Let's Go to the EX! See Sonepar Canada’s 3 KW Solar Installation at The CNE

Sonepar Canada and Osso Electric, in partnership with Solar Semiconductor, have set up a 3KW mobile solar array display at The CNE in Toronto. 

The solar display will keep the radio station, Boom 97.3 FM, pumping out songs all day long at the CNE!

They will be taking the mystery out of solar energy and Ontario’s microFIT program by showcasing a typical residential solar installation. You can also see, touch and feel an actual solar array.

When: Friday, August 20 – OPENING DAY! Solar Panel Dedication Ceremony (with Joe Pantalone) at 11:30amORTuesday, August 24  - ALL DAY LONG for Green Day

Sonepar Canada and Osso Electric will be present at The CNE from August 20 to September 6. Their tent is conveniently located just inside the Queen Elizabeth Gates across from the Direct Energy Centre. There will be opportunities for photos as well as interviews with the team. 

Standard Products Appoints New Regional Sales Manager for Alberta Region

Standard Products has announced the appointment and promotion of Zane Yakiwchuk, LC to the position of Regional Sales Manager for the Alberta region. His previous achievements at the company, along with his strong leadership skills and his motivation for Standard Products to be the leader in lighting, make him ideally suited for this new position. Zane is LC accredited by the NCQLP and a member of the IESNA. He can be contacted at (403) 479-5729.

CSA Standards Announces Development of Canadian Personnel Certification Program

CSA Standards, a leading standards-based solutions organization, and the National Electrical Trade Council (NETCO), the joint training arm of the Canadian Electrical Contractors Association (CECA) and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, First District, Canada (IBEW), announce the development of a national, third-party, independent personnel certification program for Construction Electricians installing photovoltaic (PV) equipment in Canada.

The program, directed at journeyperson Construction Electricians, aims to help ensure the safe and effective installation of solar equipment and to help reduce the risk of serious accident and injury and also to help promote energy efficiency and increased public confidence in PV installations. The personnel certification program for Construction Electricians-Solar PV Systems is fully funded by NETCO on behalf of the electrical industry. It is the first program in Canada to offer a certification based on the tasks that qualified journeyperson Construction Electricians carry out in applying their skills to the installation of solar equipment. A journeyperson is a qualified and skilled person in a trade, and is allowed to train and act as a mentor to a registered apprentice. More on this.

Highlights: EFC-S&D Atlantic Region Golf Tournament

Winning Foursome: Team Schneider

And the EFC Atlantic Challenge Cup goes to…Team Schneider! Barry Dupuis, John Nicks, Todd Steeves and Pierre Robin claimed the winning foursome title at the Fifth Annual Atlantic Region Charity Golf Tournament at Fox Creek Golf Club in Moncton, NB on August 12.  

Other contest winners included: 

- Closest to the Pin – Shannon Fougere, C.S.A. Enterprise

- Longest Drive – Todd Steeves, Schneider

- Straightest Drive – Paul Eldridge, Bird-Stairs

- Putting Contest – Shannon Fougere, C.S.A. Enterprise.  

Tony Munden, Munden Ent. donated a set of custom-made irons with the nearly $500 going to the tournament charity. The winner was Dave Flemming, S&D Marketing. Congratulations to everyone!  Thank you to the many generous members who sponsored dinner, contests and holes and who’s support makes this event the success it is.  A special thank you to the members of the Golf Committee – Phil Hore, ELP Marketing, Kevin Ryter, Royal Pipe and Hayward Rollins, Liteco (retired). A donation of approximately $3,000 will be made to the I.W.K. Children Hospital on behalf of the Atlantic Region. 

EFC Economic Forecast Day - Register Today!

Join Electro-Federation Canada on September 23, 2010 for Economic Forecast Day and learn what top analysts and industry speakers are forecasting for 2011. With insight into the forecasts, you can then decide what the best strategy is for your business' race to the top. 

You can attend this event either live and via Webcast! The choice is yours -- Register for this event today.

This year's speakers include:
- Maureen Farrow from Economap Inc. will give an economic overview of our industry in Canada and worldwide;
- Don Leavens from the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) will present on the U.S. economy and industry;
- Roger Partington from Coherent B2B will provide updates on the Contractor Research Report, released this past June; and
- Mark Kurschner from Product Care Association will give an overview of EPR Programs in Canada, and what manufacturers and distributors need to know in order to comply with current and forthcoming regulations.

