Another sign of the times in the lighting industry industry is the amount of R&D money manufacturers are spending on LED development. GE Lighting will spend 50% of its total 2010 R&D budget on LEDs, according to John Strainic the company’ general manager, global lighting product management. However, at a press luncheon on May 12 Strainic said GE will fully support and continue to refine its other lamp lines.
WAC Lighting is also investing heavily in LED research and one source close to the company said WAC is spending more than 80% of its R&D budget on LEDs. Along with showcasing its growing selection of LED products at LightFair, the company had a prototype for an OLED chandelier at its booth.
Archive for May, 2010
LED R&D Consuming Manufacturers Product Development Budgets
Report from LightFair in Las Vegas
A tidal wave of new LED products is flooding the 475 booths at this year’s LightFair trade show and conference in Las Vegas, which is attracting more than 20,000 lighting professionals. In addition to new LED products from established lighting players and long-time LightFair exhibitors such as GE Lighting, Philips, Osram Sylvania, Cooper Lighting, WAC Lighting and Acuity Brands, Sharp and Toshiba were on the scene for the first time and announced their intentions to aggressively market their LED products in the U.S. market. Schneider Electric, through its Juno Lighting subsidiary, and Hubbell Lighting also had broad offerings of new LED products.
Nowhere was the overwhelming emphasis on LEDs at the show more apparent than in LightFair’s annual Innovation Awards, which this year attracted almost 200 submissions in 14 product categories. Many of the product categories were almost all LED products. This year’s big winners were:
Helieon Sustainable Light Module System by Bridgelux and Molex: Most Innovative Product of the Year—the program’s highest award, recognizing the best, most innovative new product;
Light-Drive Elite by Traxon USA: Design Excellence Award—recognizing outstanding achievement in design and application;
SSL2102 by NXP Semiconductors: Technical Innovation Award—recognizing the most forward-thinking advancement in lighting technology;
LightLouver Daylighting System by LightLouver: Judges’ Citation Award—special recognition of an innovative product at the judges’ discretion.
T&B Hires Gann as Senior V.P. of Human Resources and Administration
Thomas & Betts (Memphis, Tenn.): Peggy Gann has been hired as senior V.P. of human resources and administration. She will report to Dominic Pileggi, chairman and CEO, and will be responsible for developing and directing Thomas & Betts’ global human resources organization. Prior to joining Thomas & Betts, Gann spent 20 years with Schneider Electric’s North American division, most recently as senior V.P. of human resources and administration. Earlier in her career, she held a variety of human resources positions at the Johns Manville Corp. Gann earned a Master’s degree in business administration from the Lake Forest Graduate School of Management and a B.S. from Barat College.
Ferraz Shawmut Bolsters DIN-Fuse Business in Europe with Acquisition
Ferraz Shawmut acquired the M.Schneider group, Vienna, Austria, on May 1. Schneider is a big player in the DIN-Standard fuses and fusegear segments and has annual sales of approximately $25.6 million. Information on the Ferraz Shawmut website said the acquisition makes the Ferraz Shawmut Electrical Protection division of Carbone Lorraine #2 worldwide in DIN-standard fuses and fusegear.
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No Discounts for Lobbying for Home Depot and Lowe’s on Capitol Hill
Home Depot and Lowe’s continue to spend big bucks to lobby lawmakers on Capitol Hill. Big Orange spent $245,000 in the first quarter to lobby the federal government on organized retail crime; metal theft; retail sales tax; tariffs on goods originating in China; efforts to stabilize the housing market; the weatherization program; and other issues. That’s up 2 percent from the $240,000 Home Depot spent in last year’s first quarter and up 9 percent from the $225,000 it spent in the fourth quarter of 2009. Home Depot 1Q lobbying
Lowe’s spent $215,000 in the first quarter to lobby the federal government on rebates for energy-efficient products; the elimination of a secret ballot in unionization elections; carbon-dioxide monitors in the home; a suspension of tariffs on imported ceiling ans, zero percent financing credit programs; and other issues. That’s down 68 percent from the $680,000 Lowe’s spent in last year’s first quarter, and more than triple the $65,000 it spent in the fourth quarter of 2009. Lowe’s 1Q lobbying
Southern California Edison to Install PV Panels on ProLogis Warehouses
Southern California Edison (SCE), Rosemead, Calif., and ProLogis, one of the largest owners of warehousing space in the world, plan to place up to 40 percent of SCE’s massive 250MW solar panel project on ProLogis distribution warehouse roofs in the Inland Empire region of Southern California. The agreement will make available to the utility as much as 15 million-square-feet of roof space for the installation of more than a half-million advanced solar panels. Panel installation will begin this year on the first ProLogis roofs included in the agreement – four structures in the Ontario Airport complex and a fifth in the Redlands Distribution Center.
