Supplier News

nVent Completes Acquisition of ECM Industries

nVent has completed the acquisition of ECM Investors LLC, the parent company of ECM Industries LLC, for a purchase price of $1.1 billion, subject to customary adjustments. ECM is a leading provider of high-value electrical connectors, tools and test instruments, and cable management.

Beth Wozniak, nVent chair and CEO, said, “I am excited to welcome the ECM team to nVent. ECM’s complementary electrical power connection and grounding solutions portfolio further positions nVent with the electrification of everything. The addition of ECM is exciting, and we are confident it will deliver significant value for our customers, employees and shareholders.”

ECM is a North American provider of electrical connectivity products with industry-leading brands, including ILSCO, Gardner Bender and King Innovation. With headquarters in New Berlin, Wisconsin, ECM has approximately 1,400 employees.

For more information, visit nvent.com/en-us.

Southwire Announces Expansion in Alabama, 12 for Life Class

As part of its ongoing modernization efforts, Southwire has announced an expansion at its campus in Florence, Alabama, that is expected to increase production capacity by 30% and create approximately 120 jobs.

“At Southwire, we’re making a multi-year investment of more than a billion dollars to integrate newer and better equipment, systems and technology into our operations to increase efficiency, enhance competitiveness and ensure the operational capability and capacity to support our strategic growth. The Florence expansion is a testament to those efforts,” said Rich Stinson, Southwire’s president and CEO.

The Southwire Florence Plant was acquired from Essex in 2006 to support the company’s production of commercial and residential building wire. The 300,000-square-foot campus has grown over time, and this expansion will include approximately 340,000 square feet of added space for new equipment.

“Southwire is committed to remain generationally sustainable for the next 100 years and beyond and be an employer of choice, and we look forward to the growth opportunities that this expansion will bring to our company,” said Norman Adkins, president of wire and cable and chief operating officer.

In addition to more operating space and new equipment, the project will also include renovating the existing building to enhance the team member experience, including locker rooms, training space and an outdoor picnic and activity area.

“This investment will allow us to better service our customers safely and efficiently, and the Florence team and I are very excited about the expansion and what it means for the future,” said Brian Davis, plant manager. “This expansion speaks volumes about the dedication, hard work and commitment of our team members, and we look forward to the opportunities that this expansion will bring.”

These investments and upgrades will effectively streamline Southwire’s commercial and residential building wire efforts, complement existing products and emphasize the facility’s culture and labor pool. Construction is expected to be completed in 2025.

In more company news, Southwire’s 12 for Life® hosted its annual commencement ceremonies in Carrollton, Georgia and Florence, Alabama in May. Since the program’s inception in 2007, more than 3,300 students have graduated through the support of this partnership which is designed to build better lives through education, employment and opportunity.

12 for Life, a collaborative partnership between Southwire and local school systems, provides classroom instruction, on-the-job training, key work and life skills, mentoring and employment opportunities. Through 12 for Life, students are motivated to stay in school, graduate, and move ahead to become successful, productive members of the communities in which they live.

This year, 59 students were honored at the ceremonies and completed the requirements to receive their high school diplomas through the support of the Carrollton and Florence 12 for Life programs. The keynote speaker at both events was Aimee Copeland, psychotherapist and executive director of the Aimee Copeland Foundation.

The graduates will be pursuing pathways including post-secondary education and/or entering the workforce full-time.

For more information, visit southwire.com.

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ABB Opens Innovation Center in Memphis

ABB Installation Products opened its $3 million Robert M. Thomas Innovation Center in Memphis, Tennessee to accelerate development of next-generation electrification solutions. The 16,000-square-foot space brings together research and development, engineers and product and training specialists to collaborate with customers on the design and testing of electrical products for a broad range of industries and environments.

