Business Briefs for the Week of Aug. 18, 2008

Norwalk, Conn.-based EMCOR Group recently announced that its subsidiary Gibson Electric Co., Downers Grove, Ill., was awarded the contract to install all power, lighting, structured cabling, and life safety systems for a new 650,000 square-foot office expansion project for international law firm Kirkland & Ellis in downtown Chicago. Gibson will be the lead electrical contractor for the project.

A-Z Industries, Northbrook, Ill.-based electrical and industrial wire and cable specialists, will open its third major U.S. warehouse facility in Phoenix. The warehouse will be located in Phoenix's Freeport Industrial Center.

Paoli, Pa.-based AMETEK, Inc. has agreed to acquire the programmable power business of Xantrex Technology, Inc., San Diego, for $120 million in cash. Xantrex’s Programmable Power Division is a leader in alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) programmable power supplies used to test electrical and electronic products. It has annual sales of approximately $80 million.