electrical business...electrical business, p.o. box 8145, lewiston, ny 14092 the contents of...

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EB presents its cavalcade of hand tools.

We sit down with S&D’s new chair, Elaine Gerrie, COO of Gerrie Electric.

Low-profile instant-start T8 electronic ballasts operate effectively and efficiently.

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FIREX®IITECK CABLE

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THIS CHANNELLOCK® WORLD CLASS LINEMEN’S PLIERMAKES ALL OTHER LINEMEN’S PLIERS OBSOLETE.

© 2006 CHANNELLOCK, Inc. Meadville, PA 16335 800-724-3018 www.channellock.com

Nobody else makes a tool like this. Packed with functionality,it’ll replace a fist-full of your old tools. Our new 9" (369CRFT)linemen’s plier is guaranteed to make the job easier.

Visit channellock.com for a factory tour.

Made in U.S.A. since 1886.

DO YOUR LINEMEN’S PLIERS DO ALL THIS?WE DON’T THINK SO!

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Cross-hatch teeth forbetter grip

Built-in 12 AWG wire stripper

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Channellock Blue®

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Exclusive joint path guides fishtapewithout kinking, bending, bindingor breaking

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4 • AUGUST 2007 • www. mag.com

I’ve been down on smart meters ever since I found out they weren’t really all that smart, and especially when

I started hearing discussions revolving around who was going to pay for them once Ontario makes good on its prom-ise to outfit every home in the province with one. Trust me: you’re not going to get yours for free come 2010.

(For more on how smart meters aren’tsmart, check out my OEL conference wrap-up in the June edition of EB’s e-newsletter, E-Line: Your Industry News Broadcast, available online at EBMag.com.)

Still, I’m ever hopeful I’ll be proved completely and utterly wrong, so I can jump on the smart meter/time-of-use (TOU) pricing bandwagon and become a disciple of Ontario’s Culture of Conservation. I thought the recently released final report of an Ontario Energy Board (OEB) pilot project—conducted with the support of Hydro Ottawa—would help me do just that.

The report shows that TOU prices

motivated consumers to shift some of their electricity use away from peak hours. (Hmm... I do that now without TOU because I’ve had it drilled into my head that, among other things, I should do my laundry in cold water in the evening rather than hot water during the afternoon.) The results also indicate that using smart meters with some form of TOU pricing leads to electricity conservation in most cases. Study participants reduced overall elec-tricity consumption an average of 6% compared to a similar-sized group of customers not paying TOU prices.

Let’s put this into perspective: over the course of the entire pilot period, participants shifted consumption and paid roughly $1.44 less on monthly bills with the TOU pilot prices than they would have otherwise. Now, I’m by no means a millionaire, but a buck and-a-half in monthly savings is laugh-able. You can’t even buy a cup of coffee for that amount! How many years have to go by before a homeowner gets his

return on investment?Conservation is admirable and neces-

sary, but let’s not jump at anything and everything that promises to solve all our energy problems. I would rather see homeowners and businesses investing in bona fide electrical systems and technol-ogies—many of which appear regularly in the pages of Electrical Business—to help them in their conservation quest. Things like high-efficiency lighting fixtures driven by advanced ballasts, efficient heating, occupancy/motion sensors, solutions for power quality and energy management, and so on.

Surveys conducted with OEB pilot project participants (of which only 289 responded) showed 78% of them would recommend TOU pricing to their friends, saying the prices made them more aware of how to reduce their bills, gave them greater control of their costs and benefited the environment.

I wonder what the remaining 22% had to say.

ELECTRICAL BUSINESS is the magazine of the Canadian electrical industry. It reports on the news and publishes articles in a manner that is informative and constructive.

EditorAnthony Capkun - [email protected]

PublisherJohn MacPherson - [email protected]

Account ManagerScott Hoy - [email protected]

EB Editorial Advisory BoardTom Crist, Kerry Heid, Ron Bergeron, Stephen Tatrallyay, Dan Mott, John Vickery, Ian Dempsey and Pierre Dowd

Art DirectorSvetlana Avrutin - [email protected]

Account Co-OrdinatorRobert Russell - [email protected]

Creative DirectorEinar Rice - [email protected]

Manager, ProductionLisa Drummond - [email protected]

Subscriber Customer Service RepresentativeKristen Schulz - [email protected]

PresidentStuart Morrison

Vice President, Media, PublishingNiel Hiscox

Vice President, Finance/Corporate DevelopmentKent Milford

Vice President, Human ResourcesSusan Bishop

Vice President, IT and OperationsDavid Overall

Director, Sales and MarketingFrank Shoniker

Director, Editorial and ProductionJackie Roth

Director, CirculationJames Zammit

Director, Facility Management and LogisticsSteve Dale

Director, Human ResourcesDenise Desrosiers

Director, ITPhillip Damianidis

Member, CLB Media Management CommitteeNigel Bishop

SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada: Single issue $7.00 • Ten issues: $35.00

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USA: $59.00 (US) and International: $75.00 (US) per yearUnited States Second Class Postage Paid at Lewiston, NY (USPS-741-470) US POSTMASTER: send address changes to ELECTRICAL BUSINESS, P.O. Box 8145, Lewiston, NY 14092

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Agreement 40063602 ISSN 0013-4244 Printed in Canada

August 2007Volume 43 • Issue 7

DEPARTMENTSFEATURES

11 Invoice discounting 101Invoice discounting is a cash sale of an asset (accounts receivable) at a set price, but while it is endorsed by many financial institutions, it’s not right for every business.

16 Electrical worker safety and CSA Z462Despite the fact that workers across the country are exposed to many electrical hazards, Canadians have had no guideline, standard or act—federal, pro-vincial or otherwise—to help them more effectively manage those hazards, or even determine who is qualified to perform electrical work. This is why CSA hopes CSA Z462, Standard on Workplace Electrical Safety, will become a National Standard of Canada.

24 Pulp mill upgrades to open communication (Case Study)Established in 1990, the Peace River Pulp mill was faced with an original control system that had become obsolete. Difficulty in finding replacement parts, unreliable service and declining operational knowledge and training options forced the mill to look for a new automation solution.

REGIONAL FOCUS

12 Western UpdateA recently released construction forecast for Saskatchewan warns that labour—or lack thereof—will pose a real challenge to the sector, and that stakeholders should start planning how to tackle that obstacle. Also, BCEA helps establish two new annual financial awards for Okanagan College students with a $25,000 donation.

ElectricalBusiness

T H E A U T H O R I T A T I V E V O I C E O FC A N A D A ’ S E L E C T R I C A L I N D U S T R Y

ElectricalBusiness

T H E A U T H O R I T A T I V E V O I C E O FC A N A D A ’ S E L E C T R I C A L I N D U S T R Y

240 Edward Street, Aurora, ON L4G 3S9Tel: 905-727-0077 Fax: 905-727-0017CONTENTS

▼ From the editor

14 Contractors in the CommunityEB issued a call to contractors to send us stories of how they volunteer their time, resources, etc., in their communities, and the responses we received were interesting and diverse: from sponsoring hockey teams to bringing electrical education to the impover-ished Dominican Republic.

ON THE COVER

Smart meters aren’t the cat’s meow. Period.

5 Industry News5 Letters6 The Heritage “What Am I?” Photo Contest

9 Personalities10 It’s Your Business Ordinary guys doing the right things... and making money

19 Tools for the Trade EB's cavalcade of hand tools!

20 Products22 Calendar27 Meet the Players S&D’s new chair, Elaine Gerrie

28 Product Showcase28 Library29 Marketplace30 Code File Safety in existing high-voltage stations

30 Code Conundrum

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The Heritage “What Am I?” NEW!

S&D’s new chair, Elaine Gerrie

NEW!

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I N D U S T R Y N E W S

It’s a family affair.

Presenting the new IBERVILLE®

BC3104-LHTQ™.

There’s a new addition to the IBERVILLE® LHTQ family! With a capacity of 16 cu. in., the new IBERVILLE BC3104-LHTQ™ steel device box is designed for any installation thatrequires a greater number of conductors such as heating and GFCI applications.

What’s more, because it’s an LHTQ, installation is always fast and accurate. Look for thesepractical and patented time saving features on all LHTQ models.

The IBERVILLE BC3104-LHTQ device box is available now at your local participating electrical distributor.

IBERVILLE LHTQ – innovative design and quality manufacturing are a family affair.

• positioning guides for drywall and outside wall applications• retractable positioning tabs• internally embossed mounting slots

• flat box sides for maximum stability• holding prongs• CSA-approved one-screw mounting

THE LHTQ™ FAMILY PROUDLY WELCOMES ITS NEWEST MEMBER.

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L E T T E R S

Nuke that photoIn the June/July publication, in the Industry News section (on page six), there is a short piece “Ontario con-siders its nuclear options”. Please advise which Canadian nuclear power plant is shown in the photo?

In Canada, no nuclear power plant uses cooling towers. The cool-ing is achieved through an open once-through cycle.

A magazine dedicated to Canadian electrical business should be factu-al—at least about the Canadian side of the business.

— Alek J.

Because the news item is about exploring nuclear technologies available to the province, and not technologies currently in use in Canada, we felt it was okay to run a generic nuclear plant photo. But thanks for the lesson!

— Ed.

Canada to update national energy code for buildingsGary Lunn, minister of natural resources, and Dr. Richard Normandin, VP physical sciences at the National Research Council (NRC) of Canada, announced $5 million for a joint initiative to update the Model National Energy Code for Buildings. They say the new code will respond to today’s energy efficiency issues and have a long-term impact on Canada’s energy legacy. It will establish minimum requirements to construct buildings that reflect today’s rising energy and construction costs, technological innovation and energy concerns.

NRCan will provide technical expertise and funding of up to $5 million over four years to support the initiative. NRC, home to Canada’s model national construction codes, will oversee the development of the energy code. The new energy code is scheduled to be published by 2012 and will complement the model national construction codes that will be published in 2010.

And speaking of NRC, the venerable research institution is entering its 10th decade of research excellence, closing the curtain on its 90th anni-versary year with a ceremony at its historic Sussex Drive laboratories in Ottawa in June.

Eaton to acquire MGE business from SchneiderEaton Corp. is acquiring the small systems busi-ness of Schneider Electric’s MGE UPS Systems for about $570 million US, with the transaction expected to close in the third quarter.

“The addition of MGE’s products will bring us valuable technology to fill product gaps in our UPS single-phase portfolio,” said Randy W. Carson, Eaton senior VP and president-Electrical Group, adding, “This transaction clearly underlines Eaton’s stated strategic focus to expand our power quality business globally.”

T&B to acquire Danaher propertiesThomas & Betts Corp. is acquiring the Joslyn Hi-Voltage and Power Solutions businesses from Danaher Corp. for $280 million, and Drilling Technical Supply SA (DTS), a privately held French manufacturer of hazardous lighting and electrical controls, for about $20 million US. The transactions are expected to close Q3.

Joslyn Hi-Voltage offers a range of high-voltage electric switches, reclosers, vacuum interrupter attachments and related products used mainly by electric utilities. Power Solutions offers a range of products/services designed to ensure a high-quality, reliable flow of power for mission-critical applica-tions, such as data centres. DTS offers explosion-proof lighting and electrical protection equipment for an array of industrial markets.

3M Canada partners with Alberta’s Cantega3M Canada has formed a strategic alliance to market a power system solution manufactured by Edmonton-based Cantega Technologies Inc. It provides 3M Canada exclusive rights within Canada to sell and market Greenjacket Wildlife Outage Mitigation Systems.

“We are always looking for ways to expand our portfolio and working with small businesses is a great opportunity for that,” said Bill Boyce, Alberta regional director, 3M Canada. “With almost 20% of power outages resulting from animal interference, Greenjacket ensures 3M is better equipped to meet our customers’ energy needs.”

Greenjacket is designed to prevent power outages from bird and animal contact in substations. The tight-fitting insulated material is tailored to specific energized equipment.

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Greenjacket is a tight-fitting, durable polymer insulation covering tailored to specific energized equipment. It is designed to prevent power outages caused by bird and animal contact in substations.

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I N D U S T R Y N E W S

No purchase necessary. Open to residents of Canada of age of majority, excluding Quebec. You must answer a timed skill-testing question to win. Prizes valued at about $37.95 each. The contest is not open to anyone affiliated with, or related to, members of Electrical Business or the Electrical Heritage Society of British Columbia. (That would be unfair.) Complete contest details online at EBMag.com.

