries," TRIB's David Stevens said it conserves raw materials, reduces CO₂ output,
keeps tires out of landfills, and helps with recycling.

May 9, 2013 Coalition for Derivatives End-Users issued statement on the introduction of legislation to exempt non-financial end-user companies from margin requirements applied to their derivative trades. According to Michael Bopp, Counsel to the Coalition, Main Street companies are running out of time for relief from onerous margin requirements that were never intended for them. Bipartisan bill will protect companies that use derivatives to manage day-to-day business risk.

May 9, 2013 IPC will host Innovations in Electronics in Manufacturing for Medical Devices from June 12–13 in Minneapolis, MN to help address challenges faced by electronic medical device manufacturers. According to IPC's Sanjay Huprikar, "This conference is focused on the innovations taking place in electronics manufacturing at every stage of the medical devices supply chain." Subject matter experts will help attendees with issues concerning every stage of medical devices supply chain.

May 8, 2013 Embedded component technology is rapidly gaining ground as a vehicle for miniaturization and cost containment. To help the electronics industry keep pace with growing interest in embedded components, IPC announces an ambitious technical agenda for the IPC/FED Conference on Embedded Components. Developed in collaboration with Fachverband Elektronik-Design e.V., event will feature 14 presentations highlighting reliability, test, assembly issues, and new manufacturing methods.

May 8, 2013 NAM President and CEO Jay Timmons issued statement after U.S. Court of Appeals for D.C. Circuit ruled in favor of NAM's appeal of the NLRB's posting requirement rule issued by agency last year. According to Timmons, the poster rule is a prime example of a government agency that seeks to fundamentally change the way employers and employees communicate. The U.S. Court of Appeals has rightfully ruled that the NLRB has no authority to enforce notice posting.

May 8, 2013 U.S. EPA will award approximately $4 million in grants to 20 communities across country for cleanup and reuse of Brownfields properties. As part of Brownfields Area-Wide Planning program, EPA will award up to $200,000 per recipient for engaging community and planning activities for these sites. Since inception in 2010, program has leveraged over $19 billion in cleanup and redevelopment. Investment of federal funding has led to gain of over 87,000 jobs from public and private sources.

May 8, 2013 Detailed in Analysis of Concentrating Solar Power with Thermal Energy Storage in a California 33% Renewable Scenario, NREL research calibrates value of adding concentrating solar power (CSP) plants to electric grid. Properties of dispatchable CSP, such as generating power in response to high or low demand, are demonstrated. Report also shows operational value from CSP-based reserve power. Overall, study helps utilities develop approaches to incorporate CSP in standard planning tools.

May 8, 2013 According to statistics released from RIA, North American robotics companies shattered previous opening quarter records for robots ordered and shipped in first quarter of 2013. Total of 5,833 robots valued at $341.2 million were ordered from North American robotics companies through March, an increase of 14.5% in units over same period in 2012. First quarter shipments totaled 5,736 robots valued at $369.5, breaking previous records for opening quarter by 24.6% in units and 23.3% in dollars.

May 8, 2013 Proposed standard, ASTM WK32654, Practice for Selecting Wood Substrates for Weathering Evaluations of Architectural Coatings, is being developed by Subcommittee D01.42 on Architectural Coatings. Once approved, this standard will offer guidelines to chemists who are formulating new paint or other finishes for use with wood in architectural applications. End users will also find this proposed standard helpful for comparing performance of various architectural finishes.