Electrical Connection Autumn 2015

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1 8 E L E CT R I C AL CONNE CT I ON AUTUMN 2 01 5
GREATER REGULATION
FOR LIGHTING WASTE
DISPOSAL ON THE WAY
Ratification of the United Nations’
Environment Program Minamata
Convention on Mercury in 2016 is
likely to lead to increased regulation
on the disposal of lighting waste,
says CMA Ecocycle general manager
Nick Dodd.
“We estimate that just 10% of
Australia’s lighting waste is currently
being recycled, so it makes up a large
fraction of the mercury-containing
waste stream,” Nick says.
Mercury is a component of
fluorescent lamps and other mercury
vapour lamps. It is a highly toxic metal,
yet most lighting waste is sent to landfill.
From there it can leak into waterways
and be converted to a more dangerous
form of mercury, which then builds up
in our ecosystem.
Nick says that to cope with the
expected increase in demand, CMA
Ecocycle has invested over $3 million
in expanding its lamp recycling
and mercury recovery systems in
Melbourne, Sydney and Perth. These
units not only handle the mercury
lighting waste but can also process
and recycle LED lighting waste. This
waste also needs to be disposed of
responsibly to ensure we protect our
environment.
“Environment Protection Agencies in
all states work closely with the industry
to ensure we all work together to
protect our environment and promote
recycling,” Nick says.
“They speak highly of the great work
that Fluorocycle, the recycling scheme
supported by the lighting industry, has
done to build awareness.
“We need the entire industry to come
on board and do the right thing. “
Hager Group has announced that it has
taken over the family-owned Italian
company Bocchiotti.
The contract of sale was signed by
Hager Group chief executive Daniel Hager,
chief group resources officer Philippe
Ferragu and representatives of the
Bocchiotti Group, in Blieskastel, Germany.
“This acquisition reinforces our position
in the field of cable management and
means that we are gaining a fantastic
addition to our present offer to provide
better solutions to our customers,”
Daniel says.
HAGER GROUP ACQUIRES ITALY’S MARKET LEADER
IN CABLE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS
Rockwell Automation has announced
that Automation University will be
touring regional centres around
Australia and New Zealand throughout
2015. Following the success of previous
years, this one-day event will highlight
leading-edge automation solutions.
According toMatthew Treeby,
commercial marketingmanager at
Rockwell Automation, “Technology
is moving at such a fast pace that
organisations can’t afford to be left
behind, but may also be short of time
to keep up with the latest advances. To
help organisations meet their business
and plant requirements, Automation
University will provide the platform to
bring together people and products, as
well as technologies and solutions.”
Attendees will have the valuable
opportunity to learn by experience
through interactive demonstrations,
hands on labs and presentations that
show real-life industry environments
and scenarios. Rockwell Automation
specialists and industry leaders from the
company’s PartnerNetworkwill lead each
session. Each locationwill offer two or
more streams, focussed on topical themes
to ensure attendees can design their
personal workshop programand follow
technology sessions of their choice.
For dates, visit:
.
ROCKWELL AUTOMATION UNI HITS THE ROAD
Schneider Electric has announced the
appointment of Gareth O’Reilly as its new
zone president for Australia and New
Zealand, based in Sydney.
Gareth joined Schneider Electric in
2010 as regional manager for its buildings
business, based in Victoria, before moving
into the position of vice president for the
buildings business in 2011.
Gareth, Irish by birth and calling Australia
home, has enjoyed an extensive and
international career within the energy and
software industry, gaining experience in
Europe, South East Asia and Australia.
After 16 years, Schneider Electric would
like to thank and recognise outgoing zone
president Stephen Coop for his strong
contribution to the company.
SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC APPOINTS NEW ZONE
PRESIDENT FOR AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND