Guest Post: Watch Out for Xicato, and Other VC Reflections From Lightfair
Last week I attended Lightfair, North America’s largest lighting show, in Philadelphia. It was my first time attending the show since May of 2008, when it was held in Las Vegas. It was amazing to see just how much had changed -- which until the last couple of years hasn’t been much.
The biggest innovation in lighting (after Edison invented the incandescent bulb) was fluorescent lights, which GE started selling in 1938. The second was probably the invention of the solid state dimmer switch in 1959 by Lutron. Sure there have been improvements since then, but there are few (if any) technical fields that have seen fewer changes than the lighting world (especially when you consider how massive the lighting industry is).
That was true, of course, until LEDs came into the picture. Back in ’08, there was a smattering of LED-based lights (or solid state lights -- SSL), but the majority of them were fluorescent, halogen or based on some other technology. Today, as last week proved, it is all about LEDs. Despite the fact that SSLs are still in their infancy (the biggest use cases today are in street lights, specialty retail and some museums), there was a plethora of lights and enabling technologies being showcased at Lightfair this year. Here are some of the trends that I found most interesting.
The LED version of Edison’s classic
There’s a reason why Edison’s invention is still talked about 100 years after the fact -- the endurance of the original light bulb design is remarkable. Its time may be running out, however, as numerous governments have, or are investigating outlawing the bulbs in favor of more energy efficient versions. At Lightfair, I saw a number of screw-in replacement bulbs made out of LEDs. There were literally dozens of 40W replacement bulbs from behemoths like GE and young upstarts like Lemnis Lighting. As I looked for higher-wattage bulbs, however, the list got shorter. At the top of the range I saw only two 100W replacement LED-based bulbs. One was from Sylvania: it was behind a case and you couldn’t touch it. The other was from a startup that was just out of stealth, Switch Lighting (and you could play with their bulb). Switch’s bulb looks really interesting (check out a picture here) and was one of the few bulbs that was liquid-cooled (i.e., the bulb is filled with a liquid vs. a gas). Switch also claims to have a proprietary driver technology that allows them to achieve the 100W mark.
The big question to me in this market is whether someone will develop technology that gives them a sustainable cost advantage. Markets like light bulbs show tremendous price elasticity. To be successful, I think companies need to show that they can have a cost advantage through some cleverness or distinctive intellectual property in their design. My investment interests aside, it’s clear to me that consumers are about to get access to high-quality LED bulbs that will naturally get cheaper over time.
The desire to educate consumers on light quality
In the past I’ve seen the benefits of SSL marketed in terms of energy reduction (that’s the driver for our investment in Redwood Systems). At the show, however, I saw a number of companies that were aiming to educate consumers on the benefits of SSL to deliver higher quality light. We’ve all experienced low-quality light -- from the dull blue light given off by the 1970s-era fluorescents to the eerie yellow light of a high-pressure sodium bulb. I didn’t fully understand the benefits of higher-quality light until last week, however.
2011年5月16日 星期一
Cut Electricity Bills By Changing Your Xenon Strip Light Bulbs To LED Bulbs Recent improvements
Best Kitchen Lighting I Have Done By Myself
Many of my friends I used to discuss on several topics in internet regularly and that is truly my passion. We have already spent many hours in this discussion and most of them were the problems we have shared with each other and tried to solve them. One of such common topic is based on kitchen. Actually, kitchen is such a sensitive factor in our daily life that every day we need to do something new in it. Common people always try to be somehow creative when they stay inside a kitchen and need to spend some time of relaxation with an interesting recipe or even some innovation of the interior design of the kitchen complex. Whatever it may be, one thing that we need to have, is the lighting. Making a good dish or designing a new decoration inside a kitchen will never be successful if you have no plan of good lights for the kitchen.
Kitchen lighting is now turned to a most discussing topic internationally. As soon as you connect internet you will see tons of new ideas posted in the sites by the designers. This trend has both positive and negative side. People are regularly getting benefits of new ideas and information on new gadgets and facilities for the users but at the same time, several persons are unnecessarily misguiding people with some self-thought baseless ideas without the basic knowledge of technology and ethics.
However, despite of all these factors, I should say that the lighting is factor that needs a basic knowledge of the technology used in the models and obviously, every user should use his personal intelligence and consideration in his kitchen lighting plan. Otherwise, just following the instruction given in some sites without judging their compatibility with your own kitchen will be wastage of time and money.
The under cabinet region of a kitchen is the most important part. It is the point of equilibrium considering the volume of workload as well as the focus of the beauty of the whole kitchen. A perfect under cabinet kitchen lighting not only attracts a visitor but it confirms a high intrinsic value of the house.
Naturally, I have spent maximum time in renovation of my kitchen and thought a lot about it from all sides. Before starting my layout, I have searched and familiarized myself with almost all new trends and technologies and acquainted with all pros and cons of several models of lights. Incidentally, I am not so much financially sound and it was, you could say, a must-do factor to research and avoid all unnecessary experimentation upon my kitchen. My kitchen is of a very small type of 400 sq. feet and here I will share my idea about the under cabinet lighting I used so far and pleased with the overall performance.
As my kitchen is small, I have removed all excess cabinets and just used two big cabinets left and right and two central small cabinets in between them and all are with glass doors. I preferred light green and black contrast all over the wall to keep my kitchen spacey in look. Cabinets are of a combination of navy blue and black with grey accented ridges.
Under the cabinets, I used recessed puck lights from Rite Lite (Model No. LPL626BX) 5 LED pivot and Swivel puck light 6 pack series. Those are all grey in color matched with my grey accent. These lights have long life span of 1,00, 000 hours, very tiny (3" diameter) , space saving and extremely energy saving too.
Secondly, it is very comfortable in changing the angle of the light as much as I need as it has a 360-degree swivel. Another interesting thing is, I can control the brightness of it just by pushing it. Single push for full brightness, twice to make it dimmed and a consecutive third to turn it off.
I used these puck lights with a combination of 27 SMD 24" Led strip light of 8 watt, (Model No. 2041WH) inside the cabinet to display my black dinnerware. That shows a very attractive contrast of my black dinnerware with the pale green backside wall of the cabinets. This Led strip consists of a set of 48 Led lamps of an overall consumption of 15 watt, very slim-lined and bright illumination. Easy to install, just by clipping on the surface. Here I should recommend another model of same advantage and that is Juno Lighting Pro-Series LED under cabinet fixture (Model No. UPL30-SL). I used these strips under the counter top that gives a very beautiful glow between the space of the counter top and the floor.
