GET, LLC's Blog: Micronesia

Showing posts with label Micronesia. Show all posts

TARUC WINS GENIE ASIA PHOTOGRAPH CONTEST-Guam-based Photographer beats out regional competition with a photo featuring GET,LLC's TZ-50

GET,LLC Managing Partner Tricia Gumataotao received word today from Genie Industries Asia that a photo taken by Guam-based Photographer Norman Taruc won its 2016 Jobsite Photo Contest.

"We are so honored that our friend and colleague won the Genie Asia Jobsite Photo Contest," said Gumataotao. "Norman has been instrumental in the growth of our company and has documented some of the most important moments that has shaped our business since its founding."

Entered into the Regional Genie Contest back on May 17, 2016, the photo shows a worker completing typhoon preparations on a Commercial Building in Tamuning using GET,LLC's Genie Trailer Mounted Boom-TZ-50. The Taruc photo beat out scores of photos submitted from across Genie Asia including two exceptional photos taken on jobsites in Vietnam that were named the consolation winners.

"This photo shows the versatility of the TZ-50," said Gumataotao. "The strength of this important Genie Aerial Work Platform is that it is battery powered-a sustainable alternative to the gas powered units in the marketplace to work effectively and efficiently at height."

GET, LLC has been appointed by the Terex Corporation as its authorized distributor for Terex and Genie aerial work platforms, cranes, construction and materials processing equipment and parts in Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Republic of Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia. Working directly with the best name in the aerial lift business, GET, LLC utilized the global sales, service and support network of Terex to provide the Guam market with Genie Industry's TZ-50 Trailer-Mounted Articulating Boom-named in 2004 as an Innovative Product Award Winner by Rental Equipment Register (RER).

If you have any aerial lift needs and would like to discuss potential solutions, including the TZ-50, please drop GET, LLC a line via our website at www.get-guam.com or give us a call at 671-797-0789.

Revised Standards for Aerial Work Platforms on the Horizon

Interesting news from the 99-year old Engineering News-Record that will soon have some impact on construction job sites in the Western Pacific. The Troy, Michigan-based publication earlier this month reported that the use of aerial work platforms is on the rise citing a recent study by the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) which found that AWPs continue to grow as a percentage of rental fleets.

We have heard concerns from island specialty rental firms and construction companies that is in line with a growing nationwide effort to revise ANSI safety standards and curb the number of potential operators calling for quotes and renting out our collective gear that not highly experienced using an aerial work platform.

“In these new standards, we’re looking at what we know today that we didn’t know when we wrote the last standard,” said IPAF North America Development Manager and ANSI committee member Tony Groat. “We’re looking at new equipment in the marketplace, as well as new technology available to us.”

The proposed draft standards from IPAF and the Scaffold & Access Industry Association are A92.20 Design, Calculations, Safety Requirements and Test Methods for Mobile Elevating Work Platforms (MEWPs); A92.22 Safe Use of MEWPs; and A92.24 Training Requirements for the Use, Operation, Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of MEWPs. These will replace the existing A92.2, A92.22 and A92.24 standards.

Aerial work platforms, referred to in the new standard as “mobile elevating work platforms,” or MEWPs, have been reclassified in the new A92.2 as either vertical- or boom-based lifts. The categories now also include truck-mounted lifts, which were not addressed in the previous edition of the standard.

One of the biggest changes in the draft standard is the requirement for load-sensing alarms and cutouts to be built into new work platforms.

In addition to design changes, the new ANSI standards will include new guidelines for operators, passengers and supervisors. Fall-protection gear will be required on all boom-type lifts, and the new standard will discourage the use of MEWPs to transport workers from one level to another. The standards will also make it the responsibility of a supervisor to prepare a risk assessment for any use of the platform, placing the onus not just on the worker at the controls but also on site managers and contractors.

If you have any aerial lift needs and would like to discuss potential solutions, please drop GET, LLC a line via our website at www.get-guam.com or give us a call at 671-797-0789-your authorized Terex/Genie Representative for Guam and Micronesia.

GET, LLC and Deco Lighting Team Up on GFA Futsal Lighting Retrofit Project

GET, LLC AND DECO LIGHTING TEAM UP ON GFA FUTSAL LIGHTING RETROFIT PROJECT

D823LED Showcased As Part of Asia Football Confederation-Funded Project

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 11, 2016

GET, LLC and Deco Lighting, in cooperation with the Guam Football Association (GFA) has completed the installation of energy efficient lighting of the sports federation's recently renovated futsal court at the GFA National Training Center in Harmon, Guam. The installation of 14 Deco Lighting D823-Light-Emitting Diode (LED) 23" Area Lights by GFA partner SET Pacific Inc., was part of a major retrofit of the futsal court which included the installation of a modern artificial playing surface.