This month’s awesome

prize!

Visit EBMag.com where you’ll find an entry form along with a multiple choice answer form. If you’ve answered correctly, your name will be added to all the other correct entries, from which 10 winners will be randomly cho-sen before next month’s installment of the “Heritage What Am I?” Photo Contest. Read the small print below for more information. Good luck!

New marketing campaign for P&S PlugtailPass & Seymour/Legrand unveiled an integrated marketing campaign to support its expanded line of P&S PlugTail wiring devices. Included in the campaign is a range of promotional materials to help distributors generate demand for P&S PlugTail. Among the free items with a stocking order of $1200 or more are posters, remote-control race cars, stickers and postcards.

Designed for hosting successful jobsite events, the jobsite kits contain items such as T-shirts, Plexi Holder containing Slim Jim snacks, sample devices and stickers. For more information, contact your P&S rep.

W

HAT AM I?

THE HERITAGE

Schneider enhances its capabilities in B.C.Schneider Electric Canada has acquired Victoria, B.C.-based Elite Engineering Ltd., an electrical engineering firm consisting of two distinct busi-nesses: engineering design and field testing; and maintenance and commissioning. Elite also spe-cializes in the building and maintenance of run-of-river IPP (independent power producer) facilities.

“The addition of Elite Engineering Ltd. to Schneider Canada Services is strategically impor-tant for several reasons”, said Leonce Fraser, VP of Schneider Canada Services. “First, it provides cost-effective access to the Vancouver Island market. Second, it enhances our services offer into the Marine segment. Third, it gives us access to the IPP market where we can leverage the greater strengths of Schneider Electric as an industry-leading product and services supplier.”

NxtPhase sells relay and recorder divisionVancouver’s NxtPhase T&D Corp., a provider of digital and fiber optic solutions for the electric power industry, is selling its relay and recorder (R&R) business unit to Easun Reyrolle Ltd. of India. The company says this divestiture will allow it to focus on its optical business.

Easun will acquire all assets under the pur-chase agreement, including intellectual prop-erty, as well as liabilities of the R&R division. This business will now be carried out through ERLPhase Power Technologies Ltd., a wholly owned Canadian subsidiary of Easun.

CNSC suspends Enviropac licencesFollowing a proceeding held in December 2006 and February of this year, the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission (CNSC) has decided to suspend in whole the storage, processing and

calibration licences issued to Edmonton, Alta.’s Enviropac, and replace the Designated Officer Order issued in September 2006 and confirmed, in part, by CNSC in December 2006. During the proceeding, the commission considered writ-ten submissions and oral presentations from Enviropac and CNSC staff.

In a nutshell, CNSC has concluded that Enviropac is no longer qualified to carry on the activities that the licences authorize, and is of the opinion that Enviropac has not made adequate provision for the protection of the environment, the health and safety of persons and the mainte-nance of national security and measures required to implement international obligations to which Canada has agreed.

CNSC has replaced the aforementioned Designated Officer Order to include conditions that prohibit Enviropac from conducting any and all activities relating to the powers, rights and privi-leges granted under its licences, including handling or servicing any nuclear substances or prescribed equipment; provide the CNSC with full and unfet-tered access at all times to the Enviropac premis-es; and prohibit Enviropac from interfering with CNSC’s possession, transfer, transport and storage of nuclear substances and prescribed equipment located on the Enviropac premises.

News and tidbits from NAEDAs part of its 100th anniversary celebration, the National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED) rolled out a new name and a new format for its annual meeting. Starting with the May 2008 meeting in San Francisco, Calif., the meeting will be called the NAED National Electrical Leadership Summit. The program will focus more on strategic leadership issues and emerging trends.

NAED has also launched its first Human Resources Training Conference, which will take place this October. Established by the NAED Education Research Foundation, the event will help HR and training professionals through-out the electrical industry enhance their existing staff recruitment, development and retention strategies.

The association’s Education & Research Foundation has updated/revised its EDGE

(Electrical Distributor Guided Education) course, which is available online at www.naedlearningcenter.org. The course is designed to provide all employees of electri-cal distributors with a basic understanding of electricity and electrical products so they can better serve customers. EDGE online is suitable for new employees as an introduc-tory tool to the basic, core electrical prod-ucts sold in electrical distribution, and lays the foundation for more advanced training.

PHOTO CONTEST

This month’s prize, graciously donated by Fluke Electronics Canada, is the LVD2 Volt Light: a compact

pen-style tool that combines non-contact voltage detection from 90VAC to 600VAC with a bright, white LED

flashlight. It features dual levels of detection, glowing Blue to indicate proximity (within 5 in.) to an AC voltage

source, and changing to Red when it is at the source (within 1 in.). The LVD2’s ultra-bright LED is good for

100,000 hours of use, and it comes complete with an AAA battery. And there are 10 units up for grabs!

Electrical Business, in association with the Electrical Heritage Society of British Columbia—along with generous industry partners—is excited to present the “Heritage What Am I?” PHOTO CONTEST.

Pictured on the right is an item from the heritage society’s collection of electrical artifacts. The contest begins when

you think you know what this item is. Of course, we’re not going to show the item in its entirety—that would be too

easy! (You’ll have to wait until next month to see the whole picture, as well as the correct answer.)

Here's how to play

Draw date October 1, 2007

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Intertec extends instrumentation enclosures and shelters portfolioIntertec has extended its ability to produce custom enclosures and shelters for field-based process instrumentation and equipment, with a range of options for low-volume requirements. It can now produce application-specific enclosures of almost any shape, size and colour, in volumes as low as 10 for clients in North America.

The service exploits the flexible resin transfer moulding and vacuum-bagging production processes acquired as part of Intertec’s recent purchase of Fibreform. This new design and manufacturing capa-bility is located in Sarnia, Ont., and complements Intertec’s established portfolio of moulded glass fibre reinforced polyester (GRP) enclosures/cabinets, shelters and accessories.

gripple opens first overseas manufacturing facilityUnited Kingdom-based Gripple Ltd. has opened its first overseas manufacturing facility in North America. Gripple is the manufacturer of a hanger system for electri-cal and mechanical services, which was launched in North America five years ago.

A purpose-built machine has been transported from Gripple headquarters in Sheffield to service current business, and a new 12,000-ft unit is to be constructed by the summer of next year to satisfy projected demand. When completed, this lat-est project in Gripple’s expansion will be capable of producing up to 80,000 units a week, with 60% destined for electrical installation.

FC Lighting debuts HQ and learning centreFC Lighting Inc. is celebrating its 25th year of sustained growth by moving to larger and more efficient new facilities in St. Charles, Ill., just west of Chicago. A key feature of the new facility is The Edge: a 4000-ft educational centre billed as “the world’s largest forum for LED technology”.

Vickers-warnick’s latest partnershipsIndustrial distributor Vickers-Warnick has added Leuze Electronic to its machine safety and guard-ing product offering. Leuze manufactures safety light curtains and scanners, photoelectric sen-sors, automatic identification and optical data transmission systems, and distance measuring technology.

Vickers has also entered into a distribution agreement with Pepperl+Fuchs, a manufacturer of a range of inductive, capacitive, photoelectric and ultrasonic sensors, as well as identification, barcode and camera systems, rotary encoders, and cordsets.

generac u. offers free generator service trainingThrough its new Generac University Program, Generac Power Systems is offering free technical training to qualified individuals to become certi-fied as generator service technicians.

“It’s essentially free vocational training, with a high likelihood of a job awaiting each gradu-ate,” explained Mike Carr, Generac’s manager of marketing communications. Upon successful

completion, students will be certified by Generac as Phase A service technicians, capable of sizing, installing, troubleshooting and repairing backup power systems. (After obtaining additional expe-rience, students are eligible for phase B and C [Master level] training.)

Classes will be held at the company’s Eagle, Wisc., 6000-sf training centre. The instructional package includes daily breakfast and lunch, as well as overnight lodging. For more information about Generac University’s four-week training program, e-mail [email protected].

dsC integration with HaI’s Lumina Home Control ProductsHome Automation Inc. (HAI) has integrated Tyco’s DSC PowerSeries security panels with its Lumina central lighting and home automation product line. With the integration, the Lumina or Lumina Pro can trigger events from the DSC security zones when they’re opened or closed, such as turning the foyer light on when the front door is open when it is dark. They can also trigger events when the DSC security system goes into Alarm, such as turning on all inside/outside lights when a burglar or fire alarm is tripped.

CCI lab receives MsHa approval for burn testColeman Cable Inc.’s quality lab in Waukegan, Ill., received approval from the Mine Safety & Health Administration (MSHA) in the United States to conduct the burn test on products such as power, control and communication cables.

“There are a limited number of facilities that are approved to conduct this testing,” said Howard Caccia, CCI’s VP of engineering. “For CCI, the in-house testing significantly improves our time to market, making us more effective and efficient in product design and development.”

Surrounded by members of Gripple Inc.’s new manufacturing team, engineering director John Joyce holds the first Gripple hanger to come off the production line in North America.

nwt residents pocket the rewards of saving energyA new program offering benefits to the environment and rewards for energy effi-ciency was launched by the Northwest Territories’ minister of environment and natural resources, Michael McLeod.

The NWT Energy Efficiency Incentive Program (EEIP) is designed to help hom-eowners and businesses purchase new, more energy-efficient models of prod-ucts they use every day. Residents not only reduce their energy costs, they also receive a rebate on qualifying purchases.

The program is the result of com-mitments made by the Government of the Northwest Territories in the NWT Greenhouse Gas Strategy and NWT Energy Plan earlier this year to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and assist residents with the high cost of energy. EEIP is administered through the Arctic Energy Alliance. Residents, businesses and non-profit organizations purchasing eligible products from a par-ticipating NWT dealer receive rebates by submitting a completed application form and a copy of their sales receipt.

Rebate categories include home and heating appliances, and home renova-

tion products—many of which are also available for rebate through federal gov-ernment programs, which can double the ROI.

For a complete list of products avail-able for rebate, visit the Arctic Energy Alliance online at www.aea.nt.ca.

MeL kicks off golf seasonThe Manitoba Electrical League recent-ly kicked off this year’s golf season with a successful Spring Fling Tournament, attracting 152 golfers and numerous distributor, contractor and supplier sponsors. $3500 was raised for charity, while the Putting Contest raised almost $800 for KidSport Manitoba.

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Building permits: June 2007(StatsCan, The Daily)Construction intentions maintained their sizzling pace this spring, as the value of building permits issued followed a record-breaking month in May with another strong showing in June. The back-to-back performances point to very busy construction sites in the coming months.

In total, municipalities issued $6.9-billion worth of permits in June, down only 0.4% from May. The figure for June was the second-highest on record, surpassed only by the peak in May.

Gains in the residential sector were offset by declines in non-residential construction intentions. Non-residential permits declined 10% to $2.8 billion, as the ICI components (industrial, commercial and institutional) of this sector fell. Again, this level was second only to the record-high performance in May.

In the residential sector, intentions climbed 7.4% to more than $4.1 billion. This is only the second time residential permits have surpassed the $4-billion mark (the first time occurring December 2005). The demand for new dwellings remained notably strong as a total of 21,515 new dwelling units were approved in June—a num-ber surpassed only twice since 1990.

The second quarter of 2007 was the highest on record for the total value of building permits, with construction intentions reach-ing $19.5 billion, up 13.6% from the first quarter of 2007. Strong quarterly growth was recorded in both the residential (+12.9%) and non-residential (+14.5%) sectors.

Multi-family permits boost housing sectorMunicipalities approved multi-family permits valued at $1.6 bil-lion—a 14.2% increase from May and the second-highest level on record. The number of multi-family units approved rose 18.3% to

11,726, continuing the upward trend that started in January.Single-family permits increased 3.3% to $2.5 billion, the highest level

on record. The number of single-family units authorized crept up 0.5% to 9789. Single-family units approved have been trending upward since May following a decline that started in September 2006.

Strength in employment, growth in disposable income, tight apartment vacancy rates in several centres and attractive financing options continued to stimulate the demand for housing.

Residential permit values increased in only three provinces. The large gains in Alberta and Ontario were sufficient to set the stage for an overall increase in residential permit values despite declines in seven provinces.