The Robert M. Thomas Innovation Center builds on over a century of pioneering electrification solutions to address the growing needs of sectors such as automation, data centers, food and beverage, original equipment manufacturing (OEM), robotics and infrastructure. In addition to serving as a center for customer collaboration, leveraging in-house engineering expertise, the on-site lab and testing facilities play an essential role in streamlining the development process and reducing time to market for new products and customized solutions. Integrating capabilities under one roof will help ABB Installation Products create advanced materials and electrical technologies that span the entire product lifecycle, from engineering and installation to operations and service.

“Many industries we serve are experiencing significant transformation, including construction, manufacturing, transportation and utilities. The Robert M. Thomas Innovation Center continues our long history of pioneering innovative electrification solutions that contractors and installers rely on every day to complete critical commercial, residential and industrial projects,” said Matthias Heilmann, president, ABB Installation Products Division. “Working side-by-side to bring combined industry knowledge and expertise into our product designs positions ABB to anticipate and respond to a dynamic market, keeping us at the forefront of safely and more efficiently powering and protecting homes and communities.”

The Innovation Center was built on the existing ABB Installation Products campus and occupies the lower level of its 860 Ridge Lake Boulevard building. ABB is the seventh largest private employer in Memphis and more than 300 employees support ABB Installation Products, including 14 full-time specialists who transferred to the Innovation Center from its former lab in Southaven, Mississippi.

For more information, visit electrification.us.abb.com/products/installation-products.

Arlington People on the Move

Arlington Industries has announced the promotion of Jim Cortese to the position of national sales manager.

In his new role Cortese will be responsible for all sales activities in the domestic U.S. electrical wholesaling market, including new product introductions. He will serve as Arlington’s liaison with national buying groups and accounts. He will also manage Arlington’s Regional Sales Management team.

Cortese has worked for Arlington since July 1979. Most recently, he was Arlington’s customer service manager. He brings to his new position a wealth of product knowledge across all of Arlington’s lines.

Cortese replaces long time National Sales Manager Don Ambrose, who will now serve Arlington as director of sales and marketing.

More Arlington Appointments

Betty (Elizabeth) Stark, wife of the late Tom Stark, president of Arlington, is now chairman of the board.

Ray Barnes, chief financial officer for Arlington, was named vice president and treasurer of the corporation.

For more information, visit aifittings.com.

Hammond Power Solutions Appoints New CEO, Rebrands

Hammond Power Solutions Inc. (HPS) announced the appointment of Adrian Thomas as the company’s next chief executive officer, replacing Bill Hammond who will assume the position of executive chairman after 22 years as the CEO. Thomas will also be appointed to HPS’ Board of Directors. The announcement follows an extensive search process conducted by the Board of Directors, which included the evaluation of highly qualified internal and external candidates and was aided with the support of an executive search firm.

“Adrian is a highly capable and seasoned leader with more than two decades of experience across the electrical industry and has successfully led teams launching technologies globally,” said Grant Robinson, lead director of HPS. “Adrian gained valuable experience during his tenure at Schneider Electric and fully understands the opportunity in front of HPS as countries around the world are recognizing the long-term benefits of electrifying their economies and are continuing to adopt power sources with a lower carbon footprint.”

Thomas is a highly experienced professional with more than 20 years of expertise in the electrical and automation industry. Throughout his career, he has held key positions at renowned companies such as General Electric (GE), TMEIC and most recently Schneider Electric. Thomas’ experience has included a number of senior executive roles in Canada at both GE and Schneider Electric, where he has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership and a deep understanding of the industry.

“I am excited to join HPS, a company that has been around for more than a century and is recognized globally as the gold standard for dry-type transformers and service,” said Thomas. “HPS has an incredible platform for growth, and I look forward to working with Bill and the broader HPS team to meet the increasing demand from our customers.”

HPS has also unveiled a new brand identity. The development of the new brand involved evaluating the existing HPS brand identity, obtaining feedback from employees, customers and partners and analyzing the company’s future direction. The modernized logo, color scheme, tagline and updated company messaging are all part of the new brand identity. The future-focused tagline, “Energizing Our World,” emphasizes the company’s goal to be a leader in the electrification of the world by providing standard and custom power conversion solutions, while positively impacting social and environmental sustainability.

