Fresh from its IPO offering, Generac Holdings Inc., Waukesha, Wis., had some good news for investors about its 2009 fourth-quarter and full-year financials, reporting a single-digit gain in full-year sales and gains in profitability. Details
Archive for the ‘Channel Chatter’ Category
Biz Journal Features Bellwoars of Colonial Electric
The Philadelphia Business Journal featured the Bellwoar family of Colonial Electric Supply, King of Prussia, Pa., in a story about companies reinventing themselves for survival. (Subscription required for the full story.)
GE Poll Finds Those Aware of Smart Grid Hopeful on Benefits
It’s hard to say how consumer perceptions at this stage will make much difference in the build-out of a smart electrical grid, but General Electric this month set out to find out what they think.
GE commissioned a survey earlier this month by StrategyOne to learn more about consumers’ awareness of the smart grid concept and their expectations about the technology.
The poll found that more than three-quarters of those surveyed (79 percent) where unfamiliar with the smart grid idea, but among those who were familiar with it, 78 percent expect a smart grid to reduce power outages and restore power more quickly when it does go out. Other benefits they are expecting include:
* 74 percent understand that smart grid will give them the info they need to make better decisions about their electricity usage
* 72 percent think that smart grid will help them save money on their monthly bills
* 63 percent believe smart grid will create new jobs in the energy sector
GE’s conclusion:
“Consumers are ready to embrace the smart grid, and particularly time-of-use pricing models (75 percent of those familiar with smart grid), if it helps them save money.”
Border States Wins Integrated Supply Contract
Border States Electric, Fargo, N.D., has been awarded an integrated supply contract to support We Energies’ requirements for electrical distribution, wire, cable and select maintenance, repair, and operation (MRO) materials. BSE’s branches in Pewaukee and Green Bay, Wisconsin, and Kingsford, Michigan, will service the contract. We Energies is a multi-faceted utility, providing natural gas, electricity, steam and water services in portions of Wisconsin and Michigan.
Communications Supply Corp. Opens Salt Lake City Location
Communications Supply Corp. (CSC), a subsidiary of Wesco Distribution, Pittsburgh, has opened a new branch in Salt Lake City. The operation is “co-located” with an existing Wesco branch. Wesco says it opened nine CSC locations in 2009 and expects to open at least 10 in 2010. Details.
Emerson Electric Orders Turn Positive
Emerson Electric Co., St. Louis, said its order trends have turned positive for the first time since Oct. 2008, with four of its five business segments showing improvement. Positive performance in the trailing three-month order trends excluding currency came from the company’s industrial automation, network power, climate technologies and appliance and tools segments. Details
Fastenal Enjoys First Back-to-Back Quarter of Sales Growth Since November 2008
Interesting article in Barrons says Fastenal Inc., Winona, Minn., a specialty distributor of screws, nuts and bolt and other industrial MRO supplies, stuck to its conservative operating strategy during the downturn and may be a solid investment as the economy improves.
Mayer Electric Open Branch in Calvert, Ala.
Wes Smith, president of Mayer Electric Supply Co. Inc. Birmingham, Ala., recently announced the opening of Mayer’s newest location in Calvert, Ala. The location, to be known as Mayer-Mobile North (Calvert), is Mayer’s 51st location in the southeast and its 16th location in Alabama. The new warehouse and branch office is at 22128 Highway 43, in the location that was formerly owned by Triple H Specialty, another electrical distributor. It’s located 25 miles north of the city of Mobile and less than a mile from the entrance to the new ThyssenKrupp plant.
“We are pleased to have found what we believe is the right location to serve customers in the area north of the city of Mobile,” said Wes Smith. “We believe that the combination local inventory, close proximity to this growing area, and an experienced customer service team will be of great value to contractors, industrial plants, and other businesses in the area.” Details
EMCOR Government Services Division Nabs Contract with U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing
The EMCOR Government Services unit won a contract from the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing for its Western Currency Facility located in Fort Worth, Texas. EMCOR Government Services (EGS) will be responsible for 24/7 support of the underlying infrastructure at the facility, including its fire and life safety system, building automation system, central chiller plant, water treatment, UPS systems, generators and vertical transportation. EGS will also oversee several unique industrial systems, such as industrial shredders, compressed air systems, and vacuum systems.
The Western Currency Facility’s printing presses account for more than half of the paper currency printed in the United States. In January 2010, the facility printed approximately $2.6 billion dollars in $1 and $20 dollar denominations.
Details
Schneider, Legrand in Alliance for EV Connectors
Schneider Electric, Legrand & Scame are forming an alliance to promote the use of a high safety plug and socket solution for electric vehicle charge infrastructure in Europe. The EV Plug Alliance seeks rapid adoption of a European standard for electric vehicle infrastructure plugs that meets security levels required for installation in homes and buildings. Doing so at an optimized cost is a key factor to develop the nascent electric vehicle market. The Alliance aims to provide a label that guarantees full compliance with the Type 3 of the IEC standard for plug & socket in finalization.
The plug endorsed by the Alliance will ensure compatibility between multiple suppliers’ products. Charge at a power up to 24 kW, in mono or three phase installations will allow charging electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. It will offer the highest level of safety with the use of shutters to protect against accidental touch of electric parts. The first products labeled by the EV Plug Alliance are expected to be available at the end of second quarter 2010. Schneider release