July 2010

Why is Personal Grounding Important?

by Andy on July 28, 2010

The big question: Why is personal grounding so important when working with electrical components and circuit boards?

Field Service Kit First and foremost, connections from you to the ground limit the build-up of static electricity when repairing electronic devices. “Grounding” means just what it sounds like… The ground, or earth, acts as a conductive reference point for an electric current to travel. This eliminates any possible damage that electrostatic discharge (ESD) may cause to the electronic component you are working with. Although it takes an electrostatic discharge of about 3,000 volts for humans to feel a shock, electronic components can be damaged by as little as 10 volts. So, personal grounding is of utmost importance to protect these electronics.

Don’t worry! We have your personal grounding solutions covered: Shoe Ground

Field Service Kits (such as the one above) provide static-free, compact, portable work surfaces for electronics field technicians. Most kits come complete with adjustable wrist straps, coil and ground cords, and easy storage options.

Grounding Hardware consists of snap tools, bench kits and ground mats, ground cords, banana plug accessories, and mat grounding kits.

Shoe Grounds supply protection against ESD by providing contact around your foot. To explore this option, try a heel ground, toe ground, or a full sole shoe ground (pictured to the right) for reliable protection with both heel and toe contact.

Wrist Straps also serve as a viable personal grounding solution when workers need to move around their work area. After you choose either a single-conductor wrist strap or double-conductor wrist strap, you are then ready to find a wrist cord to use in conjunction with the strap for easy movement.

Still have questions about personal grounding and ESD safety? Check out the YouTube video below:

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General Tools is New to All-Spec

by Andy on July 22, 2010

General Tools

All-Spec Industries is excited to announce the addition of General Tools brand to our line card. Known as General Hardware Manufacturing Company when it was established in 1922, General Tools is known today for carrying innovative hand tools and specialty tools as part of its product line.

As an authorized distributor of General Tools, we now carry a wide selection of products ranging from tweezers and magnifiers to voltage detectors and ESD-safe screwdrivers.

We are also now stocking many General Tools products: General Tools Wire Stripper

For more information about General Tools, visit the General Tools YouTube Channel.

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Danaher and Cooper Tools Join Forces to Create Apex Tool Group

by Andy on July 14, 2010

Apex Tool Group Logo

As a previous blog post from April 2010 anticipated, Apex Tool Group, LLC is officially a formal establishment as of July 4, 2010. Danaher Corporation and Cooper Industries are the masterminds behind the new joint venture that combines these two leading tool manufacturers. Danaher and Cooper will each own a 50 percent stake in Apex Tool Group, which will be based in Sparks, Maryland. Steve Breitzka, a former Danaher vice president, has been appointed chairman of the board of directors.

A little tidbit on each company:

Based in Washington, D.C., Danaher Corporation manufactures products for customers in the professional, medical, industrial, and commercial industries.
Founded in 1833, Cooper Industries is a worldwide manufacturer of electrical components and tools, with eight operating divisions.

Why did these two major manufactures team up, you may ask? Simply put, combining Danaher and Cooper makes a very strong business. Executives believe that the two companies are very complementary… While Danaher has market strength and resources in the US and China, Cooper is strong is the US, Latin America, Europe, and Australia. Apex Tool Group will allow for a powerful position in key worldwide markets, with facilities in more than 30 countries and 7,600 employees across the globe. As Breitzka states, “…we expect that Apex Tool Group will deliver even greater new product innovation to our customers and the industry.”

So, what does this mean for the customers? The brand names you are familiar with… Apex, Armstrong, Erem, Utica, and Weller… will not change at all. Distributors, customer service, and sales force will also be unchanged. Customers will still be able to buy these products from their current contacts, as Apex Tool Group works to standardize processes as the company grows.

We offer several brands from Apex Tool Group’s extensive brand index, and are continuously adding new products to All-Spec’s website!

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New Lighting Installation Brings More Energy Savings

by Andy on July 9, 2010

As a follow-up to our previous blog article about the new lighting at All-Spec Industries, we’d like to provide our readers with additional energy-saving statistics… possibly as an incentive for more companies to hop on the GREEN bandwagon!

Before our new lights could be installed in our warehouse, the old ones had to be taken down. To begin the process, seventy-five (75) 8-foot fluorescent strips were removed. These lights were T12 magnetic ballast fixtures, which were only in use when the power was out in the warehouse. This is an older and very inefficient technology.

In addition, sixty-two (62) metal halide lamps were taken down. Although this is a pretty typical lighting fixture, only 35% of the energy consumed is turned into light. The remaining 65% is transformed into heat and vibration. The lamp level in these lights can also burn up to 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

To reduce our electrical consumption, we’ve replaced our metal halide lighting by a one-to-one ratio with T8 electronic ballast fixtures, saving All-Spec over 46,000 kilowatts per year and providing us with a 68% reduction in electrical consumption!

The new lighting project at All-Spec Industries is comparable to planting 9 acres of trees, removing 7 cars from the road each year, or saving 4,516 gallons of gasoline annually. WOW! Can you imagine if more companies used this lighting technology to GO GREEN?

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All-Spec Industries Continues to GO GREEN

by Andy on July 7, 2010

For years now, we have aimed to be environmentally friendly by keeping up on several “green” processes. Many recycling tips and All-Spec practices were discussed in a past blog article from September 2008. We’ve since been looking for more ways to broaden our horizons, and have recently installed new lighting from Orion Energy Systems in our warehouse.

As a Southpoint Solutions company, Orion has been transforming several industries by increasing light levels and ultimately reducing dangerous greenhouse gas emissions. Since 1996, over 5,612 facilities across North America have benefitted from Orion’s renewable technologies, and All-Spec can soon be added to a notable list of success stories.

Everyday, power plants burn fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas to produce electricity for lighting systems. In addition to creating an instant source of electricity, the burning of these fossil fuels also produces air pollutants such as carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and nitrogen oxides (NOx). These pollutants then cause environmental damage such as acid rain, global warming, smog, and ozone problems. As you can see on All-Spec’s Environmental Page, our new lighting project will have a substantial impact in decreasing air pollution each year by:

74,519 pounds of Carbon Dioxide
124,198 grams of Sulfur Dioxide
288,140 grams of Nitrogen Oxides

By implementing Orion’s Compact Modular, high-intensity fluorescent (HIF) lighting series and motion sensor technology, we now have a 68% reduction in lighting energy. According to Jeremy Soliday, an Orion consultant, All-Spec also has 30% more light in the areas with new installations.

Want more information about Orion Energy Systems? Check out a few of the successful installation videos on Orion’s YouTube Channel!

More useful “green” resources:

U.S. EPA’s Responsible Recycling Practices

National Electronics Recycling E-Waste Laws

Weller Tip Recycling Program

Have you helped your company GO GREEN?

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