Electric facets of life

CLOTHES, CARS and clubs alone don't make a lifestyle statement. Several others which, for long, are considered innocuous such as electrical fittings and accessories have become tools to enhance aesthetic facets of life.

Matching the growing importance of the electrical items at homes is the industry that constantly incorporates the latest technology to dish out new product ranges.

All these developments and more were on show at the Electrica 2002, a three-day exhibition of the Madras Electric Trades Association (META) that concluded on Sunday.

Many of the 95 stalls displayed products never seen before.

Topping the list was the range from Anchor including the burglar alarms, water and dust proof mounting devices and speakers including the auxiliary flush mounting types.

Attractions at other stalls included the electronic multi-tester to detect AC voltage through remote sensing, checking concealed wiring, weak batteries, car ignition, earthing, to mention a few.

Likewise, the exhibition also had a range of cables, electric meters and voltage regulators built with latest technology, fans in different sizes and colours, switches to match the colour of the walls and tiles and door bells with sweet chimes, all in different price ranges.

With so much on electricity, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) was also there creating awareness on quality and safety.

Similarly, a stall was taken by the International Copper Promotion Council (India), which promotes the use of the copper as the metal is a better conductor and cost effective.

Outlining the objectives of the expo (the second in the Electrica series), Mr. Hukmichand Shah, META Secretary, explained that ``rapid changes in the profile of the products necessitate a showcase window, which brings the end-users and the manufacturers closer. Given the pace of the development, the exhibition helps even those in the industry to keep abreast of the latest''.

Coinciding with the expo was a seminar on Saturday last in which the industry leaders and experts deliberated, among others, on ``quality in today's context of WTO and against the backdrop of foreign goods invading the market'', ``energy conservation'' and ``retail business management as an industry''.

The exhibition, which displayed both class and mass products, has come at a time when the real estate, a major consumer, is ``picking-up'' and the software sector is turning out to be a ``big bulk'' customer.

For those who have missed out this time, there is little to worry as the META, according to Mr. Shah, intends to conduct the exhibition on a regular basis.

By N. Ravi Kumar

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