Electrical Marketing's LiveWire

An article in The Economist discusses the potential for creating LED lighting that users will find more agreeable by using “quantum dots” of incandescent crystals to color the light from LED lamps. In the race to find ways to make LED light more attractive and smooth consumer acceptance, this technology shows promise.
Check out the Economist’s video to get an overview of the technology and an interview with Seth Coe-Sullivan, co-founder and chief technology officer of QD Vision, a start-up developing the quantum dot for market, but the article has more detail.

Siemens announced that it will build a new production plant to build 60-Hz gas turbines at its existing facility in Charlotte, N.C. As part of an effort to expanded and emphasize its U.S. presence, Siemens said the new facility will be a global production hub for manufacturing, servicing and other support functions related to the supply of its gas and steam turbines and generators to 60-Hz markets around the world. The initial investment will be approximately $135 million. Production is slated to start in the fall of 2011.
“This decision underscores our commitment to the U.S. Over the next five years, we expect employment at the Charlotte site to grow to nearly 1,800 people, with more than 1,000 of those positions new to Charlotte,” said Peter Loscher, president and CEO of Siemens AG. Some 825 new positions will be for the planned gas turbine production, while 226 new jobs were already announced last October.
In the past three years, Siemens built and expanded a wind turbine blade manufacturing plant in Fort Madison, Iowa, and a second production plant for wind turbine gearboxes in Elgin, Ill. Construction on a plant in Hutchinson, Kan., to make nacelles for wind turbines is underway, Loscher said. Details.

Penton Media Inc., New York, the company that owns Electrical Marketing, Electrical Wholesaling, EC&M and about a hundred other business-to-business publications, websites, data products and trade shows, today emerged from Chapter 11, less than 30 days after filing a pre-packaged reorganization plan.
The capital restructuring resulted in the elimination of more than $270 million of long-term debt and an extension of the maturity on the company’s senior secured credit facility through 2014. In addition, certain existing shareholders made a significant new investment in Penton, which will provide additional working capital to fund operations and improve Penton’s overall liquidity.
There have been no changes to staff, publication schedules or payments to contractors and service providers relating to the restructuring at any of Penton’s electrical industry publications.

Graybar Electric Co., St. Louis, said its net sales were $4.38 billion in 2009, a decrease of 18.9 percent compared to 2008. The company also posted net income of $37.4 million, down 57.3 percent, from the previous year. “While conditions were some of the most difficult in business history, our performance in 2009 resulted from hard work, a disciplined approach to managing our business and a consistent focus on our long-term strategy,” said Robert Reynolds, Jr., the company’s chairman, president and CEO. “We achieved profitability and finished the year with low debt levels and a strong cash position. This prepares us for growth as the economy recovers.”

W.W. Grainger Inc., Lake Forest, Ill., enjoyed a 12-percent daily sales increase YTY in February. Results for the month included a five-percent contribution from acquisitions, a one- percent point benefit from the sales of seasonal products and a two-percent contribution from foreign exchange. Daily sales in the United States were up six percent for the month. Details

Gexpro/Rexel Group, Shelton, Conn., has been awarded a United States General Services Administration (GSA) Schedule Contract. The award opens the door for Gexpro to sell products to every federal government agency and to participate in additional government quotes for items that are in the same product classification on the contract.
The Gexpro award is for five years and is renewable for three more five-year intervals. With the GSA Schedule award, Gexpro’s pricing and terms-and-conditions of sale are pre-established with the federal government. The GSA Schedule contract program establishes long-term government-wide contracts with companies to provide access to products or services that can be ordered directly from the GSA Schedule contractors or through the GSA Advantage online shopping and ordering system.
“This contract is not a simple formality, but took several months of our efforts in submitting the necessary information and documentation to meet the specific criteria for the government award,” said Chris Chickanosky, vice president, global sales. “We are pleased that Gexpro’s product selection and value-added services will now be made directly available to federal agencies. And we look forward to providing the latest, most advanced electrical solutions that will help make their projects more efficient and productive.”