View event summary

Questions? Contact Kathryn Cosgrove at kcosgrove@electrofed.com or 647-258-7481.

EEMAC Industry Speaker Session: Health Canada: Making Bill C-36 Work for You and Your Business

The EEMAC Executive Council invites all EFC members to attend its Industry Speaker Session and Luncheon on Tuesday, September 21, 2010 from 10:30 am to 1:00 pm in Mississauga, ON. The session topic will centre on the much-questioned Bill C-36 and what you need to do now to be prepared.

Join Sandra Wright, Manager, National Coordination Division - Consumer Product Safety Bureau at Health Canada and her Health Canada colleagues for an in-depth conversation and presentation of Bill C-36.

Online registration will be made available shortly. In the meantime, if you’d like to register for this event, please contact Deborah Preston at dpreston@electrofed.com.

10th Annual EFC Federation Cup Charity Golf Tournament - Takes Place This Coming Monday!

August 23, 2010 

RattleSnake Golf Club, Milton, ON
5407 Regional Road #25
Milton, ON L9T 2X5
905-878-6222

For map and directions, click here.       

Golf Agenda:

7:00 am               Golf Check - In & Hot Breakfast
8:00 am               Golfers proceed to carts
8:15 am               Announcements & transfer to designated starting hole
8:30 am               Shotgun Start
2:00 pm               Networking Reception
2:30 pm               Shoot for the loot Contest
3:30 pm               Dinner & Golf Awards, Silent & Live Auction
 

For starting hole assignments, click here. Please note, this is subject to change prior to Monday. If you have not already submitted the names of your guests or those in your foursome, please do so as soon as possible. Contact Susan Adler at sadler@electrofed.com.

Stats Canada Issues Data on Steel Wire and Specified Wire Products

June 2010 (Previous release)

Data on steel wire and specified wire products production are now available for June.

Available on CANSIM: table 303-0047.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 2106.

The June 2010 issue of Steel, Tubular Products and Steel Wire (41-019-X, free) will soon be available. For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact the dissemination officer (toll-free 1-866-873-8789; 613-951-9497;manufact@statcan.gc.ca), Manufacturing and Energy Division.

EPIC Educational Program Innovations Center Offers Electrical Engineering Courses

EPIC Educational Program Innovations Center is pleased to announce its Fall 2010 course line up. EPIC Educational Program Innovations Center is a leading technical training solution provider of engineering and technology programs in the private sector throughout North America. 

LOCATION	TITLE	SEM_START	SEM_FINISH
Regina	Power System Neutral Grounding and High Voltage Substation Grounding for Industrial Plants	04-Nov-10	05-Nov-10
Mississauga	Ontario Electrical Safety Code	08-Nov-10	09-Nov-10
Edmonton	High and Medium Voltage Substation Design, Testing and Maintenance	16-Nov-10	18-Nov-10
Winnipeg	Electrical Design Concepts for Non-Electrical Engineers	30-Nov-10	02-Dec-10
Mississauga	Electrical Design Concepts for Non-Electrical Engineers	13-Dec-10	15-Dec-10

           

Find out more at www.epic-edu.com.

EFC Economic Forecast Day: Full Speed Ahead? - Registration Now Open

Join Electro-Federation Canada on September 23, 2010 for Economic Forecast Day and learn what top analysts and industry speakers are forecasting for 2011. With insight into the forecasts, you can then decide what the best strategy is for your business' race to the top. 

New this year!
For the very first time, EFC is offering this event both live and via Webcast! There are benefits to both...while live attendance fosters valuable networking and face-to-face interaction with colleagues, peers and presenters, virtual or Web attendance allows for regional participation and some time and travel savings. The choice is yours -- Register for this event today.

This year's speakers include:
- Maureen Farrow from Economap Inc. will give an economic overview of our industry in Canada and worldwide;
- Don Leavens from the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) will present on the U.S. economy and industry;
- Roger Partington from Coherent B2B will provide updates on the Contractor Research Report, released this past June; and
- Mark Kurschner from Product Care Association will give an overview of EPR Programs in Canada, and what manufacturers and distributors need to know in order to comply with current and forthcoming regulations.

