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BISBEE’S BUZZ
Everybody’s turning GREEN
Everybody’s
turning GREEN. Turning GREEN seems to be on the agenda for almost all industry
sectors. Over the past few months we have witnessed an amazing shift from
business as usual to “look at our new environmentally friendly
whatchamacallit.” Are all these business and manufacturers really going green
or have they just turned the green tinted light on the same old products. The
answer is YES & NO.
Some
companies are making a genuine effort to bring better safer and more
environmentally friendly products to the market, while some companies are doing
the smoke and mirrors act on existing products. Determining which is which is a
challenge. One thing is certain: we must also deal with the consequences of
many years of “ignoring toxic products and hazardous materials”. For more than
40 years, the cable manufacturers have used halogenated products that pose a
substantial risk to public safety and public health. Fluoropolymers, PVC
compounds containing harmful phthalates in the plasticizers and heavy metals
like LEAD in the stabilizers are contained in almost all of the 9 million miles
of cable in the American workplace. Many of today’s current buildings are like
big fishbowls with Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and Indoor Environmental Quality
(IEQ) reaching or approaching unhealthy levels for the occupants.
The code
developing bodies (www.nfpa.org) have
virtually ignored the toxicity issues as they set up the Fire Protection Codes
for the USA.
The result is we now have our buildings filled with communications cables that
may be the “asbestos of the future”. Who will pay to clean up the mess? Also,
who will be held responsible for the resultant damages to the health of the
building occupants? While those answers elude us, you may rest assured the
European Council had no problems identifying the hazards and banning them from
acceptance. Low Smoke Zero Halogen cables provide a substantially better set of
communication products for public safety and public health than the plenum
approved products approved, sold and installed in the USA (under a system that
seems to have been manipulated by “the deep pockets of commercial interests
that put profit before safety”).
Looking for
the REAL GREEN? Don’t get sucked in by the “Associations” that are nothing more
than spin doctors and shills for companies that want to perpetuate their reign
of profits at any prices. Get on the Internet and check out the bonafide
associations, like U S Green Building Council www.usgbc.org and The Environmental Working Group www.ewg.org.
There is still plenty of gold in the REAL GREEN.
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
Industry News
2008 Anixter Seminar Series: The IP Connected Enterprise(SM)
Create an environment of control. Anixter, Inc., a world's leading provider of
communications products used to connect voice, video, data and security
systems, will host its ninth annual Seminar Series: The IP Connected
Enterprise. The seminars will explore the emerging trends, technologies and
concepts behind the worldwide movement toward network convergence. Redefine the
way that people and their environment interact by learning how seamlessly
integrated building and user systems provide real-time control and monitoring
of any device, signal or multifunction legacy system. By directly bridging all
of a building's principal systems onto a single network, The IP Connected
Enterprise provides two-way communication sharing between devices, controllers
and systems regardless of location.
Spanning 20
cities in U.S. and Canada, the
events will run April 24 through November, and will educate attendees on the
concept of developing a utility-grade building infrastructure using
standards-based UTP and fiber cabling design. The seminars will provide a path
to integrate any computer process-based and building system including video
surveillance, access control, data and voice communications and HVAC. Some of
Anixter's top experts will address the challenges and solutions associated with
the increasing stress placed on today's network infrastructures as well as the
underlying concepts and best practices for implementation and layout of The IP
Connected Enterprise.
In addition to the presentation, guests
will have the opportunity to:
o
Visit one-on-one with some of Anixter's top manufacturer partners in a trade show setting
o
Qualify to receive BICSI and National Burglar & Fire Alarm
Association continuing education credits
o
Enter a raffle drawing for a chance to win one of several free prizes.
These
seminars are open to anyone interested in learning how the latest products,
technologies and standards can merge building and user systems into a single IP
network. Benefiting Chief Information Officers, Chief Security Officers, IS and
telecommunications managers, LAN administrators, security integrators and
directors, network technicians or anyone involved in the design, specification,
acquisition or administration of LAN cabling infrastructures, these seminars
will directly address the challenges facing today's networks.
Registration
begins at 11:30 a.m., and the event includes a complimentary lunch buffet.
There is no cost associated with the seminar; however, space is limited. Each
seminar will conclude with a free raffle drawing at 4 p.m.
Daily Agenda
11:30 a.m.
1:00 p.m. Registration
Exhibits Open
Buffet Lunch
1:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m.
Presentation: Exploring Issues
Associated with Migration to
Intelligent Information Networks
2:00 p.m.
2:15 p.m.
Break
Exhibits Open
2:15 p.m.
3:15 p.m. Presentation: Infrastructure
Solutions for the IP
Connected Enterprise
3:15 p.m.
