by Doug Chandler February 3rd, 2010
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.
Details
Related Topics: Channel Chatter
by Doug Chandler February 3rd, 2010
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.
Related Topics: Channel Chatter
by Jim Lucy February 2nd, 2010
Emerson Electric (St. Louis): Frank Dellaquila is now senior V.P. and chief financial officer, succeeding Walter Galvin, who has served as CFO for 17 years. Galvin will remain as vice chairman, and Dellaquila will join the Office of the Chief Executive (OCE) and report to David Farr, chairman, CEO and president. Dellaquila, has been a senior V.P. of finance and Emerson’s controller since 2009. He has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Fordham University and a master’s degree in business administration from Columbia University.
Related Topics: Channel Chatter, People on the Move
by Jim Lucy February 2nd, 2010
Dialight (Farmingdale, N.J.): Daniel Polito is now chief marketing officer. He brings more than 25 years of international marketing management experience to Dialight, including posts as president of the North American operations for Enfis Lighting, an LED lighting technology manufacturer based in the UK; chief marketing officer at Lamina Lighting; vice president of marketing at Environmental Lighting Concepts (ELC), and vice president of marketing at both Thomson/Reuters and The Dun & Bradstreet Corp. He will oversee all areas of the company’s marketing efforts targeting the industrial, commercial, hazardous location, and various infrastructure market and report directly to Dialight CEO Roy Burton.
Related Topics: Channel Chatter, People on the Move
by Jim Lucy February 2nd, 2010
Federal Signal Corp., Oak Brook, Ill., will acquire Sirit Inc., Toronto, a designer, developer, and manufacturer of radio frequency identification (RFID) technology for applications such as tolling, electronic vehicle registration, parking and access control, asset management, cashless payments, and supply chain systems. The transaction has a total equity value of approximately $48 million. Details
Related Topics: Channel Chatter, Mergers & Acquisitions
by Doug Chandler February 2nd, 2010
A Fox News affiliate in Albany, N.Y., has a piece on the opening of General Electric’s new renewable energy headquarters in Schenectady, N.Y. The plant formerly housed gas turbine production, but after a $45 million makeover has been converted to house the remote operations center for GE Renewable Energy, which monitors the company’s 12,000 wind turbines. A $100 million battery plant for GE Transportation is slated to be built next door in the next few years.
Story
Related Topics: Channel Chatter
by Jim Lucy February 1st, 2010
Granite City Electric Supply Co., Quincy Mass., has merged with Columbia Electric Supply Co., Brockton, Mass. Going forward the company will operate under the name of Granite City Electric Supply Co.
Steven Helle President and COO of Granite City Electric will continue in that capacity and Geoffrey Murphy, Columbia Electric’s President, will become a regional V.P. for Granite City Electric. The two companies have often been referred to as sister companies –with good reason. Phyllis Papani Godwin, Granite City’s owner and CEO, and Dorothy Palmer, Columbia Electric Supply’s owner are in fact sisters. They are the daughters of Nicholas Papani who founded both electrical supply companies nearly ninety years ago.
“We are delighted to have Columbia Electric as part of the Granite City family, “ said Phyllis Papani Godwin, Granite City’s owner and CEO. “Both companies share a culture of caring for customers and employees and a strategic focus on long term growth.”
In 2009 Granite City Electric was 75th in the nation according to Electrical Wholesaling’s “Top 200” ranking of electrical distributors. Columbia Electric Supply was ranked 190th.
“Adding Columbia’s locations to Granite City’s 21 locations will expand our market presence and enhance our position as the largest independent electrical distributor in New England.,” said Steve Helle.
Related Topics: Channel Chatter, Mergers & Acquisitions
