The US state of Massachusetts has introduced restrictions on eleven flame retardants (FRs) in five categories of consumer product.

Signed into law by the governor on January 1, 2021, the law regulates the following FRs:

1. 2-Ethylhexyl-2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate (TBB)
2. Antimony trioxide           
3. Bis(2-ethylhexyl)-3,4,5,6-tetrabromophthalate (TBPH)
4. Hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD)
5. Octabromodiphenyl ether (Octa-BDE)
6. Pentabromodiphenyl ether (Penta-BDE)
7. Short Chain Chlorinated Paraffins (SCCP)
8. Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA)
9. Tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP)
10. Tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TCPP)
11. Tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate (TDCPP)

‘An Act to protect children, families, and firefighters from harmful flame retardants’ adds a new Section 28 to Chapter 21A of the General Laws. It restricts FRs to no more than 1,000 ppm in any component of the following product categories:

1. Bedding – any bedding material, including sleeping bags and other stuffed items for reclining or sleeping
2. Carpeting – any fabric floor covering, including carpet padding
3. Children’s product – a consumer product for use by children aged 12 years or younger
4. Residential upholstered furniture – seating or other upholstered products for indoor or outdoor use in or at a home or other dwelling intended for residential occupancy
5. Window treatment – blinds, curtain materials or shades

Exempt products include:

• Motor vehicles, watercraft, aircraft, all-terrain vehicles and off-highway motorcycles
• Second-hand products

The new law comes into effect on December 31, 2021, although products manufactured before this date are also exempt.

The Act requires manufacturers (including importers or distributors) to notify retailers and others who sell these FR-containing products of the passage of this new law by July 1, 2021.

Stakeholders should be aware that Massachusetts has joined a long list of US jurisdictions regulating FRs in consumer products, including Anchorage (Alaska), California, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, San Francisco, Vermont, Washington and Washington DC. The scope in each jurisdiction is different and, additionally, Maine, Oregon, Vermont and Washington also require the disclosure of information on hazardous chemicals, including FRs, in children’s products

SGS Chemical Testing

SGS offers a comprehensive range of testing services to help manufacturers and suppliers ensure their products are safe and comply with national and international regulations concerning harmful chemicals. Learn more about SGS Chemical Testing Services. 

SGS SafeGuardS keep you up to date with the latest news and developments in the consumer goods industry. Read the full US State of Massachusetts Restricts Flame Retardants in Consumer Goods SafeGuardS. 

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For further information contact:

Hingwo Tsang

Global Information and Innovation Manager

Tel: (+852) 2774 7420

Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Website: www.sgs.com/cgnr

LinkedIn: sgs-consumer-goods-&-retail

About SGS

SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 89,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,600 offices and laboratories around the world.​

If you belong to the e-commerce sector, you’d know how vital it is to come up with strategic digital marketing strategies. And for you to maximise your presence, you shouldn’t just rely on one aspect of the whole picture — bear in mind that methods like blogging and Facebook advertising management achieve greater results when combined in a single, comprehensive plan effectively.

Here’s how these two can help boost your e-commerce business.

The Benefits of Blogging

First and foremost, it’s important to address the question: Just how significant the role of blogging is?

One of its best benefits is it can reach your target specific audience. If you’re selling baby products on your site, your blog should revolve around the perks of your offerings. In this case, your blog can directly resonate with what parents and other guardians want. At the end of the day, you’ll gain higher chances of attracting and converting high-quality leads.

Because blogs are a relatively longer form of digital content, it gives you an avenue to appropriately incorporate effective SEO practices — like using the right keywords or key phrases and link-building. You can do this one more cost-effectively with the help of an SEO and a Wordpress web design agency.

When you continuously supply your site with quality blogs, you’re also strengthening your authority and reputation in your specific sector. Over time, you’ll attract loyal viewers and customers who will willingly visit your website to know more about a certain topic related to your business products.

Maximising Your Facebook Ads

Like what any WordPress web design agency would advise, e-commerce businesses should learn how to grow their network through social media marketing. Running Facebook ads, in particular, can help you leverage the platform’s large audience.