4:00 p.m.
Exhibits Open
Raffle Drawing
The IP Connected Enterprise is currently
scheduled for the following
cities:
April 24 Cleveland,
Ohio
May 1 Fremont,
California
May 15 Adelphi, Maryland
May 29
Dartmouth,
Nova Scotia
June 3 Toronto, Ontario
June 5 Vancouver, British Columbia
June 19 Raleigh,
North Carolina
June 26 Saint
Louis, Missouri
July 10 Minneapolis,
Minnesota
July 24 Louisville,
Kentucky
July 31 Chicago,
Illinois
August 14 Portland
(Tigard), Oregon
August 21 Salt
Lake City, Utah
September 4 Dallas,
Texas
September 11 Boston (Needham), Massachusetts
September 25 Denver,
Colorado
October 2 New
York, New York
October 23 Houston
(Woodlands), Texas
November 6 Tampa,
Florida
November 13 Anaheim,
California
To view the
schedule, register for a seminar, or to simply get more information and
updates, visit Anixter's Web site at anixter.com/events or contact Mary Cathlin
Sullivan at 224-521-4181.
About
Anixter
Anixter
International is a leading global distributor of communication products,
electrical and electronic wire & cable and a leading distributor of
fasteners and other small parts ("C" Class inventory components) to
Original Equipment Manufacturers. The company adds value to the distribution
process by providing its customers access to 1) innovative inventory management
programs, 2) more than 400,000 products and over $1 billion in inventory, 3)
218 warehouses with more than 6 million square feet of space, and 4) locations
in 249 cities in 49 countries. Founded in 1957 and headquartered near Chicago, Anixter trades
on The New York Stock Exchange under the symbol AXE. www.anixter.com
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Belden extends CEO Stroup's employment agreement
Belden Inc.
and President and CEO John Stroup entered into an employment agreement that
extends Stroup's contract to October 2011 and increases his annual base salary
to $700,000 from $600,000, according to a regulatory filing Monday with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
The amended
agreement also calls for annual extensions after October 2011 and grants him a
retention stock option award of approximately $3 million.
Stroup will
continue to be entitled to participate in the company's annual cash incentive
plan at an annual target cash incentive of at least 130 percent of his base
salary and in the company's long-term incentive plan. www.belden.com
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Berk-Tek Demonstrates First Simultaneous 10G and 1G Channels In the Same Pathway
Berk-Tek, a
Nexans Company, an innovative leader in copper and fiber optic cable
technology, is demonstrating at Data Center World in Booth #326 (April 1-2), a
continuous live 10GBASE-T network transmission over a 100-meter NetClear GTX
channel consisting of Berk-Tek’s LANmark-10G2 Augmented Category 6 cable. At the same time, a demonstration of 1
Gigabit transmission over a NetClear GT2 channel is being shown utilizing the
Berk-Tek LANmark-1000 Category 6, which is interwoven on the same reel.
“This is the first real-time demonstration of
Category 6 and Category 6a UTP cables intermingled in the same pathway
successfully transmitting simultaneous Gigabit and 10Gigabit Ethernet signals,”
states Todd Harpel, Director of Marketing for Berk-Tek, a Nexans Company. The
live three-minute exhibit visually contrasts a 10GBASE-T network operating on a
NetClear GTX Category 6A channel sending the equivalent of 200 CDs worth of
data with a parallel 1000BASE-T 1 Gigabit Ethernet system operating over a
NetClear GT3, Category 6+ UTP channel, that sends the equivalent of 28 CDs in
the same amount of time.
This
demonstration is the culmination of previous research conducted by the Nexans Data
Communications Competence
Center, located in the
Berk-Tek headquarters in New Holland, PA. Tests performed at the Nexans
Data Communications
Competence Center,
in New Holland, PA, had bundled Berk-Tek’s LANmark-10G2 Augmented Category 6
UTP cable in the same raceway as LANmark-1000 Category 6 UTP cable. Swept
frequency measurements showed that both cables were unaffected with the
LANmark-10G2 cable still met all the requirements of the TIA 568B.2-10
Augmented Category 6 specifications. The
test itself included the worst case configuration where a NetClear GTX
(10-Gigabit UTP solution) was inserted into the center of the bundle that
included seven NetClear GT2 (Category 6 UTP) channels around the outside. Even 4-connector NetClear GTX channels tested
in this configuration passed the Augmented Category 6 channel specifications for
both internal parameters, as well as all Alien Crosstalk parameters.
