WAC Lighting (Garden City, N.Y.): James McMahan has been appointed general manager and V.P. For the past 21 years McMahan worked for Schonbek Lighting Worldwide at several executive positions, including CFO, director of sales and marketing and
director of marketing communications. McMahan has also worked for Procter & Gamble, Mead Corp., and Pitney & Bowes. He has a B.S. in marketing and a M.B.A. in finance from the University of South Carolina.
WAC Lighting Appoints James McMahan as GM and V.P.
VP Biden Visits Cree Headquarters
Cree Inc. had special visitor yesterday at its Durham, N.C., headquarters – Vice President Joe Biden, who discussed the Obama Administration’s economic plans with Cree CEO Chuck Swoboda. Business Wire
Siemens Teams Up With Metrus Energy on Energy Retrofit for BAE Systems
The Siemens Building Technologies Division, Buffalo Grove, Ill., and Metrus Energy Inc., San Francisco, have reached a financing agreement with BAE Systems, a leader in the defense industry, to make its facility In Merrimack, N.H., energy efficient. Under the deal’s unique pay-for-performance structure, BAE Systems only pays for the actual energy savings realized from the program’s comprehensive energy efficiency improvements, while immediately experiencing the environmental, operational and bottom-line benefits.
BAE Systems expects the program to save more than $200,000 annually in utility expenses. Siemens will generate energy savings through various energy-efficient retrofits and upgrades including a new compressor, building automation system improvements, a complete lighting retrofit, new transformers and comprehensive campus energy policy. “We’re addressing a large but vastly underserved market. The majority of energy efficiency services, programs and financing options largely have been limited to the domain of the government and public sector,” said Bob Hinkle, Chief Executive Officer of Metrus. “The ESA specifically targets projects at private industrial and commercial facilities enabling these types of businesses to pay for retrofits through realized energy savings.” Details
GE to Spend More on R&D for Thin-Film PV Panels
GE, Niskayuna, N.Y., is upping its ante in thin-film solar research. According to an Associated Press report, the company plans to spend more on R&D at PrimeStar Solar Inc., Aravada, Colo., a start-up firm in which GE holds a major stake. PrimeStar produces thin-film PV panels using cadmium telluride technology.
“After having completed an exhaustive survey of the PV landscape, we determined that thin films were the optimum path for GE,” said Danielle Merfeld, GE’s solar R&D leader in a press release at www.primestarsolar.com. “Specifically, the CdTe technology from PrimeStar has great potential. Bringing together world-class materials expertise, unique materials and systems modeling and design capabilities and state-of-the-art indoor and outdoor solar testing facilities, GE researchers are innovating across our four global research centers—literally around the clock—to deliver a breakthrough product to market.”
Mayer Electric Open Branch in Calvert, Ala.
Wes Smith, president of Mayer Electric Supply Co. Inc. Birmingham, Ala., recently announced the opening of Mayer’s newest location in Calvert, Ala. The location, to be known as Mayer-Mobile North (Calvert), is Mayer’s 51st location in the southeast and its 16th location in Alabama. The new warehouse and branch office is at 22128 Highway 43, in the location that was formerly owned by Triple H Specialty, another electrical distributor. It’s located 25 miles north of the city of Mobile and less than a mile from the entrance to the new ThyssenKrupp plant.
“We are pleased to have found what we believe is the right location to serve customers in the area north of the city of Mobile,” said Wes Smith. “We believe that the combination local inventory, close proximity to this growing area, and an experienced customer service team will be of great value to contractors, industrial plants, and other businesses in the area.” Details
EMCOR Government Services Division Nabs Contract with U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing
The EMCOR Government Services unit won a contract from the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing for its Western Currency Facility located in Fort Worth, Texas. EMCOR Government Services (EGS) will be responsible for 24/7 support of the underlying infrastructure at the facility, including its fire and life safety system, building automation system, central chiller plant, water treatment, UPS systems, generators and vertical transportation. EGS will also oversee several unique industrial systems, such as industrial shredders, compressed air systems, and vacuum systems.
The Western Currency Facility’s printing presses account for more than half of the paper currency printed in the United States. In January 2010, the facility printed approximately $2.6 billion dollars in $1 and $20 dollar denominations.
Details
Schneider, Legrand in Alliance for EV Connectors
Schneider Electric, Legrand & Scame are forming an alliance to promote the use of a high safety plug and socket solution for electric vehicle charge infrastructure in Europe. The EV Plug Alliance seeks rapid adoption of a European standard for electric vehicle infrastructure plugs that meets security levels required for installation in homes and buildings. Doing so at an optimized cost is a key factor to develop the nascent electric vehicle market. The Alliance aims to provide a label that guarantees full compliance with the Type 3 of the IEC standard for plug & socket in finalization.
The plug endorsed by the Alliance will ensure compatibility between multiple suppliers’ products. Charge at a power up to 24 kW, in mono or three phase installations will allow charging electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. It will offer the highest level of safety with the use of shutters to protect against accidental touch of electric parts. The first products labeled by the EV Plug Alliance are expected to be available at the end of second quarter 2010. Schneider release
Are Smart Meters Making Dumb Mistakes in Texas?
There was a roomful of angry Texans at a recent town hall meeting in Grand Prairie, Texas. Some citizens were outraged about billing errors allegedly caused by the new smart meters installed by electric utility Oncor Electric Delivery, according to a posting on the Environmental News Network. Oncor has installed nearly 800,000 smart meters in the Dallas-Forth Worth area.
Bezjak to Lead Graybar in Government Sales
Graybar, St. Louis, appointed Rob Bezjak vice president, government sales. Bezjak has more than 22 years of experience at Graybar, and has been instrumental in the development and implementation of Graybar’s government strategy. In his new position, Bezjak is poised to sustain that momentum and capture new growth opportunities.
“Graybar has successfully served government customers for the past several years, and we see strong growth potential for the future,” said Richard D. Offenbacher, Graybar’s senior vice president—U.S. Business. “Appointing Rob to this position will provide the strategic focus Graybar needs to achieve long-term success in the government market.”
Bezjak is the chairman of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing Business Council and has a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin.
From Light Bulbs to Linens: HD Supply to Target Hospitality Market
HD Supply Facilities Maintenance, San Diego, has launched a dedicated Hospitality Sales Organization to focus on the unique needs of hospitality customers. The new sales organization will have a national footprint and 100 employees. Douglas Peterson, market vice president, Hospitality Sales, will lead the organization and oversee the hospitality national account team, which now includes six regional sales managers responsible for 60 field account representatives and more than 25 inside sales representatives.
HD Supply Facilities Maintenance offers more than 20,000 stocked products, from its 35 distribution centers with same-day shipping and delivery within two days. The company has not stopped there. As a single-source supplier HD Supply Facilities Maintenance provides both housekeeping and maintenance supplies from one source, saving customers time and money. We make it very easy for our customers to buy all of their products from a single source,” said David Kahn, vice president of Hospitality at HD Supply Facilities Maintenance. “From light bulbs to linens, air conditioners to amenities, Facilities Maintenance has it all.”
HD Supply press release
