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Around the Circuit
CMA Report
Indicates Manufacturing Innovation Process at Risk
The Council of Manufacturing Associations (CMA), a
division of the Washington, D.C.-based National Association of
Manufacturers (NAM), recently released a report pointing to the
downward
trends in U.S. manufacturing that may pose a threat to America's
long-term economic growth and living standards. According to the
report,
"U.S. Manufacturing Innovation at Risk," there are five warning signs
that show America's manufacturing innovation process is at
risk:
-Manufacturing output since the last recession lags that
of earlier economic recoveries.
-Manufacturing capacity remains
underutilized, slowing investment in new plants and
equipment.
-The U.S. share of global trade in manufactured
products has shrunk, falling from 13% in the 1990s to 10% in
2004.
-While manufacturing continues to pay better than other
industries, the sector is experiencing a broadening shortage of skilled
workers.
-While the United States continues to spend more than
any other country in R&D investment, U.S. growth in R&D has averaged
only about 1% per year in real terms since 2000.
To read the
full
report, visit the NAM Web site.
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brochure. AEMC's brochure is also available online at www.aemc.com.
NJATC Creates
Nationwide Network of Regional Training Centers
The National Joint Apprenticeship and Training
Committee
(NJATC), formed through Bethesda, Md.-based NECA and Washington,
D.C.-based IBEW, is in the process of creating a nationwide network of
regional training centers. Each center will be staffed and equipped to
keep union electrical workers up-to-date through courses covering such
topics as computer technology, fiber-optic and photovoltaic systems,
copper-structured cabling, and traffic signal operation. This year,
sites have been established in Portland, Ore.; Pittsburgh; Detroit; and
Birmingham, Ala. For 2007, sites are planned for Winter Park, Fla.;
Omaha, Neb.; Commerce, Calif.; and Dorchester, Mass.
FM Approvals
Publishes New
Product Updates
Johnston, R.I.-based product testing and certification
organization FM Approvals recently published its "2006 Approval Guide"
on CD-ROM. The guide provides detailed engineering data and technical
information on the application and use of more than 45,000
fire-protection products, building materials, electrical equipment, and
services. The disc also contains more than 140 approval standards
documents. For more information, visit FM Approvals' Web site.
New Orleans City
Council Replaces "Fast-Track" Ordinance With More Limited Law
On Feb. 2, the New Orleans City Council passed a new
ordinance repealing the previous "fast-track" inspections law that
allowed any licensed Louisiana electrician or electrical contractor to
conduct electrical inspections on commercial and residential
properties.
Under the new law, passed at the request of New Orleans-based Entergy,
licensed electrical contractors meeting all qualifications of Chapter
27
of the 2000 International Building Code are permitted to inspect and
certify that the work performed at any residential structure of no more
than four family units is in compliance with the code, provided that
the property owner signs a "hold harmless" clause designed to protect
both the city and Entergy if the uninspected work proves faulty.
The law also says that the city's Department of Safety and
Permits may inspect any electrical work certified in order to maintain
quality control. It also prescribes what documents electrical
contractors and property owners must submit to the city before Entergy
will be notified to turn on the power. The ordinance will be in effect
until July 31. The newly prescribed forms are available on the city's Web site.
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feature audio and visual indicators and four modes of sensitivity to
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more information on our circuit tracer kits, visit www.idealindustries.com.
Project Watch
Langley Air
Force
Base Seeks Contractor
for New Hospital Addition
The Army Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, at
Langley Air Force Base, Va., is soliciting bids for the construction of
a 145,000 square-foot multi-story addition and an option for the
renovation of a 25,000 square-foot facility at its hospital. The
central
plant renovation includes the replacement of the 167-ton chiller and
associated equipment. The scope of electrical work consists of a 4000A,
480/277V, 3-phase, 4-wire double-ended switchboard. The magnitude of
construction is estimated to be between $45 and $50 million. The
deadline for proposals is April 4. To download the plans, visit the Army
Corps of Engineers, Norfolk District, Web
site.
County in New York Requests
Bids
for Fire Alarm System
Nassau County, N.Y., is asking for bids for a contract
that involves furnishing the necessary labor, materials, tools,
equipment, and incidentals for the installation of an addressable fire
alarm system, illuminated exit signs, and emergency lighting units in
the Hempstead House, Sands Point Preserve. There will be a mandatory
pre-bid meeting/walk-through at the project site Feb. 24 at 10 a.m.
EST.
