Business Briefs for the Week of July 14, 2008

San Rafael, Calif.-based Autodesk and Exton, Pa.-based Bentley Systems, two of the leading providers of design and infrastructure software, recently announced an agreement to expand interoperability between their portfolios of architectural, engineering, and construction (AEC) software. Autodesk and Bentley will exchange software libraries, including Autodesk RealDWG, to improve the ability to read and write the companies’ respective DWG and DGN formats in mixed environments with greater fidelity.

Chandler, Ariz.-based Essco Wholesale Electric, a subsidiary of Sonepar USA, recently announced the asset acquisition of Mountain Vista Supply, Sierra Vista, Ariz., a full-line commercial and residential contractor supply house. “We are pleased to welcome the Mountain Vista Supply team to our family of businesses,” says Scott Tonn, president of Essco.

Rockford, Ill.-based Textron’s Greenlee business unit has completed an acquisition of Utilux, a leading manufacturer of electrical connectors and cable assemblies for electrical distributors and a number of European industrial segments. With this acquisition, Greenlee adds key product offerings and capacity to its Klauke division, which is based in Remscheid, Germany, and is known for compression connectors and crimping and cutting tools.