For more information, visit americas.hammondpowersolutions.com.

Atkore President and CEO Named Entrepreneur of the Year

Atkore Inc. announced that William (Bill) Waltz, president and CEO of Atkore Inc., was named an Entrepreneur of the Year® 2023 Midwest Award winner by Ernst & Young LLP (EY US). The Entrepreneur of the Year Awards program is one of the preeminent competitive awards for leaders of high-growth companies.

The candidates for this award were evaluated based on their demonstration of building long-term value through entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, growth and impact, among other core contributions and attributes.

Waltz commented, “While I’m truly honored to be recognized for this distinction, the real credit belongs to our entire organization. From a board of directors who support our strategic direction to a leadership team that is committed to achieving our mission, I am inspired by their collaborative approach and dedication to our values. In addition, our success is only made possible by the 5,000 Atkore employees globally who are dedicated to serving our customers—they are the true driving force of our company. I’m incredibly proud to be a part of this team and the journey we’ve taken together over the years to transform our business, build on our successes and deliver long-term value for all our stakeholders.”

For nearly four decades, EY US has honored business leaders and entrepreneurs whose ambition, courage and ingenuity have driven their companies’ success, transformed their industries and made a positive impact on their communities.

For more information, visit atkore.com.

Legrand Takes Top Award in IMELCO Supplier Award Program

Legrand emerged as the overall winner in IMELCO’s highly anticipated Supplier Award Program (SAP) 2023. Following an extensive survey of supplier relationships, Legrand received the highest rating from IMELCO members. Representatives of national IMELCO members and partner suppliers joined to celebrate all award winners in Rotterdam.

Co Braber, president of IMELCO, commented, “What sets Legrand apart is their consistent excellence across all categories, as highlighted by the feedback from our associated wholesalers. This is not a one-time success but a continuation of their outstanding performance. Their forward-thinking collaboration with IMELCO members serves as a model for others to follow, driving mutual business growth and success.”

IMELCO recognized the achievements of the following companies:

• Overall SAP Winner 2023: LEGRAND
• Overall runner up: LEDVANCE
• Best rated, Loyalty to Wholesalers: HAGER
• Best rated, General Collaboration at COO Level: LEDVANCE
• Best rated, Commercial Offering: OBO BETTERMANN

While the award event stands as the highlight of IMELCO’s Supplier Award Program, Wayne Mikkelsen, IMELCO marketing specialist, explained the true value received by every participating supplier. “This program provides partner suppliers with invaluable direct feedback from our member wholesalers worldwide, also enabling suppliers to benchmark their performance against their peers,” said Mikkelsen. “The idea is to celebrate what is working well, while identifying areas where partnerships can be further strengthened.”

For more information, visit imelco-solutions.com.

Dot Family Holdings Announces Leadership Change at OmniCable

Dot Family Holdings (DFH), the investment office of the Tracy Family, owners and operators of Dot Foods Inc., the largest food industry redistributor in North America, recently announced that Greg Lampert has retired from his role as CEO of OmniCable. DFH acquired OmniCable in 2019; Lampert was with the business for seven years total and moved into the CEO role following the acquisition. OmniCable’s current Vice Chairman Jeff Siegfried will step in as interim CEO. Siegfried co-founded the company and previously served as CEO and chairman.

“Greg has been a valued member of our OmniCable team, and he will be missed,” Siegfried said. “He recently shared that he made this decision because he needs his focus to be on his family now after a 34-year career of heavy travel and unwavering commitment to the businesses and teams he has served. We are grateful for his leadership and the strategic direction he provided throughout his career at OmniCable that helped drive a lot of success for the company.”