The Competence Center
has been studying the difference between various manufacturers’ Augmented
Category 6 channel performance, as well as the different 10G Network Interface
cards available the market. This becomes important as future bandwidth-hungry
applications emerge, such as graphical medical imaging and streaming video. “By
striving to ensure that our LANmark-10G2 cables offer true 10G performance and
can co-exist in a real world environment alongside other cables, we can provide
the most demanding customers with the peace of mind that they can take
advantage of the state-of-the-art performance by simply installing a higher
grade of cable and connectivity to their existing cable plant,” Harpel added.
www.berktek.com. - www.nexans.com
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“CCTV Convergence” Seminar Series
Berk-Tek, a
Nexans Company (manufacturer of copper and fiber cable products),
Ortronics/Legrand (manufacturer of structured cabling connectivity and physical
support products), NVT (manufacturer of CCTV video and camera power
transmission equipment (PVD) for convergence to UTP), JVC (manufacturer of
analog and IP cameras and Network Video Recorders (NVRs) and S2 Security (hardware and software
manufacturer for access control and integrated security systems) combined their
expertise in the security market to host a seminar, “CCTV Convergence,” held in
February at the Affinia Manhattan Hotel, New York City, for over 100 security
and I.T. integrators and end users. This
seminar and trade show focused on the physical cabling and component
requirements for network integration as CCTV progresses from legacy analog,
through a hybrid scenario to total IP.
Because of its success, two more seminars have been planned for Anaheim on May 20 and Chicago on June 24.
In addition
to the educational presentations by all the aforementioned participating
companies, there was a hands-on demo that included separate analog and IP-based
camera system. Each camera ran through a
real 100-meter UTP NetClear structured cabling channel – Category 5e for the
analog cameras and Category 6 for IP.
The analog demo utilized the NVT video and camera power transmission
equipment (PVD) to convert the analog camera’s coax media to UTP. The IP demo included IP cameras, connected
with RJ-45 jacks and the S2 NetBox access control, all powered by PoE (Power
over Ethernet) midspan injector through the UTP cable. The two demos were
connected with one fiber optic cable, which allowed them to share the same
monitor and reside on the same network, through the JVC hybrid DVR.
“As CCTV is
quickly moving from analog to an IP-based network, we realize there is a lack
of education being provided on the how’s, when’s and why’s of these emerging
trends,” states Geoffrey Anderson, National Marketing Manager for JVC. “By
bringing together experts on cabling, active equipment, components and even
access control, we provided insight on preparing today’s network for tomorrow’s
applications,” he adds.
“Through IP
convergence, previously separate networking functions, including data, video
and power, are now being connected together over one standardized structured
cabling network to allow the sharing of resources, which provides a higher
level of network efficiency, while increasing the network’s return on
investment,” states Carol Everett Oliver, RCDD, Marketing Analyst for Berk-Tek,
a Nexans Company. Together Ortronics/Legrand and Berk-Tek, a Nexans Company,
have expanded their NetClear structured cabling solutions for enterprises to
include security and surveillance applications through the new NetClear ESS
program. “As part of NetClear ESS,
Berk-Tek and Ortronics are teaming up with associated vendors in the CCTV
realm, such as camera manufacturers, such as JVC, and active component
manufacturers, such as NVT and S2, to offer proven integrated solution sets for
both I.T. managers and security integrators,” notes Chris Adams, Marketing
Manager for Ortronics/Legrand.
NVT is in
the business of transmitting CCTV video and supplying camera power over
unshielded twisted pair wire via structured cabling networks. “NVT provides
products, solutions and support to Berk-Tek and Ortronics/Legrand to educate
the market on the transition as analog CCTV moves from a coax-based
infrastructure to UTP-based,” states George Wojtan, Datacom Market Manager,
NVT. “Together our products will allow installers and end-users to benefit from
the performance, cost savings, simplicity, and future proofing of structured
cabling,” he adds.
“Selecting
the right camera for the right installation and environment can be
overwhelming,” states Adrian Parvulescu, Product Manager for Security Cameras
for JVC. “Integrators should be aware of
the differences in camera qualities that can drastically affect performance and
signal integrity – for both analog and IP,” he adds. In addition, JVC offers a line of Network
Video Recorders and storage devices for analog, IP and hybrid (combination of
both).
S2 Security
develops a unique line of open architecture, scalable, IP network-ready
products that integrate access control, alarm monitoring, video surveillance
and temperature monitoring. “Going
beyond CCTV means that eventually all building automation systems can reside on
an IP-based network,” states John Moss, CEO and Founder of S2. “The simplest form of integration is a 100%
Web-based user interface, which is the core of all S2 security systems.”