"Two great teams came together for a great cause/program at GFA," said GFA Executive Director Cheri Stewart. "This project will do much to support our National Teams and allow us to incorporate LED lighting into our expansion plans of the world class soccer facilities here."

The project was funded through the generous financial support of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). The AFC is the governing body of Asian football and one of the six Confederations making up the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). This is the first retrofit and renovation on the futsal courts since GFA constructed the facility in 2008.

The D823-LED 23" floodlight is the right choice for applications requiring high light levels, excellent beam utilization, and smooth distribution making the D823-LED ideal for tennis courts, building perimeters, large parking lots-and outdoor basketball courts.

"GET,LLC is so very proud to have worked on this important retrofit project for the GFA, AFC and the soccer players of Guam," said Managing Partner Tricia Gumataotao. "We credit the expertise of the Deco Lighting Team that continues to help us bring modern commercial lighting technologies and solutions to Guam's village communities."

GET, LLC was appointed by Deco Lighting as its company's Sales Representative for Guam and Micronesia in December 2013.

Deco Lighting has done a number of signature projects across America including the recent LED retrofit of the Staples Center and Microsoft Theatre in Los Angeles, California. The GFA Project joins similar efforts in the Municipality of Santa Rita, Guam and the Guam International Airport Authority using Deco Lighting LED products to further illuminate important public facilities using state of the art energy efficient lighting technology.

GET, LLC is a Women-Owned and Minority-Owned Small Business serving both federal and local government agencies and commercial businesses of Guam and the Western Pacific in business-to-business consulting services and construction supplies and equipment sales.

-30-

How and When to Use a Satellite Phone

Extreme Weather has challenged the power and telecommunications infrastructure in the Western Pacific, As we found out in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) last year, if our cell phone towers or undersea cables are severed during a natural disaster, the connecting network between our isolated islands in Micronesia and the rest of the world is at risk of failure. One tool that can utilized in preparation of such an emergency is the satellite phone.

Satellite phones rely on a network of satellites that are either fixed above the Equator (Geostationary), or in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) anywhere from 500 to 1,000 miles above the surface of the Earth. These phones are rarely affected by violent storms and, depending upon their system architecture, work virtually anywhere in the world. Their compact design is familiar to many of us and very similar to that of the cell phone in our bags and purses.

For years, the traditional sat phone buyer and user has been the government, public safety agencies, shippers and energy companies. That is changing. Private individuals are securing the use of sat phones so they do not lose their capability to communicate with the rest of the world. Why get one?

With its origins dating back to 1965, the launch 20 years ago of the first low earth orbit satellite network by Motorola and today about 66 satellites crisscrossing the globe on a continual basis via the now thriving Iridium, sat phone options are better and allow us to communicate via this technology more than ever.

A March 2013 article in Forbes Magazine noted that if you purchase a sat-phone, expect to spend between $600 and $1700, depending upon the network. All of the phones are lightweight, small, and replicate the functionality of your cellular telephone. Some have Bluetooth and WiFi capabilities so you can use a remote headset, and wirelessly connect your computer for data access.

Today, there are options-even the use of sat phones with U.S. based SIM cards that are available for lease.

All satellite phones have a number of common characteristics that you need to be aware of in order to select the one that will work the best for you. The most important point to understand is that sat-phones are not cell phones, and they work on an entirely different network architecture and radio propagation characteristics. There are certain inherent limitations as to how they operate, and where.

Satellite phones help save lives, provide communications during natural disasters, and link users with the outside world when terrestrial-based networks fail. Cellular networks can be fragile and can be unavailable for a variety of reasons. Satellite networks rarely if ever are out of service, which means that if you have a satellite phone, you are almost guaranteed a connection with emergency services, business, government agencies, friends and family.

They are, in my view, inexpensive communications insurance.

To find out more about how GET, LLC, through our Iridium satellite phone partner at Range Global Services, LLC, can help your satellite phone needs, give us a call at 671-483-0789 or our website at www.get-guam.com for more information.

Metal Roofs-The Right Choice

There are two facts that cannot be disputed relative to the usage of metal for the roof of your home or business. The first is that The Metal Roofing Association (MRA) has reported that non-metal roofs last 17 years on average, but metal roofs can last a lifetime. Though higher in initial costs, they can boost homes’ resale value and cut homeowners’ insurance premiums in some states by up to 35 percent. The second is The Metal Construction Association (MCA) has produced a study that found that certain metal roof systems can last at least 60 years, meaning they do not require replacement during a commercial building’s service life.