Similar to pay-per-click advertising, you have the liberty to choose how much you want to spend for a specific ad campaign. To yield better results, you have to specify your target audience: Their demographics, their interests, etc.

In every ad you run, you have to go back to the basic — what is your goal? Do you want to increase the installations of your business’ mobile app? Do you want to increase the readership of your blogs, and eventually reach more people who’d most probably buy your products? Depending on your goal, you also have to carefully choose your call-to-action (e.g. Learn more, shop now) and your ad format (e.g. Carousel, slideshow).

The perks of managing your Facebook ads well include reaching the right people more efficiently, getting access to insightful analytics, and knowing your audiences’ behaviour better, which in turn can help you create more effective blogs and business plans.

Boost Your E-Commerce Business Today!

Gain a larger audience and better showcase your products with the help of SiteWizard. Backed by more than two decades of experience, they offer digital marketing services that include blogging and Facebook advertising management. Each of their account managers is keen to help their clients in every step of the way — from initial consultation to implementation to reporting. Learn more about their services at http://www.sitewizard.co.uk/facebook-advertising/ and http://www.sitewizard.co.uk/wordpress-web-design. Reach out to them via 01622 200 045 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Bringing Over 15 years of Experience, Eric will Lead SQUAN’S Ongoing Business Development Initiatives

Carlstadt, NJ – January 25, 2021 – SQUAN, an industry leader specializing in telecommunications design/build services for network infrastructure, announced today the appointment of Eric Lord as its new Northeast Regional Director, Business Development. As part of SQUAN’s expansion strategy, Eric will provide support by adding to the company’s existing client portfolio, developing new business opportunities, and strengthening business alliances. The appointment is in sync with the company’s efforts to accelerate business growth.

In Eric’s new role at SQUAN, his primary responsibilities include supporting ongoing business development initiatives, managing incoming RFPs, collaborating across multiple departments, pursuing new and managing existing client relationships as well as assisting in marketing initiatives. Highly experienced in his field, Eric has garnered a wealth of industry knowledge from his past professional experiences that he will leverage in this new role aiding SQUAN’s growth and expansion prospective.

Eric brings over 15 years of sales leadership experience in domestic and international markets including wireless telecom, utilities, government, industrial and renewable energy. Prior to joining SQUAN, his roles included Business Development Manager at Flash Technology since 2013 where he played a central role in developing and growing clients and successfully introducing several new turnkey service programs to both the telecom and utility markets. In addition to that, he managed Sales Operations in the North America Region during his time at SuperPower Inc.

“Eric’s drive for excellence with client relations, leadership skills, and excellent understanding of the industry has served as the stepping-stones for further growth in his career,” said SQUAN CSO and EVP Keith Pennachio. “We are thrilled to have Eric on board and for him to add his diverse experience to our team in a meaningful way.”

In addition to his role with SQUAN, Eric will continue to serve on the National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) Tradeshow Committee and remain active in state wireless associations throughout the region. Eric holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Rochester as well as a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A), Business Strategy from Sage Graduate School, New York.

About SQUAN

SQUAN combines its unique and in-depth knowledge of network engineering and fiber construction to solve complex and evolving telecommunications problems around macro networks, small-cell, DAS, 5G, IoT and smart cities for wireless, wireline and enterprise customers. SQUAN is focused on the evolution of communications networks of all types and how new technologies are changing the landscape of infrastructure. SQUAN provides design/build and advisory services for backhaul, small-cells, C-RAN, fiber, Right-of-Way, technical installs and maintenance. For more information visit: http://www.squan.com, or contact SQUAN’s Head of Strategy, Keith Pennachio at kpennachio(at)squan(dot)com.