Attendees
of future shows may register at www.jvcseminar.com
About the NetClear Alliance
NetClear is a
Technology Alliance between Berk-Tek, a Nexans Company, and Ortronics/Legrand
to provide advanced, end-to-end co-engineered solutions for enhanced Category
5e, Category 6, Augmented Category 6 – 10 Gigabit and optical fiber channels -
all backed by a 25-year warranty.
About
Berk-Tek, a Nexans Company
For more
than 45 years, Berk-Tek has been a leading manufacturer of more than 100
different network copper and fiber optic cable products designed to transport
high-speed voice, data and video transmissions. For more information, visit www.berktek.com.
Berk-Tek Contact: Carol Everett Oliver
Direct Tel: 717-682-7336
E-mail: carol.oliver@nexans.com
About
Ortronics/Legrand
Ortronics/Legrand
is a global leader in high performance structured cabling solutions, services,
and support. Ortronics offers a complete range of Category 5e, 6 and 10 Gig
copper, fiber optic, wireless and residential/MDU connectivity solutions. In
addition, Ortronics offers Cablofil® wire mesh cable tray and Wiremold®
pathways. For more information, visit www.ortronics.com.
*********************************
Coleman Technologies, Inc. Renews ATP - Outdoor Wireless Mesh from Cisco Systems
Coleman
Technologies, Inc (CTI) is pleased to announce that it has renewed
the Outdoor Wireless Mesh specialization from Cisco Systems. The Cisco
Outdoor Wireless Mesh Specialization recognizes a select group of partners for
their knowledge and expertise in selling, designing, installing, and supporting
advanced Wireless solutions. According to Cisco’s official website,
“Outdoor Mesh is a new technology solution that addresses an emerging market,
specifically municipal WiFi. Chosen ATP Outdoor Mesh Partners must have proven
history of successful outdoor RF/Radio deployments. These deployments could be
point-to-point, point-to-multipoint, or mesh. The brand of installed equipment
is not as important as the knowledge and experience of providing outdoor RF
installations. Also the partner must have the ability to provide outdoor
wireless operation and support services.”
“Coleman
Technologies, Inc. has once again followed through in their drive to be the
world’s best systems engineering and integration company. Cisco’s
advanced specializations have rigorous requirements only the most-qualified
partners in terms of technical excellence and customer satisfaction can
achieve, and CTI has exceeded these expectations time and again,” says Randy
Olsson, Director of Network Engineering at Coleman Technologies. “This is
an outstanding accomplishment for Coleman Technologies. Coleman
Technologies continues to excel by following a rigid methodology founded on its
aerospace heritage and employing the most talented team of network engineers,
project management, sales and support personnel in the industry. By
continuing to adopt and develop new technologies in this innovative business,
CTI will continue its tremendous level of success.”
Recognition.
Coleman
Technologies is among the most highly certified Cisco partners in the world and
has achieved virtually all advanced technology specializations from
Cisco. CTI is also one of the only partners worldwide to attain both
Unified Communications and Security Master Specializations from Cisco
Systems. These and other specializations will continue to be recognized
on the Partner Locator section of Cisco’s website. http://www.colemantechnologies.com
*********************************
CommScope Enterprise Solutions’ SYSTIMAX® InstaPATCH® Cu Solution gives high-performance networks a fast, reliable answer
CommScope
Enterprise Solutions, a division of CommScope, Inc. (NYSE:CTV), announces the
release of its SYSTIMAX® InstaPATCH Cu cabling solution for data center
environments in the North America (NAR) and Caribbean and Latin American (CALA)
regions. The SYSTIMAX InstaPATCH Cu Solution is designed to provide a
hassle-free installation in a fraction of the time required by traditional
implementation methods. To better meet the goal of this design as well as
customers’ unique specifications, CommScope conducts pre-terminating,
pre-testing and customizing of the copper cabling solution.
For
networks utilizing Category 6 and 6A cabling, the SYSTIMAX InstaPATCH Cu
Solution includes pre-measured cable, pre-terminated connecting hardware,
pre-placed source-destination labels, prepared port configuration and
pre-bundled cables – which support quality installations at a rapid speed. These measures help CommScope’s
BusinessPartners provide customers with the intelligent network infrastructure
solutions they need in the shortest time possible.
“At CommScope we understand that network
infrastructures are unique, so our representatives work closely with IT
managers to understand their data center and network needs,” said Mark
Peterson, senior vice president, global marketing, of the CommScope Enterprise
division. “Once an evaluation is complete, together with our BusinessPartners,
we prepare the pre-terminated solution and test every harness and port to
ensure that each component meets our highest standards. From there, our
BusinessPartners are able to perform fast installations.”