“Our first installation in this large solar power project was a ProLogis building in Fontana, Calif. that now provides 2 million watts of clean energy to our grid,” said SCE President John Fielder. “We are pleased to expand this relationship with a company that shares our vision for converting otherwise unused urban rooftop real estate into solar power stations.”
ProLogis owns and leaeses 475 million square feet of industrial space in markets across North America, Europe and Asia. Its customers include manufacturers, retailers, transportation companies, third-party logistics providers and other enterprises with large-scale distribution needs Details
1Q Sales and Profits Soft at HWC but CEO See Improving Business Conditions
Houston Wire & Cable, Houston, said its first-quarter sales and net income were off 7.1 percent and 17.4 percent, respectively, compared to 1Q 2009, but Chuck Sorrentino said general business conditions are starting to improve.
“Job stabilization, improving plant utilization, increased factory orders, and anecdotal comments from customers, support a gradual improvement in the overall economic outlook,” he said. “I expect improving sales in industrial consumables which could lead to increased capital spending and expanded levels of business.
“We were pleased that we increased market share by adding more than 60 new customers in the quarter. Record operating cash flows for the quarter allowed us to significantly reduce our debt which positions us to fund suitable acquisitions and general business expansion when the economy improves. Our lower cost structure should afford earnings leverage as confidence returns to our customers, which would then be reflected in increased capital spending and increased sales.” Details
Jefferson Electric merges with Pioneer Power Solutions
Dry-type transformer and ballast manufacturer Jefferson Electric, Inc., Franklin, Wis., has merged with Pioneer Power Solutions, Fort Lee, N.J. Pioneer is a manufacturer of liquid‐filled electric transformers for utility, industrial and commercial applications.
“The merger with Pioneer provides Jefferson with an expanded platform and the capital it needs to grow. In particular, the combination will provide strong support for Jefferson’s ongoing expansion into the low voltage magnetics market,” said Thomas Klink, president of Jefferson Electric. “We anticipate that, together with Pioneer, we will form important structural and financial synergies, resulting in increased efficiencies and profitability for both companies going forward.”
Jefferson will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Pioneer. Thomas Klink will stay as president with a seat on Pioneer Power’s board of directors.
GE Rolls Out Utility-Scale Batteries
GE Energy Storage Technologies, a New Orleans-based unit of GE Transportation, last month introduced its battery technology for utility companies. Under the brand Durathon, the sodium-based batteries can have an operable life of up to 20 years, providing an alternative to costly new power generation.
“Utility companies are facing unprecedented challenges and we’re working with them to create a better energy system, one that can bring energy to customers where it’s needed, when it’s needed, efficiently and for the best price,” said Prescott Logan, general manager of GE Energy Storage Technologies. “GE’s Durathon battery technology has been developed to change the future of power generation, transmission and distribution for end users around the globe.”
The Durathon battery technology was developed to support a broad range of utility-oriented applications, including transmission and distribution upgrade deferral, time shifting, congestion relief, peak shaving, load following and reserve capacity. Additionally, it will support end-user applications such as time-of-use management , demand charge reduction, and power quality improvement, said GE.
GE announced last fall that it’s building a new battery plant in Schenectady, N.Y. The facility is sited in close proximity to GE Global Research in Niskayuna, where researchers will continue to work on enhancements to the battery chemistry and related systems technology. GE is making a $150 million investment to build upon the Durathon battery technology through the development of new materials, new manufacturing technologies and intelligent controls.
Dialight Acquires BTI Light Systems
UK-based lighting manufacturer Dialight plc announced the acquisition of BTI Light Systems A/S, a Danish company offering signaling and safety equipment for the wind, marine, and airport industries. BTI is being acquired from its management for a total consideration of DKK 26 million (~$4.6 million).
Operating out of Copenhagen, BTI’s product portfolio includes obstruction lighting and aids to navigation for both onshore and offshore wind turbines and airports. The chief executive of BTI, Max Hansen, will remain with the business for a period of at least two years.