What do we know about metal roofs? Metal roofing systems do not rot, warp, crack or break. They are also superior to conventional roofing systems in standing up to extreme weather with great finish warranties and guarantees to warranty in high winds-an important factor of roofing systems in Micronesia. Metal roofs last two to three times longer than ordinary roofs, meaning they can last 40 to 60 years or longer, according to both the MRA and MCA.

The MCA holds that the expected service life of an unpainted 55% Al-Zn coated steel (known by many trade names throughout the world, principally GALVALUME® and Zincalume® in the United States) standing seam roof constructed today in a wide range of environments using best practices can be expected to be in excess of 60 years, a value that equals the assumed building service life as described in the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design building rating program, Version 4. The study also confirmed that these types of metal roofs resist corrosion even in "weak" spots, such as sheared edges and panel profile bends. Inspections showed an absence of significant red rust after up to 35 years, indicating exceptional corrosion resistance in areas susceptible to exhibiting the first signs of corrosion.

While we would be the first to ask you to make the switch, it is clear that one thing needs to be done to protect these investments over time-maintenance. All roof systems require a regular maintenance program to annually clean off debris and to inspect the condition of the roof in order to achieve the kind of service lives reported in this blog post. While steel standing seam roof systems were projected to last up to 60 years, components such as fasteners may need to be replaced during the roof life, but this represents significantly less than 20% of a total roof replacement cost.

To find out more about how GET, LLC, through our metal building partner Fabral can help with your next steel building or aluminum roofing project, give us a call at 671-483-0789 or our website at www.get-guam.com for more information.

Working at Height in Windy Conditions-Be Safe, Not Sorry

As an owner of an aerial work platform, we spend much time to understand the challenges of working at height and how to help our customers with their unique requirements on the job site. While much of our discussions center on getting the right lift for the job, I stumbled across an interested read that led me to a resource and particularly a section about working at height outdoors in windy conditions.

The University of Kentucky Aerial Lift Safety Program is a document that is provided to all of their employees and contractors who work at height. As part of the program, each operator is required to complete a Work Area Checklist for Aerial Lifts before and during use. Among the items that crews are asked to look out for on the job is wind and weather conditions. The University directs lift operators that at 20 miles per hour wind speeds or anticipated gusts, lifts will be lowered to a maximum height of 20 feet. With wind speeds or anticipated gusts of 25 miles per hour or more, all lifts are grounded for that day.

Such wind hazard reporting is important for the safety of those working at height and for the integrity of projects that could be compromised by less that ideal work in higher wind conditions. A number of universities across America have similar wind policies relative to working at height including the University of New York, Temple University and the University of Montana just to name a few. State Governments and private sector companies in the U.S. also have such wind safeguards in place as well.

All organizations must address the hazards of operating aerial work platforms in windy conditions as the hazards can include the lift falling over, a worker slipping off the platform if the lift is used during bad weather or high winds, positioned on soft or uneven ground, overloaded with heavy objects and driven over uneven, unstable ground, or surface in poor condition, with the lift in an elevated position.

While all lift owners and operators stress following their manufacturer’s instruction regarding operation in windy conditions, If at any time, personnel feels unsafe, due to weather or wind conditions prior to using an aerial lift, they may make a decision to ground the lift and cease.

No questions asked

The lift industry has recognized for years that we all have a responsibility to do our part in supplying safe, efficient equipment to users, and to ensure that those users know how to operate the equipment in a proper manner so that the job is completed safely... and then go home.

If you have any aerial lift needs and would like to discuss potential solutions, please drop GET, LLC a line via our website at www.get-guam.com or give us a call at 671-483-0789-your authorized Terex/Genie Representative for Guam and Micronesia.

Polished Concrete Floors Are the Way to Go

In 1905, Frank Lloyd Wright used reinforced concrete in the Unity Temple in Oak Park, Illinois-the first of such structures to be ever be built and was considered by architects around the world as the first modern building in the world. For the past 110 years, concrete would continue to be leveraged for worship, work and living spaces and other applications all around the world. Lately, concrete, wood and hot-rolled steel are seeing a rise in popularity for sustainable living and business activities across the globe. In a Wall Street Journal October 2015 survey of 100 U.S. home builders, nearly 80% of respondents said industrial-influenced design was already popular or becoming popular with just 7% of the builders surveyed thought it was a passing fad.

As we are living in Guam with the initial influences of Wright for protecting against the seasonal winds through our latitude, thanks in large part to American military engineers, concrete flooring as an option for home improvement seems to be one that has been often overlooked for its beauty, sustainability and economy. Concrete flooring gives you a durable, low maintenance floor that will last the life of your home and business-heck, many businesses on island have been using them to sustain their bottom lines for decades.