The
SYSTIMAX InstaPATCH Cu Solution is supported by CommScope’s 20-year commitment
to performance, providing its customers with intelligent reliable solutions
backed by a CommScope guarantee – a warranty unique to the industry.
Additionally, CommScope will provide customers factory test reports for each
harness assembly verifying the built-in performance levels of the system.
The
solution is applicable in the horizontal, backbone, switch applications and
throughout the data center. Source-destination labeling, pre-termination and
plug-to-plug capability dramatically reduce the amount of time needed to
implement a solution. This flexible harness system allows customers to select
assemblies from 1 to 24 ports on each end.
A special device called a SwitchPack combines multiple plug ends (4, 6,
8, 12 or 16) into a single unit which can easily be plugged into a high density
switch or server at one time optimizing connection speed.
“We want to
offer customers a simple, high-security installation—and we believe that the
SYSTIMAX InstaPATCH Cu Solution is another CommScope innovation that provides
peace-of-mind,” said Peterson. “Companies can rest assured that they’re
receiving cutting-edge technology before the installation team even arrives.
And when the installation team does arrive, it won’t be long before the
high-performance network is fully functional and ready to go.”
CommScope
Enterprise Solutions, a division of CommScope, Inc., offers a complete
portfolio of network infrastructure solutions that enable enterprise customers,
regardless of size, industry or IT budget, to take advantage of business and
technology opportunities. The division’s SYSTIMAX® and Uniprise® product lines
offer voice, data, video and converged solutions ranging from mission-critical,
high-bandwidth and emerging applications to applications that demand
unrelenting reliability and quality for everyday needs. Backed by CommScope
Labs and a 20-year extended warranty, the product lines are delivered through a
global channel network of industry leading BusinessPartners and distributors
ensuring a consistent and high-level of service and support worldwide. http://www.commscope.com
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Corning Holds Grand Opening Ceremony for LCD Glass Plant in China
Corning
Incorporated (NYSE:GLW - News) today hosted a grand
opening ceremony for the company’s new liquid crystal display (LCD) glass
substrate manufacturing facility in the People’s Republic of China.
The plant, located in the Beijing Economic Technological
Development Area, is the company’s first TFT-LCD glass production facility on
the China
mainland. The opening continues Corning’s
trend of entering an LCD-producing region as local market demand expands.
Corning currently has LCD glass facilities in the U.S.,
Japan, Korea and Taiwan.
“Today marks the latest chapter in Corning’s
history of investment in China,
where our businesses have responded to the varied needs of the region’s many
high-technology industries,” said Wendell P. Weeks, chairman and chief
executive officer, Corning Incorporated. “This plant reflects our commitment to
grow with our customers and to support one of China’s most important industries.”
John P. Bayne, president, Corning Display Technologies China,
hosted the grand opening celebration, together with Weeks and James P. Clappin,
president, Corning Display Technologies.
“As an industry leader in TFT-LCD glass and other advanced display
products, Corning
is committed to providing customers with reliable supply across our global
network,” said Bayne. “This facility demonstrates our commitment to China and the
growing TFT industry. We have added and will continue to add many people to our
organization, including highly skilled technicians and engineers, as we
continue to ramp operations over the coming months.”
Previously, Corning
stated that it expects global demand for liquid crystal display glass to grow
25% to 30% in 2008, representing an increase of more than 450 million square
feet of glass to about 2.2 billion square feet by year-end. While much of that
growth is driven by the demand for LCD televisions, smaller applications like
LCD monitors, notebooks, and portable devices are also strong factors in overall
glass demand. (www.corning.com)
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Corning Receives Verizon’s 2007 Supplier Excellence
Award
Corning
Incorporated (NYSE:GLW) today announced that Corning Cable Systems LLC, part of its
Telecommunications segment, has been selected as a recipient of Verizon’s 2007
Supplier Excellence Award in the “Supplier Diversity-Tier 1” category.
The Verizon
Supplier Excellence Awards Program acknowledges companies that support
Verizon’s commitment to continuous improvement of quality and service to its
customers through a passion for excellence. Criteria for winning includes
quality of service, year-over- year growth, a commitment to supplier diversity,
meeting and exceeding performance metrics, providing cost management solutions
and excellent customer service.
“Verizon is
focused on delivering the best customer experience, so we expect the highest
quality service from our vendors, which keeps us focused on the business of
serving our customers,” said George Dowell, vice president of Supply Chain
Services, Verizon Services Operations. Corning Cable Systems is among 10
vendors that have received a 2007 Verizon Supplier Excellence Award for
delivering advanced products and services and for consistently demonstrating a
commitment to excellence.