Residential permits rose 46.4% in Alberta to a record $983 mil-lion, propelled by a 166.3% increase in the value of multi-family permits. Several large projects for apartments/condominiums were behind this strong gain. Single-family permits also increased signifi-cantly. In Ontario, residential permits were up 9.2% to $1.3 billion, buoyed by a 25% jump in the value of multi-family permits.

Significant ground was ceded in British Columbia, where permit values dropped 12.6% to $808 million, owing to a large drop in the value of multi-family permits. The decline in this component was due largely to a decrease in the average value of multi-family units approved.

On a quarterly basis, residential permit values increased in seven provinces in the second quarter. Nationally, permit values for both single-family (+3.8% to $7.1 billion) and multi-family (+31.4% to $4.5 billion) units posted new record quarterly values, boosting the total value of residential permits 12.9% over the first quarter to $11.6 billion.

Intentions remain high in non-res constructionThe value of non-residential permits declined in June from an excep-tionally high level, as demand for office space in Calgary had inflated the results in May. Despite a 10% decline, the $2.8-billion worth of non-residential permits issued in June was the second-highest level on record. When Alberta is excluded from the national figures, the value of non-residential permits increased 13.4% in June.

Significant gains were recorded in five provinces. Ontario recorded the most significant increase (in dollars) among the provinces, as a jump in commercial permits more than offset decreases in the indus-trial and institutional components.

For both British Columbia and Nova Scotia, the level in June was the second-highest on record, thanks to advances in all ICI compo-

nents. In Quebec, the large increase in institutional permits led the value of non-residential permits to its highest level since March 1998. In Saskatchewan, the level reached in June was the highest in nearly 18 years, thanks to commercial permits.

Construction intentions in the commercial component reached $1.8 billion in June, the second-highest level on record, after peaking at $2.1 billion in May. Several large projects, spread across a variety of buildings—such as recreation buildings, office buildings, hotels, retail and warehouse buildings—contributed to the strong showing.

The value of commercial permits has been on an upward trend since the end of 2005, and the recent strength in the results is largely consistent with the very dynamic retail sector, declining vacancy rates for offices and strong corporate profits.

Following a 78.6% jump in May, the value of institutional per-mits decreased 4.8% in June to $592 million. Despite the decline, this level remained 11.4% higher than the average monthly level observed since the start of this year. A gain in the value of permits for schools failed to offset the declines in projects for medical buildings and nursing homes.

In the industrial component, the value of permits declined 7.4% to $403 million, after a 26.1% gain in May. The decline came from fewer investment projects for manufacturing buildings. The value of industrial permits has been on a declining trend since the end of 2006. This result is consistent with the challenge manufacturers face with the appreciation of the Canadian dollar.

On a quarterly basis, the value of commercial permits jumped to its highest quarterly level on record ($5.2 billion) in the second quar-ter, increasing 32.9% from the first quarter. The quarterly values of industrial (-15.2% to $1.2 billion) and institutional (-4.0% to $1.6 billion) permits declined over the same period.

Metropolitan areas: value of permits in Calgary remains highAmong the 34 metropolitan areas, 19 recorded declines in their total value of building permits. The largest declines occurred in Calgary, after the value of permits in this area had surpassed the $1-billion mark in May. With a total of $697 million in permits issued, June’s level was the second-highest on record.

The ground lost in Calgary was compensated for by rises in Toronto and Edmonton, thanks to gains in both the residential and non-residential components for each area. Significant increases also occurred in Montreal and Regina. The values of permits in Edmonton and Regina both reached new record highs in June.

EB-Aug-1-12.indd 8 8/22/07 2:47:55 PM

www. mag.com • AUGUST 2007 • 9

P E R S O N A L I T I E S

Winners chosen in Osram Sylvania/IED Nascar promotionOsram Sylvania Ltd. and IED (Independent Electrical Distributors) recently held a promotion for two all-expense paid trips for two to the Sylvania 300 Nascar in Loudon, N.H. The promotion ran for three months at IED counters across Canada. For every $100 in Sylvania purchases, cus-tomers could fill out one entry ballot. Thousands of entries were received from across the country and two winners were chosen:• Randy Wilson, an engineering manager with Mining

Technologies International, won one of the grand prizes. He’s a regular customer at Dixon Electric, and thanked Steve St-Marseille of Dixon for helping him complete the winning ballot.

• The other trip winner was Brian Fitzpatrick from Saint John Energy in Saint John, N.B., who purchased Sylvania products from Bird Stairs. (The prize was donated to a charitable organization on behalf of Saint John Energy.)

The trip to the Sylvania 300 includes return airfare, accommodation, transfers, VIP hospitality, pit passes and garage tours, as well as Nascar merchandise.

(Left to right) Bruce Diplock, president Dixon Electric; Jules Loiselle, account manager-Roney Marketing; John Preville, director of sales I/C Central Region, Osram Sylvania Ltd., Randy Wilson (one of the two grand prize winners), and Steve St-Marseille of Dixon Electric.

Nexans Canada Inc. has appointed Shane Hill sales account manager for British Columbia and Northern Alberta. Hill has worked in electrical distribution since 1990, and is charged with increasing wire and cable sales in the residential, com-mercial and industrial markets. Bill Fox, who is celebrating 29 years with Nexans, has been promoted to Western regional sales manager, though he will continue to personally manage accounts in Southern Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

Rick Denley, national sales manager for Control Techniques (Canada), announced the addition of John McDougall to the Emerson Control Techniques Canadian Region sales team. Based out of Calgary, McDougall is the new area sales manager for the Alberta marketplace. He joins

Emerson from Omron Canada, where he was an automa-tion specialist for the Alberta division.

Shane Hill

Bill FoxRick Denleysales manager for Techniques (Canada)addition of Emerson Control TechniquesRegion sales team. Based out of Calgary, McDougall is the new area sales manager for the Alberta marketplace. He joins

John McDougall

IED storms Kelowna; awards aboundThe IED (Independent Electrical Distributors) annual gen-eral meeting was recently held in Kelowna, B.C. One of the highlights of the event is the awards presentation.

The award for best performance in utilizing IED Mar-keting Activity Rewards for 2006 was EECOL Electric. Accepting the award on behalf of EECOL was Jim Sinneave, Darren Buium and Tom Crist.

Two awards were presented to Gimple Electric Supply (Trenton, Ont.): one for supporting the greatest number of IED-approved suppliers, and the second for generating the largest growth in purchases from IED-approved suppliers. Accepting the award for Gimple was Paul Shillington.

The IED marketing partner of the year for 2006 was Ideal Industries, which showed the greatest commitment to maxi-mizing the effectiveness of their IED marketing programs. Accepting on behalf of Ideal were Norman Prins, Dorothy Tully-Petersen and Bill Stephens.

The General Partner’s award of excellence was presented to Electrical Business’ editorial advisor Tom Crist of EECOL Electric. The award is presented to an individual who makes the greatest contribution to the growth and success of IED and its members.

The Tom Torokvei award is presented annually to an indi-vidual emulating the attributes of Tom Torokvei’s strong leadership in the electrical industry, and dedication to inde-pendent electrical distributors across Canada. This award was presented to Jean Belhumeur from Leviton.

The recipient of the Supplier of the Year award is deter-mined by the results of a survey given to all IED branch man-agers across the country. The response rate on the survey was over 90%, making this award the most complete and com-prehensive evaluation of supplier performance in Canada. This year’s winner was Pass & Seymour/Legrand, and accept-ing the award were David Bevilacqua and Jim Taggart. (This is the second year in a row that P&S has won this award.)

Finally, the winner of the 2007 Jim and Marion Sinneave Scholarship was awarded to Jonathon Diplock—the son of Bruce and Lorraine Diplock from Dixon Electric. Funded by the IED General Partner, the award is presented to the candidate best emulating the hard work, commitment and drive that Jim and Marion brought to the Canadian electrical industry. Jonathon is the fourth recipient of this scholarship.

Torsten Schierholz has been appointed president of Leoni Elocab Ltd., which has been established for over 100 years and has 40 manufacturing facilities worldwide. Its HQ and manufac-turing facility for Canada is located in Kitchener, Ont.

The Electrical Apparatus Service Association (EASA)announced its new international officers for the 2007/2008 administrative year, and among those serving on the executive committee is Ainsworth Inc.’s Sandi Howlett(Toronto, Ont.).

(Left to right) Gunter Stark, VP Leoni Elocab Ltd.; Torsten Schierholz; and Ferd Schneidersmann, GM Intech Solutions Inc. (manufacturer rep for Leoni serving British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba).

EECOL Electric took home the award for best performance in utilizing IED Marketing Activity Rewards for 2006. (Left to right) Jim Sinneave, Darren Buium, EB’s Tom Crist, and IED’s Jim Milne.

INFO

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Northern Cables Inc.

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Northern_Cables_EB_May07.indd 1 5/8/07 4:00:39 PM

Techspan announces ‘The Big Easy’ prize winnersLast fall, Techspan launched its six-month ‘The Big Easy’ campaign. Electrical distributors across Canada were contacted with information on Techspan’s wire management and control products, as well as monthly featured products with specials and savings. The final prize draws were recently conducted, and the following winners announced:• Ben Pearcey of Torbram Electric (Cambridge, Ont.)

won a Taylor Made R5 driver.• Christian Benoit of Futech (Drummondville, Que.)

won a Pentax Digital Camera.

EB-Aug-1-12.indd 9 8/20/07 1:21:58 PM

10 • august 2007 • www. mag.com

It’s your BusIness By Ron Coleman

I’ve just completed another benchmark program of HVAC trade contractors across Canada and, again, found that 25% of them make very good

money; 25% make reasonable amounts; 25% are in survival mode and 25% are losing money.

This year I tracked a group of 25 contractors whose data I had analyzed over the past six years; of those, eight averaged more than 9% pre-tax profit over that period. The contractors with annual sales between $1-2 million were the ones that most con-sistently made good money. The bigger contractors tended to be more erratic while the smaller ones just couldn’t keep it together on a regular basis.

I interviewed each contractor, and the common themes among the successful ones were:1. They tend to focus on one area of work

(primarily residential in these cases).2. The owners have trade backgrounds.3. The owners watch the details very carefully.4. They use flat-rate pricing for

residential service.5. They have very low staff turnover.6. They like and respect their customers.7. They developed and marketed preventive

maintenance programs.

I don’t spend much time analyzing what contrac-tors do wrong—I prefer exploring what it is they do right, so let’s look at these points more closely.

1. They tend to focus on one area of work. Ask yourself: What is your company’s area of expertise? What’s your passion? What type of work does your crew like to do?

2. The owners have trade backgrounds. The advantage here is that they understand the technical side of the business and know how to interact with their crew. (The disadvantage is that they are often weak on sales and the business side of the opera-

tions. These particular managers focused on doing their work efficiently.)

3. The owners watch the details very carefully. With trade backgrounds, the owners are able to review bids and other documents with a keen eye for what’s right and what’s wrong. They pick up errors quickly and make sure they don’t get repeated.

4. They use flat-rate pricing for residential ser-vice. Many customers like flat-rate pricing because it takes away the uncertainly of repair costs. These contractors are recovering at an average rate exceed-ing $135/hour, allowing them to look after their customers very well. Also, many of the technicians get paid using flat-rate, which helps them make more money than they would have otherwise.

5. Low staff turnover. The technicians on flat-rate made very good money. The employer had built solid relationships with his people (including office staff ) and knew what to do to keep them happy. Granted, they did have trouble in some areas—particularly in dealing with sales staff. In fact, this is the area in which most of the contractors had problems. They simply didn’t have much sales experience, so they understandably had trouble managing sales processes.

6. They like and respect their customers. Many trade/service contractors think they need to keep their prices low to take care of customers, but suc-cessful contractors understand the value they bring to the table. They know their customers want reli-able, on-time service (which requires well-trained technicians) and they’re willing to pay for it. If you come to the table believing that you’re gouging your customers, you won’t be able to look them in the eye and tell them your price. You must educate yourself, your people and your customers.

7. They developed and marketed preventive main-tenance programs. Every customer was encouraged to sign up for a preventive maintenance program. This creates work load consistency, and provides an oppor-tunity to schedule work during shoulder seasons.

