Terex Announces Roll Out of On-Line Lift Training

Access Lift & Handlers Magazine is reporting that Terex Aerial Work Platforms will  launch an online operator training program for telehandlers by the end of this year.

The Chicago, Illinois-based industry publication says in their July-August 2013 issue that Terex AWP is still in the process of developing the aerial lift training program which it plans to officially launch at The Rental Show scheduled for February 2014 in Orlando, Florida. The four-hour online program is said to include videos, graphics and interactive quizzes and will conclude with a 40-50-question exam followed up by hands-on training at a Genie dealer.  GET, LLC is working to bring similar opportunities like this to the Western Pacific in the near future.

The online training is not manufacture specific and will cover all makes and models of telehandlers and we understand that it will be similar to Terex's 98-page packaged training. The hands-on training, however, will be machine-specific.  Costs have not been set for this course.

Terex is concerned that there is a severe lack of quality telehandler training programs in the marketplace with a goal to ensure that the people who operate the equipment go home to their families at at the end of the day.

Terex AWP provides their dealers with documentation in regard to what the hands-on portion must consist of. They also provide check sheets for dealers to follow so they have a documented process for performing the hands-on training. There is also a verification test that the individual taking the training must complete before they receive their hands-training in order to verify they are in fact the person who took the online program.

For more on bringing Genie Solutions to your workplace, please let GET, LLC know-our TZ-50 is available for your aerial lift needs.  Call us at 671-797-0789 or see our website at www.get-guam.com for more details.

Guam-A Different Perspective

I had the privilege of talking to a number of local entrepreneurs recently on how the Guam tourism market is responding to the newest and highest potential market-Russia. 

With the recent addition of the Russians to travel into Guam and enjoy our island and hospitality there have been many an observation and actions are quickening to accommodate.  With just over 9 Million outbound travelers from North Eurasia seeking significant leisure time this past year, we can surely tap off a percentage of this business and further diversify Guam's visitor industry.

Russians travel to Turkey, Egypt and China. Much of the reason-cost.  Travel to Spain and Greece is increasing.  Much of the interest in those two markets is primarily driven by relaxed entry and re-entry policies. Also, Middle East low budget tour packages are also enticing more and more Russians to their respective locales each and every day.

Guam tourist industry folks are scrambling to gain more visitors from Russia.  

We offer a warm and friendly place to visit.  Right now it is a warm 77 degrees Fahrenheit in Vladivostok.  In the coming months, those temperatures will drop.  Russian travelers take many of their cues to leave the cold and see the world that that time.  In Guam, it is currently 84 degrees Fahrenheit-frankly it is the same temperature year round.  Our tourist district is relative safe.  Sand and surf abound.  Luxury shopping is there for those seeking goods from American and from all over the world for that matter.  The food here is great.  World fare or even the local cuisine is showcased all around. 

Sounds good?  It is.  

But something is missing.

Most hoteliers since 2012 have come face to face with the reality that the Russia visitor spends more time in a room in Guam than any other of the visitors to our shores.  The average stay according to local government and private experts is about three weeks.  Compare that long stay to two to five days for Guam's number one tourist base-Japan.  The lengthy stays means bullish property owners and managers are making key upgrades to rooms to keep our Russian visitors happy and likely to return.  Amenities associated with longer stays continue to be researched and surveys are yielding quicker action among the tourist elite here.  

Folks I spoke with on this matter are greatly encouraged by the new market.  With the new market will surely come with new products, services and interest in Magnificent Micronesia as a whole.  We cannot expect that the best kept secret in the Western Pacific to be that way for long.  

China and its 20 million outbound travelers by 2020 is still a carrot our island tourism industry is hoping to tap-even in a small way. One percent of that to Guam would be a boom.

We all should keep an eye on the surging Russian tourist market.  It is imperative to do so if we want to further diversify and build our isolated economy of which 60 percent is dependant of this key industry.