View event summary

Questions? Contact Kathryn Cosgrove at kcosgrove@electrofed.com or 647-258-7481.

EFC's 10th Anniversary Federation Cup Charity Golf Tournament - 96% Sold Out!

Over 240 people will be attending this year's EFC Federation Cup Charity Golf Tournament! There are still a few spaces left, click here to register today!

Event Details:
Monday, August 23, 2010
RattleSnake Point Golf Club

5407 Regional Road #25

Milton, Ontario L9T 2X5

Directions:

Click here

Agenda:

7:00 am      Breakfast & Golf Check-in 8:00 am      Golfers to Meet at Clubhouse 8:15 am      Golfers to Transfer to Designated Starting Hole 8:30 am      Shotgun Start 2:00 pm      Networking Reception 2:30 pm      Shoot for the Loot Contest 3:30 pm      Dinner, Silent/Live Auction, Golf Awards

Silent auction gift items are still needed. Please contact Kathryn Cosgrove at kcosgove@electrofed.com, 647-258-7481 if you'd like to donate an item for this year's Silent Auction. Alternatively, you can bring your silent auction item with you on the day of the tournament.

AHAM Announces Partnership with CSA Standards and UL Environment

The Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) announced that it has partnered with two leading standards organizations, CSA Standards and UL Environment, to jointly develop voluntary sustainability standards for home appliances. The new standards will take a life cycle approach and are intended to be used by governments, retailers, and other initiatives to identify environmentally responsible products. This effort is intended to provide an objective and practical measurement tool to assist the public in evaluating the sustainability of home appliances. 

“Manufacturers are committed to providing this solution to their customers,” explained Joseph M. McGuire, President of AHAM. “This partnership provides the necessary expertise to produce credible sustainability standards for home appliances. A major element of appliance sustainability clearly is energy consumption. We will build on our expertise in the energy area but will also employ a life cycle approach to identify and measure other significant environmental aspects of appliances. UL and CSA Standards, leading North American standards development organizations for appliances, have the credibility and expertise for this initiative.”

Five Winds International, an internationally recognized sustainability consulting firm, has been selected as a project manager for the AHAM project. Five Winds brings thirteen years experience in developing and implementing sustainability strategy to improve the sustainability of companies and has been instrumental in helping to write international environmental standards.

As part of the standards development process, the group will engage a cross‐section of stakeholders to ensure that the standard is both credible and compatible with existing government and retailer initiatives. “Our ultimate aim is to develop a metric that will instill consumer confidence,” said McGuire.

EEMAC Electric Heating - News Break!

EFC's Electrical Equipment Manufacturers Association of Canada (EEMAC) council had recently announced its successful advocacy efforts to stop potentially-damaging model changes to the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), which would have threatened the future of the electric heat industry. As previously announced, proponents of the change have withdrawn their proposal to ban electric heat in many residential applications.


EEMAC's Electric Heating Section has issued several news announcements to update members on this topic. To read the news articles, click here.

John Herrington Named President, Sharp Electronics Marketing Company of America

John Herrington

Sharp Electronics Corporation has announced that John Herrington has been named President of Sharp Electronics Marketing Company of America. He replaces Mike Troetti, who left Sharp earlier this year and was recently named president of Coby Electronics. In this position, Mr. Herrington is responsible for all the U.S. sales and marketing of all Sharp's consumer electronics products including those in the display, audio and video categories, as well as health and environment-related products. Mr. Herrington reports to Mr. Toshihiko Tanimoto, Sr. Executive Vice President, Sharp Electronics Corporation.

Mr. Herrington has extensive experience and a highly successful track record within the consumer electronics and appliances industry. Most recently, as President of U.S. Sales at LG Electronics USA in Englewood Cliffs, NJ, he set the strategic foundation and led LG Electronics' revenue and market share growth in the home electronics and home appliance businesses. Mr. Herrington joined LG Electronics USA in 2002. Prior to LG, he spent 10 years at Amana appliances in various marketing and sales leadership roles where he rose to Vice President of Marketing and National Account Sales.

Siemens Joins Samsung in Ontario Green Power Deal

Germany's Siemens AG will build wind turbines to supply as much as 600 megawatts of energy for the Canadian province of Ontario under an agreement reached with Samsung C&T, the companies said on Tuesday. As part of the deal, Siemens will set up Ontario's first turbine blade factory. The establishment of the plant is a key milestone in the province's ambitious plan to create 50,000 jobs and become a clean energy hub in North America.