Final thoughtsHere’s an interesting idea from one of my contrac-tors: offer your residential customers a lifetime war-ranty on their thermostats (really, how often do they need to be replaced?). The advantage is that they will call you every time they have a system failure because they know they’ll get a freebie if it’s the thermostat.

No great magic, no great mystery—just ordinary guys doing the right things consistently. The next step for most of them is to start replacing them-selves. If you want to grow your business or extricate yourself from the daily grind, you must first put these fundamentals in place.

Ron Coleman, B. Comm., FCCA CMC, is a member of the Institute of Certified Management Consultants of British Columbia. A noted speaker, he has completed many inter-firm financial comparisons of groups of construction com-panies in Canada and the United States. Ron’s numerous published education programs include a 36-hour business management course specifically designed for ECABC. He is also author of the book, “Your Million Dollar System: How to Increase the Value of Your Construction Business by One Million Dollars in Three Years”.

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If you want to grow your business or extricate your-self from the daily grind, you must first put these fundamentals in place.”

“

EB-Aug-1-12.indd 10 8/22/07 2:48:39 PM


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In its most basic terms, invoice discounting is a cash sale of an asset (accounts receivable) at a set price. When you sell invoices to an invoice discounter or factoring company, you

receive your money right away instead of waiting 30 to 60 days to get it from your customer.

When you sell a portion of your receivables, you’re rais-ing funds based on your customer’s creditworthiness—not yours. His creditworthiness is based on how well he has paid you and other creditors in the past, as well as the industry’s overall stability.

The invoice discounting fee is an expense—not debt in the traditional sense—so it’s a part of operating expense. This bodes well for your financial statement once your business has grown and you need to borrow larger sums from the bank; you have not created extra debt nor diluted equity.

Is invoice discounting right for you?Invoice discounting is endorsed by many financial institu-

tions, and the majority of IFG’s business comes from referrals from banks and accountants. However, it is not right for every business. If your business does not have receivables, then you are not eligible for invoice discounting. If your busi-ness has a lot of debtors who do not pay well, then you may, again, be ineligible. (We always remind our clients that we are buying time, not bad debt.)

You must also have a number of established customers. We cannot work with clients who have only one. Finally, you must have sufficient margin to afford to sell your invoices at a discount.

As when dealing with any professional, make sure you undertake all due diligence when searching for an invoice discounter or factor. Make sure you get written confirmation of all costs and obligations, and check references.

Anne MacRae is with The Interface Financial Group (IFG). This piece is offered as information only. Always consult your financial advisor.

By Anne MacRae

Invoice discounting101

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INFO

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WESTERN UPDATE

The establishment of two new annual financial awards for Okanagan College students is the result of a $25,000 donation by the British Columbia Electrical Association (BCEA). Students pursuing electrical engineering technology and electrical pre-apprenticeship programs will be eligible for the new awards this fall through the Okanagan College Foundation.

“As a non-profit trade association, we are always looking for ways to give back to the industry,” said Barbette Cejalvo, BCEA’s executive director who, along with chair Kevin Smythe, presented the cheque that will be entrusted to the foundation to set up the new endowment fund. “I can think of no better way than by supporting students who are pursuing careers in the industry.”

“Supporting Okanagan College students was an easy decision for us,” explained Cejalvo. “We understand their trade division is really expand-ing and, with the growth currently underway in Kelowna, it made good sense to bring these funds to this area. The demand for trades is booming here and we wanted to do our part to help as much as we can and provide some funding.”

“Receiving an endowment of this size is truly great for the Okanagan College Foundation, our students and our community,” said executive director Kathy Butler. “Through the delivery of these new awards, more students will be able to complete their programs with job-ready skills and practical experience to help ease the burden of the trades shortage in Kelowna. We are extremely grateful for this tremendous show of support for our institution.”

The two BCEA awards are valued at $600 each and will be granted to successful applicants who demonstrate good academic standing and will be returning to the college the following year. The funds will be used to cover the cost of one year’s tuition for each of the programs.

A recently released construction forecast for Saskatchewan entitled, “Construction Looking Forward: Labour Requirements from 2007 to 2015 for Saskatchewan”, warns that labour—or lack thereof—will pose a real challenge to the sector, and that stakeholders should start planning how to tackle that obstacle.

“Although Saskatchewan is in the middle of a record building boom, we know that the future labour pool might not be large enough to satisfy that demand,” said Paul McLellan, president of Alliance Energy Ltd. and a member of the Construction Sector Council’s (CSC’s) board. The forecast is CSC’s third in a series of annual editions.

“The information in this forecast is invaluable for the Saskatchewan construc-tion sector to be able to plan effectively for those fluctuations that are coming,” contin-ued McLellan, highlighting the importance of this document as a planning tool for the industry. “This forecast has been assembled

with input from all segments of the construc-tion industry. The information is reflective of the current situation in Saskatchewan, as well as what the future holds.”

The importance of this year’s forecast was echoed by Terry Parker, business manager of the Saskatchewan Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council. “With the knowledge that there are going to be some upcoming demographic shifts in the workforce, we’re planning ahead now to recruit and train qualified replacements.”

The report notes that, in addition to a shifting workforce, factors such as strong local economic conditions and exten-sive building activity in other provinces will impact the available workforce for Saskatchewan. It also states that recruit-ing for the industrial and engineering construction trades may prove the most challenging.

“We now know that there will be strong competition among the compa-

nies for the available skilled workforce,” said Bob Turczyn, construction supervi-sor at SaskPower. “With big projects com-ing down the pipe, resources are going to be limited and we will need to change the way we attract new workers to this industry, starting now.”

Paul Caton, senior market analyst for Saskatchewan-CMHC, cites the forecast as a helpful tool to help monitor labour market conditions. “The housing segment is going through an upswing right now, which is putting a strain on the available workforce for selected trades. The CSC’s outlook calls for conditions in the residential market to slow over the medium term to 2011 before growth resumes later in the forecast.”

A new feature to this year’s report allows stakeholders to perform customized data searches online, which will help individuals source out the exact data that is relevant to their particular segment’s needs. The report is available online at www.csc-ca.org.

The future of construction in

of a record building boom, we know that the future labour pool might not be large enough to satisfy that demand,” said Paul McLellan, president of Alliance Energy Ltd. and a member of the Construction Sector Council’s (CSC’s) board. The fore

Saskatchewan

(Left to right) Nancy Ankerstein, program administra-tor Okanagan College; Steve Tuck, president Okanagan College Foundation; Barbette Cejalvo, executive director BCEA; and Kevin Smythe, BCEA chair.

BCEA commits $25,000 to College Foundation

EB-Aug-1-12.indd 12 8/20/07 1:22:56 PM

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Although it is often seen as just another marketing ploy, community

participation is something that—plain and simple—makes people

feel good. And after spending the last several years in this industry,

I’ve concluded that electrical professionals are among the most generous

I’ve seen in any industry. (In fact, EB has learned from your example, first

launching—then continuing—its involvement with the EFC Foundation

with its “Electrical Business Future Contractor Scholarship”.)

EB issued a call to contractors to send us stories of how they volunteer

their time, resources, etc., in their communities, and the responses we

received were interesting and diverse. Some were short and to-the-point,

while others went into greater detail, and we want to share these vignettes

with you here. If, after reading these stories, all you ever do is sell the elec-

trical industry to a group of students on Career Day, then our job is done.

PARK ELECTRIC SERVICE CO.Sometimes community involvement isn’t something you plan for... it can take you by surprise.

This is what happened to Mitch Treichler and the folks at Park Electric. While chatting with him on the phone one day, and ask-ing him about community involvement, he told me the story of a woman in their community whose husband had died. Although this pales in comparison, it turns out her roof needed fixing at the same time.

“Unfortunately, the roofers that the insurance company sent to do the work would not do the job until the electrical was completely re-done,” explains Mitch and, with all such stories, the widow could not afford the required electrical work. That’s when Park stepped in.

“We came in and assessed the situation, after which we convinced suppliers to donate the necessary materials,” says Mitch. “Then, along with some inspectors, we donated our time and performed all the required electrical work so the woman could finally get a new roof.”

MOSKAL ELECTRIC LTD.Jodi Moskal also answered the call for stories. She wrote, “We, too, at Moskal Electric Ltd. strongly believe that contractors have a respon-sibility to support our community.” She went on to explain that, “by improving quality of life for others, our city becomes a safer and more attractive place to raise a family, keeps our employee pool from moving West, and creates an environment that encourages businesses to move here, and stay and expand here, which is always good for the construc-tion industry”.

Moskal Electric is a small commercial contracting business special-izing in network cabling solutions and electrical contracting, with two partners and between three and ten employees at any given time. Over the past couple of years, it has contributed time, labour and money to The Rainbow Society, which helps make dreams come true for children with life-threatening illnesses. Moskal has raised over $6000 through the society’s Golf Marathon—even holding a position on its committee. The company has volunteered time at The United Way, and created its own employee campaign that, Jodi explains, “we match at the end of the year”. Moskal employees have visited schools to speak with students and encourage them to consider careers in the trades, and held volunteer board positions on both the Winnipeg Construction Association and the Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce.

But it doesn’t end there. “We’ve sponsored students to attend dinners at CIPS meetings, donated money and prizes to ‘Golf to the Max’ (an initiative to buy a wheelchair van for Max, the young son

By Anthony Capkun

Salisbury_EB_Aug07.indd 1 8/14/07 2:10:44 PM

of one of our GCs), supported neighbourhood schools (Christmas tree drives, coupon books, etc.),” Jodi says proudly. Moskal has also supported, through member-ship, organizations such as the Manitoba Electrical League, ICTAM and the Transportation Heritage and Technology Centre—a museum being built in Winnipeg.

“We encourage all businesses to continue to become involved in their community and make their city a world-class place to live and work,” Jodi declares.

STACEY ELECTRIC COMPANY LTD.Stacey Electric’s Kristina Bergeron writes: “I was brows-ing your website last week and I noticed you were inter-ested in hearing how companies are involved in the com-munity. I wanted to take the opportunity and share how we at Stacey Electric are involved in our community”.

Every year, Stacey sponsors a hockey team through the Ted Reeve Hockey Association in Toronto, and they’ve also sponsored a minor hockey team north of the city in Newmarket over the last few years. “We feel it is important for kids to be active and develop a sense of sportsmanship,” says Kristina.

The company also donates money to various associa-tions throughout the year, including sponsoring a child through World Vision. “The little girl we sponsor is from Brazil and we receive drawings and letters from her,” Kristina says happily, “It’s great to see that our donation is really making a difference in her life.”

And while they’re proud of their monetary contribu-tions to various causes, the folks at Stacey feel it isn’t enough. “This past year, at Christmas, we collected three huge boxes of food and dropped them off at our local fire department,” she tells us, adding that they also collected used winter coats, hats and mittens, then distributed them among people in need on their own Toronto streets.

“We at Stacey Electric are so proud of our contributions, but we will always strive for more,” Kristina declares.

BERGERON ELECTRICSince 1999 and every year since, about 45 electrical workers from some 15 organizations donate about 500 man-hours to install all of the electrical wiring for a tent city for about 500 teenagers. The occasion is “Journey to the Father”, a conference for Catholic youth held at St. Raphaels in the Diocese of Alexandria-Cornwall that attracts youth from Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and the United States.

The volunteers work in fellowship under the general direction of Ron Bergeron of Bergeron Electric—one of EB’s editorial advisors. “Every year, one phone call is all it takes,” says Ron. “Contractors look forward to this weekend, and some crews are so familiar with the layout that they don’t require any instruction.” Along with distributors’ staff, as well as plant and institution electricians, the contractors get everything set up and running in four days. Some of them even volunteer to be onsite around the clock during the event to make sure everything runs smoothly.

ContraCtors in the communityAs a result of his involvement with UNSOED in Indonesia, Electrical Business’ editorial advisor John Vickery was asked to visit the Dominican Republic and help establish an electrical trade college in Consuelo— a small community of plantation workers and their families that has grown into a city of about 60,000 people. You can help John in his quest to secure sustainable funding for the trade school for the next several years (construction of the trade school is scheduled for next summer). Read his vignette on the following page to learn more about this humanitarian effort.