Independence LED Lighting CEO Busts Myths of LED Tubes

The July/August 2013 issue of LEDs Magazine featured a good friend of GET, LLC.  Independence LED Lighting CEO Charlie Szoradi contributed to the recent issue of the Tulsa, Oklahoma-based industry publication and wrote that  it's only a question of when the time is right to install LED tubes in place of fluorescents and not if it's the right retrofit path. The article is spot on:

"Fluorescent tubes have dominated commercial illumination in American ceilings for more than 50 years — more than 2.3 billion tubes are installed, according to the US Department of Energy (DOE). That huge potential retrofit market has drawn the interest of many in the solid-state lighting (SSL) space and resulted in a lot of myths related to LED tube technology. Let's bust some of those myths, considering that LED tubes save 50% or more energy over fluorescent tubes.

To date, the hurdles for adoption of LED tube technology fall into three categories: trust, technology, and cost. Let's explore them, in that order.

Many believe that the LED tube industry has not matured to a trustworthy level, but manufacturers have improved thermal management, and installations now range from Fortune 100 companies to leading health care institutions to leading higher-education institutions. Organizations such as the DesignLights Consortium have qualified LED tubes, and warranties have increased to as long as 10 years on some LED tubes

Meanwhile, some worry that imported LED tubes lack UL or CE marks or other trusted output testing. Simply ask for source documentation and third-party testing data, and look into LED tubes that are made domestically or that meet the International Class A-10 LED Tube Standards.

And then there are those concerned that new LED manufacturers won't be around to support the warranty. An easy way to protect your business is to look for performance-based programs such as savings shares, lighting service contracts, or LED rental center opportunities. This way you don't fully pay for the technology and aren't chasing the seller if failure occurs.

Let's turn to technology, and the worry that a typical LED tube doesn't give off as much light as its fluorescent counterparts. Fluorescent tubes may have more lumens, but 35% percent of the output is often wasted going up into the fixture. Make sure to look at fixture output side-by-side in foot-candles after a sample LED tube retrofit.

Others worry that an LED tube does not have the same color consistency as a fluorescent tube. Yet the thermal management of many LED tubes has improved to protect the phosphor coating that dictates color temperature. Still others question the quality assurance for LED tubes. The answer is to look for LED tube manufacturers that are ISO 9001:2008 certified.

Then there are those who say LED tubes with external drivers are more difficult to install than internal driver LED tubes. Not so: Installers need to open the cover to the fluorescent ballast in order to install either type of driver system, so the time is roughly identical.

Finally, some contend that the diodes get so hot that they burn out the LED tubes. To combat this, seek out LED tubes with deep-fin, aircraft-grade thermal management and external drivers.

Now let's turn to cost where some argue that specifiers wait to invest in LEDs because of dramatically falling prices. But the cost of waiting, in terms of energy and maintenance, is most likely higher than the price drop, particularly for 24/7 illumination areas. At the least, consider a rolling retrofit where you replace fluorescent tubes and ballasts as they fail with new LED tube technology.

There are other cost-related issues that are top of mind for some specifiers. Those who replaced T12 fluorescent tubes with the better T8 tubes and don't want to upgrade again should still calculate ROI, especially for 24/7 areas. Payback is three to five years, and some worry about warranties in that same range; however, as we mentioned, longer warranties are becoming commonplace.

American-made products are more expensive than imports. Property owners and managers should not focus on the race to the bottom of pricing but instead consider the race to the top of performance. All tubes are not created equal, so look at the equipment and operating cost of a total fixture versus a tube.

It can't be stressed enough that specifiers should find a qualified LED manufacturer and start changing out old fluorescent tube technology in 24/7 areas as soon as possible. Switch to LEDs as fluorescent tubes fail and make a three-year plan to purge your outdated "glass and gas" tubes for toxic-free SSL."

