Industry roundup: partnerships, mergers, etc. – 2008-06-19

News from W.A.C. Lighting, Honeywell, Active Power, UTC Power, Yakawa Electric, Eaton Corp., Optical Cable Corp., Carrier Corp., and WFI Industries.

By Consulting Specifying Engineer Staff June 19, 2008

Matthew Wakeham has been named marketing director for W.A.C. Lighting , Garden City, N.Y.

Honeywell, Minneapolis, announced a $4.25 million permanent load-shifting program with Southern California Edison to reduce the utility bills of commercial customers and decrease electricity consumption during peak day hours. The Night Shift program will deliver 2.5 MW of peak power relief noon to 6 p.m. Active Power , Austin, Texas, appointed Martin Olsen vice president of business development. Olsen previously served as director of product management and development.

The New York Power Authority selected UTC Power , New York, to supply 12 fuel cells (4.8 MW) for the Freedom Tower and three other towers under construction at the World Trade Center. Yakawa Electric , Waukegan, Ill., became the world’s first manufacturer to ship 10 million variable frequency drives. Eaton Corp ., Raleigh, N.C., announced plans to combine IBM Tivoli service and energy management solutions with Eaton’s Power Xpert software, Foreseer Class. Optical Cable Corp., Roanoke, Va., acquired Superior Modular Products Inc. on May 30. SMP Data Communications is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Optical Cable Corp, which purchased the company for $11.5 million. Carrier Corp., Farmington, Conn., acquired Sharp Mechanical Inc. The business will operate as part of Carrier Commercial Service effective immediately. The acquisition was completed May 13. Tim Cortes has been named chief technical officer of Power Distribution Inc ., Richmond, Va., replacing John Kammeter . Cortes comes to the company from ESS Technologies. In his position as CTO, Cortes leads the research and development and product development organizations of the company. Kammeter continues to provide ongoing technical support in a new role as senior technical consultant.

The board of directors of WFI Industries Ltd ., Fort Wayne, Ind., accepted the retirement notice of Bruce Ritchey , president and CEO, to take effect May 31, 2009. Ritchey will continue in his current capacity until a successor is appointed.