Info no. 18

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Besides Bergeron Electric, the other con-tractors lending a hand (for the 2006 event), were CDM Electric, Elco Electric, Elite Electric, Latreille Electric, Laurier Electric, McDonalds Electric, McDougall Electric, PR Electric and Shaltech Electrical. (The 2007 event held recently drew support from 14 contractors.) And, Ron explains, “over the years, most of the supplies from a variety of manufacturers have been donated through the auspices of Guillevin International and Westburne Ruddy.

Come Sunday afternoon, when the clos-ing Mass is over, workers quickly begin the process of dismantling everything. The work is complete and everything put away by nightfall. “Good will is evident every-where,” says Ron. “The reward for these workers is the satisfaction that they have helped these youths celebrate their faith.”

SENTINEL POLE & TRAFFIC EQUIPMENT LTD.Sometimes brevity is best. Sentinel’s Alex Hart tells us that the company sponsors not one, but two hockey teams in their com-munity: Brampton Battalion Minor Atom Select Sharpshooters, and Minor Bantam AA Humberview Huskies.

VICKERY ELECTRIC CONTRACTING LTD.You may remember John Vickery, one of EB’s editorial advisors, from his article about his trip to Indonesia that we published several years ago. Well, John’s been travelling again, this time to the Dominican Republic. He sent us an excel-lent story about what he learned and saw in D.R. but, due to space constraints, we have included just the following from his tale.

With dramatic increases in HIV, youth preg-nancy, poverty and massive unemployment, the World Bank is reaching out to the trades in an effort to correct these trends—an inter-esting turn, considering the approach towards trades for the past 30+ years.

You will recall I visited an Indonesian university called UNSOED in September 2003, and I’m happy to report the effort bore fruit. While there, I represented tech-nical support to the engineering staff at UNSOED and, most gratifying for me, was helping Prof. Hari Presatgio attain his Master’s degree, especially because his thesis was on power quality, which I introduced to him. He is now teaching this program to the students at UNSOED. We also supported Dean Sasmojo Kamsari’s (also of engineer-ing) efforts to construct a hydro generation station/classroom near the university. And

although the dean passed away last year, the classroom was built.

As a result of my involvement with UNSOED, I was visited by Blair Buchanan in November 2006. Blair has been involved in humanitarian missions in the Dominican Republic for about 10 years, and he asked me to help establish an electrical trade college in Consuelo, D.R.

Working in Consuelo, Canada’s Grey Nuns—along with the World Bank-financed educational effort, INFOTEP—have approached Canadians, like Buchanan, to help them establish a skilled trades col-lege. The biggest problem with the nation’s economy and political structure is that there is virtually no middle class, and little infra-structure. And we all know how the trades have historically offered a strong avenue for the establishment of a solid middle class structure, and are ultimately responsible for a nation’s infrastructure.

I flew to Santo Domingo, D.R.’s capital, then travelled one hour to Consuelo, which is located in the centre of a sugar cane planta-tions. Consuelo started as a batey—a small community of plantation workers and their families—but has since grown into a city of about 60,000 people. Though a poor com-munity of scattered sheds with limited water and electrical power, it’s the home of such baseball greats as Sammy Sosa, Manny Lee and Tony Fernandez.

One of the first places I visited was Casa de le Cultura—a huge concert and theatrical facility built by the Grey Nuns in an effort to create a cultural centre for the community. Like everything else in the town, it has been stuck at three-quarters completion for about a decade.

The second place I visited was La Loma’s College, an INFOTEP-financed post-sec-ondary educational institution. It has about six classrooms in three separate buildings. I was shown the facility considered for the electrical trade classroom: a 1000-sf concrete building expected to train 22 students per class (there’s a considerable waiting list).

We then travelled to La Ramona to meet the manager of INFOTEP, who took us to the military college to see the standards expected for the electrical program. A colonel of the college took us to a large trailer behind the school, which was full of state-of-the-art electrical lab equipment. Unfortunately, they cannot afford—nor do they have—the technical support to maintain this system. (Speaking as a former professor of Durham College UOIT, believe me, it’s not easy to teach students without them burning things up.)

Here’s one of the main problems with D.R.’s standard electrical practices: there are none. The country takes what it can get. Everything here is second-hand and adapted accordingly. They need electrical professionals!

Finally, the Grey Nuns asked me to give them a detailed breakdown of the costs required to get the Casa de la Cultura facility operational from an electrical perspective, and what it would to get the electrical trade school going. I was also asked to meet the directors of the local school board to explain the need for the trade system.

Back here in Canada, we are about to start our fundraising drive for La Loma’s College, and we’ve already raised $100,000 for Casa de la Cultura. The Rotary Club of Canada is

issuing funds for electrical lab workbenches. A group of local businessmen is organizing a char-ity bike ride through the mountains of British Columbia to raise some $40,000.

For my part, I hope to embark upon a speak-ing tour next month across Southern Ontario’s electrical industry associations’ meetings in the hopes generating awareness and sustainable funding for the trade school for the next several years. We hope to start trade school construc-tion next summer.

Some places in the world require a miracle to get them out of their quagmire, but the Dominican Republic isn’t one of them; it can easily turn its fortunes around with a little inter-national support. If you can help out in any way, e-mail me at [email protected].

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ContraCtors in the communityFor nearly a decade, about 45 electrical workers from some 15 organizations donate their time to install all of the electrical wiring for a youth conference that attracts attendees from Ontario, Quebec, Manitoba, Nova Scotia and the United States. The volunteers work in fellowship under the general direction of Ron Bergeron. Along with distributors’ staff, as well as plant and institution electricians, the volunteers get everything set up and running in four days. The supplies from a variety of manufacturers are donated through the auspices of Guillevin International and Westburne Ruddy. Read the vignette below.

Info no. 19

EB-Aug-13-32.indd 15 8/20/07 1:24:17 PM


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Despite the fact that workers across the country are exposed to many electrical hazards, Canadians have had no guideline, standard or act—federal, provincial or otherwise—to help

them more effectively manage those hazards, or even determine who is qualified to perform electrical work. Up until now, that is.

In 1979, the National Fire Protection Agency in the United States (these days simply called NFPA) created what is now called “NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace”. This standard has evolved over the last 25 years to become the North American standard for safe work practices for energized electrical work. In 2005, the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) put forth the notion that, in collaboration with NFPA, Canada develop an equivalent standard.

Hence we have CSA Z462, Standard on Workplace Electrical Safety, which CSA hopes will become a National Standard of Canada.

Developing Canada’s own standardThe standard is being developed in parallel with the 2009 edi-tion of NFPA 70E and, based on an agreement with NFPA, attempts are being made to harmonize Z462 with NFPA 70E as much as practicable for Canadian workplaces. As agreed with NFPA, CSA is using the NFPA 70E (2004 edition) as the ‘seed document’ for developing Z462. This common basis will help ensure that, right from the start, CSA Z462 is harmonized with its American counterpart.

As with any CSA standard, CSA Z462 is being developed by a vol-untary Technical Committee, whose members CSA selected based on a balanced matrix process to ensure stakeholders (i.e. industry, labour, government) from all Canadian provinces are afforded rep-resentation. The committee comprises some 45 members from many related groups and fields of expertise, including representa-tives from NFPA, IEEE and CSA’s Electrical Code Committee.

CSA Z462 scheduleJanuary 1, 2006, was when CSA announced it would be developing CSA Z462. Terms of Reference were created, and a project schedule followed. From January to October, CSA created the required Technical Committee (TC) that would be respon-sible for creating the standard. That committee’s first meeting was held October 25, 2006, and several additional general meetings are being held through-out 2007 and into 2008. The first edition of CSA Z462 is expected to be complete in late 2008.

Once published in both official languages, CSA Z462 will be submitted to the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) for approval as a national standard. As with any other CSA standard, the first edition of CSA Z462 will initially be recognized as a voluntary best practices standard for use anywhere in Canada. However, as Z462 gains acceptance, each province and the federal government may choose to reference it in regulations, thereby making it mandatory. This is a similar process followed by regulators in referenc-ing the CEC Part 1, 20th edition, C22.1-06, Safety Standard for Electrical Installations.

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Info no. 21

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V E N T I L A T I O N F A N S D E S I G N E D T O B E V I R T U A L L Y

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When it comes to upgrades, it’s the details that make the difference. That’s why Broan and NuTone QT Series

ventilation fans are not only attractive, but also engineered to run nearly silent without sacrificing power.

They’re available in a number of Energy Star-rated models. Whichever you choose, you’ve got one easy-to-

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product information, call 1-888-882-7626 or visit our Web sites: www.Broan.ca or www.NuTone.ca

©2007 Broan-NuTone, Canada Inc. is a subsidiary of Broan-NuTone LLC. Patents pending.

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Info no. 22

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tools for the trade

CHaNNELLOCK CHaMPThe #369CRFT lineman’s plier is the

latest addition to a long line of quality hand tools from ChannelLock, and comes packed with functionality including: a built-in 12 AWG wire stripper and precision 12 AWG recess for creating wire loops fast; a crimper/crusher for both insulated and non-insulated wires; laser heat-treated knife/anvil cutters for added resilience; a joint path that guides fish tape without kinking, binding, bending or break-ing; an electro-coated protective finish to prevent rusting; and cross-hatched teeth for maximum gripping. 101

By Jack Kohane

>

EB’s cavalcade of cutting-edge hand toolsIDEaL sOLutIONsIdeal Industries has launched a new line of tools and connectors for installers of twisted pair UTP and coax cables for home and business premise installations, including stripping tools, self-locking push-on F connectors, and a multi-function cut, strip and crimping tool complete with RJ11 and RJ45 modular plugs. The stripping tools fit neatly in the hand; the user simply rotates the tool a couple of times to strip. For voice and data installations, the handy UTP stripper offers an economi-cal solution for stripping Cat 3, 5, 5e and 6 cables.

The new crimping tool, designed with a spring handle and handle lock, is used for terminating modular RJ11 and RG45 plugs. This multi-function tool combines cutting, stripping and crimping of Cat 3, 5 and 5e cables in one robust, steel-framed device.

Ideal has expanded its OmniSeal compression tool family to include the upgraded Pro XL, which is engineered in a high-strength aluminum body with a lock and spring-loaded handle featuring a textured Santoprene slip-resistant grip. In one smooth, one-cycle full ratchet motion, Pro XL tools compress F-type, RCA, RG11, BNC and mini connectors onto coax for a permanent, high-integrity connection. Because of its universal design, the OmniSeal Pro XL eliminates the need to carry multiple crimp or compression tools. 102

According to Wikipedia, the term “innovation” may refer to both

radical and incremental changes to products, processes or

services. The often unspoken goal of innovation is to solve a

problem. The process of innovation in hand tools, inspired by necessi-

ty and forged by inventive minds through successive stages of refine-

ment, drawings, prototypes and patent protection, result in rugged

equipment tailor-made for heavy-duty daily use by electricians and

trades professionals.

And while many of the cable cutters, wire strippers, crimpers,

screwdrivers, pliers and hand saws sold today may look much like

those of the past, significant advances are making them more effi-

cient, durable, increasingly lightweight and ergonomically designed

to be more comfortable and user-friendly to minimize the risk of

repetitive motion injuries.

Every year a throng of sophisticated hand tools become available,

as those showcased below in our Cavalcade of Hand Tools.

>

IRWIN’s WINNERsThe new Vice-Grip locking tool, made by the Irwin Industrial Tool Co., features a patented one-handed Fast Release technology for a more controlled opening of the locking tool. There’s no need to put pressure on a trigger to release the tool; the one-handed feature allows users to work efficiently from any angle by simply pushing or pulling on the release handle. No trigger means more finger room to better

accommodate larger hands and gloves. The elimination of the trigger also means no pinched fingers during the release.

Irwin’s new self-retracting safety knife and Blue Blade bi-metal safety blades offer a self-retracting function that helps prevent accidental cuts, while the unbreakable, blunt-tip bi-metal safety blades stay sharp longer, the company claims, thus reducing the number of times they need to be replaced (as compared to traditional carbon blades). 103

continued on page 21

Info no. 23

EB-Aug-13-32.indd 19 8/20/07 1:41:02 PM


P r o d u c t s F o r L I g H t I N g a P P L I c a t I o N s

Hammond Manufacturing Co. Ltd394 Edinburgh Road NorthGuelph, Ontario N1H 1E5

Tel: (519) 822-2960 or (905) 456-3770 Fax: (519) [email protected]

www.hammfg.com

Hammond News

Contact your Hammond Distributor or visit us online at www.hammfg.com to get your catalog today.

