FEATURE Message from Vice President and General Manager ... … · February 2015 – Employee...

February 2015 – Employee Newsletter

**FOR INTERNAL DISTRIBUTION ONLY** 1 WIR

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FEATURE

Message from Vice President and General Manager, UL Wire & Cable W&C had a great year in 2014. The division benefited from a change in the FUS operating model that led to a one-off realization of label revenue. Excluding this one-off revenue, W&C still exceeded the 2014 full-year revenue and profitability budget by a good margin. I am also glad that we did well in New Work revenue, as this has been weak for years. Given the strong performance of W&C, Ben Miller would like to extend his appreciation to the divisional staff for their great work over the last year. The counter was reset on 1st January, 2015, and we have a new set of budget numbers and strategic goals to meet this year. While we have a sound plan in place for 2015, the attainment of these numbers and goals will depend on your full support in execution of the plan. Let's keep the momentum going.

L.F. Lai Vice President & General Manager, Global Wire & Cable



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SNAPSHOT

Wire & Cable Division Performance A brief summary of the key financial performance indicators of 2014 is provided below. The numbers are based on 3rd month-end closing without auditing: Variance* (vs budget) Revenue Engineering & Lab +0% FUS w/ one-off impact +15% FUS w/o one-off impact +6% Other services -4% Total w/one-off impact +11% Total w/o one-off impact +4% Operating Profit w/ one-off impact +26% Operating Profit w/o one-off impact +9% * The variance % is the total variance which covers both operational variance and

exchange rate variance The biggest contributor to this performance is a one-off label revenue impact resulting from the change in the operating model of how we distribute labels to customers in China. Without this impact, the division was 6% and 4% ahead of the 2014 budget for FUS revenue and total revenue, respectively. This solid performance was driven by winning back business from competition, expanding existing services to new geographic markets and reducing revenue loss to counterfeiters.



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FOCUS

Improvement of UL Mark Integrity On Power Supply Cords As part of our continued effort to improve the integrity of the UL mark and to differentiate UL Certified power supply cords from others, UL will now require that the “UL circle” be molded on the body of the attachment plug. This requirement will take effect beginning July 1, 2015.

A bulletin has been sent to all North American offices and International Inspection Centers and is intended to be shared with all end-product manufacturers using UL Listed Power Supply Cords in the construction of their product(s). In lieu of sending this out directly, we ask that the responsible UL representatives please provide a copy of the bulletin to the end-product manufacturers who use UL Listed power supply cords in their products. This should be shared with affected end-product manufacturers during your next scheduled visit. Do not make a special visit for this purpose. Should you or your staff have questions, please feel free to contact Mario A. Xerri or any of the wire and cable engineers in your office that work on UL 817, The Standard for Cord Sets and Power Supply Cords.



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FOCUS

Update: Wire & Cable Global Laboratory Capacity Plan Provided below is a brief update: New FUS Sample Routing The FUS sample routing was updated in the Service Profile. In addition, a bulletin was circulated to Field Operations in December and they are aware of the changes. New Headcounts and Lab Resources All positions in Suzhou (5 new headcounts) and Melville (1 new headcount) have been filled. As for Hong Kong Lab, two positions have been filled and they are interviewing candidates in order to fill the remaining three positions. As part of the Lab Capacity Plan, most of the valuable equipments of Camas will be transferred to Melville Lab and other Global W&C Labs. Besides, Suzhou Lab is going through CARF process for investment on additional Cool Chamber. Demand Trend and Service Level Global demand for FUS samples tag remained stable in Jan. In particular, there is a surge in demand of FUS samples in Greater China. The 1000 tags recevied by Suzhou Lab in the first 3 weeks of Jan is already equal to the monthly quantity it received in Jan, 2014. The surge in demand of FUS Samples did not affect the level of our service delivery. For example, the turnaround time for a 7 day aging project is 11 days in Hong Kong Lab, which is similar to that in Q1, 14. This level of service delivery falls within the assumption of our Lab Capacity Plan.