“Receiving
a Supplier Excellence Award from Verizon is a great honor for Corning Cable
Systems,” said Mike Genovese, senior vice president and general manager,
commercial operations for Corning Cable Systems. “We look forward to continuing
to provide a superior level of quality and service to Verizon and its
customers.”
Corning’s outstanding customer support is
an integral part of Corning Cable Systems Evolant™ Solutions for Evolving
Networks. Evolant Solutions delivers network migration,
design-through-installation expertise and tip-to-tip product and service
offerings for access, data center, intelligent transportation system (ITS),
metropolitan, long-haul and wireless applications.
For
additional information on Corning Cable Systems products and services, contact
a
customer
service representative at 1-800-743-2675, toll free in the United States,
or (+1) 828-901-5000, international, or visit the Web site at www.corning.com/cablesystems.
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ELECTEC Building Wiring Systems welcomes manufacturer’s
representatives
ELECTEC
Ltd. (www.electeconline.com), a
Canadian innovator of Manufactured Wiring Systems proudly welcomes new
manufacturer’s representatives to the fold.
Innotech
Solutions Inc. (www.innotechsolutions.ca)
and WestRep Marketing Inc. (www.westrepmarketing.com)
represent Electec’s Next Generation in
Wiring Systems, introducing EZ-Cabling to networking professionals and
engineering consultants in two of Canada’s largest territories.
“It is with
great pleasure and excitement that we welcome this select group of industry
professionals to our family.” VP
Business Development, Chris Pezoulas continues, “Our relationships are very
important to us and together with our growing network of knowledgeable and
professional sales representatives we endeavor to provide consistently high
levels of innovation, service and value.”
EZ-Cabling
is a pre-terminated copper cabling solution that offers an unprecedented level
of safety, reliability and re-usability through its non-combustible cable
construction, verified performance guarantee and unique modular design
concept.
The ease of
installation and maintenance makes EZ-Cabling an intelligent choice for an
environmentally responsible cabling infrastructure that is re-useable and
re-locatable. Using EZ-Cabling as a
horizontal cabling infrastructure prevents troublesome and potentially toxic
abandoned cable from accumulating in air-handling spaces.
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New JackRapid Termination Tool Terminates Jacks 8 Times Faster, Making Single-Purpose Tools Obsolete
Fluke Networks, provider of innovative Network SuperVision
Solutions™ for the testing, monitoring and analysis of enterprise and
telecommunications networks, today announced the newly redesigned JackRapid™
termination tool. This groundbreaking tool lets technicians install jacks up to
8 times faster than with traditional punchdown tools. Users can terminate
and trim all eight wires in a jack at once with one easy squeeze, reducing the
time spent on the job and saving labor costs.
JackRapid's new ergonomically designed handle requires less effort
when performing the punchdown process, reducing hand fatigue and allowing more
jacks to be punched down faster. The new handle also includes a built-in
wire jacket stripper. With JackRapid's jacket stripper and the ability to
precisely trim all 8 wires without separate snips, installers need fewer tools
at the job site. The built-in stripper and consistent punchdown action
also combine to improve the overall quality level of the job while time to
completion goes down.
In an installation of 1000 jacks, a standard single-wire punchdown
tool may require 29 labor hours at an average project cost of approximately
$1,445 USD. The same installation job utilizing JackRapid requires 10
hours at an average project cost of approximately $500 USD. Compared to
the traditional single-wire punchdown tools, JackRapid can cut installation
time and cost by 2/3.
JackRapid’s patented design features an interchangeable
termination head that holds the jack in place. Different style heads
accommodate jack styles from most popular manufacturers. The termination
head uses a wall-friendly design to that makes close-to-wall installations far
easier than with other types of tools.
JackRapid increases accuracy and reliability. Fewer reworks are needed,
which increases client confidence and further time savings for the installer.
JackRapid is also safer, reducing the risk that technicians will punch into the
palms of their hands or through drywall when terminating jacks. www.flukenetworks.com
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HCM Introduces Category 6 ECOTM Line of Cables<
HCM is
pleased to announce the launch of its new smaller diameter Category
6 cable, Category 6 ECOTM. Category 6 ECOTM is
manufactured without a center filler and has an outside diameter that is
similar to that of Category 5e cable.
The smaller outside diameter can help reduce installation costs by
permitting the owner to install more Category 6 cables per conduit or tray than
could be installed if using typical Category 6 cables.
This new
construction, which is UL verified for performance and exceeds the requirements
for Category 6, is a result of knowledge gained during the development of HCM’s
Category 6A cable, Supra 10TM, said Steven Kenney, Marketing
Manager for HCM. “We are very excited
about this new product,” he adds. “Not
only does it offer the Category 6 performance that our customers require, but
it does so using substantially less material. This also translates into a
smaller impact on the environment when the product reaches the end of its life
cycle. To reduce the environmental
impact even further, we designed packaging that was made with 100% post
consumer cardboard. We believe this is
the most environmentally friendly Category 6 cable on the market.”