Charlie has the Last Word in this issue. Our last word- to learn more about the Independence LED Lighting products and other related electrical products that GET, LLC provides, please check out our website at www.get-guam.com or call us to discuss solutions for your important lighting needs.

Ambit Energy Asks Where Does Failure Come From?

Ambit Energy National Consultant Carlos Marin shared with GET, LLC and other consultants of a famous quote from George Washington Carver that,  "99% of failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses." He's also known for saying "Start where you are... with what you have..."

Marin noted, "If your intention when you started your business in Ambit was to create the life of your dreams then you have to give up all excuses! Let go of the stories you tell yourself about how you're the "victim" and all of the reasons why you "can't" make it or why you "can't" have the things you desire. Maybe that was the case for you... until now.

Take back your power and make the decision to approach your life and your business differently. With no excuses. Doing what you know is best and will produce the greatest outcome and the results you truly desire.

Everything in life starts with taking small strides. Tiny tweaks can lead to big changes... they're easy to do and also easy NOT to do. Make the commitment right now to stop making excuses and go after your dreams and start where you are.. with what you have!"

Looking for additional income opportunities with Ambit Energy? Ask me how. 

Find out how to turn on the cash flow whenever someone uses electricity and gas at http://getllc.myambit.com/start-a-business/energy-526.

What Exactly Are Phase Change Materials and How Does It All Work?

GET, LLC, through MCR Guam Inc.,  is proud to be associated with PhaseChange Partners and PhaseChange Energy Solutions.  Since the 2013 American Institutes of Architects Expo in Denver back in June there has been much that the Sales team led by Director Rob Morton can be proud  of.  Recent meetings getting BioPCM into different markets and projects all across the Nation and other initiatives into the Pacific Rim is keeping things interesting for this "old-new product". Hence, this blog post asks the simple question: what are phase change materials and how does this thing work?

The answer is a bit more simple than you may think. 

Phase change materials, as the name implies, are simply materials that change from one phase to another at a designated set point.

One of the most common phase change materials that we all encounter on a daily basis is water. At 32 degrees F, or 0 degrees C, water transitions from one phase to another. When water transitions from ice to liquid water, or from water into ice, energy is stored and released in each direction. This energy is in the form of latent heat storage. Water is very efficient in its ability to store latent heat, but the temperature at which it makes its transition is not very friendly to human habitation. Phase Change Energy Solutions has taken this same concept of storing and releasing energy through phase change materials but has moved the transition temperature up the scale from 32 degrees to the mid 70's Fahrenheit.

PhaseChange Energy Solutions products add thermal mass to any structure giving it the ability to hold designated temperatures for much longer lengths of time. When objects with different temperatures come together they move toward reaching thermal equilibrium. 

Think of when we open our front doors in the summertime, hot air comes rushing into the house. Conversely, when we open that same door in the wintertime, the exact opposite happens. Our nice comfortable, warm air goes rushing out.  Likewise when we place ice into a beverage, the ice immediately starts this same process. Heat inside the liquid is absorbed by the ice. As the beverage cools, the ice in turn melts resulting in phase change. Any heat above 32 degrees will be absorbed into the ice until all of the ice is completely melted.

The same thing happens at a larger scale inside homes and commercial structures. When the walls and ceilings of a structure are designed to be 73 degrees Fahrenheit, they work to help condition the interior temperature of the structure. When the heat load inside the structure begins to rise during the day, as the temperature gets above 73 degrees, that added heat will transition or be absorbed into the walls and ceilings which are cooler. This continues to happen throughout the day until the phase change material is completely transitioned (just like the ice in the glass). The heat is captured or stored in the phase change material and is given back as the temperature of the day begins to drop. Since the walls and ceilings are designed to be 73 degrees, the material will transition back to its designed temperature and will work very hard to maintain that temperature at night, just as it does during the day.

If you use PhaseChange Energy Solutions M51 material in your building, this process is equivalent to having a 51 Btu air conditioner in every square foot of wall and ceiling space during the day and a 51 Btu heater in every square foot of wall and ceiling space during the night time hours.