I am pleased with my work, at least I can say. Nobody yet criticized my design those have seen it.
I should conclude, that I am highly grateful to some sites of best kitchen lighting those helped me perfectly in researching on the lights under a small expense that I could afford and recommended my friends to take help of those sites.
Many of my friends I used to discuss on several topics in internet regularly and that is truly my passion. We have already spent many hours in this discussion and most of them were the problems we have shared with each other and tried to solve them. One of such common topic is based on kitchen. Actually, kitchen is such a sensitive factor in our daily life that every day we need to do something new in it. Common people always try to be somehow creative when they stay inside a kitchen and need to spend some time of relaxation with an interesting recipe or even some innovation of the interior design of the kitchen complex. Whatever it may be, one thing that we need to have, is the lighting. Making a good dish or designing a new decoration inside a kitchen will never be successful if you have no plan of good lights for the kitchen.
Kitchen lighting is now turned to a most discussing topic internationally. As soon as you connect internet you will see tons of new ideas posted in the sites by the designers. This trend has both positive and negative side. People are regularly getting benefits of new ideas and information on new gadgets and facilities for the users but at the same time, several persons are unnecessarily misguiding people with some self-thought baseless ideas without the basic knowledge of technology and ethics.
However, despite of all these factors, I should say that the lighting is factor that needs a basic knowledge of the technology used in the models and obviously, every user should use his personal intelligence and consideration in his kitchen lighting plan. Otherwise, just following the instruction given in some sites without judging their compatibility with your own kitchen will be wastage of time and money.
The under cabinet region of a kitchen is the most important part. It is the point of equilibrium considering the volume of workload as well as the focus of the beauty of the whole kitchen. A perfect under cabinet kitchen lighting not only attracts a visitor but it confirms a high intrinsic value of the house.
Naturally, I have spent maximum time in renovation of my kitchen and thought a lot about it from all sides. Before starting my layout, I have searched and familiarized myself with almost all new trends and technologies and acquainted with all pros and cons of several models of lights. Incidentally, I am not so much financially sound and it was, you could say, a must-do factor to research and avoid all unnecessary experimentation upon my kitchen. My kitchen is of a very small type of 400 sq. feet and here I will share my idea about the under cabinet lighting I used so far and pleased with the overall performance.
As my kitchen is small, I have removed all excess cabinets and just used two big cabinets left and right and two central small cabinets in between them and all are with glass doors. I preferred light green and black contrast all over the wall to keep my kitchen spacey in look. Cabinets are of a combination of navy blue and black with grey accented ridges.
Under the cabinets, I used recessed puck lights from Rite Lite (Model No. LPL626BX) 5 LED pivot and Swivel puck light 6 pack series. Those are all grey in color matched with my grey accent. These lights have long life span of 1,00, 000 hours, very tiny (3" diameter) , space saving and extremely energy saving too.
Secondly, it is very comfortable in changing the angle of the light as much as I need as it has a 360-degree swivel. Another interesting thing is, I can control the brightness of it just by pushing it. Single push for full brightness, twice to make it dimmed and a consecutive third to turn it off.
I used these puck lights with a combination of 27 SMD 24" Led strip light of 8 watt, (Model No. 2041WH) inside the cabinet to display my black dinnerware. That shows a very attractive contrast of my black dinnerware with the pale green backside wall of the cabinets. This Led strip consists of a set of 48 Led lamps of an overall consumption of 15 watt, very slim-lined and bright illumination. Easy to install, just by clipping on the surface. Here I should recommend another model of same advantage and that is Juno Lighting Pro-Series LED under cabinet fixture (Model No. UPL30-SL). I used these strips under the counter top that gives a very beautiful glow between the space of the counter top and the floor.
I am pleased with my work, at least I can say. Nobody yet criticized my design those have seen it.
I should conclude, that I am highly grateful to some sites of best kitchen lighting those helped me perfectly in researching on the lights under a small expense that I could afford and recommended my friends to take help of those sites.
LED Lights And Kitchen Lights
LED Lights And Kitchen Lights
When decorating and fitting a room, many people have a tendency to focus on the furnishings and the decor, but dont really think about fittings such as lighting. Lighting really makes a difference to how a room looks, and how you can use it.
In the operation of renovation and redecorating your home, choosing the right options for lighting is definitely a perfect final touch to the room's overall aesthetic. However, when deciding on which form to choose for its appearance, this does not mean that you have to compromise on practicality as Light Emitting Diode (LED) lights are not just good to look at, they also have an increased endurance than traditional forms of electric bulbs plus the usage of LED's can bring about considerable energy savings.
Although LED lighting has been around since the 1960's, it is only lately that it has been recognised as 'the next generation of electric brightness'. Regarded as accurate view of such appliances for a number of reasons. The advantages of using LEDs range from the realization they can be purchased in a large selection of colours and have a endurance four times that for fluorescent ones and twenty times that of halogen ones. LED lights are also not only suitable for interior usage, but can also be used in the garden or in fact anywhere outside (for which the long endurance is a large advantage).
The next generation of lighting generally seems to keep developing further as recent advances in LED technology in addition have resulted in much improved energy efficiency in comparison to other styles of bulb, with energy savings of 60% in comparison to compact fluorescent lights plus a staggering 90% in comparison with the halogen version.
The practical uses of LEDs are also several as such lighting can be effectively used around the home, such as in the kitchen. LED kitchen lights can be purchased in a selection of forms to fulfill any possible need, from 'button lights' (obtainable in white, blue and green), to strip lights as well as self-adhesive, colour-changing LED tape.
When decorating and fitting a room, many people have a tendency to focus on the furnishings and the decor, but dont really think about fittings such as lighting. Lighting really makes a difference to how a room looks, and how you can use it.
In the operation of renovation and redecorating your home, choosing the right options for lighting is definitely a perfect final touch to the room's overall aesthetic. However, when deciding on which form to choose for its appearance, this does not mean that you have to compromise on practicality as Light Emitting Diode (LED) lights are not just good to look at, they also have an increased endurance than traditional forms of electric bulbs plus the usage of LED's can bring about considerable energy savings.