Hammond Manufacturing is proud to offer our full-line E5 standard product catalog. This 500 page book adds over 1000 new SKU's to our previous edition.

New products added:• Numerous standard size stainless steel enclosures • Sloped top enclosures - mild and stainless steel • Eclipse wallmount enclosures available in RAL7035• Full line of commercial boxes and splitters• OEM friendly polyester enclosure line - PJU Series • Enhanced climate control offering • Much, much more

Sloped Top - Page 76

RAL7035 Wallmount - Page 32

Commercial Box - Page 342

OEM Polyester - Page 122

Info

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Introducinga new lineof CAT IVInsulationTesters!

NEW Megger MIT400 SeriesThe high performance testerperfect for commercial and plant electricians� CAT IV 600 V Rated � Adjustable Insulation Test Voltages –

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Quick conversion from recessed to pendantThe Can Converter is a kit containing all the necessary components to quickly convert a recessed fixture to pendant (including a paintable white medallion). After removing the existing bulb and can, simply insert and attach the supplied

parts: power outlet adapter, adjustable mounting bracket with threaded pipe, mounting plate,

and medallion. A few turns with a screwdriver completes the installation.

110 JSB Enterprises

Extra-high output (XHo) lampsGE PulseArc Multi-Vapor XHO lamps promise sparkling white light, high operating

efficiencies and long life. PulseArc provides up to 50% longer life verses standard MH on

long burn cycles (12 hours per start), claims GE. XHO lamps are available in 320W, 350W and 400W versions; the latter delivering up to 44,000 lumens.111 GE Lighting

Lighting control optimizes HId performanceIEPC’s VB400 lighting control employs solid-state electronics with onsite, remote and aggregate Web-based controls for HID lighting, and promises to increase the perfor-mance and optimize the efficiency of each lamp while lowering lighting energy costs by as much as 40% to 60%. The standalone

energy management system replaces magnetic ballasts, tim-ers, relays, control panels and the wiring required to connect each lighting fixture to all other external parts, as well as the control panel. It also features several microprocessors to reg-ulate the current flow and optimize performance for nearly every type of HID lamp—MH, HPS and pulse-start—no matter the manufacturer.112 IEPC

t8 electronic ballasts

Standard claims its low-profile Gold Label series of instant-start T8 electronic ballasts operates more effectively and efficiently—and consumes less energy—than rapid-start systems. Standard’s product line ranges from 120V to 347V, and combining the ballast with a T8 Earthsaver lamp pro-vides you with Standard’s One System Warranty.113 Standard Products

architectural recessed lightingTech Lighting has introduced a new recessed downlight system, Element, featuring locking rotation, tilt and lens orientation, a three-lens capacity and a small aperture that allows precision aiming. The system is available in square and round, flanged and flangeless, open, lensed and shower fixtures, and features small, die-cast trim

options in four standard finishes. Housing-mounted optics reduce glare by providing optimal lamp position while achieving maximum light output. Element was designed for ease of installation, with features like the ‘no-fill’ collar that prevents problems caused by joint compound entering the flangeless trim opening.114 Encompass Lighting Group

Linear fluorescent high-bay offeringsVersaBay, Columbia Lighting’s linear fluorescent high-bay product, provides a solution to ballast overheating and thermal issues. Fitted with Advanced Thermal Management (ATM), the high-bay addresses the concerns of elevated temperature by creating a systems approach to dissipate and control heat-producing elements, says the company.

The VersaBay system includes an aluminum ballast for heat dissipation; lamps and ballasts installed on the same plane as the electrical components to prevent lamp heat from entering the ballast channel; heat distribution slots along the channel to consistently remove ballast heat; and reflectors that direct heat away from the electrical components. The VersaBay series is suitable for one-for-one replacement for common HID high-bays. With these high-bays, you are covered by a five-year ballast warranty in environments up to 65°C, and when suspended 6-in. or more below solid surfaces.115 Columbia Lighting

t

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RapidNet Pre-terminated network cabling

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RIPLEY’s NEW RECRuItsRipley’s Utility Tool division introduced its latest innovative recruits. The WS 70 adjustable cable stripper strips the outer jacket and insulating mate-rial on 46KV to 69KV cable and has a 1 in. to 3.65 in. o.d. cable range. The tool, which offers replace-able blades, is self-feeding during the stripping operation and has a fine adjustment feature for the blade. The dual-handle design gives ample leverage during use.

The brawny TC-1 transmission cable clamp is designed to be used as a tool stop when stripping and shaving large transmission cables, and is built with lightweight cast-aluminum jaws. It’s a bar-style clamp with a quick-release adjustment for use on cables ranging from 2 in. to 5 in. o.d. 105

HILtI HItsHilti’s latest technological advances, the PD 40 and 42 laser range meters, are among the first avail-able with accuracies of ±1/25 in., providing precise measurements covering distances from 2 in. up to 650 ft. The meters also simplify the measurement of areas and volumes—even longer distances or verti-cal applications—for more exacting job estimates. Loaded with memory and functionality, the PD 40 and 42 can add/subtract distances and, with their advanced optics and signal processing, can even mea-sure outdoors in bright light conditions. 106

tools for the trade

continued from page 19

KuDOs tO KLEINKlein Tools has added the J2000-9NECRTP side-cutting pliers to its Journeyman line. Featuring contoured, cushioned handles with heavy-duty cutting knives to cut ACSR, screws, nails and most hardened wire, these multi-tasking pliers include a built-in crimper for use on non-insulated connectors, lugs and terminals, and a built-in channel that pulls steel fish tape without damaging the tape.

Klein has also added six lightweight lockback pocket knives to its knife line. Resilient and compact—they’re pocket fitting, and open quickly and safely with one hand—these corrosion-resistant blades are made from AUS 8 stainless steel. Lockback pocket knives (Cat. Nos. 4400-BLK and 40001-BLK) have 2 1/4-in. and 2 1/2-in. drop-point blades, respectively. A reversible thumb stud provides easy, one-handed opening. The sheepfoot blade (Cat. No. 44006) has a blade length of 2 5/8 in. The cop-ing blade’s (Cat. No. 44007) length is 2 1/2 in.; the drop-point and screwdriver blades (Cat. No. 44008) are 2 1/2 in. 107gREENLEE gRaBBERs

Greenlee is offering a variety of heavy-duty screw and nut drivers trimmed with precision-machined black phosphate tips. The line provides a slip-resis-tant cushion grip for enhanced comfort and torque. Screwdrivers in the line include: the heavy-duty key-stone, cabinet and Phillips tip and stubby screwdriv-ers. Heavy-duty nut drivers and a 7-piece nut driver set with sizes from 3/16-in. to 1/2-in. are available.

The company has also launched an array of pliers, including side-cutting pliers (in 8-in. or 9-in. lengths, diamond-serrated jaws, and induction-hardened blades), diagonal-cutting pliers (in 5-in. through 8-in. grip sizes), long-nose pliers (featuring 6-in., 7-in. or 8-in. flared handles), and two types of pump pliers. The moulded grip pump pliers come in 10-in. or 12-in. lengths with slip-proof ergonomic grips. Both have right-angled teeth for gripping in both directions. 104

>>

>

EB-Aug-13-32.indd 21 8/20/07 1:42:38 PM


WIL

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THERE!

WIL

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THERE!

C A L E N D A R

For a more extensive listing, visit

EBMag.com

and click Calendar

Street & Area Lighting ConferenceIlluminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA)September 23-25Seattle, Wash.Visit www.iesna.org

Industrial Ethernet and IEC 61131-3 SeminarWAGO Corp.September 24-26Germantown, Wis.For details, e-mail [email protected]

Retail/Hospitality Lighting WorkshopLightpoint Canada (Osram Sylvania)September 24-26Toronto, Ont.Visit www.sylvania.com. Click on Learn Lighting, then Lightpoint.

AutovationAMRASeptember 30-October 3Reno, Nev.Visit www.amra-intl.org and click Autovation 2007.

Annual Conference & ConventionNational Electrical Contractors Association (NECA)October 5-8San Francisco, Calif.Visit www.necaconvention.org

Enlighten 2007: Education Conference and Annual Business MeetingInternational Association of Lighting Designers (IALD)October 11-13Montreal, Que.Visit www.iald.org

InfraMationFLIR Systems and ITC (Infrared Training Center)October 15-19Las Vegas, Nev.Visit www.inframation.org

Workplace Electrical Safety ConferenceCanadian Standards Association (CSA) and Industrial Accident Prevention Association (IAPA)

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INFO NO. 28

Trades and TechnologyLeadershipThe combination of trades/technology skills and experience, along with the knowledge to lead and manage effectively is a powerful combination – one that can propel you to new heights in your current job or in the one that awaits – the choice is yours.

For more informationEmail: [email protected]/distance

Bachelor of Technology

October 17-18Calgary, Alta.Call (800) 463-6727 or e-mail [email protected]

Electrix 2007British Columbia Electrical Association (BCEA)October 25Victoria, B.C.Visit www.bcea.bc.ca

National Training SymposiumNational Electrical Trade Council (NETCO)November 2-4Barrie, Ont.Details to come. Stay tuned.

Basic Electricity Course at NAITAlberta Electrical League (AEL)November 7Visit www.elecleague.ab.ca

Electrical Exposition 2007OEL Essex ChapterNovember 21Windsor, Ont.Visit www.ibsws.net/oel

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WHAT WILL IT MEAN FOR YOU?

Electricity. It’s in every appliance and electronic device on the planet. But electricity can be dangerous. Shocks, elec-trical burns and arc flash incidents can injure or kill both electrical and non-electrical workers, not to mention put companies at risk of litigation and prosecution.

More than 80 years ago, CSA created the first standard for installation practices of electricity. What’s been missing is a work practice standard for those who work on or near energized electrical equipment.

It will all change in 2008. That’s when CSA Z462 Work-place Electrical Safety Standard will be published. Based on the U.S. National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standard NFPA 70E, Standard for Electrical Safety in the Workplace, CSA Z462 is the country’s first all-Canadian comprehensive standard to protect electrical workers. Z462 will compliment CSA Z460 Control of Hazardous Energy-Lockout and the Ca-nadian Electrical Code.

But with less than 18 months left before the standard comes into practice, many electrical workers and compa-nies have questions about the standard. Here, we answer some of your most pressing questions.

For shock hazards, the standard is very specific. The distances and boundaries are fixed. Personal protective equipment (PPE) for shock protection is to be worn whether the individual is in direct contact with the energized part, inside the prohibited approach boundary (same as in direct contact with the energized part) or inside the restricted approach boundary (not in direct contact but still requiring shock protection PPE).

The burn or arc flash hazard is a little different, Nelson says. Because there could be a flash that could burn, those hazards are directly proportional to how much fault current is available at the electrical equipment, exposure time and distance from the flash point. The standard has different requirements for the type of PPE based on amount of energy release during a fault in the equipment, which can be determined through a calculation or from using the supplied tables. This is the part of the standard that requires flame resistant clothing, which is different from the insulating PPE required under the shock hazard.

No, says Terry Becker, Vice-Chair of the Z462 committee and CEO of ESPS Electrical Safety Program Solutions INC. What the standard does is give guidance on what situations require workers to possibly wear a flash suit, or at least arc rated coveralls. That boundary varies depending on the level of fault current, the clear-ing time of the electrical fault and distance the worker is away from the point of fault. The standard also provides guidelines for proper assessments of the flash protection boundary (the distance away the worker should be to limit the onset of a second degree burn).

“You don’t want to start with an arc flash hazard analysis,” says Becker. “You want to start with looking at your Electrical Safety Program and what you need to do to make the worker safer. And if your analysis arrives at the point where you need to do an electric arc flash hazard analysis, then you should do one.”

CSA Z462 is going to be a voluntary National Standard of Canada and an accepted best practice, but it will not be law un-less a province or territory adopts it into law. It’s important to re-member, however, that as an accepted best practice, following the standard means you can prove you used due diligence in protect-ing your workers.

The standard makes a clear distinction between improving protection of workers against a shock hazard and a burn hazard, or arc flash hazard, says Bob Nelson, a Seminar Speaker and Product Developer with CSA.

