Multi-Party Talks Lead PEARL Members to adopt 3rd party inspections, and make standards easier to use through member-only online electrical device spec library and computerized Test & Inspect/Remanufacturing documentation forms.

June 3, 2008 –History was made during the first week of May 2008 when members of the electrical recycling industry sat across the table from major electrical device manufacturers and distributors to discuss how Professional Electrical Apparatus Recyclers League (PEARL) technical standards and procedures can help protect North America from the growing problem of electrical counterfeit goods, while guaranteeing a quality source of surplus and out-of-stock electrical devices.

“This was one of those 11-year ‘overnight successes’ we all hear about” explains Mark Stone, PEARL’s Association Manager. “It took a decade for PEARL to develop electrical recycling standards and to bring together the three key parts to the electrical supply chain – manufacturers, distributors, and supply houses. There was some risk bringing together these groups because of a perception of competing goals, but PEARL’s 2008 annual meeting held more surprises than seeing 1 million volts flowing through a 10-fet Tesla Coil [see photograph]; we also took the next step in insuring that electricians in North America can expect a solid supply of quality electrical devices by getting feedback from all the major players in the electrical industry and working to answer all of our concerns about counterfeit products, and safe electrical goods.”

At PEARL’s recent Electrical Safety and Reliability Conference & Exhibition held in Costa Mesa, CA, May 3-6, electrical recyclers met for the first time as a group with several key players in the electrical industry, including Eaton, UL, WESCO, and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA). Following two days of presentations and a third of meetings and deliberations, PEARL board members agreed to several items designed to improve safety and efficiency of the electrical industry. Working with industry participants, PEARL members agreed to:

• Finalize procedures and move forward with mandatory 3rd party site and technician compliance and qualification inspections of all PEARL-member testing and remanufacturing facilities as required by PEARL bylaws;
• Improve the ease-of-use of PEARL’s Test & Inspect and Remanufacturing standards by creating a member-only repository of technical device specifications and manufacturing recommendations for members to use as a reference when following PEARL’s Test & Inspect, or Remanufacturing standards. This database is in addition to publicly accessible section of the PEARL website (www.pearl1.org) that tracks news on counterfeit electrical goods to support the need for greater public safety in the electrical industry;
• Further improve the ease-of-use of PEARL’s standards by making computer-based forms for documenting devices covered under PEARL Test & Inspect, and Remanufacturing standards available to all members;
• Promote training and technical knowledge via postings of professional training available throughout North America;
• Develop member discounts for various training, good and services important to electrical recyclers and requalfiers;
• And finally, to continue discussions with key distributors and manufacturers on the best way to develop new standards and processes that will further improve electrical safety in North America by fighting the import and sale of counterfeit electrical goods.