There is no question that concrete floors, when left exposed, conserve resources by functioning both as a foundation slab and finished floor. This eliminates the need for carpeting and other floor coverings that would eventually require replacement. In addition to conserving materials, concrete flooring offers many other environmental benefits, such as contributing to better energy efficiency and improving indoor air quality.

Concrete floors utilize sustainable materials. The predominant raw material for the cement in concrete is limestone, the most abundant mineral on earth and is the material our island sits on. Because of their thermal mass and ability to retain heat, concrete floors are ideal for passive solar home designs. In hot and tropical climates like those found in Micronesia, concrete floors shielded from the sun will stay cool longer and can actually help lower air-conditioning costs. An exposed concrete floor is often an economical alternative to other finish solutions such as hardwood flooring and tile. For new residential construction or commercial projects with site-cast concrete floor slabs, choosing to leave the concrete floors exposed can save big money over the life of the building. First, you don't have to buy and install an additional floor covering to put on top of the floor slab. In addition, the durability and low maintenance needs of concrete flooring will save you the recurring maintenance and replacement costs associated with less-enduring flooring materials, such as carpet and vinyl tile. In a typical home environment, concrete floors are very low-maintenance, requiring only periodic sweeping or wet mopping.

A darling of architects including Frank Lloyd Wright, for its versatile applications and honest good looks, polished concrete surfaces are enjoying something of a renaissance.

An recent article from The Concrete Network pointed out that when properly installed and sealed, a concrete floor should last a lifetime and will never need replacement. Few flooring materials can boast this same longevity. Carpet, tile and even wood floors eventually need replacement, which uses up resources and creates waste disposal problems.

Metal and Education-The Future

As we near the end of the school year all across the islands of Micronesia, the thought of the future has been a running theme at graduations and commencements from Majuro to Palau . A man who has a keen eye into the future and one of the smartest men in the construction industry, Fabral Vice President and General Manager Kit Emert wrote in his Blog earlier this year of the importance of building a sustainable environment for our children and young adults to learn, thrive and grow.

While the metal industry's top executive noted that while each of us makes our own judgment on the state of education in America, we all must be supportive of learning within the building structures we present to them. Emert points out that metal exterior enclosure systems provide an ideal solution for educational buildings and school athletic facilities.

But why?

"There are numerous reasons, but at the forefront is the fact that metal is truly sustainable as it provides materials containing high percentages of recycled content and that are wholly recyclable," wrote Emert. "Metal is economical in use as compared to other cladding materials. In addition, metal provides for efficient building enclosure, possible job site fabrication for long-length roofing panel systems, wall panel systems that blend well with other types of building products, metal can be incorporated with energy management products and metal cladding is ideal for retrofit applications."

The 30 year metal construction professional added that metal systems can be designed for abuse resistance in high-traffic use or damage-prone areas. Emert opined that metal can be fabricated, colorized and designed to fit the architectural, functional and environmental needs of an educational building and enhance the learning process.

"Metal exterior enclosure systems have been successfully and beautifully utilized on countless schools across the US," wrote Emert. "Think metal exterior enclosure systems for education and in education-Metal is the sustainable direction for your building design and for our future."

With the rising cost of construction and increasing awareness of sustainable building practices across the Pacific, such a notion to move towards metal should not be left out of the design charrettes and master planning by government educators and island engineers alike through the summer break and beyond.

To find out more about how GET, LLC, through our metal building partners can help with your next steel building or aluminum roofing project, give us a call at 671-483-0789 or our website at www.get-guam.com for more information.

GET,LLC LAUNCHES GENIE INDUSTRIES SERVICE FOR GUAM AND MICRONESIA

GET,LLC Managing Partner Tricia J.S. Gumataotao today announced the establishment of Genie Industries Services for Guam and Micronesia.

"This effort has been months in the making and we are so very excited to provide this important service to Genie Aerial Lift owners in the Western Pacific," said Gumataotao.

With the full support of Terex and Genie, GET,LLC now offers factory warranty repairs service and support, on-site scheduled routine maintenance, comprehensive annual inspections, lift options & enhancements, major inspections (10 Year Test), specialty applications, equipment refurbishing and customized paint services.

"GET,LLC stands ready to support the Genie service needs to those contractors and equipment owners who need factory trained service and parts assistance for their respective booms, scissor, aerial work platforms, vertical mast, telehandlers, or material lifts," said Gumataotao.

In December 2013, GET, LLC was appointed by the Terex Corporation as its authorized distributor for Terex and Genie aerial work platforms, cranes, construction and materials processing equipment and parts in Guam, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Republic of Palau, Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia.

"You can count on us to provide Genie assistance when you need it most-our professional service and support team can respond 24 hours a day, 7 days a week".