Q & A

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CSA is a leading developer of consensus-based standards and codes. As a solutions-oriented organization, we work in Canada and around the world to develop standards that address real needs for enhancing safety and health. To help people under-stand and apply standards, CSA offers information, products, training and education. CSA standards meet the rigors of today’s workplace. Our practical tools, such as standards-relat-ed seminars and value-added products, address the real-life needs of frontline workers, managers and safety professionals.

CSA_for EB.indd 11 8/22/07 2:41:48 PM

Info no. 29

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Rittal technology takes control of the environment. New RiNano air conditioners provide the perfect combination of

control, performance and efficiency. It all starts with our innovative nano-coated coils that shed dirt and particulates – keeping your

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Rittal understands the importance of value, the RiNano line delivers superior performance with no price increase over previous models.

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Operating along the Peace River in Alberta, the Peace River Pulp mill produces more than 480,000 tons of pulp per year that’s used to make printing- and writing-grade

paper. The Aspen and White Spruce brought into the mill are processed through several steps to create pulp. First, the logs

C A S E S T U D Y

and branches are diced into wood chips. The chips are then temperature- and pressure-controlled as they are cleaned, cooked, bleached and cut through multiple processes that transform them, ultimately, into bales of pulp. Each of the 14 process areas’ discrete I/Os are controlled by separate PLCs.

The mill was established in 1990, and had its original control system in place more than 13 years later when suppliers declared the equip-ment obsolete. Difficulty in finding replacement parts, unreliable service and declining operational knowledge and training options forced the mill to look for a new automation solution. A committee was formed and tasked with upgrading the existing controllers with a more advanced system equipped with high-speed, high-performance processing and control capabilities.

Several considerations went into selecting a vendor for the project. Because mill technicians did not want to use multiple, small vendors, it was important to find a single supplier. With diminishing expertise—both in-house and among its vendors—for the obsolete PLC control system, the mill sought an open control platform that was easier to operate and maintain, and requiring con-siderably less training than the existing system.

Since Peace River Pulp’s existing controllers used propriety communication technology that could not be easily integrated into a new control archi-tecture, the mill also needed to employ a new open communication network as part of the upgrade. This would enable its production lines to effective-ly communicate operating and status information with the main control room.

While reviewing supplier credentials, the com-mittee took into account total cost of ownership, controller life cycle, scalability, type of communi-cation technology, local support for programming and ongoing assistance. In evaluating its options, the committee knew it would keep its existing Reliance AutoMax Drive System, but accepted the need to move to a more powerful and flexible control platform that would be simpler to operate, maintain and troubleshoot.

“We needed a system that could integrate seam-lessly with our core machinery; namely, the Reliance Drive System,” says Gord Gargus, project coordina-tor, Peace River Pulp. “And we needed a technology platform that could grow with us to meet our ongo-ing needs and also allow us to more easily maintain and troubleshoot problems in-house.”

To reduce overall project risk, the team decided to convert the Bale Line first: it had no distributed control system interface and would have the least impact on production should any issue arise during the conversion. Relatively isolated from the other processes in the mill, the Bale Line is the final stop for the pulp. This process uses two identical lines to press the pulp (now stacked in 32-sq. in. sheets), measure weight and moisture content, wrap, tie and mark it so that it’s ready for distribution.

Maintaining uptime on the selected line was a high priority, since delays would reduce the amount of product packaged and shipped to cus-tomers. Seamless execution within a short installa-tion timeframe was critical for a successful conver-

PULP MILL UPGRADES

Supplier’s engineers work with client to install new, easier-to-

understand control system

communicationto open

continued on page 26

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sion at the Bale Line, and would be for the subsequent installations on the remaining 13 process lines.

Finding the solutionAlthough several automation suppliers com-peted for the project, Rockwell Automation—with its Integrated Architecture and Allen-Bradley ControlLogix control platform—got the job. Because success of the first conversion was so crucial, the committee engaged Rockwell engineering specialists to both assist with the hardware design and install—within 10 days—the new controller program for the Bale Line.

Working side by side, Rockwell and mill technicians identified roles and respon-sibilities for project team members. The supplier’s engineers were to create an easy-to-understand and well-structured code so that in-house technicians could maintain

and troubleshoot the system themselves.Thankfully, not only does the suppli-

er’s platform communicate with the cur-rent Reliance AutoMax, it provides a clean upgrade path in the coming years when the mill migrates to the Allen-Bradley DriveLogix platform. When this occurs, it will reduce the complexity and number of control networks in the machine room pro-cess area, making maintenance and trouble-shooting even smoother for in-house staff.

the results are inAs in-house technicians and electricians prewired the new ControlNet network so it was ready for the control system upgrade, and prepared to con-vert the field I/O to ControlLogix rack and Flex I/O, Rockwell engineers programmed and tested the equipment. This way, through extensive pre-testing, a seamless startup was made possible.

The engineers managed the most crucial part of the project: control system programming. Working with the mill’s project team, they performed code reviews and established testing procedures. Software issues were resolved early in the design process so the controller could be installed and started with minimal onsite effort or process disruption.

Additionally, when it came time for the Bale Line to switch to the new control system, the supplier was able to quickly certify the network infrastructure. And due to the high degree of test-ing and simulation performed prior to installation, the transition went smoothly. The Peace River Pulp operations team could not tell the difference between the old and new control systems, except that things just seemed to work better.

“The Bale Line worked the first time right out of the gate. We were thrilled that all the hard work and collaboration paid off,” Gargus says. “Any issues were resolved during testing phases without increasing project cost or time to implement.”

The supplier’s engineers and mill technicians selected both ladder logic and Sequential Function Chart (SFC) programming due to the sequen-tial nature of the process being controlled. The ControlLogix platform’s Relay Ladder logic pro-gramming proved especially beneficial to the Bale Line because of its ability to use subroutines to split up the process control functions for easier troubleshooting of sequential activities.

Prior to control system cutover, the supplier con-ducted four weeks of onsite training, highlighting the capabilities of the new technology and how it would improve troubleshooting. The mill’s techni-cians are now able to maintain, troubleshoot and repair all of the new equipment in-house in a more cost-effective manner. In total, 26 Peace River Pulp E&I technicians were trained on the programming tools, hardware operation and maintenance, and how to make online changes and troubleshoot the new network.

With the new control system in place and operators fully trained, Peace River Pulp is now spending considerably less time troubleshooting the line. Just weeks after the installation, the Bale Line operator encountered a jam in the process. What normally took hours to identify and solve with the old controller took only 30 minutes with the new system.

continued from page 24

To reduce risk to the mill’s ambitious plan, the upgrade committee decided to convert the Bale Line first: it had no distributed control system interface and would have the least impact on production should any issue arise.

EB-Aug-13-32.indd 26 8/20/07 1:43:54 PM


A C A P I TA L SA F E T Y B R A N D

We understand there is no more complex work environment than the utility industry.That’s why using DBI-SALA fall protection gear is the easiest decision you’ll ever need tomake. We design the safest, most reliable equipment in the world because we focus onlyon fall protection and rescue—nothing else.

Power, telecom and municipality personnel turn to DBI-SALA for industry expertise,superior quality products and continual systems innovation. As proof of our commitmentto you, we offer equipment fully compliant with the ASTM F887-05 Arc Flash Standardsand the best training, technical assistance and customer service available.

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Meet the players

By Anthony CapkunPharmacology 0 : Distribution 1S&D’s new chair, Elaine Gerrie

The Gerrie saga continues at the Supply & Distribution Council of Electro-Federation Canada (EFC), as Elaine Gerrie—COO of Gerrie

Electric—was voted in as chair for 2007/2008. The saga began with her father, who served on the board of CEDA (the Canadian Electrical Distributors Association, S&D’s predecessor), then continued with Elaine’s sister, Heather, who served as chair 12 years ago.

Elaine was born in Oakville, Ont., when Gerrie Electric was already up and running, though with only one branch. It was founded by her father—a licensed electrician and plumber—in September 1957. Timing and location meant everything; her father purposely established Gerrie in Oakville because he knew Ford Motor Co. was settling there. (Since then, Gerrie has expanded to 17 locations, which include Bramtor Electric and Concord Electric.)

“My fondest memories growing up with Gerrie were the inter-branch baseball games, Christmas parties at mom and dad’s house, working in the office and being close to all the employees,” Elaine says, adding, “We’re a pretty flat organization even today. We try to make it out to all the branches and make it a point to know every-one’s name.” Though it’s not always possible, the execu-tive members even try to attend new-hire interviews.

She and her sister became involved in the business at an early age. “As early as grade school, we were wrapping Christmas presents for customers, and by Grade 8, we would spend time on weekends going through my father’s invoices and tallying everything up,” she remembers, adding with a laugh, “We were likely the only kids our age who knew anything about federal tax, how to apply a discount, and so on.”

After high school, Elaine decided to pursue pharma-cology in university—perhaps because of a short stint with Shoppers Drug Mart, or the fact that her grandfa-ther was a pharmacist. “However, I soon realized it was not for me, so I graduated with a BA in Administrative and Commercial Studies.” She took her newfound knowledge back to Gerrie, starting as a regular employ-ee with the Systems Group (these days known as the Automation Group). From there, she moved on to a branch working with corporate quotations, where she was exposed to more electrical product, then to head office.

Not long after, her father became chair of COPEL, the marketing group to which Gerrie used to belong. He knew he wouldn’t be able to spend time with the

business, so he formed an executive team to lead the company. Elaine was named execu-tive vice-president, but she changed her title later on to COO to better reflect her respon-sibilities with the company.

Being a part of the industry and the busi-ness community is important to Elaine, who has served on a number of commit-tees/boards for various associations, such as the Ontario Electrical League (OEL), COPEL (which got rolled into Affiliated Distributors), CEDA, A-D and EFC.

“The biggest advantage to belonging to something like A-D is sharing best practices,” says Elaine enthusiastically. Those best prac-tices could range from most successful mar-keting ideas someone had that year to tips on controlling expenses. “Also, as a group, the independent affiliates have the buying power

of a huge national distributorship.”When it comes to S&D (and CEDA pre-

viously), Elaine shares the view of her father: “When you get involved in the industry, you help the industry.” By playing a part in asso-ciations like EFC, Elaine says, “you can help shape its policies in a way that makes sense to you”. And unlike other industries, she says, members of the electrical industry—competi-tors included—are very close-knit.

When asked what she thinks of The Home Depot selling off HD Supply, the one thing of which Elaine is certain is this: “I’m definitely more comfortable with someone other than a retail chain owning it, because I do feel electrical distributors offer the channel of choice. Beyond that, we see HD Supply as just another competitor in the marketplace”.

On the home frontElaine cites golf and skiing among her hobbies and, quite recently, she has taken up the violin. “I decided I wanted a hobby that wasn’t work-related, or exercise-related, and I’ve always liked the sound of the violin. My goal when I started learning the violin two years ago was to have a concert several years later.”

She has two children: a son and a daughter. The son will be pursuing his CA and MBA and plans on join-ing the business, but her daughter is currently thinking about becoming a veterinarian. There’s time, though, for her mind to change. After all, her mother once thought she would be a pharmacologist.

EB-Aug-13-32.indd 27 8/20/07 1:44:26 PM

P R O D U C T S H O W C A S E For more information, enter the appropriate number on the Complimentary Subscription/Info Card found in this issue

L I B R A R Y For more information, enter the appropriate number on the Complimentary Subscription/Info Card found in this issue

343434


Exterior and interior lighting products with great performance and a long-lasting fi nishThe Ruud Lighting product line is designed for quick install and a long, hassle-free life on the job. Products include security lights, fl ood and area lights, poles, highbays and lowbays, along with track, recessed and indirect linear lighting.

Call or email us for your copy of the new 2007 Ruud Lighting Canada catalog. We’ll also be happy to connect you to your local authorized electrical distributor for Ruud.

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Caterpillar Electric Power Offers Inte-grated Systems Product BrochureCaterpillar offers a new brochure providing information on its electric power integrated systems, including a complete line of gas generator sets, with ratings from 11kW to 4,900kW, and diesel-fueled generator sets, with ratings from 12kW to 10,475kW. The brochure additionally features Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS), with ratings from 150kVA to 3.6MVA, Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS) and Switchgear.

For additional information, visit http://go.cateps.com/lr or contact

your local Cat® dealer.

