The Arizona Self Storage Association’s (AZSA) 12th Annual Conference and Trade Show, held at the Marriott Buttes Hotel in Tempe, Ariz. in May, was a huge success. AZSA’s Expo attracted 53 exhibiting companies and nearly 350 self-storage managers, owners, and operators were in attendance.

“On behalf of the Arizona Self Storage Association, I thank everyone who made this year’s conference a success,” says Martin Lorch, President of the Arizona Self-Storage Association. “We hope the attendees found the presentations to be both informative and beneficial to their businesses’ future success. Above all, we look forward to receiving feedback from the attendees so we can begin planning for another sensational conference in 2011.”

In addition to the exceptional turnout, this year’s conference featured a special guest speaker. AZSA and its tradeshow attendees were honored to have the Self Storage Association’s President and CEO, Michael Scanlon, present to deliver a national perspective on the state of the industry of self-storage. A video of Mr. Scanlon’s presentation has been posted on the AZSA Web site’s homepage, www.azselfstorage.com, for further viewing.

On a local level, the results of the annual Arizona Market Study were compiled and presented by Cushman & Wakefield’s R. Christian Sonne. Reflective of the current state of Arizona’s economy, the study revealed a year-over-year decline in occupancies. The complete report includes updates on operating expenses, rental rates, and much more. AZSA members may download this informative report from the “Members Only” section at www.azselfstorage.com.

About The Arizona Self-Storage Association
Founded in1996, the Arizona Self-Storage Association was created to strengthen the self-storage industry in Arizona, promote professional standards and quality, and present a unified voice on issues affecting the industry in the state and in its communities. The AZSA continues that mission today with more than 500 facility and vendor members. For more information about AZSA, please visit www.azselfstorage.com or contact AZSA Headquarters at (602) 374-7184.

A.M. Best Co. will exhibit at booth #624 at the Special Libraries Association Annual Conference, set for June 13-16 in New Orleans. Booth visitors can speak with company representatives about A.M. Best’s many products and services, see product demonstrations and enter a grand prize drawing for a digital camcorder.

Attendees who stop by the booth can learn about:

Best’s Insurance Reports – Online, A.M. Best’s flagship product, which enables you to review Best’s Credit Ratings and the supporting rationale, refer to in-depth commentary on what makes companies secure or vulnerable, access the last AMB Credit Reports on thousands of insurers and more. This product can be accessed online through our BestLink data-retrieval service.
A.M. Best’s Financial Suite, which allows you to review up to 11 years of vital statement data for thousands of life/health and property/casualty insurers around the globe. Most of the products in the Financial Suite can be accessed online through BestLink.
A.M. Best will host a breakfast for select members of SLA on Tuesday, June 15, from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. in Room 218 of the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

Obtain more information about A.M. Best’s products and services at www.ambest.com/sales and booth #624 at SLA.

Additional information about the conference can be found at www.sla.org

f every conceivable type of plastic from recycled and scented polymers to medical devices, car parts and lightweight packaging are descending on the Telford International Centre this week as it plays host to the Plastics Design & Moulding Exhibition and Conference (PDM10, 18-20 May 2010).

Combining an exhibition with free in-depth conference sessions, a Plastics Surgery business clinic and live demonstrations, PDM10 is the most comprehensive plastics event in the UK. It takes place in the UK’s polymer centre, Telford, which has been known as “plastics valley” for over 20 years and is currently home to over 100 polymer-related companies.

Sir Richard Needham, international and commercial director of Dyson, is opening the event on Tuesday morning (18 May) before delivering the keynote address at the event’s Moulding Business Debate. Sir Richard is responsible for developing Dyson’s manufacturing and sales operations in Europe, the US and the Far East. Formerly a Conservative MP, he served as Michael Heseltine’s deputy at the DTI.

