Manufacturer News: 1.3.2012

GE Exec: 70-80% of lighting will be LED by 2020

Maryrose Sylvester, identified in a Bloomberg.com article as head of GE’s lighting unit, said, “By 2020, about 70 to 80 percent of the general lighting market is going to be enabled by LEDs.”

The article also states:

• GE’s lighting unit, with 17,000 workers worldwide, grossed about $3 billion of GE’s $150 billion in sales in 2010.
• An outlook attributed in the article to Philips said, “45% of the market will be LED-based by 2016.”
• Pike Research’s forecast for commercial lighting in 2021 says that LEDs would be 52% of the market in that year.
• The article included information from Konkana Khaund of Frost & Sullivan. The author writes, “‘The LED market is a hyped market,’ Khaund said, referring to forecasts from a broad range of sources.”

New Arlington-Bridgeport Development

According to a news release from Bridgeport Fittings, “The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office recently affirmed rejections of Arlington Industries’ ‘831 Duplex Snap-In product patent that was on appeal with the office…[which] confirms Bridgeport’s belief the ‘831 contained claims that were not valid.

“The Arlington ‘831 patent has been part of the litigation between the two parties.”

Interconnectionworld.com reported that Bridgeport had re-introduced its Whipper-Snap connector following the expiration of Arlington’s ‘050 patent on Dec. 4.

Who’s Growing: The Where, How and Why

Belden encounters resistance: Belden made public its plan to acquire RuggedCom for $21.23 (U.S.) per share, but according to the St. Louis Business Journal, the board of the targeted company has adopted a “poison pill” that would enable it to hold Belden off (in theory).

Cat to remake wind turbines: A deal between Caterpillar and Vesta Wind Systems could, according to American Machinist, lead to Cat’s remanufacturing operation serving, over 10 years, as “the primary service provider to as many as 44,500 wind turbines.”

Encore Wire to add new plant: On its McKinney, Texas campus, Encore Wire Corp. plans to spend as much as $30 million this year to build a new 202,000 square-foot manufacturing plant. According to a news release, the plant will be stocked with equipment to produce aluminum wire and cable.

Generac to be taken over? Generac’s stock is modestly priced, leading this article in Barron’s to speculate that the generator supplier might be acquired.

The author writes, “It’s possible that Generac, with a stock-market value of just $1.6 billion, could attract takeover interest from a larger industrial outfit. The company is controlled by a New York private-equity firm, CCMP Capital, which took it public in 2010 at $13 a share—after a 2006 leveraged buyout—and still has a 59% stake.

“A Generac sale could be CCMP’s endgame, since private-equity firms need an exit strategy for their investments.”

IEM adds IPS: Industrial Electric Manufacturing, which calls itself “the largest independent full-line manufacturer of electrical and power quality equipment” in the U.S., has acquired Industrial Power Systems (IPS). IPS makes controls and switchgear for marine and industrial applications.

Mueller Electric now part of Desco: Desco Corp. of Columbus, Ohio owns “eight separate middle-market industrial businesses,” according to TMworld.com. The newest addition is Mueller Electric, maker of “test leads, cable assemblies, clips, connectors” and more for the test-and-measurement market.

US Highland opens motor unit: A recent news release said US Highland Electric would be created (unit of US Highland Inc.) “to take full advantage of the demand for electric motor products.”

ManuFacts

Panama Canal deal: Eaton won a three-year, $27 million contract to provide “equipment design, electrical assemblies, and engineering services” for a third set of locks at the Panama Canal.

Siemens notes

• Green award: The city of West Chicago, Ill. has honored Siemens’ local manufacturing operations with its “Green Initiatives” award, part of the city’s “Brilliance in Business” program. At Siemens’ two buildings in West Chicago, the company produces solar inverters, motor control centers and more.
• Smart portfolio additions: Siemens now has 20 valued-based products in its “Smart” portfolio, including, according to a news release, products for power distribution, building, and infrastructure.
• Work for contractors in Merced, Calif.: A $7.2 million energy savings performance contract in Merced, Calif. is allowing Siemens Building Technologies to hire local subcontractors to do energy-efficient upgrades and retrofits to 17 city buildings. Below: SBT workers and some from Sylvania Lighting Systems, as wells as trucks and workers from three local contractors—First Day Electric, Best Electric, and Modern Air.

LED Market Briefing

Bridgelux claims 100% growth in 2011: A Bridgelux news release says the privately owned LED supplier raised $76 million from investors during 2011 and “experienced a 300% unit volume growth in LED array sales in the past year alone.”

LSG gets DOE mention: In a recent entry to the DOE’s “Postings” focused on progress in the LED business and Lighting Science Group (LSG). The entry said:

• While the company has been committed to manufacturing in the U.S., right now 25% of its products are made here…and there might be more moved to Mexico.
• LSG has grown from 50 U.S. employees to 300 in just two years.
• “Not all” of its lamps and luminaires “bear the LSG name, some are privately labeled.”

Philips exec sees tough times for LED suppliers: In a WallStCheatSheet.com post, Edward Po, president of Philips Taiwan, said he “…expects 30%-40% Y/Y growth in 2011 for the LED lighting market, he foresees that price pressure caused by oversupply will set off a wave of industry consolidation that will start in 2012 and last 3-4 years.”