Associations, societies & government activities

Electrical Apparatus, Jun 2008

Private-label imports may raise risk of liability

The National Association of Electrical Distributors is warning its members that selling private-label products and products manufactured overseas could make them liable for damages if those products are defective.

A report from the association, "Product Liability Exposure: How to Manage and Mitigate the Risks in Today's Global Market," analyzes current liability threats and suggests steps distributors can take to manage and mitigate risk. The study was produced by Bernie Heinze, president and CEO of Sequent Insurance Group.

Based on interviews with distributors and a review of literature and other information, the study found that private labeling is on the increase and is expected to continue to grow. Private labeling is appealing because such products can generate 20% to 50% incremental profit margin, according to the report.

"While its potential for profitability is attractive, the risks attendant to private labeling, especially with products manufactured in foreign countries, can be significant," the report states. "In fact, the electrical products with the highest number of private labels are also those that have been the subject of recent recalls by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission."

More information is available from the National Association of Electrical Distributors, 1181 Corporate Lake Dr., St. Louis, Mo. 63132; (888) 791-2512; www.naed .org.

Apparatus recyclers report year's progress

As the Professional Electrical Apparatus Recyclers League prepared for its annual convention last month, it reviewed some of the plans it made the previous year to see if the plans had been fulfilled. "Progress has been made on several fronts," reported the association's newsletter, PEARL News.

Among other things, the association:

* Adopted a position on reconditioned device labeling;

* Adopted a position on counterfeit electrical products;

* Created a set of standards for testing and inspection;

* Added a reconditioning standard for fuses;

* Established communication with other electrical organizations.

* Broke a record for trade show attendance;

* Retained several professionals for marketing, communications, grant research, and field inspection.

NEMA members positioned to influence federal decisions

Executives from two National Electrical Manufacturers Association member companies have been chosen to join the Electricity Advisory Committee at the U.S. Dept. of Energy, according to NEMA.

As such, they will be positioned to influence federal decisions on electricity policy issues articulated in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 and the Energy Independence and security Act of 2007.

Enrique Santacana, CEO of ABB North America, and John McDonald, general manager of marketing for transmission and distribution at GE Energy, are among 30 NEMA members chosen to join the committee, according to NEMA.

As the makers of devices for the Smart Grid, energy storage, renewable integration, and transmission infrastructure, the association said, the members will provide valuable insights on the potential for new technologies to enhance the operation of the nation's electricity grid.

Webinar will cover maintenance strategies

An on-line series of seminars, being Webcast once a month through December, will offer thorough coverage of strategies for facilities maintenance. The series, being presented by Terry Wireman, is based on his ten-volume Maintenance Strategy and is being produced by the Association for Facilities Engineering of Reston, Va.

Wireman, vice president of strategic development for Vesta Partners LLC, is a longtime member of the association.

Each Webinar will cover topics covered in each book. The first, held last month, explained how to develop and choose equipment to use in a preventive maintenance program, among other topics.

Upcoming sessions will cover such things as MRO inventory and purchasing, maintenance work management processes, training programs for maintenance operations, predictive maintenance for equipment reliability, and continuous improvement techniques for maintenance and reliability.

The remaining Webinars are to be held June 6, July 11, Aug. 1, Sept. 5, Oct. 3, Nov. 7, and Dec. 5 this year, and Jan. 9 and Feb. 6 next year.

Information is available from AFE, 12100 Sunset Hills Rd., Suite 130, Reston, Va. 20190; (703) 234-4066; www.afe.org.

New seminar at EASA Web site

The Electrical Apparatus Service Association of St. Louis is presenting a new on-line training session called "Repair/Replace: What to Do When the Decision is Replace." The session is available free to members of the association in the "Members Only" section of the association's Web site.

Through streaming slides and audio from a session presented last year by EASA technical support specialist Tom Bishop, the presentation covers application issues, dealing with unusual conditions, understanding the causes of motor failure, and adding value through the addition of features and services. The association's Web site is at www.easa.com.