“We are fortunate Jeff is willing to step in and serve as OmniCable’s interim CEO,” explained Joe Tracy, CEO of Dot Family Holdings. “No one knows OmniCable like Jeff does, and his deep history with the business and leadership will make sure this is a smooth transition for employees, customers, and business partners as we begin the search for our next CEO. DFH knows the future is bright for OmniCable. The company is coming off a banner 2022, the most successful year in its history. And while OmniCable faces the same challenges as everyone else in the industry, we have some exciting initiatives in the works that we look forward to sharing publicly very soon.”

DFH specializes in distribution-related opportunities and is focused exclusively on acquiring leading middle-market distribution companies with a special interest in master/two-step distribution and any national distribution models. DFH’s approach to acquiring and holding companies for the long term and investing for growth made them an ideal partner for OmniCable.

Other DFH companies include Houston Wire and Cable, Grabber Construction Products, Reliable Parts and Pet Food Experts.

For more information visit dotfamilyholdings.com.

Hubbell Announces New Segment Leadership

Hubbell recently announced the appointment of Mark Mikes as president of the Hubbell Electrical Solutions (HES) segment.

Mikes has been with Hubbell for more than 30 years in various roles at Hubbell Power Systems (HPS), a division of Hubbell Utility Systems, which he has led for the last several years. Bakker commented, “Mark has a well-established track record of success at Hubbell. He played a major leadership role in our successful efforts to bring together a broad portfolio of acquired utility businesses under a unified, integrated business in HPS. Organized to compete collectively, HPS’s simplified operating structure has enabled us to consistently improve profitability and cash generation. Mark is the ideal leader to execute on a similar playbook at HES as we continue our multi-year strategy to improve the segment’s long-term growth and margin profile.”

For more information, visit hubbell.com.

Southwire Announces Organizational Changes

As the company continues its efforts to remain generationally sustainable, Southwire has announced organizational changes.

In addition to his current leadership role, Norman Adkins, Southwire’s president of wire and cable and chief operating officer, will assume responsibility for the company’s Tools, Components and Assembled Solutions (TCAS) business.

In this transition, Peter Lugo, senior vice president (SVP) of product management, will report to Norman and lead Southwire’s TCAS business.

Alan Bearden, SVP of strategic integration, will now report to Guyton Cochran, executive vice president and CFO.

“We have said many times that it is an exciting time to be in our industry, and I truly believe that great things are ahead for our company,” said Adkins. “The TCAS organization represents a significant part of Southwire’s strategy, our commitment to growth and our expectations toward how we will serve our customers and our industry for the long-term. I look forward to working alongside Peter as we pursue the opportunities that are ahead for this team and for our company.”

“We talk a lot about the re-electrification of North America. The markets we serve through our TCAS business will play a major role in how we will meet the evolving needs of our customers today and in the future. We expect TCAS to grow to a multi-billion-dollar business in the next few years, and I look forward to what is in store for this team under Norman and Peter’s leadership,” said Rich Stinson, Southwire’s president and CEO.

For more information, visit southwire.com.

Current Names Company CFO

Current has announced that Barry Webb has joined the company as chief financial officer (CFO). He most recently served as CFO of Shape Technologies Group. He has been a senior advisor to AIP, assuming interim CFO roles, was CFO of the Carlstar Group (another AIP portfolio company), along with having various leadership roles at Carlisle Companies, PricewaterhouseCoopers and Deloitte.

“I am extremely excited to join the team at Current,” said Webb. “Having had the opportunity to work on the carve-out of Current Lighting from GE in 2019, it was evident to me at the time that this is a very solid business which was only strengthened by the acquisition of Hubbell’s business last year. I am very much looking forward to partnering with the team.”

Webb is a graduate of Virginia Tech where he received both his master’s and bachelor’s degrees in accounting. He lives with his wife and three children in Nashville.

For more information, visit gecurrent.com.

Keystone Technologies Promotes Josh Brown to CCO

Keystone Technologies recently promoted Josh Brown to chief commercial officer (CCO) for the company.