Although LED lighting has been around since the 1960's, it is only lately that it has been recognised as 'the next generation of electric brightness'. Regarded as accurate view of such appliances for a number of reasons. The advantages of using LEDs range from the realization they can be purchased in a large selection of colours and have a endurance four times that for fluorescent ones and twenty times that of halogen ones. LED lights are also not only suitable for interior usage, but can also be used in the garden or in fact anywhere outside (for which the long endurance is a large advantage).
The next generation of lighting generally seems to keep developing further as recent advances in LED technology in addition have resulted in much improved energy efficiency in comparison to other styles of bulb, with energy savings of 60% in comparison to compact fluorescent lights plus a staggering 90% in comparison with the halogen version.
The practical uses of LEDs are also several as such lighting can be effectively used around the home, such as in the kitchen. LED kitchen lights can be purchased in a selection of forms to fulfill any possible need, from 'button lights' (obtainable in white, blue and green), to strip lights as well as self-adhesive, colour-changing LED tape.
OSRAM SYLVANIA and Lowe's Launch Expanded Line of LED Bulbs
OSRAM SYLVANIA and Lowe's Launch Expanded Line of LED Bulbs
On the heels of their introduction of one of the brightest LED A-line light bulbs, OSRAM SYLVANIA and Lowe's are now offering an expanded selection of SYLVANIA ULTRA LED light bulbs to consumers in all Lowe's stores nationwide and on Lowes.com, with additional products to arrive by July 2011.
The full line of SYLVANIA ULTRA LED light bulbs contains more than 16 new product offerings that are a fit for a variety of indoor and outdoor home applications. The line includes LED bulbs that match the color temperature of most incandescent bulbs and last up to 25 times longer.
"OSRAM SYLVANIA is proud to partner with Lowe's to bring new LED choices to consumers," said Phil Rioux, general manager of Consumer Lighting LED Retrofits at OSRAM SYLVANIA. "According to the 2010 SYLVANIA Socket Survey, 75 percent of Americans think color quality is important when choosing a light bulb, so we anticipate more consumers will choose LED lighting with an incandescent color for their homes as the phase out approaches."
Like the SYLVANIA ULTRA A-Line LED bulb, these new light bulbs exceed federal efficiency standards that will phase-out most inefficient incandescent bulbs, starting in 2012.
"Long-lasting, energy-efficient LED bulbs can help save consumers time, energy and money over the lifetime of the bulbs," said Mike Scott, Lowe's merchandising vice president. "With a complete selection of SYLVANIA ULTRA LED light bulbs available in store and at Lowes.com, we are pleased to provide consumers with new, energy-efficient lighting choices for every room in the home."
SYLVANIA ULTRA LED PAR Bulbs
The SYLVANIA ULTRA LED line includes popular directional reflector varieties such as PAR20, PAR30LN and PAR38 all of which are suitable for recessed ceiling or track lighting in the home, or for outdoor use on walkways (in UL approved outdoor fixtures). These PAR products use between 8 and 18 watts and can provide between $150-300 in savings over the life of the bulb (25,000 hours – 10x longer than a halogen model). They also boast greater color definition with a choice of soft white (2700K) or white (3000K). The PAR20, PAR30 and PAR38 are dimmable and mercury-free.
On the heels of their introduction of one of the brightest LED A-line light bulbs, OSRAM SYLVANIA and Lowe's are now offering an expanded selection of SYLVANIA ULTRA LED light bulbs to consumers in all Lowe's stores nationwide and on Lowes.com, with additional products to arrive by July 2011.
The full line of SYLVANIA ULTRA LED light bulbs contains more than 16 new product offerings that are a fit for a variety of indoor and outdoor home applications. The line includes LED bulbs that match the color temperature of most incandescent bulbs and last up to 25 times longer.
"OSRAM SYLVANIA is proud to partner with Lowe's to bring new LED choices to consumers," said Phil Rioux, general manager of Consumer Lighting LED Retrofits at OSRAM SYLVANIA. "According to the 2010 SYLVANIA Socket Survey, 75 percent of Americans think color quality is important when choosing a light bulb, so we anticipate more consumers will choose LED lighting with an incandescent color for their homes as the phase out approaches."
Like the SYLVANIA ULTRA A-Line LED bulb, these new light bulbs exceed federal efficiency standards that will phase-out most inefficient incandescent bulbs, starting in 2012.
"Long-lasting, energy-efficient LED bulbs can help save consumers time, energy and money over the lifetime of the bulbs," said Mike Scott, Lowe's merchandising vice president. "With a complete selection of SYLVANIA ULTRA LED light bulbs available in store and at Lowes.com, we are pleased to provide consumers with new, energy-efficient lighting choices for every room in the home."
SYLVANIA ULTRA LED PAR Bulbs
The SYLVANIA ULTRA LED line includes popular directional reflector varieties such as PAR20, PAR30LN and PAR38 all of which are suitable for recessed ceiling or track lighting in the home, or for outdoor use on walkways (in UL approved outdoor fixtures). These PAR products use between 8 and 18 watts and can provide between $150-300 in savings over the life of the bulb (25,000 hours – 10x longer than a halogen model). They also boast greater color definition with a choice of soft white (2700K) or white (3000K). The PAR20, PAR30 and PAR38 are dimmable and mercury-free.
2011年5月11日 星期三
Android meets LED bulbs in Google smart-home push
Android meets LED bulbs in Google smart-home push
By the end of this year, people will be able to buy an LED light bulb controllable from an Android device, part of Google's move into home automation.
At the Google I/O conference today, Google demonstrated how Android devices, including tablets and smartphones, can act as a hub for controlling multiple devices in the home, including lighting, appliances, thermostats, and music.
Coming to a home network near you: a Lighting Sciences Group A19 LED bulb controllable by Android devices.
Google concocted a lighting demo system with Lighting Sciences Group, which developed an LED bulb that can talk to Android. It uses a new mesh network wireless protocol rather than Wi-Fi, ZigBee, or the other proprietary home automation protocols.
The hope is that software developers will create applications that use the home automation system of connected devices. The demo at Google I/O was of a person playing a shooting video game with the lights turning on and off as shots were fired, said Eric Holland, the director of electrical engineering at Lighting Sciences Group.
