We will have all seen in the news recently the devastating effects of the leak of toxic sludge in Hungary and it occurred to me that this is a very relevant example of why we need to do more to be green.

While we in the UK have some quite strict controls over waste and environmental policy the same is not the case of our manufacturing partners around the word.

Now at this point many of you will be saying to yourselves "that's one of the reasons why we are so much more expensive" because you have the additional costs of trying to be green.

Here is a thought, how long will it be acceptable for UK companies to out-source their manufacturing to companies in countries where only lip service is paid to the environment? Well, not long.  

Think about the damage that can be done to a major brand being associated with an environmental catastrophe.

So let's turn the environment to are advantage. We work harder to vet our suppliers and ensure they are truly committed to the environment and publicise that we are doing this so our competitors look like their lagging behind.

It's easy to make a start - try calculating your carbon footprint by following the link on the Carbon Trust's web-site for the really serious companies to look at achieving ISO 14001 certification.

Remember, I have mentioned this is previous Blogs and it is very relevant here. "In a poll of 14,500 people in 15 countries, more than half said they were active ethical consumers".

Even if you are not committed to gong green your customers increasingly are, and are actively looking for forward thinking companies in the very competitive market place.

The biggest challenge is to make the commitment to make a start. It is not as hard than you think and not as expensive as you may believe so give it a go now.

Why is this so important? Imagine if that toxic sludge was running down your street, you would want to know why more environmental checks were not carried out by the company. And for sure, you would want to see the bosses in court for it!

If you are a design engineer for a company that produces products that work in hazardous or industrial environments then you will be pleased to hear about some truly exciting products to hit the market.

The eXLink Ethernet and USB explosion proof connectors from Cooper Crouse-Hinds combine the safety of an explosion-protected connector system with the advantages of having a continuous communications infrastructure between the main, control and process levels of production plants.

With the connector system, Ethernet-based communication systems can be secured in hazardous areas. This will allow companies to install and use the latest IT and communications infrastructures while still fulfilling all necessary explosion protection regulations and standards.

Another innovation comes form Amphenol-Industrial who have launched their Star-Line EX® Series.  These little suckers are miniature explosion-proof threaded connector specifically designed to allow a signal to pass through Zone rated areas, using coax, fibre optic cables, as well as standard copper.

The RoHS-compliant Star-Line EX connectors feature a dielectric strength of 1800 V and heat resistance up to 750°F (399°C). The product line incorporates a broad range of backshell arrangements and contact inserts for power (up to 1135 amps at 1000 volts), signal (up to 143 contacts), and mixed power and control applications, which are interchangeable and reversible to suit specific needs. Contacts are made from copper with standard silver plating, and are available with optional gold plating.

So in other words you have never been more spoilt for choice and my suggestion to you the designer is to look at what you are currently using and ask could you improve the product design by moving to these new connectors? 

If you always wanted to use USB or Ethernet but felt restricted you now have the connectors built just for your type of products.

Remember there is also a commercial benefit to these products!  What’s that you ask?  Well if you tell your customers that you are using the very latest products designed to meet the most hazardous environments then surely your products are far better than your competitors!