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FOCUS

New Wire and Cable Sell Sheets & Brochure Available Several sell sheets and brochures have been and will be uploaded to the corporate Brand Hub. The services covered by the various collateral include:

• GMA Services (brochure) • Limited Power Wire and Cable Using Cooper-Clad Aluminum Conductor (Revised

Version) • MSHA Testing Services • Recognized Program for Halogen-free W&C Materials • Flammability Testing Services & Rating for IEC60332

You will notice that most of the sell sheets feature new W&C capabilities. The new sell sheets and brochure are offered in English, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese. Please keep these services in mind as you evaluate customers’ needs and quote work. We will keep you posted on the development of a consolidated Wire & Cable services brochure in the upcoming issue of the staff newsletter, if not earlier.



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FOCUS

Melville W&C Center of Excellence is Now Approved To Perform Flame Testing For Mining Cables UL is pleased to announce that we have been successfully evaluated by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and approved to act as a third-party test lab to perform testing to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Title 30, Part 7:

• 7.407 Test for flame resistance of electric cables and cable splices.

• 7.408 Test for flame resistance of signaling cables. This test is very similar to the FT5 test required for certification of some portable power cables used in Canada. Portable Power Cables covered under the CCN QPMU are typically used in mining applications. In addition to the cables used to power equipment within the mines, signaling cables, such as communications cables (DUZX), power-limited circuit cables (QPTZ) and optical fiber cables (QAYK) are also required to be evaluated. Before these cables can be used in such applications, the cable must be approved by MSHA. MSHA assigns an approval number, but does not provide the test facilities to perform the required flame test. Manufacturers can now have UL conduct this testing on their behalf, as an approved third party test facility.

Training has been provided to most customer facing team members in different regions and the sell sheet associated with this new service is available in the corporate Brand Hub. For additional information, please contact Susan Stene or the customer facing team members in your region who work on the above mentioned CCNs.



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FOCUS

UL Now Provides BSMI Certification Service for Wire & Cable

Following the accreditation of CB Testing Laboratory (CBTL) and ENEC Testing Laboratory (ENEC TL), UL Taiwan has once again been granted accreditation by Taiwan's Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI), thereby becoming a BSMI approved testing laboratory for power cord sets, plugs and sockets. UL Taiwan can now provide certification services as a designated laboratory, and can issue BSMI Accredited CNS test reports. The product categories that UL can serve include:

• CNS 6797 ─ home furnishing and household electrical appliance connectors

• CNS 690 ─ home furnishing and household wiring connector IEC certification

• CNS 10917 series ─ home furnishing and household power cord set (CNS 10917), AC power cord set (CNS 10917-1), non-detachable power cord set (CNS 10917-2) and detachable power cord set (CNS 10917-3)

Applying for BSMI certification through UL Taiwan can provide quick turnaround time. Product test reports are completed within three weeks, and a BSMI certificate can be obtained within six weeks. Manufacturers can integrate the certification requirements of products exported to Europe, the United States, and other places around the world to reduce the time and costs of redundant product testing. They can also save on testing samples and simplify administrative work, allowing them to complete certification applications for target global markets in one stop. For additional information, please contact the GMA team members in your region.



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FOCUS

Wire & Cable Industry Participation at Upcoming BICSI 2015 Winter Conference & Exhibition Wire & Cable will be exhibiting at the upcoming BICSI (Building Industry Consulting Services International) 2015 Winter Conference & Exhibition, February 22-26, at the Orlando World Center Marriott Resort & Convention Center. BICSI is a not-for-profit association providing support to designers and installers of information transport systems for residential, commercial, and government applications. This industry supports not only voice and data that includes outside plant and LAN, but also audio, video, life safety, and automation systems. Each year, there are two BICSI Conference & Exhibition events in the U.S., one in the fall and one in the winter. On average, there are approximately 168 exhibitors at each conference, with an average attendance of 3,900. W&C team members will be updating attendees on our efforts surrounding the Telecommunications Cable Mark Integrity Program and the Gold Hologram Label and its benefits of deterring counterfeiters. Besides, we would promote the importance and benefits of the Performance Verification Program, as well as Acid-Gas/Halogen Free and other environmental service offerings. Please share with customers or organizations who you think may be interested in learning more.