As the event for acquiring new knowledge and business opportunities, PDM 10 is supported by Polymer Central through One Telford (the economic development unit for Telford & Wrekin Council) and Telford & Shropshire Conferences the Convention Bureau for the destination.
Many of the region’s own businesses will be unveiling their latest developments at the show. Telford-based Proto Labs (stand G14 at PDM10) recently won the prestigious Queen’s Award for Enterprise: International Trade and claims to be the world’s fastest source for prototype and low-volume production parts. Oswestry-based JFC Manufacturing (stand A2 at PDM10) designed, developed and manufactured the new SpeedFlexer, the world’s first measuring and monitoring device for hip flexibility. Ampacet (stand B2 at PDM10) is the world’s largest producer of colour and additive masterbatches and recently invested further in developing its UK headquarters in Telford.
PDM attracts strong support locally, thanks to its key role in the continuing development of the region’s economy. Commenting Peter Smith, Head of Economic Development at One Telford, a main sponsor and supporter of PDM10 through Polymer Central said: “As well as being one of the best plastics events for networking and industry knowledge, PDM offers the perfect platform to showcase the manufacturing excellence and innovation of our local plastics companies.”

The event’s value within the Telford and Shropshire economy was confirmed by Sarah Bird, Business Tourism Manager for Telford & Shropshire Conferences who said: “As a UK centre of excellence for Polymers, Design and Innovation, Telford has become the natural home for PDM and we are delighted to be involved in staging this event. Today Telford is a leading Convention Capital and we are seeing more and more national design and manufacturing companies choosing Telford for their national events. With our central location two hours from London, modern event facilities and vibrant culture we provide the perfect recipe for event success.”
“Plastic is the material of the future and the UK plastics industry has so much to offer in the development of medical devices, electronics, automotive and aerospace components – in fact virtually every modern and future product. With over 100 exhibiting companies, PDM in Telford is the most comprehensive plastics event in the UK and looking to the future, we very much look forward to returning here in 2012,” said Steve Crowhurst, PDM’s event director.
PDM is free to attend and runs from 10am on Tuesday 18 May until 4pm on Thursday 20 May 2010. PDM 11 will be held at ExCel London 17-18 May 2011 and PDM returns to Telford in 2012. To find out more visit: www.pdmevent.com

GET A GRIP Resurfacing, a family-owned, national franchise company with headquarters in Albuquerque, is pleased to announce that it will attend the National Apartment Association’ s Education Conference & Exposition, June 24-26, in New Orleans. The company will be the only resurfacing industry representatives with a booth at the supplier exposition.

“The NAA’s Conference and Expo brings together more than 5,000 multifamily housing professionals for three days of the best professional development training in the industry. This event boasts world-class general session speakers, 40 education sessions, and 300 suppliers demonstrating the latest products and services,” says Sharon Dillard, CEO of GET A GRIP Resurfacing.

Rapid growth has propelled GET A GRIP Resurfacing to the leading edge of the resurfacing industry. From the beginning, GET A GRIP has offered customers the smartest solution and the newest and best products for making surfaces elegant, focusing on innovation, safety and proven techniques. With its latest product, Get A MetallicTM , a revolutionary, high-performance coating system using real metal flecks, GET A GRIP has once again set itself apart in the field. Get A MetallicTM joins EurostoneR , GET A GRIP’s exclusive countertop process that transforms cultured marble or laminate countertop surfaces into the look and feel of granite.

About GET A GRIP, Inc.
GET A GRIP Resurfacing, Inc. resurfaces cracked fiberglass bathtubs, scratched or stained porcelain bathtubs, tile showers and enclosures, laminate or cultured marble countertops, with a network of 36 franchises and dealers in 17 states around the country. The company has been featured in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500R list of franchise companies in the United States and Canada two years in a row.

For more information on GET A GRIP Resurfacing, Inc. or its patented and trademarked products and techniques, call Sharon Dillard at 505-268-0929, or go to http://www.getagripinc.com.

Cbeyond, Inc. , a provider of communications and IT solutions to small businesses, today announced that it will participate in the Jefferies 6th Annual Global Internet, Media & Telecom Conference on May 11, 2010, in New York City, New York.

The presentation by Bob Fugate, chief financial officer of Cbeyond, will begin at 8:40 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, May 11, 2010. The presentation will be available at Cbeyond’s website at http://ir.cbeyond.net/events.cfm.