Products, service names, and company logos mentioned herein may be the registered trademarks of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

# # #

PR Contact:

Isha Kamani

MRB Public Relations 

(732) 758-1100 x 109

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Leading KVM Manufacturer Continues to Support Various Industry Needs by Providing Versatile KVM Options

IRVINE, CA – January 26, 2021 – ATEN Technology, Inc., the technology leader and global manufacturer of KVMand AV/IT connectivity and management solutions, today announced the launch of its new 8-Port USB 3.0 4K DisplayPort KVM Switch (CS19208) and 16-Port USB 3.0 4K DisplayPort KVM Switch (CS19216). The solutions can effectively access and control up to 8 or 16 DisplayPort computers from a single USB keyboard, USB mouse, and monitor console. With its dual-interface console, users can choose between DisplayPort/HDMI video output supporting high video quality up to 4K DCI (4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz), presenting crystal-clear visuals.

To meet the needs of easy expansion and flexibility, these devices can be cascaded to two levels to control up to 128 or 256 computers from a single console. Furthermore, they support multi-display function by stacking up to eight units to compare and analyze information on 8 monitors at most, which substantially streamlines the working environment. This is helpful in server room management, to control multiple parts of a manufacturing process, regulate numerous flight simulators, and to make it easy to switch computers in a control center. 

“ATEN’s new 8 /16 Port 4K DisplayPort KVMs are the first of its kind, offering many ports bundled with features such as DynaSync switching, cascadable to control over 100 computers and being rack-mountable,” said Aaron Johnson, senior product manager, ATEN Technology, Inc. “Due to its expansive capabilities, it is especially suitable for control rooms, server room management industries with high definition requirements such as healthcare and automation , air flight simulation and training, IT administrators who manage company servers, or IT network and infrastructure for internal data center.” 

Key features:

• Superior video quality– up to 4K DCI (4096 x 2160 @ 60Hz) and built-in 2-port USB 3.1 Gen 1 hub with SuperSpeed 5 Gbps data transfer rates
• Cascadable to two levels – controls up to 128 computers for 8 port 256 for 16 port
• Multi-Display feature– stack up to eight CS19208 units and display video from up to 8 monitors (dual display / triple display / quad display / multi-display)
• Video DynaSync™– an exclusive ATEN technology that eliminates boot-up display problems and optimizes the resolution when switching among different sources
• EDID Expert™ – selects optimum EDID mode for smooth power-up and highest quality display
• Supports a DisplayPort or HDMI video output – allows you to choose an appropriate video output and deploy console with flexibility
• Built-in 2-port USB 3.1 Gen 1 hub with SuperSpeed 5 Gbps data transfer rates
• Computer selection via pushbuttons, hotkeys, OSD, and RS-232 commands
• Firmware upgradable

Pricing and Availability:

ATEN’s CS19208 and CS19216 will be available for purchase and shipping in January through ATEN’s distribution and reseller partners: http://www.aten.com/us/en/where-to-buy/.

CS19208 MSRP: $1488.50

CS19216 MSRP: $1784.25

For more information, product features and technical specifications, visit: 

https://www.aten.com/us/en/products/kvm/rack-kvm-switches/cs19208/

https://www.aten.com/us/en/products/kvm/rack-kvm-switches/cs19216/

For more information about ATEN’s complete line of KVM solutions, visit: 

https://www.aten.com/us/en/products/?category=kvm

About ATEN Technology, Inc.

ATEN Technology, Inc. is the technology leader and global manufacturer of KVM and Pro AV connectivity solutions, and the U.S. subsidiary of ATEN International Co., Ltd. (TWSE: 6277), established in 1979. A certified member of the HDBaseT Alliance, holding over 630 industry patents, ATEN offers integrated KVM, Professional Audio (Pro AV) and Intelligent Power solutions, across all industries including corporate, commercial, government, industrial, entertainment, educational and retail environments. 

A technology-first company, ATEN’s advanced ability to quickly develop customized solutions in KVM, Pro AV, PDU, USB and data communication lines allows the company to build products that connect, manage and optimize electronics based on customer need. ATEN’s comprehensive portfolio of innovative, reliable products is available worldwide, with local U.S support.

For more information, visit: www.aten.com/us/en/ and follow @ATENConnect on Twitter or on LinkedIn.

Products, service names and company logos mentioned herein may be the registered trademarks of their respective owners. All rights reserved.

PR Contact:

Isha Kamani

MRB Public Relations for ATEN

+1 732.758.1100, x. 109

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.