Solyndra, Inc., Fremont, Calif., a manufacturer of cylindrical photovoltaic (PV) systems for commercial rooftops, has signed a distribution agreement with Allied Building Products Corp., East Rutherford, N.J., a national distributor of roofing, solar and other building products and materials.
Allied Building Products distributes building products to specialty contractors from over 180 locations throughout the U.S. and is a division of Oldcastle, Inc., the North American holding company for CRH plc. “We are proud to be Solyndra’s first distributor in North America,” said Bob Feury, CEO of Allied Building Products Corp. “Solyndra’s unique solar panel technology should be considered by all commercial building owners evaluating new low-slope roof installations or reroofing applications.”
Archive for February 3rd, 2010
PV Panel Manufacturer Inks Deal with Roofing Distributor
Gexpro, OneSource among 9 new distributors for Visible Light
LED lighting manufacturer Visible Light Solar Technologies, Albuquerque, announced that it has added nine distributors to the roster of partners selling its products in North America and Asia. Visible Light makes “LED lighting, point of use solar technology and on-and-off-grid energy optimization solutions.”
Visible Light Solar’s new authorized distributors include:
Access Light Solutions LLC, Dallas; Double “R” Electric, Garland, Texas; Electrical Products Co., Albuquerque; Erie Energy Consulting Group, Lakewood, Ohio; Gexpro, Shelton, Conn; Mountain States Pipe and Supply/U.S. Metering and Technology, Colorado Springs, Colo.; One Source Power Group, West Columbia, Texas; USAsia Holdings, LLC, Irvine, Calif.; and Virtual Power Plant, Hanalei, Hawaii.
Independent Electrical Contractors’ Chesapeake Chapter Partners with GroSolar for PV Training
GroSolar, the nation’s largest domestically-owned solar distributor and the fourth-largest residential installer in North America, is partnering with the Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) Chesapeaketo provide electricians with training in the installation of solar systems.
On Feb. 10, groSolar, based in White River Junction, Vt., and IEC Chesapeake will offer a new course entitled “Trouble Shooting PV (Solar) Systems.” The course provides an overview of the basic processes necessary for installing PV (Solar) systems, and is offered to both IEC members and non-members. The course will cover typical system design errors and performance problems; comparing actual system power output to expected output; typical locations for electrical/mechanical failure.
“Maryland is an important distribution market for groSolar, and our partnership with IEC offers a great chance for electricians to advance their careers and benefit from groSolar’s leading presence in the renewable energy marketplace,” said groSolar’s Jeff Gilbert, the course instructor. “Given the federal and state tax incentives available today, not to mention the energy savings that solar systems provide, homeowners and businesses are more interested in solar than ever before. Electricians looking to take advantage of this opportunity should seriously consider taking this course.”
Gilbert is training manager for groSolar’s comprehensive dealer-training program, and is the co-founder of Chesapeake Solar, now a groSolar company. The course will take place in IEC Chesapeake’s Training Center in Odenton, Md. Registration
T&B execs comment on quarterly results
Top executives for Thomas & Betts said they’re pleased with the performance of the company’s electrical business segment despite a 16 percent year-over-year decline in sales. Dominic Pileggi, chairman and CEO, told analysts in the company’s conference call that the electrical segment returned earnings of $76 million or 19.3 percent of sales.
Pileggi doesn’t see distributors continuing to reduce inventory levels beyond what they’ve already done in response to the economic downturn – instead they’re replacing inventory on a one-for-one basis, a strategy he expects to see them continue until the outlook brightens.
“…distributors in general are replacing or replenishing their inventory item for item only as it moves out the door. Our distributors are capitalizing on our fast cycle logistic model that replaces their stock very quickly and helps improve their working capital,” Pileggi said. “For Thomas & Betts products, we don’t expect distributors to change their inventory management strategy until the economic recovery is more clearly evident and increased demand has proven to be sustainable.”
Fairleigh to lead Rittal as president
Rittal Corp., Urbana, Ohio, announced that Ken Fairleigh has joined the company to serve as president. Fairleigh has more than 25 years of experience in global sales management, marketing, distribution, and operations. Prior to joining Rittal, he held positions at General Electric, Square D, and Fluke, and most recently served as vice president and general manager of Rexnord in the product service group.
At Rittal, Fairleigh will be responsible for all aspects of the business, including marketing, sales, and manufacturing. He will be focused on improving the company’s operations, client relations, and product and service delivery.
WSJ: EU officials visit ABB and Siemens as part of cartel investigation
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that EU investigators have visited the offices of ABB and Siemens in connection with an investigation on alleged cartel activity.
According to the Journal: “The antitrust probe concerns the production of Flexible Alternating Current Transmission Systems, or FACTS, used to increase the power transfer capability of electricity transmission grids, the commission said.”
EM has no independent confirmation of this, but will follow the situation as it develops.