To arrange for a factory trained technician to attend to your Genie Industries equipment service needs in Guam and Micronesia, please call 671-727-1789.

Standing Seam Roofs-A Great Fit for Micronesia

A recently published Metal Construction News article highlighted the Metal Roof industry-outlining the top technologies in the marketplace today. In recent years, GET,LLC has been witness to the utilization of one particular metal roofing system on Guam that can withstand the harsh tropical climate of the Western Pacific and provide a long lasting roofing solution. The end result has been an increase in value to current metal buildings from Yigo to US Naval Base Guam.

Whether you have plans to develop a commercial project or you are closely watching the Guam Housing Corporation's residential home building project in Dededo, there are many types of metal roofing options for a facility on Guam and Micronesia with only one shining above the rest-the standing seam metal roof panel.

The standing seam metal panels are interlocking single-skin panels with concealed fasteners and raised seams. The panels in these systems are typically installed at continuous lengths from eave to ridge and can vary in widths and styles. Installed vertically, these systems come in structural or architectural varieties.

The benefits of a such a system begins with its durability. A lack of interlocks allows for an expansion of the system that is much better across the entire roof which means a longer life usage.

Most roofing systems are now sold to meet various UL classifications and ASTM standards for strength, wind uplift and energy efficiency codes for Guam and the region. Made of aluminum, these systems are recyclable at end of life. With some posting 20 year warranties, the standing seam roof is an affordable solution to any roofing job in Micronesia. The warranties also take weather tightness into consideration-a must with the amount of rainfall and storm activity we see on a yearly basis.

From a maintenance point of view, standing seam roofs are "low-to-no" maintenance if installed properly. Cleaning these roofs are as simple as mild soap and clean water. These systems are also energy efficient and can aid in LEED Certification-especially those in "cool roof" colors. Integration with solar photovoltaics are simple. Need a quick roof solution? "Float" a standing seam roof system over existing roofing materials for an affordable fix that will last for years. Give a standing seam roofing solution a chance on your next metal building project.

To find out more about how GET, LLC, through our metal building partners at Ceco Building Systems, can help your next steel building or aluminum roofing project, give us a call at 671-483-0789 or our website at www.get-guam.com for more information.

Inside the Watt Controlled LED Driver

Assistant Marketing Manager for Deco Lighting Amanda Keen wrote a great post on her company's Blog recently on how our Commerce, California-based partners have come up with a watt-controlled driver for their lighting products that is outperforming the competition in this ever changing marketplace.

Keen wrote that most LED Drivers are only capable of operating in mild environments, rated for operation up to 75° or 80° Celsius (167°F or 176°F) and remarked that temperatures inside a lighting fixture are often higher than this.

"Small fixture compartments and poor air circulation can generate extreme heat, often coming close to temperatures that boil water," wrote Keen. "The heat results in damage to the driver’s battery-like electrolytic capacitors. The electrolyte, which is typically a gel, evaporates over the life of the capacitor’s components. Higher operating temperatures speed up this evaporation, shortening the life of the capacitor and leading to premature driver failure."

It appears that Deco Lighting has solved the dilemma of premature power supply failure by utilizing watt-controlled drivers designed to stand up to extreme heat. Unlike other LED drivers, Deco LED watt-controlled drivers are rated for operation up to 90° Celsius (194 °F).

"Our process focuses on making the driver operate cooler and longer than the competition," wrote Keen.

Deco Lighting's driver components are positioned on the circuit board in a manner that prevents the build-up of heat. Also, their circuit boards are arranged in a way that allows Deco Lighting driver components to touch the metal housing so the driver components can be used as a heat sink. Also, Deco insulates key heat-sensitive components inside the driver.

Interesting to note, Deco Lighting ensures quality in every component that comprises their LED lighting fixtures, from high-quality Nichia LEDs to finely-engineered heat transfer castings to state-of-the-art drivers. GET,LLC has these on Guam and would be happy to arrange a presentation.

It is for these reasons why we are so bullish about Deco Lighting. Yes. Deco Lighting offers a ten-year, one hundred thousand hour warranty, which includes labor. Deco’s warranty backs up the confidence they have in their products-we stand ready here and across Micronesia to support them.

For more information about Deco's LED drivers or other products please check out our website at www.get-guam.com or call us at 671-483-0789 to discuss solutions for your important lighting needs-All Made in America!!!

Public Sector-"Just Switch It!"

At GET,LLC, we can say we have just a bit of public sector experience in Micronesia. Having served at both the local and federal government levels in different capacities over the past decade, GET,LLC is a credible source to assist our government friends in bringing the latest technologies to the various work forces-particularly in Information Technology (IT).

Through our partnership with Cisco, we believe we can answer a couple of important questions relative to access across the government network.

