Trade Service and epaCUBE offer software to optimize margins
Trade Service Co., San Diego, Calif., and epaCUBE, a provider of product data quality and gross profit optimization solutions, announced a joint venture to offer Margin Optimizer, a “cloud-based” margin optimization solution. Trade Service will offer Dallas-based epaCUBE's Gross Margin Modeling solution on a subscription basis as part of its eDataFlex family of product and pricing services. Trade Service's Margin Optimizer, powered by epaCUBE, offers electrical distributors the ability to forecast and clearly see the future impact of supplier cost changes from their eDataFlex price load on gross margin.
“Offering tools like Margin Optimizer is a natural extension of our product and price updating services and is yet another way we can focus on making distributors more efficient and more profitable,” said Tony Dubreville, president and CEO of Trade Service. “It is also reflective of our continuing commitment to provide high-quality services and profit-enhancing productivity tools to customers.”
EMCOR bolsters government business with acquisition
Contracting giant EMCOR Group Inc. Norwalk, Conn., has acquired Bahnson Holdings, Inc., a privately held mechanical construction services company headquartered in Winston-Salem, N.C. In business since 1915, Bahnson, with 2010 revenues of approximately $155 million, is a leading industrial services company providing mechanical, HVAC and specialty refrigeration systems to virtually every industry in the U.S., with particular emphasis in the industrial, power, pharmaceutical, alternative energy and nuclear markets including projects for the U.S. Department of Energy and Department of Defense.
Leviton acquires UK lighting controls manufacturer
Leviton Manufacturing Co. Inc., Melville, N.Y., has purchased Quantran Systems Ltd., Watford, United Kingdom. For more than a quarter of a century, Quantran has pioneered, designed and manufactured architectural dimming and lighting control systems.
In a separate announcement, Leviton said it has joined the Zhaga consortium to promote interoperability in development of LED light sources by promoting standards for light-engine interfaces. By standardizing the external characteristics of LED products, the consortium seeks to increase buyer confidence in specifying and purchasing LED products, knowing that they will be easily replaceable and commercially available.
Colonial Electric Supply opens in Brooklyn
Colonial Electric Supply, King of Prussia, Pa., has expanded into a new territory with the opening of its twentieth counter location, this one in Brooklyn, New York. The new location is expected to open its doors within the first quarter of 2011. Family-owned Colonial Electric Supply, which has locations throughout the Mid Atlantic region, serving Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and Maryland, is making its first move into New York.
Located at 326 Rockaway Ave., the Brooklyn location is the former site of Liberty Electric Supply, which operated there for 75 years before being acquired over a decade ago. Steve Mayer, former chief financial officer of Liberty Electric Supply, is joining the Colonial Electric Team as executive V.P. of the New York Region. Curtis Pecherek, a long-time Colonial employee, will become the branch manager of this site.
T&B rolls out digital parts catalog
PARTsolutions, a provider of 3D parts catalogs, has developed an online product catalog containing over 2,300 products for electrical manufacturer Thomas & Betts (T&B), Memphis. The move makes T&B's electrical conduit and fittings product line available on the web in a 3D CAD digital catalog. The product eliminates the the time-intensive process of creating, migrating and translating catalog content, saving T&B significant resources. PARTsolutions said the solution also increases lead generation by allowing T&B to track who is accessing designs and proactively deliver sales and support information to its customers. On-demand configuration and delivery of high quality product data in native CAD benefits the company's thousands of customers in industrial, commercial, communications and utility markets by streamlining the design process. As a free service, it will also save those customers substantial costs.
A-Z Industries opens distribution center in Charlotte
A-Z Industries, Inc., Northbrook, Ill., a specialty master distributor of electrical and industrial wire and cable, has opened its fourth major stocking facility and sales office in Charlotte, N.C. The new 30,000 sq. ft. facility will be the company's primary stocking location for the Southeast region. The company already has distribution centers in Chicago, Houston and Phoenix, so adding the Southeast gets the company a step closer to coast-to-coast coverage. Doug Godwin, a life-long resident of the greater Charlotte area, has been named branch manager of the new facility.