We'll continue to explore this issue and product further in future blog posts.

For more on how GET,LLC through our friends at MCR Guam Inc and PhaseChange Partners can assist you with your energy reduction and thermal mass design needs, please check out www.phasechange.com, drop us a line, or give us a call.

Genie Safety Notice 130005

Terex AWP has issued a safety notice requiring an inspection of the secondary boom angle on Genie Z-135/70 booms.

The Great Britain-based KHL Group is reporting that Safety Notice 130005 coincides with the manufacturer’s continued investigation into the collapse of a Z-135/70 belonging to Kimberly Access in London, UK, on 5 June, 2013. The boom’s operator was killed in the incident.

In the statement Terex said it had been made aware that in some instances, machines that were calibrated in the field were not done so in accordance with the machine’s service manual. However, the company made clear it was not suggesting that the accident at Kimberly Access was due to improper calibration.

“This safety notice is being issued to ensure that machines that were calibrated after leaving Terex AWP’s factory were calibrated in accordance with the procedures in the Genie Z-135/70 service manual," according to Terex. “This Safety Notice requires a simple inspection of the secondary boom angle. Completing this inspection procedure will confirm whether the secondary boom angle sensor is properly calibrated and the machine is safe to use.”

In the safety notice, Terex AWP was adamant that the Z-135/70 is safe to use.

GET, LLC stands with Genie and would like to remind those reading this blog that the Z-135/70 machines are safe to use as intended provided the machine is in proper working order, the operators are properly trained, and the owners/operators follow the warnings and instructions provided by Terex which are located on the machine.

If you have any aerial lift needs and would like to discuss potential solutions, please drop GET, LLC a line or give us a call.

Guam-A Different Perspective

Yet another bad report related to the Guam Buildup Program.  Local media reports say that the U.S. Department of Defense has advised the Governor of Guam that the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement that was scheduled to be released in December, won't be let out to the public until March 2014.  Buildup Director Mark Calvo told local broadcast media that the delay appears to be caused by the "complicated nature of  studying the options and the options they're looking at are numerous. Five cantonment areas and  seven range areas."

I don't read the DOD delay like Mark does.

Options have been studied extensively.  This is a program that started back in 1996 when the push to move U.S. Marines started.  Many options have been presented over the past 17 years.  Studies have already been done.  Both the pros and cons of the military effort have been discussed on the "Beltway" and at Adelup.  What is needed is a decision to present a Master Plan to Congress that spells out the way forward for this buildup effort.  How many GAO reports and requests from both House and Senate Armed Services Committees will it take to ensure this proud American community to get a definitive answer on this important issue facing our people?

I can understand the diligence required for such an effort.  Many of our Government of Guam Planners have been in lock-step with the federal government since 2009 and have presented much of the alternatives to ensure a successful program on Guam.  Federal bureaucrats responsible for this important DOD program have changed throughout the past seven years.  Many have retired. Many were fired.  Many others simply quit. Many are now just getting up to speed on the progress to date and given the direction to seek more input from island leaders. 

Timing is everything.

Input from island leaders at the start of the new year will take on a whole new tone-Election Time!

We all can expect rhetoric to be turned on "full blast".  Candidates for Senator will decry the benefits of the Guam Buildup Program.  Candidates for Governor will work to make you believe that their respective leadership will finally bring the Guam Buildup Program to a reality.  Pundits will make the Guam Buildup Program the biggest election year issue-Never mind those common pocket book issues like jobs, economic growth in other non-federal sectors and curbing the costs of energy on our island.

I expect much of the time between now and March will ignore the political realities of the island and become a place where voters and outsiders will look at the talk as something either very moving or just more chatter on an issue that clearly has taken a back seat in Washington DC and in Tokyo.  Decision 2014 won't help matters much either.  Let's all keep an eye on this report and others in the waning days of 2013.