A Cisco Unified Access solution helps state and local governments (SLG) provide a higher level of service to its citizens. Unified Access capabilities weave together services, people, agencies, and information into a single, pervasive solution using the network as the platform. Cisco is making it possible for state and local government, government agencies, and citizens to connect in ways never before imagined. With Cisco’s Unified Access solution, public sector organizations and agencies can do more with less while providing a higher level of service and offering constituents new tools and resources to enhance quality of life. It addresses and simplifies critical SLG challenges like BYOD, Software Defined Networking (SDN) Investment Protection, Video Deployments and Security.

Cisco’s Unified Access solution provides critical benefits to state and local government:

Simplifies SLG BYOD deployments by providing converged access-The backbone of the network is critical in supporting BYOD and mobility. SLG’s need to resolve inconsistencies between wired and wireless infrastructure in order to deliver operational simplicity, organizational agility, and better user experience. This is accomplished by the Unified Access integration of wired and wireless operational tools

Manages Mobile Device Surge: Manage Three Times More Devices on the Network-An average constituent now carries three times more devices. Internet of Things devices such as sensors, closed-circuit televisions (CCTVs), and building automation are being connected to the network. State and local governments can accommodate this surge with a highly secure, reliable wireless network consisting of Aironet 3700, 2600, and 1600 access points.

Provides SDN Investment Protection-Every government IT department is being asked to do more with less. At the same time, complexity is multiplying with more devices, more applications, and more traffic on the network. As a result, IT departments are looking at network automation and SDNs to facilitate simplicity, agility, and lower TCO. Cisco’s Catalyst 6800 and 6500-E switches support the Cisco onePK SDN toolkit. You can easily build applications to automate operations and create services across the campus for increased simplicity.

Optimizes Security-Security is a high priority for state and local governments due to BYOD, regulatory compliance, and increased network attacks. IT directors for SLG organizations often have dedicated budgets to address security and compliance challenges. Cisco’s Unified Access solutions can help if you currently have separate, inconsistent security policies for wired, wireless, and remote access with the Cisco Identity Services Engine.

Simplifies Energy Management Across the Network to Cut IT Costs-The Cisco EnergyWise suite of software and services will significantly reduce energy costs throughout the campus or distributed office environment-some of the highest in the United States.

If you are ready to refresh your respective government agency's infrastructure to meet the current needs of BYOD, Mobility, Advanced Security, & IT simplification, give GET,LLC and let's talk about making this happen over the course of the new fiscal year.

GET, LLC is a proud Cisco Registered Partner providing the latest Cisco products and services direct to businesses and government organizations. For more about our role as a Cisco Registered Partner and the benefits it brings to you and your particular government business contact us at 671-483-0789 or check out our website at www.get-guam.com.

Demand Grows for Green Homes

Locally, the Guam Housing Corporation is pushing an initiative to build affordable homes that will also utilize modern sustainable building materials and methods. Five companies are attempting to "woo" the GHC to not only adopt these models as a way to build capacity on Guam, but also to introduce "green homes" into the Western Pacific and Micronesia housing marketplace. This effort is in line with a growing trend happening all across the United States.

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), the authority on all that is sustainable in America, estimates that there are as many as 150,000 LEED-certified green housing units worldwide, a number that more than doubled between 2011 and 2012 and continues to grow steadily.

In their LEED in Motion: Residential report, the USGBC details the U.S. states with the most LEED-certified homes, with California in the No. 1 spot followed by New York and Texas.

With recently warm and dry summer months in Guam and similar conditions across the mainland U.S., most of us are bracing for what we all can expect to be higher energy bills-thus the benefits of creating LEED-certified houses are even more pronounced and more attractive to homeowners from Guam to Rhode Island.

"Our homes are more than just spaces that provide shelter," said USGBC President and CEO Rick Fedrizzi. "Homes touch practically every aspect of our lives and are a critical element of our overall sense of safety, identity and community. Enhancing our homes' efficiency and resilience offers an extraordinary opportunity to further the revolution in sustainable building and living practices so that it ripples outward to our communities."

The USGBC says that LEED-certified homes provide 20 to 30 percent savings in energy and water use compared to code-built homes, and they maximize fresh air indoors while minimizing exposure to airborne toxins and pollutants.

The LEED in Motion report also explores the multiple LEED rating systems for different types of homes, including new single-family homes as well as new and existing low-rise, mid-rise and high-rise multifamily buildings. USGBC is also developing a rating system for existing single-family homes

The USGBC Residential report also includes the ongoing monitoring of home performance and accomodation for the growing number of people living in cities, recognition of the top 10 countries for LEED, demonstrating the international growth of green housing, the importance of local policy in spurring the uptake of green homes as well as noting the important connections between green homes and occupant health and well-being.

