Strong Showing for Industrial Controls Demand for industrial control equipment improved during the second quarter, as NEMA's Primary Industrial Controls Index gained 2.4 percent over the first three months of 2008. The index's first quarter reading was revised slightly upward to a 5.1 percent decline. Compared to the same period a year ago, the index registered its 19th consecutive increase, expanding 3.1 percent. A similar trend was apparent for a broader measure of industrial control demand, the Primary Industrial Controls and Adjustable Speed Drives index. That index rose 3.9 percent compared to the first quarter and 4.5 percent on a year-over-year basis.

GE Showcasing Product Innovation On 31-City Tour GE Consumer & Industrial's Electrical Distribution business has announced plans to take its product portfolio directly to the home cities of electrical distributors and industrial end-users throughout North America. For a six-month period, GE's new Low Voltage Revolution Tour will travel more than 12,000 miles, visiting 31 cities throughout the United States and Canada, spending between two and four days in each major metropolitan area. The tour will feature a 45-foot industrial trailer that contains the latest in GE electrical distribution technology and applications, and each tour stop will include digital presentations from GE product managers as well as on-site product demonstrations

Lighting Systems Index Posts Second Consecutive Quarterly Gain NEMA's Lighting Systems Index increased 1.5 percent between the first and second quarters of 2008. Although this marks the second quarter in a row that shipments of lighting equipment expanded, the index remains 3.5 percent off its level from a year ago and more than 8 percent from the peak observed at the beginning of 2006. Among the index's five segments, domestic shipments rose for fixtures, ballasts, and miniature lamps on a year-over-year basis, while emergency lighting systems and miniature lamps saw shipments contract compared to the second quarter of 2007.

New Schneider Web Site Schneider Electric offers an eLearning Web site that delivers the latest information and professional training on Safety, Codes and Standards, Compliance Issues, Technical Skills Development, Product and Technology Reviews, and General Business Management. The site - www.us.squared.com/contractor-training - was developed to provide more convenient, easy-to-use, and cost-effective training.

NEMRA Moves 2009 Annual Conference to Orlando FL NEMRA announced that the location of its 2009 Annual Conference has been changed from San Diego, California to Orlando, Florida. According to NEMRA, the location was changed because the San Diego Marriott, the original location, was unable to fulfill the association's exhibit space requirements due to recent changes to building and fire codes in the city of San Diego. NEMRA said it had worked diligently to keep the Conference on the West Coast, but other hotels were unable to offer adequate meeting and sleeping room space on such short notice. The Annual Conference will take place at the Marriott Orlando World Center in Orlando (March 16-22, 2009).

NAED Announces Accreditation by ANSI and IACET The National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED) announced it is an Authorized Provider of Continuing Education Units (CEUs), accredited through the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and the International Association of Continuing Education and Training (IACET). NAED members who successfully complete certain courses offered by NAED will have the opportunity to convert continuing education and training into credits they can apply toward professional certifications, including NAED's new Certified Electrical Professional (CEP) program.