353535

Going “green” withoutsacrifi cing performance

Philips is setting a new standard with their 4’ T8 fl uorescent lamps using ALTO IITM technology. These new lamps have 50% less mercury than the original ALTO, and still offer the same superior performance levels as before. That means you don’t have to sacrifi ce lamp life, light quality, or energy, to help your company be more sustainable.

For more information contact Gregg Bennett at 905-201-4100

or visit philips.com.

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Cooling strategies forindustry and IT

Rittal presents a 90-page brochure that, among other things, focuses on technologies such as Top-Therm cooling units, which boast RiNano fi nish and integrated condensate evaporators. Thanks to a sur-face that repels dirt and oil, the nano-coating guar-antees an enduring, steady cooling capacity. At the same time, the service and maintenance intervals needed have been extended, and cleaning work is signifi cantly reduced.The Rittal “SK–System Climate Control” brochure, listing all products, application examples and project information, can be downloaded at www.rittal.ca.

Plugs and connectors brochure

Cooper Wiring Devices has published a reference brochure containing information on its 15A, 20A and 30A industrial plugs and connectors—both locking and straight blade. The brochure was developed to make it easier for you to quickly fi nd the products you need. It includes product features and benefi ts, or-dering information, dimensional drawings and spec-ifi cation tables to simplify product selection.

For more information, go towww.cooperwiringdevices.com.

Equipment protection solutions specifi er’s guideHoffman’s new Specifi er’s Guide (vol. 21) features detailed product information on the full range of equipment protec-tion solutions for the industrial, commercial construction and datacom markets. The 1200+ page catalogue features more than 70 new solutions introduced over the past three years, as well as Hoffman’s selection of standard enclo-sures. It also includes the chapters “Arc Flash Safety Solu-tions” and “Cable Pathway”, while the “Technical Informa-tion” chapter features short-circuit current ratings, and guides to mounting and squaring enclosures, solar heat gain and sanitary washdown.

To obtain your free copy, call (800) 355-3560 or visitwww.hoffmanonline.com/newbook.

Complete line of homecabling solutions

Belden has published a new catalogue of HomeChoice cables. Available in print or online, the full-colour docu-ment details Belden’s cable solutions for VDV, audio and security applica-tions. Within the 16-page catalogue, you’ll fi nd numerous solutions for ful-fi lling your customers’ needs and ex-pectations. Featured products range from cables designed for basic VDV applications to the more sophisticated structured cabling solutions of today’s ‘intelligent’ home.

To request a copy, call (800) BELDEN-1 or visit www.belden.com.

Life safety lighting catalogueLightGuard’s new full-colour product catalogue details an extensive line of emergency lighting and exit signs de-signed to meet any facility’s life safety needs. You’ll also fi nd some newer products, like the DLTC and FLTC, that allow common lighting fi xtures to serve as emergency lighting. The cat-alogue is divided into seven sections for easy access to each product grouping. Ordering information is giv-en for each product, making ordering simple.

To order a copy, call (910) 259-1131 or visit www.lightguard.com.

Lighting transformers catalogueW.A.C. Lighting’s new colour cata-logue features the fi rm’s low-voltage transformers, which include a range of electronic transformers meeting UL 2108. The literature details electronic and magnetic transformers ranging from 60W to 1000W. Standard elec-tronic transformers feature auto-reset, soft start and short-circuit protection technologies. The catalogue also in-cludes images, dimensions and com-plete specs of each of the transform-ers.

To request a copy, [email protected] or visit

www.waclighting.com.

393939

Woodhead Portable GFCIs

Woodhead now offers a complete line of portable automatic and man-ual GFCI products. This broader, deeper line includes plug-in mod-els, in-lines, tri-cords, boxes and fi eld-attachable devices. Woodhead GFCIs combine toughness with af-fordability for the best overall value. Available under the Woodhead®, Watertite® and Super-Safeway® brand names.

Woodhead Lightingfrom Woodhead Industries

woodhead.com/gfci

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m a r k e t p l a c eFor more information, enter the appropriate number on the complimentary subscription/Info card found in this issue

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Alberta: (800) 263-2684BC: (604) 261-2210 (604) 862-5510USA: (514) 333-8392

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Info no. 49

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Info no. 53

Let’s do somethingnew

Let’s cast a new light on our buildings, homes andworkplaces. Let’s opendoors and open mindsthrough intelligent buildings and systems. Let’s findnew ways to control, secure and enhance our daily life. Let’s preparefor the coming years, and together pushback the limits.

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Before it’s put in service, a new custom-er-owned station must be checked out by the local inspection authority to en-

sure it meets minimum safety standards. But what about safety concerns involving sta-tions that have been in service for a number of years with little or no maintenance? Di-rect action needs to be taken to protect workers as well as the general public.

Making contact with live parts, or being close enough to cause an arc, is the biggest risk. In outdoor stations, the primary safety barrier consists of primary line conductors mounted on insulators, and arranged in such a way as to provide minimum clearances. CEC Rule 36-110, Guarding of Live Parts and Exposed Conductors, specifies these minimum clearances in Tables 32, 33 and 34. (For voltages exceeding those specified in the tables, refer to CAN/CSA C22.3 No. 1, Overhead Systems.)

The second barrier is usually a metallic fence enclosure connected to the station ground electrode in accordance with Rule 36-312. This rule requires the station ground electrode be connected to the fence by a tap conductor of not less than 2/0 AWG to each end, corner and gate post, as well as interme-diate posts at intervals not exceeding 12 m. (A layer of crushed stone at least one metre out-side of the station fence provides further pro-tection against step and touch potentials.)

Unfortunately, the protection the eleva-tion and fencing provides is easily defeated when trees are allowed to grow right next to the fence enclosure (Figure 1).

The second potential risk presents itself to authorized workers who—in cases of emergency—are required to disconnect the high-voltage service via the gang-operated disconnect switch. They are supposed to be protected by the gradient control mat, but

when bushes, small trees and other vegeta-tion are allowed to run amok, the mat is ren-dered useless (Figure 2). Refer to CEC Rule 36-310, Gang-Operated Switch Handle Grounds, which specifies the grounding method for the operating handle and shaft, the mat’s position and dimensions, and the tolerable touch voltage that must not be ex-ceeded under fault conditions.

The risk of receiving an electrical shock in-creases when the protective barriers required by code are ignored, so you should regularly inspect and maintain outdoor stations to en-sure a safe and reliable power supply. Regular inspection and reporting will uncover things like: holes in the fence fabric; openings be-tween the bottom fence tension wire and the crushed stone (due to settling); unwanted vegetation; damaged or missing gate locks; missing/illegible warning signs; missing barbed wire; broken corner/gate posts; and damaged/stolen bonding conductors.

While no one can guarantee an accident will never happen, regular inspection and maintenance demonstrates due diligence. Despite decreasing station maintenance bud-gets or other financial/operational pressures, your life—and the lives of your workers—are too valuable to take chances or shortcuts.

Kris Paszkowiak, P.Eng., has taken his many years of experience—most of those with Ontario Hydro and the Electrical Safety Authority—and launched CodeSafety Associates, a new consulting firm serv-ing the needs of the electrical industry. He holds a Master Electrician licence and has served numer-ous organizations over the years, including the Canadian Advisory Council on Electrical Safety, Committee on CEC Part I and UL Electrical Council. Contact CodeSafety Associates at (905) 599-2702 or [email protected].

By Kris PaszKowiaK, P.Eng.

tackle the Code Conundrum... if you dare

tackle the Code Conundrum... if you dareSo, you think you know the electrical code, eh? Well, we’ll soon find out if you’re an electrical code junkie or downright code-clueless. Take a look at the follow-ing questions and check your answers in September’s Electrical Business.

Questions and answers compiled by Esa

How did you do?3 of 3 – Not only are you smart, you love to show off.

1 of 3 – Your understanding of these questions is not up to code.

2 of 3 – You’re pretty smart, but you still missed one.

0 of 3 – Did you come up with your answers by playing Eenie, Meenie, Minie, Moe?

Question 1A circuit supplied by a 750VA control transformer is permitted to be grounded by a connection to the grounded metal control enclosure, or to the bonding conductor within the enclosure.

a) True b) False

Question 2The bonding conductor for a receptacle having a grounding terminal isolated from the mounting strap (isolated ground receptacle for electronic equipment, etc.) shall be permitted to be extended directly back to the main service ground electrode.

a) True b) False

Question 3A wiring system that is not intentionally grounded shall be provided with a ground detection device to indicate the presence of a ground fault.

a) True b) False

Answers to Code Conundrum Electrical Business June/July 2007

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Q-1: Single-conductor cables shall be permitted in sizes No. 4 AWG and larger for wiring in a midway, provided they are:d) all of the above. Rule 66-450, Single-conductor cables.

Q-2: Conductors for DC cathodic protection wiring shall be not smaller than No. __ AWG and shall be suitable for the conditions of use as indicated in Table 19 for the particular location where they are installed.a) No. 12 AWG. Rule 80-004 Conductors states: 1) Conductors for DC cathodic protection wiring shall be not smaller than No. 12 AWG and shall be suitable for the conditions of use as indicated in Table 19 for the particular location where they are installed. Note, however, that Subrule 2 permits conductors smaller than No. 12 AWG under speci-fied conditions. Also, notwithstanding Subrule 1, conductors smaller than No. 12 AWG shall be permitted for instrumentation and reference electrode leads.

Q-3: The installation of wiring and equipment in a battery room shall be in accordance with the requirements for a ___ location.d) Dry. Rule 26-554 Wiring methods and installation of equipment in battery rooms states: the installation of wiring and equipment in a battery room shall be in accordance with the requirements for a dry location.

C o d E f i l E

Safety in existing high-voltage stations

a d v E r t i s E r i N d E X

advertiser . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page

Arlington Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13Band-N-Go . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15Broan Nu-Tone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18Capital Safety Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27ChannelLock. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Cooper Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8CSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23Easy Imaging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29Falvo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29Flir Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19Fluke . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10Ford Motor of Canada . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17General Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32Home Depot Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26Hammond Manufacturing Co. Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20HellermanTyton. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21Holophane Canada Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12IED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25Leviton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22Megger Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20Nexans Canada Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1Northern Cables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9Power Survey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29Raylew Power Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29Rittal Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24Schneider Electric . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16Standard Products Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2Techspan Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31Thomas & Betts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1,5&11Thompson Rivers University . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22United Wire & Cable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11VJ Pamensky . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7Waltech Associates Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29WH Salisbury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

figure 1 • Encroached vegetation

figure 2 • Gradient Control Mat

www.techspan.biz/te/holders

For product info or the name of a distributor near youCALL 1-800-363-1588

NOW OPEN LATER!MON-THURS8 A.M.-6 P.M. ESTFRI - 5 P.M. EST

3131 Pepper Mill CourtMississauga, Ontario L5L 4X6E-mail: [email protected]

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Kits Now Available - Quik-Con

Link to www.techspan.biz/te/quik-kits for complete informationKits have metric threads. Connect with the following options...

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Class ‘CC’Cylincrical

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CUSTOMERS NEED IT EASYSame Day Shipment? EasyLive Inside Sales? EasyStock Availability? EasyDistributors Coast to Coast? Easy

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Info no. Xwww.techspan.biz/te/holders

For product info or the name of a distributor near youCALL 1-800-363-1588

NOW OPEN LATER!MON-THURS8 A.M.-6 P.M. ESTFRI - 5 P.M. EST

3131 Pepper Mill CourtMississauga, Ontario L5L 4X6E-mail: [email protected]

www.techspan.biz

Fuseholders

www.techspan.biz/te/duct

Kits Now Available - Quik-Con

Link to www.techspan.biz/te/quik-kits for complete informationKits have metric threads. Connect with the following options...

Nylon Cord GripsMetric Thread

Nickel PlatedBrass Cord GripsMetric Thread

Metric toNPT ThreadAdapters

Class ‘CC’Cylincrical

Class ‘J’Cylindrical

Class ‘J’Panel Mount

Available in 1,2 and 3 Poles. German Engineered Quality

CUSTOMERS NEED IT EASYSame Day Shipment? EasyLive Inside Sales? EasyStock Availability? EasyDistributors Coast to Coast? Easy

Competitive? Easy

Techspan_EB_Aug07.indd 1 8/16/07 9:27:37 AM

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54

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