"Lighting is very visible and prevalent so it made sense for it to be first foray for the platform," Holland said. "Every one of the lights has a radio integrated inside the lamp so there's no additional equipment."
Many companies are building home automation systems built around connected objects, which give people a way to set up schedules around lighting and heating/cooling. People can also turn plugged-in items on and off from a central point, such as a tablet or small dashboard.
Having many devices communicating using ZigBee or Wi-Fi could create interference problems, one reason why a new protocol is being used, Holland said. Since it is open-source, Google and Lighting Sciences Group hope it will be adopted by other lighting and home automation companies. The networked bulbs will be available by the end of the year at the same cost as their general-purpose LEDs, for which prices range from under $20 to about $35 for a 60-watt equivalent.
Google enters a crowded field of home automation and consumer smart-grid companies that are trying to get a foothold for smart-home products.
By the end of this year, people will be able to buy an LED light bulb controllable from an Android device, part of Google's move into home automation.
At the Google I/O conference today, Google demonstrated how Android devices, including tablets and smartphones, can act as a hub for controlling multiple devices in the home, including lighting, appliances, thermostats, and music.
Coming to a home network near you: a Lighting Sciences Group A19 LED bulb controllable by Android devices.
Google concocted a lighting demo system with Lighting Sciences Group, which developed an LED bulb that can talk to Android. It uses a new mesh network wireless protocol rather than Wi-Fi, ZigBee, or the other proprietary home automation protocols.
The hope is that software developers will create applications that use the home automation system of connected devices. The demo at Google I/O was of a person playing a shooting video game with the lights turning on and off as shots were fired, said Eric Holland, the director of electrical engineering at Lighting Sciences Group.
"Lighting is very visible and prevalent so it made sense for it to be first foray for the platform," Holland said. "Every one of the lights has a radio integrated inside the lamp so there's no additional equipment."
Many companies are building home automation systems built around connected objects, which give people a way to set up schedules around lighting and heating/cooling. People can also turn plugged-in items on and off from a central point, such as a tablet or small dashboard.
Having many devices communicating using ZigBee or Wi-Fi could create interference problems, one reason why a new protocol is being used, Holland said. Since it is open-source, Google and Lighting Sciences Group hope it will be adopted by other lighting and home automation companies. The networked bulbs will be available by the end of the year at the same cost as their general-purpose LEDs, for which prices range from under $20 to about $35 for a 60-watt equivalent.
Google enters a crowded field of home automation and consumer smart-grid companies that are trying to get a foothold for smart-home products.
2011年5月9日 星期一
Adaptive Micro Systems enters receivership and plans to close Milwaukee headquarters
Adaptive Micro Systems enters receivership and plans to close Milwaukee headquarters
Adaptive Micro Systems, a designer and manufacturer of electronic signage, LED displays and related control systems, has entered Wisconsin Chapter 128 receivership and plans to close its headquarters and manufacturing facility at 7840 N. 86th St., Milwaukee.
All of Adaptive Micro Systems’ 71 employees will be terminated, according to a letter sent to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development by attorney Michael Polsky, the court-appointed receiver in the matter. Layoffs are expected to begin July 6.
According to the letter, the company has experienced unforeseen business circumstances and was in the process of seeking capital or business to prevent or postpone the plant closure and to continue operations.
Uline
Ladish acquisition set to close this week after shareholder approval
The shareholders of Cudahy-based Ladish Co. approved the acquisition of the company at a special meeting last week, another step in its planned purchase by a wholly owned subsidiary of Allegheny Technologies Inc.
Approximately 99.9 percent of the Ladish shares voted at the meeting were in favor of the transaction. Ladish expects to close the transaction with ATI today or shortly thereafter.
Ladish is a leading producer of highly engineered, technically advanced metal components for the jet engine, aerospace and general industrial markets.
Milwaukee lures another Spanish manufacturer to town
The Spanish firm Sic Lazaro, a producer of industrial counterweights, is establishing its first manufacturing operation in North America on Milwaukee’s far north side.
The company will occupy a 138,000-square-foot manufacturing facility at 7044-7100 N. Teutonia Ave.
Sic Lazaro expects to open in fall 2011 and hire about 30 employees within a year.
Privately held Sic Lazaro targeted Wisconsin as a location because of the state’s manufacturing heritage and base. “We think Milwaukee is an excellent location for manufacturing and an ideal place from which to serve the U.S. market,” said Cliff Ratza, who will manage the company’s Milwaukee plant. “We appreciate the help of the M7 and the City of Milwaukee in providing resources and assistance as we evaluated potential locales.”
Lazaro is the third Spanish manufacturer that M7 has worked with in the past year to locate in the region. The others are wind energy firm Ingeteam, which is opening its North American headquarters and manufacturing plant in Milwaukee’s Menomonee Valley, and train manufacturer Talgo, located on Milwaukee’s north side at the former Tower Automotive plant.
M7 officials say they are luring European manufacturers because of the region’s strong base of manufacturing companies, suppliers and skilled workers, including a high percentage of engineers. Wisconsin ranks first nationally for concentration of manufacturing employment, and Milwaukee ranks second regionally. The region’s proximity to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport is another selling point for European companies.
As part of our global attraction strategy, M7 representatives and Racine County and City of Milwaukee economic development professionals recently attended the Hannover Messe trade show in Germany, one of the largest industrial shows in the world with more than 200,000 attendees.
Milwaukee 7 was part of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Invest in America booth at the Hannover Messe trade show in Germany.
More than 30 prescheduled one-on-one meetings with European manufacturers were organized to sell the region’s manufacturing expertise in automation, power, energy and electrical components, which aligns well with Europe’s advanced manufacturing sector. The trade show also served as a base for visits to a number of neighboring regions and countries.
M7 executive director Pat O’Brien said the trip was a valuable step in the region’s foreign direct investment strategy.
“We’re getting the word out about the region, companies are impressed with our manufacturing attributes and we’re adding more European projects to our pipeline,” O’Brien said.
The Milwaukee 7 investment campaign has just surpassed $6.4 million. New investors include: Bank Mutual; Consolidated Construction Company; DeltaHawk Engines; GenMet; Patrick Horne; Northwestern Mutual; and Quarles & Brady LLP.