Will Guam add to the number of green homes in America? The GHC should be commended for this effort and homebuilders and developers alike in Micronesia should pay close attention to the results of this program as the move to sustainable homebuilding takes hold in the islands and is added to the list by the USGBC in 2015.

Innovative Boom Lift Alarm Introduced by Genie

As an owner of the Genie TZ-50, GET, LLC has been impressed by the safety features of this particular aerial lift. Safety should always be paramount when using this piece of equipment with work up to 50 feet from the ground. Alarms do help give operators some level of comfort knowing when trouble arises either working at height or simply setting up on a job site. Genie has rolled out yet another bit of innovation for boom lifts.

Genie announced recently that it has entered into a licensing agreement with Lavendon Group plc. for its "electronic secondary guarding solution" also known as the SkySiren. This system is designed to alert ground personnel when an operator makes contact with the platform control panel. The system interrupts boom movement, sounds an alarm and causes a light to flash.

Based on Lavendon's SkySiren technology, the Genie operator protective alarm (OPA) system can be retrofitted to any Genie articulating or telescopic boom lift manufactured after 2002. It is now available as an aftermarket option but will soon be offered as a factory-installed option.

"Our customers requested an additional option for operator overhead protection and we are responding by offering the Genie operator protective alarm," said Terex Booms Product Manager Frank Schneider. "By offering the OPA along with the Genie operator protective structure, our customers will be able to configure the machine as appropriate to the job site conditions."

The system is designed to be as unobtrusive as possible to operators and features a pressure sensitive horizontal bar that is fitted at around waist height below the boom lift's control panel. When pressure is placed on the bar, as may be the case if an operator makes contact with an overhead obstacle, the system is activated. The system also features a reset button that can be pressed if the system is inadvertently activated. Genie also will continue to offer the operator protective structure (OPS).

"We are incredibly pleased to reach this agreement and hope the global availability of this secondary guarding technology can aid the working at height experience of many end users worldwide," said Lavendon Group Chief Executive Officer Don Kenny.

The SkySiren system has been named the 2012 IOSH Innovation of the Year, the 2012 Construction Health and Safety Group Beaumont Safety Trophy and the 2012 IAPA Contribution to Safe Working at Height and most recently the US Leadership in Lifting Equipment and Access Platforms Platinum Award.

Mobile Harbor Crane Product Launched by Terex

GET, LLC is amazed each day by the capability of our partner Terex Inc. The technology that they are coming up with to support the lift needs of the world's construction and services industry was kicked up a notch recently with the introduction of the Quaymate M50.

Adapting the design and technology from the Gottwald Model 2 harbor crane, the 50 tonne diesel-electric Quaymate M50 has a 36 meter (118 Feet) maximum radius with 50 meter a minute hoisting speeds. Designed as an entry model for small maritime and river ports the new crane will be manufactured at Terex Port Solution’s plant in Xiamen, China using components both from Asia and Europe.

“When we launched the mobile harbour crane around 60 years ago, we were responding to changing requirements in many terminals," said Vice President of Terex Port Solutions Mathias Dobner, "Throughout the world new terminals are appearing and existing terminals are continuing to develop. This means that many operators are looking for their first harbor cranes or harbor cranes to replace non-port equipment, while others would like to add to their existing fleet.”

Terex says the M50 provides operators of smaller ports with an economical as well as user and environmentally friendly machine designed for light to medium-duty applications. Additional features include a cable reel and electric hook rotator for operation with automatic spreaders for container handling and motor grabs for bulk and scrap handling.

“In many regions of the world, we are dealing with economies that are at the start of a growth period. These markets demand functional solutions with cost-effective and rugged machines which firstly work reliably and secondly allow the terminal in question to grow." said Dobner.

We are convinced, along with Terex, that the Quaymate M50 crane can help many operators to modernize their cargo handling including those here in Micronesia and the North Pacific. It is perfectly clear that together we can build small entry-level products as well as large, heavy-duty cranes for developed ports in this region and beyond.

2014 A Strong Year for Terex

GET, LLC is encouraged by words recently by Terex Chairman and CEO Rob DeFeo who speaking to Great Britain-based International Construction Magazine recently said that the company's 2014 prospects will be strong led by its lifting division Genie.

“From a financial point of view, fleets are old and there is high utilization today," said DeFeo. "Used equipment values are strong, and ultimately the customer base is planning well when it comes to replacing fleet.”

DeFeo said the company would leverage its Genie aerial platform business to increase sales to the rental channel and further adapt its products – which include excavators and backhoe loaders – to the rental market.

