A report at www.dailytech.com says Ford told attendees at a recent event on the “lightscaping” of its newest models that the 2013 Fusion will use LEDs for all interior lighting, in addition to the LEDs that have become commonplace for headlights and tail-lights. The report said Osram Sylvania is providing the LEDs for the Fusion’s interior lighting.
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Ford goes all-in on LEDs for 2013 Fusion
EMCOR enjoys 16.7% increase in 4Q sales
Emcor Group, Norwalk, Conn., reported that its revenues increased 16.7% to $1.52 billion in the fourth quarter of 2011, compared to revenues of $1.30 billion in the year ago period. In a press release announcing the financials, Tony Guzzi, president and CEO said, “While I am very pleased with our results, our execution and the steps we have taken to enhance our growth prospects for the long-term, we continue to operate in the trough of the economic cycle and a sustained upturn remains difficult to predict. Our backlog is solid with an improving mix of attractive commercial and industrial work; however backlog is now entirely composed of projects won during these challenging economic times with margins representative of the competitive pressures from the recession.
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Encore Wire Corp. reports strong quarter
In an earnings call transcript published today for Encore Wire Corp., McKinney, Texas, at www.seekingalpha.com, Daniel Jones, Encore Wire’s president and CEO, said the company had strong quarterly earnings in a turbulent economy despite the “severe recession currently taking place in the construction industry.”
While Jones also said in the call that business conditions were mixed in different regions across the United States, overall he had a positive outlook. He said business conditions in the Pacific Northwest were good, that “West Coast California, Southern Cal, Northern Cal are okay,” and that the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida are “pretty good.” “The Northeast is good, and in Texas I don’t know that we saw as big a dip as anyone else in construction activity, but we seem to be a little insulated from the bottoms,” he added. “Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico are still going along pretty well.
“But just in general the feel is, we are a lot busier. Activity level in the sales office is up, but that’s a combination of we are requiring a little bit more information in trying to get a little bit quicker in the process. But overall there are some pretty nice projects out there; it just takes a little harder work to win those.”
Encore Wire press release on earnings
Arlington Industries honors sales stars at NEMRA
Arlington Industries Inc., Scranton, Pa., presented its 2011 sales awards at the recent 2012 NEMRA (National Electrical Manufacturers Representatives Association) conference in San Diego: Gregg Ruttle, Hoyt Northwest Marketing Group LLC, Portland, Ore., received the Inside Sales Award; Wiltrout Sales Inc., Indianapolis, Ind., received the National Sales Achievement Award; Fruen’s Sales Co., Plymouth, Minn.,won the Central Region Sales Achievement Award; Pro-Lines Sales and Marketing Inc., Livermore, Calif., won the Western Region Sales Achievement Award; George Pickett & Associates Inc., Apex, N.C., claimed the Southern Region Sales Achievement Award; Condor Associates, Pittsburgh, received the Eastern Region Sales Achievement Award; and Macs II Agencies Ltd., Coquitlam, British Columbia, took home the Canadian Sales Achievement Award.
Find out what’s up with the Four Horsemen of the smart grid
Read a very interesting analysis this morning about the “Four Horsemen” of the smart grid (ABB, GE Schneider & Siemens) that Greentech Media published on www.seeking alpha.com. “Distribution Automation 2.0: Who’s Buying Whom?” explores the recent acquisitions and market focus of each of these companies for the utility market’s smart grid. The article also republished an interesting but tough-to-prove promotional claim by Schneider Electric: Schneider apparentlly likes to say that 70% of the world’s electrons flow through its equipment. This article at www.gigaom.com offers additional insight into Schneider’s strategy for the smart grid.
Brown promoted to V.P. of sales at Kohler
David Brown
NanoSolar gets $20 million cash infusion
Thin-film solar manufacturer Nanosolar Inc., San Jose, Calif., has an additional $20 million in funds to continue its expansion, thanks to a cash infusion by current investors Mohr Davidow Ventures and OnPoint Technologies, Inc., and new investor Aeris Capital.
Nanosolar made headlines several years ago when it first announced its unique technology of printing CIGS (Copper, Indium, Gallium, Selenium) and nanoparticle inks onto flexible substrates and a blue-chip roster of investors, which includes high-profile investment companies and Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin. The company recently announced that Eugenia Corrales would be taking over at CEO for Geoff Tate, who retired after two years at the company. A company release said that for the past 18 months Corrales has managed all operations, as well as engineering, purchasing and planning.
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Seventeen Fastenal stores robbed in Georgia
A report on www.sbtv.com says at least 17 Fastenal stores, including 14 in the Atlanta metro and three in Augusta, Ga., have been robbed recently. The report said the thief or thieves has stolen only 30 saw blades in one store but expensive power tools in others. The total value of the stolen goods is $17,000
Interesting post at Forbes.com on LEDs
Bill Watkins, the CEO of LED manufacturer Bridgelux, speaks out at Forbes.com on “The 5 Myths of LEDs.”
Venancio joins Franklin Electric as V.P. of sales
Matthew Venancio