Adaptive Micro Systems, a designer and manufacturer of electronic signage, LED displays and related control systems, has entered Wisconsin Chapter 128 receivership and plans to close its headquarters and manufacturing facility at 7840 N. 86th St., Milwaukee.
All of Adaptive Micro Systems’ 71 employees will be terminated, according to a letter sent to the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development by attorney Michael Polsky, the court-appointed receiver in the matter. Layoffs are expected to begin July 6.
According to the letter, the company has experienced unforeseen business circumstances and was in the process of seeking capital or business to prevent or postpone the plant closure and to continue operations.
Uline
Ladish acquisition set to close this week after shareholder approval
The shareholders of Cudahy-based Ladish Co. approved the acquisition of the company at a special meeting last week, another step in its planned purchase by a wholly owned subsidiary of Allegheny Technologies Inc.
Approximately 99.9 percent of the Ladish shares voted at the meeting were in favor of the transaction. Ladish expects to close the transaction with ATI today or shortly thereafter.
Ladish is a leading producer of highly engineered, technically advanced metal components for the jet engine, aerospace and general industrial markets.
Milwaukee lures another Spanish manufacturer to town
The Spanish firm Sic Lazaro, a producer of industrial counterweights, is establishing its first manufacturing operation in North America on Milwaukee’s far north side.
The company will occupy a 138,000-square-foot manufacturing facility at 7044-7100 N. Teutonia Ave.
Sic Lazaro expects to open in fall 2011 and hire about 30 employees within a year.
Privately held Sic Lazaro targeted Wisconsin as a location because of the state’s manufacturing heritage and base. “We think Milwaukee is an excellent location for manufacturing and an ideal place from which to serve the U.S. market,” said Cliff Ratza, who will manage the company’s Milwaukee plant. “We appreciate the help of the M7 and the City of Milwaukee in providing resources and assistance as we evaluated potential locales.”
Lazaro is the third Spanish manufacturer that M7 has worked with in the past year to locate in the region. The others are wind energy firm Ingeteam, which is opening its North American headquarters and manufacturing plant in Milwaukee’s Menomonee Valley, and train manufacturer Talgo, located on Milwaukee’s north side at the former Tower Automotive plant.
M7 officials say they are luring European manufacturers because of the region’s strong base of manufacturing companies, suppliers and skilled workers, including a high percentage of engineers. Wisconsin ranks first nationally for concentration of manufacturing employment, and Milwaukee ranks second regionally. The region’s proximity to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport is another selling point for European companies.
As part of our global attraction strategy, M7 representatives and Racine County and City of Milwaukee economic development professionals recently attended the Hannover Messe trade show in Germany, one of the largest industrial shows in the world with more than 200,000 attendees.
Milwaukee 7 was part of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Invest in America booth at the Hannover Messe trade show in Germany.
More than 30 prescheduled one-on-one meetings with European manufacturers were organized to sell the region’s manufacturing expertise in automation, power, energy and electrical components, which aligns well with Europe’s advanced manufacturing sector. The trade show also served as a base for visits to a number of neighboring regions and countries.
M7 executive director Pat O’Brien said the trip was a valuable step in the region’s foreign direct investment strategy.
“We’re getting the word out about the region, companies are impressed with our manufacturing attributes and we’re adding more European projects to our pipeline,” O’Brien said.
The Milwaukee 7 investment campaign has just surpassed $6.4 million. New investors include: Bank Mutual; Consolidated Construction Company; DeltaHawk Engines; GenMet; Patrick Horne; Northwestern Mutual; and Quarles & Brady LLP.
Sirius Aurora LED Light Therapy System- reader reviewed and recommended
Sirius Aurora LED Light Therapy System- reader reviewed and recommended
It has certainly generated a lot of comments on TIA over the past two months, so I thought I’d share my experiences with the Sirius Aurora LED Light Therapy System with the community. To say I was enthused by Marta’s initial post on the Aurora on March 3 is an understatement—I actually was the very first to comment (with the question, when will it be available on the TIA shop?). So you can take that to mean either (1) this product really got my attention or (2) I seriously need to get a life. Or both.
So when indeed the Aurora became available the following week, I promptly placed my order. I loved the idea of LED and the fact that this product supported multiple light frequencies—and at an incredible price point. My idea was to use it every night, alternating evenings between the red light to combat wrinkles and aging, and the green, to deal with skin tone and spots. (I don’t have acne, though come summer I might give the blue light a try if I feel breakouts coming on.) And I have been faithful to that plan: it’s been almost seven weeks since I started this regime (46 evenings, actually) and I am either proud or embarrassed to say I’ve only skipped two nights. (See above—as in, get a life.) So that’s 23 sessions a piece with each mode. The results have been positive, and in ways that have surprised me a bit as well.
By background, I’m 55, and acutely aware of everything that comes with that. My face shows signs of aging and sagging, and I’m concerned especially about “marionette” lines, lines around the mouth, crow’s feet and under-eye crinkling, and most disturbingly a couple of horizontal lines that have taken up residency across the forehead. I also have some freckling and hyperpigmentation spots. I’m assured that none of this is particularly bad or pronounced for my age—but that is never a consolation, as TIA readers probably know. And at another stage (and in another economy) I was a regular at the dermatologist’s office, and was very pleased the results of glycolic peels and microdermabrasion for pigmentation, wrinkles, and overall brightness and tone. I got those treatments pretty consistently throughout my forties. And about five years ago (I’m mentioning this thinking of Copley’s post on March 25 on pre-wedding treatments, which referred to this) I had two IPL sessions, which were extremely effective on pigmentation and dark spots. All of that was fantastic, and probably kept some of the aging demons at bay, but all of it very expensive.
So I turned to the Aurora as an adjunct to what has become a diligent program of serums, creams, and cleansers from the TIA hit parade. The first challenge was figuring out what to do with the thing—as several commenters have noted, Sirius doesn’t include instructions in the box, though they are pretty clear on the website. Basically, each area to be treated gets three minutes of attention in the “pulse” mode, followed by three in the steady light mode. The site instructs you to begin with three minutes of pulsed light on each of three face sections—segmented horizontally—and an additional three minutes apiece of continuous light on each of five areas (dividing the cheeks and forehead into two). My plan was also to put the Aurora to use on my hands and neck/décolleté.