The
Category 6 ECOTM is manufactured at HCM’s Manchester, NH
facility. It is available for purchase
through authorized distributors.
About HCM
HCM,
located in Manchester, NH manufacturers a complete line of copper
and fiber optic cables for the communication industry. Over 3,300 different cable products are
manufactured at this facility. Products
include Category 6A UTP cables, shielded and outdoor Category 5e and 6 cables,
armored plenum-rated fiber optic cables as well as plenum-rated indoor/outdoor
fiber optic cables.
To learn
more about HCM products, please contact HCM toll free at 800-772-0116 or visit
the HCM website at www.hcm.hitachi.com.
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General Cable Announces Long-Haul Submarine Fiber Optic Award
General
Cable Corporation (NYSE: BGC - News) reported today that its
subsidiary, Norddeutsche Seekablewerke GmbH (NSW), has been awarded its first
submarine long-haul repeatered fiber optic communications link project.
The communications link
will stretch through the Mediterranean Sea from Marseilles,
France to Port
Said, Egypt,
with additional connections in Italy,
Turkey and Cyprus. The
project will have a length of more than 2,600 miles and will be installed at
depths of up to 11,000 feet. NSW’s portion of this project is valued at
approximately $40 million with cable delivery and installation beginning later
this year. “NSW has been investing heavily to support the expansion of our
product offering to include long-haul submarine fiber optic communications
cables. We believe that this global market, which is coming off nearly a decade
of decline, is positioned to rebound throughout the world as nations increase
their need for reliable communications links,” said Valentin Jug, Chairman of
NSW.
General Cable acquired
NSW in April 2007 and began an investment program to expand the capability of
the facility to include submarine power cables and repeatered submarine
communications cable. NSW is located on a tributary of the North
Sea, with its own deep-sea pier. The Company believes that once
the expansion of NSW is completed, it will be well positioned to address all
aspects of submarine cable needs for the expanding communications, offshore
wind farm and energy exploration markets.
NSW, headquartered in Nordenham, Germany,
is a leading manufacturer of submarine fiber optic communications and offshore
power cables serving customers all over the world. For more information about
NSW, please visit our website at www.nsw.de.
General Cable is a
global leader in the development, design, manufacture, marketing and
distribution of copper, aluminum and fiber optic wire and cable products for
the energy, industrial, and communications markets. Visit our website at www.generalcable.com.
*********************************
Graybar’s Kathleen Mazzarella Joins Industry Leaders on NAW Institute for Distribution Excellence Board
Graybar, a
leading distributor of electrical and communications products and related
supply chain management and logistics services, announced today that Kathleen
M. Mazzarella, senior vice president – sales and marketing, comm/data, was
elected to the board of the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors
(NAW) Institute for Distribution Excellence
During her
four-year commitment, Mazzarella will work with other board members to enhance
the wholesale distribution industry and drive efficiencies in the distribution
channel. The board’s projects include producing a report on future trends in
wholesale distribution entitled “Facing the Forces of Change” and research on
other strategic issues. The NAW Institute board is a hybrid organization
including 15 additional representatives from companies in the wholesale
distribution industry and associations that serve wholesale distributors.
“Graybar
has been active with NAW for a number of years, and we are pleased about
Kathy’s involvement in the NAW Institute,” said Robert A. Reynolds Jr.,
chairman, president and chief executive officer of Graybar. “At Graybar, we pride ourselves on constantly
looking for ways to improve the distribution industry. Kathy’s commitment to the NAW Institute board
enables Graybar to further collaborate with industry leaders to develop best
practices that bring greater value to our customers.”
NAW
Institute board members work to produce industry research and education to
support excellence in distribution. They focus on providing the information
wholesalers and distributors need to continuously improve their
profitability and business processes, including supply chain management and
distribution trends. http://graybar.com/
*********************************
Graybar Vice President Named to Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) Board
Michael C.
Dumas Joins Technology Leaders to Enhance Industry’s Business Environment
Graybar, a
leading distributor of electrical and communications products and related
supply chain management and logistics services, announced today that Michael C.
Dumas, vice president comm/data business, recently joined the
Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) Board of Directors.
Dumas and
his fellow board members provide direction and guidance to the association over
a three-year term. Board members attend triannual meetings, contribute to
various committees, such as legislation and technology, and maintain
communications with TIA leadership. The 34-member board includes CEOs,
presidents and other senior executives from industry-leading technology
companies.
