Business Briefs for the Week of February 6, 2006

Feb 10, 2006 8:00 AM

Shaw Group, Leviton, Thomas & Betts

On Feb. 6 Minneapolis-based Xcel Energy announced that it awarded an engineering, procurement, and construction contract to the Shaw Stone & Webster unit of Baton Rouge, La.-based The Shaw Group Inc. The new 750MW supercritical coal-fired power plant, with a total cost of $1.35 billion, will be the third unit at Xcel’s Comanche Generating Station in Pueblo, Colo.

The Chicago Athenaeum Museum of Architecture and Design recently selected Little Neck, N.Y.-based Leviton Manufacturing Company’s Acenti Collection as winner of the 2005 Good Design award for electronics. The Acenti Collection consists of more than 40 wiring devices, such as dimmers, switchers, and receptacles.

Memphis, Tenn.-based Thomas & Betts Corp., manufacturer of electronics components, posted fourth quarter earnings of $25.8 million, up nearly 11%. Net earnings for 2005 were $1.86 a share. The company expects 2006 earnings to range from $2.35 to $2.45 a share.

Tulsa, Okla.-based Hilti Tools recently launched its Lifetime Service program. Under the program, during the initial no-cost period — up to two years depending on tool model — Hilti tools will be serviced at no additional cost. After that time, Hilti tools will have a maximum repair cost of no greater than 30% of the tool’s list price.

Meridian Systems, Folsom, Calif.-based project management software developer, recently partnered with Dimension 5 Solutions, Roseville, Calif.-based developers of Encompass software. The companies expect the pairing of Encompass with Meridian’s Prolog Manager and Prolog Web site will automate the collection, verification, and entry of paper-based and electronic project data.