This turns out to be a big commitment; in the end I’ve been doing nine minutes on the face (in three sections) in pulse mode, and then 12 (not 15) in continuous mode—I found I couldn’t really address five separate different sections and settled on four. Then three minutes pulse, three minutes steady, on the back of each hand, and on the neck. A total of 39 minutes! Generally I did this while watching the latest from the “Real Housewives,” which of course makes time fly, but it was a bit of a bore when squinting or closing my eyes whenever the device—which Marta points out has a rather large, oval-shaped working surface—was nearby. (Which is a lot of the time, and raises the question debated in several reader comments about the use of goggles with the Aurora. I have probably been less than prudent in exposing my eyes, particularly because I have used the green light directly on my eyelids, which have a couple of pronounced freckles. It would be great if the TIA community could get some definitive guidance from Sirius about how to manage eye exposure).
In using the Aurora with the green light, I simply applied it to freshly-cleansed skin. For the red light, I first slathered on a vitamin C serum or YBF antioxidants. And in addition to the usual assortment of eye creams and moisturizers, I also used La Vie Celeste Glycolic mask about once a week, and the divine YBF Prep twice weekly.
And after all that – the results? Better than I expected, if less than miraculous. Use of the red light seems to have improved skin appearance and firmness, with some marginal, but real, impact on those wrinkles, especially around the eyes. The surprise was the green light. I can report definite and noticeable effects on the freckles and pigmentation. The tops of my hands, in particular, are significantly improved. A half-dozen big freckles have partially faded, and a constellation of lighter, larger splotches are now, depending on the light, nearly invisible. On my face, the overall pigment is more consistent, a couple of freckles are less pronounced, and an area of discoloration I’ve had forever—sort of a light, dime-sized area near my jaw line—has faded noticeably. In fact, when I saw a cousin (whose known me forever) a couple of weeks ago on the way to getting a haircut—without any makeup on at all—she actually commented on how even my skin tone appeared. Without a leading question.
It has certainly generated a lot of comments on TIA over the past two months, so I thought I’d share my experiences with the Sirius Aurora LED Light Therapy System with the community. To say I was enthused by Marta’s initial post on the Aurora on March 3 is an understatement—I actually was the very first to comment (with the question, when will it be available on the TIA shop?). So you can take that to mean either (1) this product really got my attention or (2) I seriously need to get a life. Or both.
So when indeed the Aurora became available the following week, I promptly placed my order. I loved the idea of LED and the fact that this product supported multiple light frequencies—and at an incredible price point. My idea was to use it every night, alternating evenings between the red light to combat wrinkles and aging, and the green, to deal with skin tone and spots. (I don’t have acne, though come summer I might give the blue light a try if I feel breakouts coming on.) And I have been faithful to that plan: it’s been almost seven weeks since I started this regime (46 evenings, actually) and I am either proud or embarrassed to say I’ve only skipped two nights. (See above—as in, get a life.) So that’s 23 sessions a piece with each mode. The results have been positive, and in ways that have surprised me a bit as well.
By background, I’m 55, and acutely aware of everything that comes with that. My face shows signs of aging and sagging, and I’m concerned especially about “marionette” lines, lines around the mouth, crow’s feet and under-eye crinkling, and most disturbingly a couple of horizontal lines that have taken up residency across the forehead. I also have some freckling and hyperpigmentation spots. I’m assured that none of this is particularly bad or pronounced for my age—but that is never a consolation, as TIA readers probably know. And at another stage (and in another economy) I was a regular at the dermatologist’s office, and was very pleased the results of glycolic peels and microdermabrasion for pigmentation, wrinkles, and overall brightness and tone. I got those treatments pretty consistently throughout my forties. And about five years ago (I’m mentioning this thinking of Copley’s post on March 25 on pre-wedding treatments, which referred to this) I had two IPL sessions, which were extremely effective on pigmentation and dark spots. All of that was fantastic, and probably kept some of the aging demons at bay, but all of it very expensive.
So I turned to the Aurora as an adjunct to what has become a diligent program of serums, creams, and cleansers from the TIA hit parade. The first challenge was figuring out what to do with the thing—as several commenters have noted, Sirius doesn’t include instructions in the box, though they are pretty clear on the website. Basically, each area to be treated gets three minutes of attention in the “pulse” mode, followed by three in the steady light mode. The site instructs you to begin with three minutes of pulsed light on each of three face sections—segmented horizontally—and an additional three minutes apiece of continuous light on each of five areas (dividing the cheeks and forehead into two). My plan was also to put the Aurora to use on my hands and neck/décolleté.
This turns out to be a big commitment; in the end I’ve been doing nine minutes on the face (in three sections) in pulse mode, and then 12 (not 15) in continuous mode—I found I couldn’t really address five separate different sections and settled on four. Then three minutes pulse, three minutes steady, on the back of each hand, and on the neck. A total of 39 minutes! Generally I did this while watching the latest from the “Real Housewives,” which of course makes time fly, but it was a bit of a bore when squinting or closing my eyes whenever the device—which Marta points out has a rather large, oval-shaped working surface—was nearby. (Which is a lot of the time, and raises the question debated in several reader comments about the use of goggles with the Aurora. I have probably been less than prudent in exposing my eyes, particularly because I have used the green light directly on my eyelids, which have a couple of pronounced freckles. It would be great if the TIA community could get some definitive guidance from Sirius about how to manage eye exposure).
In using the Aurora with the green light, I simply applied it to freshly-cleansed skin. For the red light, I first slathered on a vitamin C serum or YBF antioxidants. And in addition to the usual assortment of eye creams and moisturizers, I also used La Vie Celeste Glycolic mask about once a week, and the divine YBF Prep twice weekly.
And after all that – the results? Better than I expected, if less than miraculous. Use of the red light seems to have improved skin appearance and firmness, with some marginal, but real, impact on those wrinkles, especially around the eyes. The surprise was the green light. I can report definite and noticeable effects on the freckles and pigmentation. The tops of my hands, in particular, are significantly improved. A half-dozen big freckles have partially faded, and a constellation of lighter, larger splotches are now, depending on the light, nearly invisible. On my face, the overall pigment is more consistent, a couple of freckles are less pronounced, and an area of discoloration I’ve had forever—sort of a light, dime-sized area near my jaw line—has faded noticeably. In fact, when I saw a cousin (whose known me forever) a couple of weeks ago on the way to getting a haircut—without any makeup on at all—she actually commented on how even my skin tone appeared. Without a leading question.