“Our construction products are still too expensive and too traditional”, he said, “Give us some time to adapt them and work with Genie [for the rental channel]…I’d rather grow the business than walk away from the business.”

Terex announced that the company would develop a range of ‘channel specific’ backhoes and material handling products during 2014 and 2015 and as part of the rental growth strategy, Terex launched a ‘Direct to Rental’ (D2R) program-that will see Genie to sell selected Terex Construction products to its rental customers in North America, including backhoe loaders and boom truck cranes from Terex Cranes.

We are going to be a part of Terex's 2014 growth and we want you to come help us make it a successful year.

Maintain Safe Distance from Power Lines When Using and Aerial Work Platforms

GET, LLC currently has for rent a Genie TZ-50. We have been proud to be able to put this specialty lift into the Guam and Micronesia marketplace and spend much time with our customers going over the safety features of this trailer-mounted lift when delivered to a respective job site. We can never forget that safety is key in using all aerial work platforms (AWP)-including the TZ-50. More importantly we should pay close attention when using an aerial lift outdoors, especially around overhead power lines.

This important issue was highlighted recently by the International Powered Access Federation (IPAF) who called on aerial work platform operators and managers to always be aware of and keep safe distances when working near power lines. The IPAF used the CONEXPO in Las Vegas, Nevada earlier this month to highlight this important safety message.

The IPAF says that a fully extended boom should always be at least 50 feet from electrical pylons, and 30 feet from cables on wooden poles. These recommended safe distances meet or exceed those specified in American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards and Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) requirements.

IPAF reiterated that electrocutions are one of the largest causes of AWP-related fatalities in the United States.

“Operators or supervisors are often not in a position to know the voltage in the power source,” said IPAF North America Manager Tony Groat. “it is possible to work closer to power lines than the IPAF-recommended safe distances, but this should only be undertaken after seeking expert advice from the power supplier and implementing extra safety precautions.”

The IPAF's Accident Reporting Project and Powered Access Rental Market Reports found that in 2013, all seven reported cases of electrocution worldwide occurred in the U.S., where the AWP rental fleet is estimated at 510,000, which is 54 percent of the world rental fleet.

“AWPs are probably the safest way of doing temporary work at height, so the onus is on managers and operators to stay safe when working near to power lines/conductors," said IPAF Technical Officer Chris Wraith. "Electrocutions can be prevented through proper planning, risk assessment and management of work at height, including thorough operator training and familiarization."

Bottom line: Be safe when using an aerial work platform.

If you have any aerial lift needs and would like to discuss potential solutions, including the rental of our TZ-50 or the purchase of equipment or parts for any of Terex or Genie's AWP Products, please drop GET, LLC a line via our website at www.get-guam.com or give us a call at 671-797-0789-your authorized Terex/Genie Representative for Guam and Micronesia.

Terex "I Make America" Initiative Roll Out

GET, LLC is proud to be a partner with Terex. And while, we are unable to attend the CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2014 Show in Las Vegas next week due to other obligations, we wanted to continue sharing with you more of the great news about the happenings at Gold Lot Booth #1047. This blogger has focused on the new equipment that will be showcased at the annual industry show in recent weeks, and now Terex will be taking the show up a notch come March 4, 2014.

Every day, millions of hard-working American contractors put their fingerprint on America’s infrastructure. They build the roads, bridges, public transport systems and port facilities that fuel the powerful American economic engine.

In 2010, the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) started the I Make America campaign, an advocacy program designed, in part, to make Congressional leaders more aware of the importance infrastructure plays in the economic strength of the United States. On a typical day, about 43 million tons of goods valued at $29 billion move on the nation’s interconnected transportation network. The lack of investment in surface transportation infrastructure has broad implications for the ability of U.S. equipment manufacturers to stay economically competitive with other countries, given today’s global marketplace.

Terex is a longstanding supporter of I Make America. To raise awareness and funds for this program, Terex will encourage team members and attendees at CONEXPO to put their fingerprint on the Terex I Make America work of art at their Booth.

“We invite all show attendees to stop by our booth in the Gold Lot and help us create this I Make America masterpiece," said Terex Chairman and CEO Ron DeFeo,

Over 40 Terex machines will be featured in the company’s 50,000 square foot display including the Terex tapestry as part of the I Make America Project.

People can follow the progress made daily on the artwork by liking the Terex Corporation Facebook page – facebook.com/TerexCorporation.

You know, we at GET, LLC have already done that-see our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/getguam. We all should get behind the I Make America effort.

We understand that at the end of the show, Terex will hand over the infrastructure artwork to AEM in order to further support the I Make America program. Good stuff, huh? If you are going to CONEXPO, put the Terex Booth and the top of your list of places to see there.