Electrical Marketing's LiveWire

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced on Sept. 24 that the Bright Tomorrow Lighting Prize (L Prize) competition has received its first entrant, a product from Philips Electronics. Philips has developed, manufactured and will bring to market an LED replacement for the common 60W incandescent light bulb. Philips developed this product in response to DOE’s industry-wide challenge, and was today recognized by DOE as the first company to submit an entry. DOE launched the L Prize initiative to spur development of high-quality, high-efficiency LED replacements for the common light bulb.

“The race is on,” said DOE Solid-State Lighting Program Manager Jim Brodrick. “Philips is the first to submit a formal L Prize entry, demonstrating their leadership and corporate commitment to energy conservation in lighting. Philips’ entry into the competition is a clear signal that massive energy savings from solid-state lighting are within our grasp. The field is wide-open, and we hope to see more entries from both large and small manufacturers.”

“Philips is confident that the product submitted meets or exceeds all of the criteria for the L Prize. By being the first to enter this very tough competition, Philips has demonstrated its commitment once again to playing a leading global role in lighting innovation and energy conservation,” said Rudy Provoost, CEO of Philips Lighting.

Established through the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, the L Prize offers substantial rewards for the first manufacturer to meet its very demanding requirements – ensuring that performance, quality, lifetime, cost and availability meet expectations for widespread adoption and mass manufacturing. In addition to the significant cash prize, the first manufacturer to fully meet the competition’s requirements will also be in consideration for federal purchasing agreements, utility programs and other incentives.

A report in The New York Times said Philips expects to bring the cost of the bulb down to $20 to $25 over the long-term.

Williams Supply, Roanoke, Va. announced the following staff promotions on Oct. 5: (Images left-right) Kelly Phlegar has been named corporate director, finance and human resources; Mark Cole has been named corporate director, purchasing and logistics; and Ed Hankins has been named vice president of sales.

Phlegar will manage accounts payable and accounts receivable, budgeting and forecasts and all human resource functions. Cole will act as a primary contact with suppliers and will manage the purchasing, inventory and distribution operations as well as company safety and security programs. Hankins will be responsible for all industrial, commercial and contractor sales for the company and will act as the company’s liaison to customers and to industry organizations.

Hubbell Incorporated announced on Oct. 5 that it completed the purchase of FCI Americas, Inc. (Burndy) for consideration of approximately $360 million in cash (net of cash acquired) subject to certain standard adjustments.
Burndy, Manchester, N. H., had 2008 sales were approximately $225 million and operating profit margins were in the high teens. The company will continue to operate as a stand-alone business unit as part of Hubbell’s electrical systems products for the foreseeable future. The acquisition was funded with cash as well as some short term borrowings.
Press release: http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Hubbell-Completes-Purchase-of-bw-4147785971.html?x=0&.v=1

The Environmental Protection Agency is keeping an eye on eBay for sales of, among other things, antiquated electrical equipment. We would expect any surplus dealer specializing in electrical products to know how to handle these products properly, but one general-purpose liquidator recently learned the hard way.

A company called Railside LLC, a factory surplus liquidator, was fined under the Toxic Substances Control Act for trying to sell electrical equipment containing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) on eBay without proper labeling or storage.

“PCB-containing electrical equipment must be marked so that it is easily recognizable and not disposed of improperly. EPA investigators found Railside offering to sell the unmarked General Electric Pyranol capacitor on eBay…”

Railside responded quickly, cooperated fully and was fined only $250, said the EPA.

EPA News Release

Daryl Dulaney is now president and CEO of the newly-formed Siemens Industry, Inc. –- the U.S. affiliate of Siemens’ global Industry sector business. Effective Oct. 1, Siemens Energy & Automation Inc., Siemens Transportation Systems, Inc., Siemens Building Technologies, Inc. and Siemens VAI Services, LLC will merge, and the resulting corporation will be renamed Siemens Industry Inc.

Since 2007, Siemens has been globally aligning its businesses into three sectors: Healthcare, Energy and Industry. Siemens Industry will provide its U.S. customers in the fields of industry and infrastructure with integrated automation technologies as well as comprehensive industry-specific solutions. With more than 30,000 employees in 480 locations across the country, Siemens Industry will consist of six divisions including Industry Solutions, Industry Automation, Drive Technologies, Building Technologies, Mobility and Osram Sylvania.

Dulaney joined Siemens as a sales engineer in 1979, holding several key managerial positions, ranging from joint venture management in Hong Kong to senior vice president of field operations, North America, before being appointed president and CEO of Siemens Building Technologies in 2005.