The deadline for proposals is Feb. 28 at 10:30 a.m. EST. For directions
to the pre-bid meeting and more information regarding the request for
bids, visit the county's Web
site.
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catalog.
To obtain a catalog and order forms, see your local B-Line distributor
or visit our Web site at www.b-line.com.
Web Exclusives
Business Brief
On Feb. 6, Minneapolis-based Xcel Energy announced that
it awarded an engineering, procurement and construction contract to the
Shaw Stone & Webster unit of Baton Rouge, La.-based The Shaw Group Inc.
The new 750MW supercritical coal-fired power plant, with a total cost
of
$1.35 billion, will be the third unit at Xcel's Comanche Generating
Station in Pueblo, Colo. Shaw's lump-sum, turnkey contract covers
"balance of plant" facilities, including the erection of the steam
turbine and supplying and erecting associated plant systems, including
piping, pumps, heat exchangers, and electrical equipment. In addition,
the scope includes engineering and installation of concrete foundations
and other civil and electrical works for the total facility. The new
plant is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2009.
For more
Business Briefs, visit EC&M's Web
site.
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Hunt Power is now offering electrical contractors the opportunity to
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focus on identifying the correct meter for the job, proper installation
for both walk-up-and-read meters and advanced meters that tie into
RightEnergy meter-reading software, and verification that meter
installations were successful and systems are functioning properly.
Annual benefits include a Web listing with Hunt Power, certification
seal for use on business cards, and promotional material and access to
dedicated product and technical support for E-Mon D-Mon meters. Sign up
to learn more about this exciting new program at www.huntpower.com/ecm24.asp
or call (866) 944-4868.
Eye on Safety
President Bush Proposes 2007
Budget
Increases for OSHA
President George W. Bush's budget proposal for fiscal
year 2007 includes an $11.2 million increase for OSHA, which would give
the department $483.7 million for the fiscal year. Jonathan Snare,
acting assistant secretary of labor for OSHA, said Feb. 6 that the
request includes increases for federal enforcement, compliance
assistance, and safety and health statistics. The budget also contains
two major initiatives: Development of a new information system and
expansion of outreach for Hispanic and other non-English speaking
workers as well as for workers involved in the cleanup and recovery
efforts along the Gulf Coast.
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Shows and Events
Engineers
Week
Engineers Week (EWeek), founded by a formal coalition
of
more than 70 engineering, education, and cultural societies and more
than 50 corporations and government agencies dedicated to raising
public
awareness of engineers' positive contributions to the quality of life,
is scheduled for the week of Feb. 19. EWeek was initiated in the United
States, but programs and materials are now also accessible to countries
around the world, including Australia, Canada, Colombia, Dubai,
Germany,
India, Mexico, the Netherlands, and Trinidad and
Tobago.
Included
in this year's program is "Connecting the World to Engineering," a
global Internet initiative sponsored by IEEE-USA. The program consists
of forums and live teleconferences that link engineering undergraduates
and young engineering professionals with business leaders in the
engineering community worldwide. New to the EWeek lineup in 2006 is
"Connecting Educators to Engineering," a program that links engineers
with educators to promote engineering careers in schools. Additionally,
six training seminars will be broadcast live on the EWeek Web site in
February.
IEC Annual
Legislative Conference
All IEC members are invited to attend the IEC National
2006 Legislative Conference scheduled to be held from March 13-25 at
the
Washington Court Hotel in Washington, D.C. Speakers at this year's
event
include Congressman Sam Johnson (R-TX), Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn
(R-TN), and Rich Galen, senior advisor to the public relations firm
Manning, Selvage and Lee. For more information and to register for the
conference, visit IEC's Web
site.
EGSA Spring Convention
The Electrical Generating Systems Association (EGSA)
will present its annual Spring Convention in Sarasota, Fla., from March
19-21. Seminars at the event include "Global Demand for Reliable
Power,"
"Catastrophic Hurricanes and Our Changing Climate," "Disaster
Preparedness," "Construction Trends: A Consulting Engineer
Perspective,"
and "Emergency Power and the International Building Code." To download
a
PDF of the brochure for the 2006 conference, visit ESGA's Web
site.
2006 National
Manufacturing Week
The 2006 National Manufacturing Week is scheduled to
take place at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont,
Ill., from March 20-23. This year's application-oriented conference
contains more than 250 all-new sessions and workshops covering topics
such as regulatory compliance, power and energy management, new control
technologies, and wireless and RFID. For more information on sessions
and to register for the conference, visit the National Manufacturing
Week Web
site.
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