I'm afraid I see this as inevitable (the banning of certain items from shipping.) My guess is it would have been security that was the driver, however. Risk of fire is compelling enough, don't get me wrong! But I figured it would have been the potential to use a devices as an explosive that would have gotten them banned from the mail/parcel service.
It also seems to me if companies start removing the batteries before shipment and declare them "battery-free" it might be a work-around. Of course, the next issue for consumers is getting the batteries, which means retail. And retail relies and parcel services as well. So we are back to Square 1.
I think all airlines follow this rule strictly. Any electronic item that goes into your baggage has to have its batteries( not just lithium but all types) removed. They check it during the x-ray inspection of the baggage.
As Barbara says , apart from the risk of fire there is also a risk that such devices can be used as explosives in disguise by the miscreants.
Won't this be a loss of money for USPS? I do not see a clear why they do not want to ship any of these products overseas. Is it specifically due to fire accident risk or is there any other big risks?
"Testing conducted by the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center (FAA Tech Center) indicates that particular propagation characteristics are associated with lithium batteries. Overheating has the potential to create thermal runaway, a chain reaction leading to self-heating and release of a battery's stored energy.
In a fire situation, the air temperature in a cargo compartment fire may be above the auto-ignition temperature of lithium. For this reason, batteries that are not involved in an initial fire may ignite and propagate, thus creating a risk of a catastrophic event.
The existence and magnitude of the risk will depend on such factors as the total number and type of batteries on board an aircraft, the batteries' proximity to one another, and existing risk mitigation measures in place (including the type of fire suppression system on an aircraft, appropriate packaging and stowage of batteries, and compliance with existing requirements contained within both FAA and PHMSA regulations)."
I believe that with the right meausurements, change in packing, and carrying only a certain amount in each aircraft, it is possible to go back to shipping them.
How often had those "lithium-embedded devices" caught fire in the past. Do They have any statistics? Or it is just a prevention measure that doesn't rely on any valid data?
"I believe that with the right meausurements, change in packing, and carrying only a certain amount in each aircraft, it is possible to go back to shipping them."
It may depend on how the policy will affect USPS revenue streams. My question is what will happen if other companies start implementating the same restriction policy? How will that hurt the consumer electronic business?
This looks like nothing more than risk management by a company whose mission is in large part dedicated to cost-effective service. Private small-parcel carriers have hazardous material service available at a price.
Incidentally, there's been controversy over whether lithium batteries should be classified as hazardous materials. A yea or nay on either side of this issue would substantially impact companies like Apple and Samsung.
EBN Dialogue enables and encourages you to participate in live chats with notable leaders and luminaries. Not only editors and journalists, but the entire EBN community is able to comment and ask questions. Listed below are upcoming and archived chats.
Archived Dialogues
Thailand Stages a Comeback Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Euro-Crisis: What It Means for High-Tech Firms Join EBN Editor in Chief Bolaji Ojo and Contributing Editor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday, July 12, at 10:00 a.m. EDT for a Live Chat on high-tech and Europe's economic difficulties.
Microsoft Surface: Potential Winners & Losers What are the implications for the electronics industry supply chain of Microsoft Corp.'s decision to launch its own tablet PC? Join industry veteran and EE Times' systems and OEM expert Rick Merritt on Tuesday, July 3, at 12:00 pm EDT for a Live Chat on this subject.
Join EBN contributor Jennifer Baljko on Thursday August 23, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. EST for a live chat on how electronic manufacturers in Thailand have shored up their supply chain to reduce the impact of future natural disasters.
Peter Drucker famously said "Trying to predict the future is like trying to drive down a country road at night with no lights while looking out the back window." Yet in the razor's-edge world of electronics—with a lean supply chain and just-in-time demands—the need to know the future is vital.
While no one really can accurately predict the future, we can take guidance from another Drucker saying which is the best way to predict the future is to create it.
You've heard the saying "the No. 1 supply chain risk is your people." That hasn't always been the case. But today's complex global supply chain requires a new type of multitalented employee. It's one who understands, finance, marketing, economics, is savvy with technology, graceful with relationships and can think analytically.
Where are these people? Are universities properly preparing the next generation supply chain professionals? How do train your existing workforce for these new, demanding positions?
Brian Fuller, editor-in-chief of EBN, will lead a 60-minute Avnet Velocity panel discussion that will ask and answer these and other questions swirling around today's supply-chain talent challenges.
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