About Cbeyond

Cbeyond, Inc. is a leading provider of IT and communications services to more than 52,000 small businesses throughout the United States. Recently named as the sixth fastest growing technology company by Forbes magazine, and added to Standard & Poor’s Small Cap S&P 600 Index, Cbeyond offers more than 30 productivity-enhancing applications including local and long-distance voice, broadband Internet, mobile, BlackBerry(R), broadband laptop access, voicemail, email, web hosting, fax-to-email, data backup, file-sharing and virtual private networking. Cbeyond delivers these services over a 100 percent private all IP network. For more information on Cbeyond, visit www.cbeyond.net

Webcor Builders, one of the largest and greenest commercial construction companies in the U.S., today announced it has won the Acterra 2010 Business Environmental Award for its efforts to account for greenhouse gas emissions in its construction projects, including its supplier network. /> Acterra is a non-profit environmental organization with a 40-year history of environmental programming in the San Francisco Bay Area. Webcor won the medium-sized business category for its leadership in what Acterra called, the “economics, environment, and social equity” of sustainability.

“From greenhouse gas emission monitoring, to on-site construction materials reuse and recycling, green jobsite education and supply and subcontractor environmental participation requirements, Webcor Builders knows and lives environmental responsibility. Webcor Builders is truly ‘walking the walk’ in commercial green building construction,” said Norm Ploss, Acterra Business Environmental Awards Judge.

“Understanding the environmental impact of our work is enabling us to lead the crucial process of making the built environment more sustainable,” said Phil Williams, Webcor Vice President of Technical Systems and Sustainability. “We are working aggressively with our construction subcontractors and suppliers to measure greenhouse gas emissions and establish best practices for our industry. We are delighted to be recognized for these efforts by Acterra.”

Webcor has partnered with Climate Earth, the environmental accounting company, to understand carbon impacts across the company and its supply chain, including the significant upstream impacts of materials that go into building projects. Webcor’s decision to make carbon accounting a standard business practice enables it to collaborate with architects, owners and materials manufacturers to make better design decisions. It also enables Webcor to work with project budgets to predict carbon emissions and expedite impact assessments.

About Acterra

Acterra educates individuals, businesses and communities to take action against global warming, restore natural habitats, and cultivate environmental leaders for the future. For more information, visit www.acterra.org.

About Webcor Builders

As California’s largest commercial builder (2007 – 2009), Webcor is a leader in the green building industry. Projects include a diverse combination of high-density residential use, owner-occupied commercial office space, hospitals, hotels and mixed-use facilities. For more information, visit www.webcor.com

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Taiwan garnered 28 gold, 21 silver and 10 bronze medals at the April 24 award ceremony of the 2010 International Exhibition of Inventions of Geneva, the most number of awards earned by any participating country. This year Taiwan submitted a total of 63 entries for the exhibition, among which the Technology and Science Institute of Northern Taiwan (TSINT) took 3 gold, 6 silver and 4 bronze medals, the most number of awards won by Taiwan’s exhibitors.

The “environmentally friendly and energy- and power-saving night lamp” developed by a group including Chen Liang-yu, a student at TSINT’s Institute of Mechatronic Engineering, was designed especially for those with sleep problems. The night lamp incorporates a sound-control device that regulates the lamp’s brightness without having to get up from the bed. It can also automatically release anion aromatic oil to help induce sleep. Another special feature of the lamp is that it is installed with a “transistor oscillator” that can emit a high frequency of 200-kilohertz to repulse mosquitoes and one-kilohertz low frequency tone bursts to help induce sleep.

Another gold medal invention by Chen was a “multiple-function skylight and emergency exit” that provides ventilation, anti-burglar protection and can serve as an emergency exit. The invention makes use of mechanical leverage and strong valve spring device that can easily be opened by pushing outward or taken out from inside during an emergency. The skylight window can also be opened narrowly to as much as two centimeters to improve car ventilation. The special design also makes it difficult for the window to be opened from outside.

A “motorbike forced-air intake cooling system” earned the college another gold medal. The system utilizes a Thermoelectric Cooler Device (TEC Device) to force a reduction in temperature of fresh air flowing from the air filter. This helps to raise the oxygen level in the combustion chamber and increase the volumetric efficiency and horsepower of the engine.

In addition to the creativity of students, many small Taiwan enterprises and traditional industries won prizes this year. One creative invention is the “multifunction folding trolley bike” that has a 90 percent energy saving IC light bulb. All these inventions demonstrate the creativity of small businesses in Taiwan.

Please visit Taiwan Today for related story:
Taiwan inventors top world in Geneva (April 26, 2010)
www.taiwantoday.tw/ct.asp?xItem=100491&ctNode=445