2011年5月3日 星期二
House Panel To Vote On Bills To Rework Consumer Bureau Powers
House Panel To Vote On Bills To Rework Consumer Bureau Powers
The political fight over the new U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will continue on Wednesday, with a Republican-led House subcommittee prepared to sign off on a trio of controversial bills that would scale back the agency's authority.
Republicans, who have promised vigorous oversight of the consumer bureau, could also use Wednesday's meeting to weigh in on growing expectations among banking industry officials and analysts in Washington that President Barack Obama will nominate White House adviser and vocal banking critic Elizabeth Warren to spearhead the agency.
Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R., W.Va.), who leads the House Financial Services subpanel, has already made clear that she doesn't think Warren should be nominated for the post.
"First, I support a five-person commission. But, no, I do not believe nominating Warren is the direction the president should take," Capito said.
The three bills up for a subcomittee vote are backed by business groups such as the American Bankers Association but fiercely opposed by consumer advocates. The measures are unlikely to win Senate approval but could gain momentum a couple of years from now if Republicans gain greater control of Congress.
A bill introduced by House Financial Services Committee Chairman Spencer Bachus (R., Ala.) would replace the bureau's director position with a five- person, bipartisan panel.
Bachus has said he believes the bureau "will do a better job carrying out its mission if it is led by a bipartisan commission rather than a single director."
However, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Johnson (D., S.D.) has signaled that he doesn't support the measure.
"This issue of a 5-member commission instead of a single director was already considered during the thorough Wall Street reform debate last year, and agreement was reached that consumers would be protected best with a strong and independent director in place at the CFPB," he said in a statement.
A second bill introduced by Rep. Sean Duffy (R., Wis.) would make it easier for a council of regulators known as the Financial Stability Oversight Council to veto the consumer bureau's actions.
The third bill would prevent the bureau from receiving key regulatory powers before the agency has a director in place. The bureau is on track to gain new consumer protection powers on its July 21 launch date. While banking officials and analysts anticipate that the White House will nominate Warren, the White House has not yet announced its pick and the top job remains vacant.
While the Senate is unlikely to back the proposals in the near-term, the bills could gain greater traction in years to come, analysts say.
"This should set the stage for action in 2013," MF Global Inc. analyst Jaret Seiberg said in a research note this week.
Capito said the bills are "commonsense measures to promote effective and efficient transparency and accountability" at the consumer bureau.
But consumer advocates and Warren, who is in charge of preparing the consumer protection agency for its July launch, have steadily criticized the legislative proposals.
"Many in Congress have made clear their intention to defund, delay, and defang the consumer agency before it can help one family," Warren said in a statement Tuesday. "These bills are about preventing the CFPB from operating effectively-- a dangerous game to play in light of recent lessons in the marketplace and how quickly financial threats to consumers emerge."
Similarly, consumer advocates are concerned that the bills will hurt the consumer agency's ability to protect consumers from fraudulent practices related to credit cards, mortgages and other financial products.
"If enacted, these bills will virtually guarantee the agency will be a weak and a timid one without the ability or the will to curb the kind of financial abuses that have caused the nation's worst financial crisis since the Great Depression and that are still harming tens of thousands of Americans throughout the country now," Consumer Federation of America Legislative Director Travis Plunkett said.
The political fight over the new U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will continue on Wednesday, with a Republican-led House subcommittee prepared to sign off on a trio of controversial bills that would scale back the agency's authority.
Republicans, who have promised vigorous oversight of the consumer bureau, could also use Wednesday's meeting to weigh in on growing expectations among banking industry officials and analysts in Washington that President Barack Obama will nominate White House adviser and vocal banking critic Elizabeth Warren to spearhead the agency.
Rep. Shelley Moore Capito (R., W.Va.), who leads the House Financial Services subpanel, has already made clear that she doesn't think Warren should be nominated for the post.
"First, I support a five-person commission. But, no, I do not believe nominating Warren is the direction the president should take," Capito said.
The three bills up for a subcomittee vote are backed by business groups such as the American Bankers Association but fiercely opposed by consumer advocates. The measures are unlikely to win Senate approval but could gain momentum a couple of years from now if Republicans gain greater control of Congress.
A bill introduced by House Financial Services Committee Chairman Spencer Bachus (R., Ala.) would replace the bureau's director position with a five- person, bipartisan panel.
Bachus has said he believes the bureau "will do a better job carrying out its mission if it is led by a bipartisan commission rather than a single director."
However, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Johnson (D., S.D.) has signaled that he doesn't support the measure.
"This issue of a 5-member commission instead of a single director was already considered during the thorough Wall Street reform debate last year, and agreement was reached that consumers would be protected best with a strong and independent director in place at the CFPB," he said in a statement.
A second bill introduced by Rep. Sean Duffy (R., Wis.) would make it easier for a council of regulators known as the Financial Stability Oversight Council to veto the consumer bureau's actions.
The third bill would prevent the bureau from receiving key regulatory powers before the agency has a director in place. The bureau is on track to gain new consumer protection powers on its July 21 launch date. While banking officials and analysts anticipate that the White House will nominate Warren, the White House has not yet announced its pick and the top job remains vacant.
While the Senate is unlikely to back the proposals in the near-term, the bills could gain greater traction in years to come, analysts say.
"This should set the stage for action in 2013," MF Global Inc. analyst Jaret Seiberg said in a research note this week.
Capito said the bills are "commonsense measures to promote effective and efficient transparency and accountability" at the consumer bureau.
But consumer advocates and Warren, who is in charge of preparing the consumer protection agency for its July launch, have steadily criticized the legislative proposals.
"Many in Congress have made clear their intention to defund, delay, and defang the consumer agency before it can help one family," Warren said in a statement Tuesday. "These bills are about preventing the CFPB from operating effectively-- a dangerous game to play in light of recent lessons in the marketplace and how quickly financial threats to consumers emerge."
Similarly, consumer advocates are concerned that the bills will hurt the consumer agency's ability to protect consumers from fraudulent practices related to credit cards, mortgages and other financial products.