"Canada continues to be a major wind power market for Siemens," said Bill Smith, Senior Vice President of Energy for Siemens Canada. 

Ontario unveiled a feed-in tariff program last September that pays the highest rates for green energy producers in North America. It hopes to kick-start a new industry to replace lost auto and other manufacturing jobs in the province. In January, a consortium led by South Korea's Samsung group unveiled a C$7 billion ($6.8 billion) investment in Ontario that will include building four wind- and solar-power clusters capable of producing 2,500 megawatts of power by 2016. Siemens will supply wind turbines for a portion of these developments.


Ontario's clean energy program demands that a percentage of goods and services are made in the province.
Siemens said the agreement with Samsung and its partner, Pattern Energy, will create 300 "green collar" jobs and an additional 600 construction and indirect service jobs. It will supply enough electricity to power 240,000 homes.

Eaton Electric Vehicle Charging Station to Support Mitsubishi Clean Across Canada Tour

Eaton Corporation announced earlier this week that it will support Mitsubishi Motor Sales of Canada’s Clean Across Canada tour with a quick charging station and other critical Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE) product support. The clean energy initiative starts August 17 at Signal Hill in St. Johns and ends on September 13 in Vancouver.

Based on the Japanese i-Car platform, Mitsubishi’s innovative four-passenger electric car with zero tailpipe emissions, the i-MiEV (Mitsubishi Innovative Electric Vehicle), will leave on a 28 day coast-to-coast tour, Clean Across Canada. The tour will begin at Signal Hill, in St John’s, Newfoundland, and cover approximately 7,500 kilometres. The Clean Across Canada tour will arrive in Vancouver, British Columbia at the annual Electric Vehicle 2010 Conference and Trade Show on September 13.

Eaton’s quick charging system enables the i-Miev vehicle to quickly recharge during one of the many daily events before continuing on to the next activity. Stops during the Clean Across Canada Tour include visits to Mitsubishi dealerships, electrical utilities and select Eaton locations across Canada. The tour will visit towns and major cities across Canada offering consumers the opportunity to experience the i-MiEV first hand. It is supported by a team of dedicated corporate sponsors and partners assisting Mitsubishi and showcasing their commitments.  

Major Home Appliance Efficiency Gains to Deliver Huge National Energy and Water Savings and Help to Jump Start the Smart Grid

Home appliance manufacturers and energy efficiency advocates have agreed to improved efficiency standards and tax policies for refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers, clothes dryers, dishwashers and room air conditioners. 

This agreement could save enough energy to meet the total energy needs of 40 percent of American homes for one year and the amount of water necessary to meet the current water needs of every customer in the City of Los Angeles for 25 years. Global warming CO2 will be reduced by 550 million metric tons over the same time period, without considering the emissions reductions from smart appliances. 

Major home appliance manufacturers, their trade organization and a nationwide coalition of energy and water efficiency supporters have called for new national minimum efficiency standards, production tax credits for super-efficient appliances and inclusion of “smart grid” readiness as a feature of future ENERGY STAR qualified appliances.


Additional details on the agreement and a chart depicting the energy and water savings, and
reduced carbon dioxide emissions can be found at www.aham.org/agreement.

Sonepar Canada Announces New Strategic Partnership

Sonepar Canada has announced a strategic partnership with Solar Semiconductor, a rapidly-growing producer of high-quality photovoltaic (PV) products. This strategic partnership will give contractors and installers access to supply Solar PV kits meeting the Ontario Domestic content requirement. Solar Semiconductor is a vertically-integrated, full service systems provider that also manufactures its own PV modules and cells. Market segments addressed include Utilities, Government, Commercial, Residential as well as various specialized applications such as water pumping, rural or remote household (cabins) electrification and power for telecom cell towers.

Refrigerator and Freezer Energy Ratings to be Independently Verified

The appliance industry through the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM) is announcing the launch of an independent verification program to confirm refrigerator and freezer internal volume and energy usage claims made by manufacturers and brand owners. This voluntary program is aimed at boosting the confidence of consumers, retailers and regulators in the validity of energy claims made by manufacturers of refrigerators and freezers sold in the United States and Canada. A list of current verification program licensees can be found at http://www.aham.org/.