“We are proud of our long affiliation with
TIA, and Mike’s role on the board reflects our strong commitment to the
telecommunications industry,” said Kathy Mazzarella, senior vice president,
sales and marketing, comm/data at Graybar. “Mike’s leadership and service will
enable Graybar to make an even greater contribution to the future of the
industry.”
TIA members
work to enhance the business environment for thousands of companies focused on
broadband development and deployment, information technology, Internet Protocol
(IP) solutions, and the convergence of voice, data and video applications.
Graybar has been a member of TIA since its inception.
Prior to
becoming vice president of Graybar’s communications and data business in 2005,
Dumas held a variety of management positions at the company in corporate
accounts, electrical sales and finance.
He holds a B.S. degree in General Business Administration from Tarleton State
University in Stephenville, Texas.
http://graybar.com/
*********************************
Graybar Surpasses $5.25 Billion in 2007 Sales
Graybar,
one of the nation’s leading distributors of electrical and communications
products and related supply chain management and logistics services, has
announced that it exceeded $5.25 billion in net sales during 2007, an increase
of nearly $250 million, or 5 percent, over 2006. The company also posted net
income of more than $83 million, up $26 million, or 45 percent, from the
previous year.
Income from
operations totaled more than $161 million, nearly $40 million, or 33 percent,
more than in 2006. The company also reported significantly lower debt levels,
which led to reduced interest expense, and finished the year in a strong cash
position.
“We had a banner year in 2007 with record
sales and profitability,” said Robert A. Reynolds Jr., chairman, president and
chief executive officer of Graybar. “Our
investments in technology and commitment to organic growth enabled us to
improve our bottom-line results.”
Graybar’s
Enterprise Resource Planning system continues to help the company boost
productivity and rapidly respond to changing market conditions. The information
technology platform provides Graybar’s nationwide locations with valuable
business data in real-time to enable quick and efficient asset and supply chain
management.
“Our strong
year-end results reflect the exceptional customer service our employees and
employee-owners provide. We continue to
raise the bar on performance and value for our customers,” added Reynolds.
The company
looks forward to building on the year’s momentum with continued sales growth
and profitability in 2008. http://graybar.com/
*********************************
Leviton is First in Industry to Meet TIA Component Requirements for CAT 6A Connector
Independent testing completed and
announced as TIA standard is ratified
Leviton
Network Solutions announces the industry's first Augmented Category 6 (CAT 6A)
connector independently tested by Intertek/ETL to exceed component performance
as defined in the recently finalized ANSI/TIA/EIA-568-B.2-10 standard. This new
standard defines performance and testing requirements up to 500 MHz for
Augmented Category 6 (Cat 6A) cabling systems to support the operation of IEEE
802.3an 10GBASE-T applications up to 100 meters. The TIA standard was approved
for publication at the TIA TR42 engineering committee on February 8, 2008 and
is expected to be available to the public from IHS, Inc. (www.ihs.com), TIA's
exclusive document distributor this month.
“Achieving
component CAT 6A performance is extremely significant because it translates
directly into greater performance margins in field testing of permanent links
and channels”, explains Keith Kosanovich, RCDD, Leviton's Sr. Product Manager
for Copper Systems. “With greater margins above the CAT 6A limits, Leviton
customers can be confident they are installing the highest performing CAT 6A
structured cabling system available.” Category 6A components are fully backward
compatible with all previous categories, including Category 6 and Category 5e,
providing a smooth migration path to future high-speed applications such as
10GBASE-T.
In order to
achieve this performance, Leviton developed proprietary internal technologies
that minimize Alien Crosstalk in the connector and in the channel. In addition,
the Leviton CAT6A Connector utilizes a patented Cone of Silence ® which
effectively eliminates Alien Crosstalk between connectors in patching and work
area applications.
Leviton's
connector is an integral component of their complete CAT 6A cable and
connectivity solution. This advanced solution provides guaranteed channel
margins over the TIA standard in both short distances, typically found in data
center applications, and longer distances common in traditional enterprise applications
to the work area. www.leviton.com
*********************************
The Light Brigade’s June 2008 Training Schedule
Fiber
Optics 1-2-3
This course focuses on how to design, install, test and
maintain fiber optic communication systems for voice, video and data
applications. The course consists of two days of classroom content and two
optional days of hands-on practices. Course material and techniques taught are
based on ITU, TIA/EIA, IEEE, Telcordia and ANSI standards. Class participants will
learn to understand and effectively use any manufacturer's equipment or product
designed to conform to these widely accepted standards.
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June
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Spokane, WA
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June
16-19
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Seattle, WA
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Jacksonville, FL
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