"If enacted, these bills will virtually guarantee the agency will be a weak and a timid one without the ability or the will to curb the kind of financial abuses that have caused the nation's worst financial crisis since the Great Depression and that are still harming tens of thousands of Americans throughout the country now," Consumer Federation of America Legislative Director Travis Plunkett said.
Taiwanese LED Company – FZLED - Going Global
Taiwanese LED Company – FZLED - Going Global
FZLED, a sub-division of the thermal and metal products manufacturer FZTech Inc., is announcing their plans to enter multiple international markets around the world and begin offering several lines of high-performance LED products to consumers. Receiving ISO-9001:2008 certification in November, 2010, FZLED is already turning heads with their innovative products like their newly released on/off switch dimming T8 LED Tube Lights. FZLED's newly designed website: http://www.FZLED.com.tw is now live to assist in providing product information and serving customers from around the globe.
FZTech Inc. was founded by three experienced R&D professionals and five metal manufacturers. The goal was to form a company to create and supply cutting edge, high-quality, reasonably priced, thermal and metal products for use in PC, LED, and consumer electronic product applications. Offering total metal and thermal solutions, FZTech provides its OEM services to various industry leading companies, including Advantech, Advansus, Avalue and Tranquil PC. With manufacturing of CPU coolers, DC fans, press fins, and several other product lines well-in-hand, FZTech Inc. decided to set-up FZLED as a sub-division to focus solely on developing superior LED products.
“We were making all the items needed to produce environmentally-friendly LED products. We wanted to use our know-how and expertise to help protect our world. All the pieces were in place and so we decided to go for it. We're committed to using technology to provide customers with green, high-quality LED lighting products.” says FZLED CEO Alan Lin. The FZ prefix came about through the company's commitment to designing products with exceptional cooling mechanisms. “Freezing” was shortened to “FZ.”
FZLED has committed itself to a three-pronged mission of producing High Quality, High Cost to Performance ratio, and extremely Energy-Efficient LED products. “We believe the customer comes first,” says FZLED CEO Alan Lin. “We strive, each and every one of us, at FZLED to design and manufacture the best and the greenest LED lighting solutions available. We don't want to be just another LED manufacturer. That is why we conduct everything, from R&D right up to assembly and shipment, ourselves, to ensure that each and every bulb that leaves our company is at its best. Our name, FZLED, only goes on products we believe in. We are a team of designers and assemblers and testers and shippers that give everything we've got to our customers,” Lin adds.
To date, FZLED has developed and manufactured several innovative torches/flashlights for the Taiwan, Japan and Singapore markets.
Already released products include FZLED's Bike Torch, Hiking Torch, and Waterproof Torch, as well as several others. FZLED has also developed and released a variety of high-power LED bulbs fitting E26, E27, B22 and GU10 sockets. FZLED is now looking to expand distribution into several other major markets around the world while continuing to release new and innovative LED lighting products that provide consumers with the best cost-performance ratio possible.
About FZLED
FZLED is a Taiwan-based developer and manufacturer of high-performance LED lighting products. As a sub-division of FZTech Inc., FZLED's products have superior mechanical and thermal designs, utilizing the expertise of FZTech. Committed to excellence, FZLED follows a strict TQC for the entire manufacturing process, and conducts R&D projects continuously in an effort to create LED lighting solutions that offer light-weight, high-quality, environmentally-friendly, innovative, and thermally-optimized products to consumers.
FZLED, a sub-division of the thermal and metal products manufacturer FZTech Inc., is announcing their plans to enter multiple international markets around the world and begin offering several lines of high-performance LED products to consumers. Receiving ISO-9001:2008 certification in November, 2010, FZLED is already turning heads with their innovative products like their newly released on/off switch dimming T8 LED Tube Lights. FZLED's newly designed website: http://www.FZLED.com.tw is now live to assist in providing product information and serving customers from around the globe.
FZTech Inc. was founded by three experienced R&D professionals and five metal manufacturers. The goal was to form a company to create and supply cutting edge, high-quality, reasonably priced, thermal and metal products for use in PC, LED, and consumer electronic product applications. Offering total metal and thermal solutions, FZTech provides its OEM services to various industry leading companies, including Advantech, Advansus, Avalue and Tranquil PC. With manufacturing of CPU coolers, DC fans, press fins, and several other product lines well-in-hand, FZTech Inc. decided to set-up FZLED as a sub-division to focus solely on developing superior LED products.
“We were making all the items needed to produce environmentally-friendly LED products. We wanted to use our know-how and expertise to help protect our world. All the pieces were in place and so we decided to go for it. We're committed to using technology to provide customers with green, high-quality LED lighting products.” says FZLED CEO Alan Lin. The FZ prefix came about through the company's commitment to designing products with exceptional cooling mechanisms. “Freezing” was shortened to “FZ.”
FZLED has committed itself to a three-pronged mission of producing High Quality, High Cost to Performance ratio, and extremely Energy-Efficient LED products. “We believe the customer comes first,” says FZLED CEO Alan Lin. “We strive, each and every one of us, at FZLED to design and manufacture the best and the greenest LED lighting solutions available. We don't want to be just another LED manufacturer. That is why we conduct everything, from R&D right up to assembly and shipment, ourselves, to ensure that each and every bulb that leaves our company is at its best. Our name, FZLED, only goes on products we believe in. We are a team of designers and assemblers and testers and shippers that give everything we've got to our customers,” Lin adds.
To date, FZLED has developed and manufactured several innovative torches/flashlights for the Taiwan, Japan and Singapore markets.
Already released products include FZLED's Bike Torch, Hiking Torch, and Waterproof Torch, as well as several others. FZLED has also developed and released a variety of high-power LED bulbs fitting E26, E27, B22 and GU10 sockets. FZLED is now looking to expand distribution into several other major markets around the world while continuing to release new and innovative LED lighting products that provide consumers with the best cost-performance ratio possible.
About FZLED
FZLED is a Taiwan-based developer and manufacturer of high-performance LED lighting products. As a sub-division of FZTech Inc., FZLED's products have superior mechanical and thermal designs, utilizing the expertise of FZTech. Committed to excellence, FZLED follows a strict TQC for the entire manufacturing process, and conducts R&D projects continuously in an effort to create LED lighting solutions that offer light-weight, high-quality, environmentally-friendly, innovative, and thermally-optimized products to consumers.
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