Industry News
Siemens acquires Kaon, sees potential in its Fusesaver switch
Siemens has acquired Kaon Holdings, a company best known for its Fusesaver vacuum switch. [ + ]
ecopoint becomes the first NZ company to receive the IC-F rating
ecopoint’s small panel lighting range has been awarded the IC-F rating by International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ), making ecopoint the first New Zealand company to receive the rating. [ + ]
HPM Legrand new site
HPM Legrand opened its new Prestons site in south-western Sydney with New South Wales Premier Barry O’Farrell and Legrand Group Chairman and CEO Giles Schnepp officiating. [ + ]
Lighting may change the way we eat: Cornell study
Researchers have found that soft lighting and mellow music impacts diners’ calorie intake and satisfaction with their meal. [ + ]
Ai Group receives funding to boost apprenticeship completion rates
Ai Group will receive $2.3 million in government funding to establish an apprenticeship adviser network and a further $790,000 for targeted mentoring and assistance to improve apprenticeship retention rates. [ + ]
Low-cost, high-efficiency solar cells developed
Researchers at RTI International have developed solar cells from solutions of semiconductor particles which have a power conversion efficiency equivalent to traditional cells at a lower cost. [ + ]
Australia ditches carbon floor price, joins EU carbon market
Australia and Europe will be linking their emissions trading scheme by means of the mutual recognition of carbon units between the two cap and trade systems. To facilitate linking, the Australian Government will not implement the price and a new sublimit will apply to the use of eligible Kyoto units. [ + ]
Ampcontrol acquires Primatec QDA
Ampcontrol has announced its strategic acquisition of Primatec QDA, which it says will boost the company’s innovative technology solutions. [ + ]
Schneider extends academic partnership
Schneider Electric has formed an alliance with SkillsTech Australia, Queensland’s largest trade and technician training TAFE institute, to address Australia’s engineering skills shortage. [ + ]
NECA Excellence Award winners for ACT announced
Winners of the NECA annual electrical industry Excellence Awards and Apprentice of the Year Awards for the ACT were announced on Friday. [ + ]
TAFE Riverina Institute wins award for environmental sustainability
The TAFE NSW Riverina Institute has been awarded the 2012 Australian Business Award for Environmental Sustainability for adopting a number of energy-efficiency measures. [ + ]
Eaton announces Data Centre Tech Days
Eaton Corporation has announced the inaugural Australia Data Centre Tech Days, to be held in Sydney on 18 and 19 September. [ + ]
Copper cabling thief receives shock of a lifetime
An alleged thief got more than he bargained for on Tuesday night, receiving an electric shock while trying to steal copper cabling from an unoccupied Adelaide factory. [ + ]
One in five energy bills are incorrect, says Energy Action
As many as one in five energy bills are incorrect, says Energy Action, and with 13% of users being overcharged, it’s worth double-checking for discrepancies. [ + ]
enLighten expands to WA and Victoria
Sydney-based energy efficiency and lighting solutions company enLighten Australia is expanding operations into West Australia and Victoria amid growing private and public sector uptake of LED lighting. [ + ]