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FOCUS

IEC 60332 (*IEC/TS 60695-11-21) Flame Tests and Certification for Appliance Wiring Material (AWM) Taking effect in 2019, compliance of all internal/external wiring with the flammability rating of IEC 60332-1 for Appliance Wiring Material with 20 AWG or larger conductors and IEC 60332-2 for Appliance Wiring Material smaller than 20 AWG, will become a requirement under the IEC/EN 62368-1 standard. The flammability ratings of IEC 60332-1 and IEC 60332-2 have already been incorporated into chapters 45 and 46 of the latest edition of UL 758 for Appliance Wiring Material (AWM). Manufacturers of AWM may submit their products to determine compliance with IEC 60332 flammability requirements. Upon successful completion of testing, the IEC flame rating will be shown on the Facing Page of the UL test report. Manufacturers striving to expand their global customer base can have IEC 60332-1 and IEC 60332-2 flammability ratings added into their UL AWM file through a New Work project submittal. An end- product manufacturer under IEC/EN 62368-1 can easily find the AWM products that comply with both IEC/EN and UL standards. This will help AWM manufacturers expand their global reach. UL Taiwan has been approved to invest in the equipment necessary for testing to both IEC 60332 and IEC 60695 standards in order to meet the requirements of IEC 62368. The expanded capacity will help promote UL AWM services, as well as IEC related business for wire and cable. Stay tuned for the progress. Please contact Simon Chen for additional information.



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FOCUS

Certifying Wire & Cable Materials as Halogen-Free UL offers a recognition program specifically for wire and cable materials based on the IEC 62821 series of standards for halogen-free, low smoke, thermoplastic insulated and sheathed cables of rated voltages up to and including 450/750 V. The program evaluates halogen content in individual combustible materials used in wire and cable construction. In addition to the damage caused by the fire itself, corrosive acid gases generated during the combustion of halogenated materials can cause significant damage to electrical and electronic equipment. UL certifies halogen-free materials under four different product categories:

• Acid Gas, Acidity and Conductivity of Combusted Materials and Assessment of

Halogens (AATJ2)

• Polymeric Materials for Use in Wire, Cable and Flexible Lighting Products (QMTT2)

(Optional Rating)

• Polymeric Materials for Use in Appliance Wiring Material - Component (QMTN2)

(Optional Rating)

• Plenum Cable Compounds – Component (QMTM2) (Optional Rating)

UL Recognized halogen-free materials are suitable for use when applied according to the Conditions of Acceptability and covered under the UL Follow-Up Service (FUS) program. For additional information, please contact Robert Bellassai for NA and EULA or Rachel Wong for AP.



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MARKET

cUL & the New CSA Standard for Decorative Lighting Products The fifth edition of CSA C22.2 No. 37 for Decorative Lighting Products was published in December, 2014. UL is already equipped with the necessary expertise and capabilities to address testing and certification to the new CSA standard to meet customer needs. Apart from our expertise and service offerings under CSA, UL is also one of the accredited bodies to test and to certify products for distribution in Canada. The cUL Mark is recognized and readily accepted by manufacturers, retailers, distributors and authorities having jurisdiction (AHJs) in all territories of Canada, including the federal government. To promote our cUL certification and CSA testing services based on the new standard, we have developed the following action plan:

• Email blast to existing and potential customers for cUL and CSA - sent in December • Provide briefing to entire customer facing team - TBA • Provide seminars to target customers. Presentations and content for seminars and

workshops is already developed. Engineer and sales teams are working on 2015 seminar plan - TBA

• Develop sell sheet in Simplified and Traditional Chinese – Mid- February • Promote benefits of UL’s Anti-Counterfeiting Program and 2014 results – Q1

Please contact Neo Hsiao for additional information.