Brown started at Keystone as a territory manager in the company’s distribution division 14 years ago. He has held a variety of sales and management positions at Keystone, most recently as executive vice president of marketing and distributor sales. His new role expands his responsibilities to include, among other things, oversight of OEM channels and future expansion prospects.

During his tenure, Keystone has become one of the leading brands in the lighting industry, expanding from ballasts and tubes into a portfolio of LED fixtures, lamps, controls, power supplies and other lighting solutions. Brown has also spearheaded several creative initiatives at the company, from award-winning marketing campaigns to progressive sales strategies.

The CCO will be responsible for all sales, marketing and business development activities for Keystone, including sales and customer service strategies, partnership development and marketing strategies.

“I am humbled and excited to take on this position,” said Brown. “I look forward to continuing to grow Keystone’s sales and reputation, as well as expanding the impact of our Light Made Easy philosophy in the lighting, construction and design industries. The best is yet to come for Keystone, and I’m pleased to help the company take on new challenges and achieve even greater success.”

For more information, visit keystonetech.com.

IDEA Connector Director of Business Development Named

IDEA has appointed Crissty Carrington as director of business development for IDEA Connector. In her new role, Carrington will focus on growth and new customer acquisition, adding to IDEA’s deep electrical industry expertise.

Carrington’s experience includes serving as director of operations for IM Supply, and most recently, as part of the leadership team at Lonestar Lighting and Technology. Carrington also previously worked for Acuity Brands and was a branch manager for Wiedenbach-Brown.

“Cris brings a wealth of electrical industry experience from all parts of the channel. Her unique perspective—including being an IDEA customer—enables her to respond to the needs and challenges facing distributors of all sizes. She is dedicated to helping electrical distributors and manufacturers maximize the value of IDEA Connector and its growing ecosystem of related services,” said Mike Wentz, vice president, sales and marketing, IDEA.

For more information, visit idea4industry.com.

Nucor Announces New Managers

Nucor has announced the addition of managers to its team:

John Williams joined the company as regional sales manager—Northeast. Williams comes from the electrical industry with more than 25 years of experience in electrical distribution and extensive time working at Cameron & Barkley, Sonepar and Rexel. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Wofford College.

Two other additions to Nucor’s team include Terry Donahoe, who accepted the position of regional sales manager for Nucor Republic Conduit and Scott Stephens who was named regional sales manager—West.

Donahoe served at Anixter for seven years as a sales leader for its industrial location in Houston. Prior to Anixter, he was a principal and regional sales manager for a manufacturer representative agency in the HVAC/Plumbing industry covering Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Louisiana.

Stephens comes from the oil and gas industry with more than 20 years of experience in industrial sales, with extensive time working with manufacturing, supply chain, quality and engineering. He holds a BBA in Marketing from Texas A&M.

For more information, visit nucor.com.

OmniCable Launches New Communications Business Unit

OmniCable LLC recently launched its newly formed Communications Business Unit and hired David Bemoras as its president. In this role, Bemoras is responsible for leading the business unit and growing the low-voltage and communications products business with distributors.

“OmniCable’s decision to invest in the redistribution of communications products adds value to suppliers and distributors by addressing unmet supply chain inefficiencies,” said Jeff Siegfried, interim president and CEO of OmniCable. “OmniCable’s capabilities are being used by distributors daily, many of which need quick access to communications products to support their customer requirements.”

Bemoras has more than 30 years of sales, marketing, executive and industry experience and leadership. He founded GNWC Wire Cable & Network Products in 1983, where he grew the business from the ground up, taking a single operation and expanding its product suite to one of the fastest-growing distribution companies nationwide. In 1997, he partnered with private equity and Communications Supply, and was part of the executive leadership team that executed an industry consolidation acquisition strategy that created a national $750 million dollar distribution business. In 2006, Communications Supply was sold to Wesco International. Bemoras then became president of the Data Communications/Low Voltage Division at Wesco. During his 11-year tenure with Wesco, he also served as the global executive vice president of sales and marketing.

For more information, visit omnicable.com.