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SUCCESS

YFC-Boneagle: Working With UL To Ensure A Culture Of Top Quality YFC-BonEagle, a Taiwan based wire and cable manufacturer established in 1983, is one of the leading global producers of LAN cables, power cables and plugs. LAN and power cables are the company’s primary source of revenue and virtually 100% of their power cables and 70% of LAN cables are UL tested and/or certified. According to Gu Yingming, Head of R&D at YFC-BonEagle, “in the early stages of development, nearly all of YFC-BonEagle’s products had been exported to the US market and we relied on UL and another organization to meet our certification needs. However, compared to their counterpart, UL’s expertise, safety compliance, service and flexibility were all superior.” “We chose UL because they are the top standard, in terms of both persistence of safety compliance and service level.” said Gu Yingming, “At the same time, UL really devotes significant (effort and resources) to service and safety compliance in Taiwan. Therefore, YFC-BonEagle eventually leveraged the service network of UL in Taiwan to help integrate the certification requirements for most of their products. This includes not only the UL certification in N.A., but also CB Testing scheme in Europe, Japan’s PSE certification, and so on.” YFC-BonEagle believes proactive testing and certification through UL, complemented by a deeply entrenched culture of quality in YFC-BonEagle is the best quality assurance.



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SUCCESS

Keys to Success in GMA: Accountability and Consistently Delivering Quality Services W&C GMA team member Shinya Hattori, has been working with Wuxi XinHongYe Wire & Cable, a manufacturer in China, to fulfill the requirements of the PSE Mark and the Japan S-Mark on Halogen-Free cables for Photovoltaic power generation systems. XinHongYe is a new wire and cable manufacturer aiming to expand their global reach and they rely on UL to address the testing and certification requirements for their target markets. This was a challenge to Hattori-san as this was completely new request for the W&C division. Hattori-san is working hard to overcome the challenges posed by language barriers, cultural differences and turnaround time in communicating with the customer and understanding their needs. Hattori-san took full responsibility to do whatever it takes to address the customer needs. In order to allow the customer to have a solid understanding of the related laws and standards, he has spent a significant amount of time translating Japanese material to English. At first, XinHongYe did not fully understand the value of Hattori-san’s work. However, as the project moved forward, Hattori-san was rewarded for his persistence in delivering quality service. The customer eventually trusted his advice and relied on his service. He was even invited to deliver a speech related to Japanese certification for PV Wire during a seminar organized by XinHongYe in China. This is another success story not only for Hattori-san, but also for the W&C GMA team, as he demonstrates the possibility of winning business by understanding and addressing customer needs with a strong sense of accountability, and by consistently delivering top-quality service.



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PEOPLE

Kudos to Wire & Cable Employees Included here are compliments, both internal and external, given to our staff in the Wire and Cable industry. If you would like to share kudos, please send them to your supervisor and they will submit for posting. Employee Kudos Date

Posted Rob Bellassai “Rob Bellassai was very helpful from Quote

stage to project completion.” Rob explained what UL could do for the International Certification and what UL could test to give a report. He was patient waiting for the customer to provide samples and answered questions quickly.

11/26/2014

Jackie Carracino “...Over the last two weeks I’ve been sending her a number of inquiries to which she’s also responded with great knowledge and is always timely. .. it’s of utmost importance Northwire respond the Lemo in a timely manner. Jackie has been enabling this to happen for which Northwire is most appreciative...

11/08/14

Jacqueline Carracino, Keith Milau, Linda Runkle, Hara Degregoria, Merritt Breazile and Chuck Grider

“…Jacqueline Carracino, Keith Milau, Linda Runkle, Hara Degregoria and Chuck Grider are always helpful and their support is HIGHLY appreciated! Contact with Merritt Breazile is always fast, nice and helpful…Thank you and please stay the way you are!.”

10/08/14

Dmitry Bodik & Maureen Russo

He (customer) has been working with Dmitry for the last 10-12 years and feels he is one of the best engineers that UL has... Maureen gets the quote requests from MyHome and within a very short time she lets them know she is working on it and it is sent quickly. Turnaround time is the most important thing for them these days.

9/25/14

FEATURE Message from Vice President and General Manager ... … · February 2015 – Employee...

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