Bob Eck

Anixter International announced it will provide an update on smart building technology on a new Science Channel series, Tomorrow’s World Today. Tomorrow’s World Today is a new technology-inspired television program dedicated to exploring topics such as sustainability, educating viewers on new technology, and showcasing worldwide concepts around innovation. Tomorrow’s World Today will air on the Science Channel in May 2018.  Aymon DeMauro, VP Branded Content Distribution at Discovery Communications, remarked, “We are thrilled Anixter will share with viewers unique insight into what technologies make up a smart building and how the efficiencies gained in smart buildings can lead to better productivity, improved sustainability, greater cost savings and even happier occupants."Anixter will discuss smart building applications that can be utilized in a commercial building, theme park, stadium or classroom Intelligent Lighting To Facial Recognition Anixter will discuss smart building applications including intelligent lighting, access control, video surveillance, facial recognition and other technologies that can be utilized in any environment whether it is in a commercial building, theme park, stadium or classroom. Anixter representatives were on hand in the Anixter Infrastructure Solutions Laboratory with Discovery reporter, Tamara Krinsky of Tomorrow’s World Today, for a guided tour illustrating what smart building technology looks like today and how it is evolving for the future.  Anixter CEO, Bob Eck commented, “As a company that is passionate about STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education, we are honored and excited to be selected to speak on the topic of smart building technology on Tomorrow’s World Today. We’re looking forward to sharing the merits of smart building technology with viewers, which includes both financial and environmentally friendly insights.”

Anixter is expanding the footprint of its North American flagship distribution Center in Alsip, Illinois, with the addition of a 238,000-sq.-ft. facility, equipped with an intelligent conveyor system and voice picking technology, making it Anixter’s largest—and smartest—distribution center. With 30 to 40 percent more storage capacity and new automation technology, Alsip is expected to speed up shipments significantly to customers. “The new facility will significantly decrease our processing time,” said Orlando McGee, Executive Vice President of Global Operations. “The technology and design of this facility will enable us to move orders into the shipping network faster. Ultimately, that nets out to better service overall to our customers.” McGee estimates that Anixter will see total productivity savings of 15-25 percent. The new facility will significantly decrease our processing time" LEED-Certified Facility The facility is LEED-certified, and the new motion-activated LED lighting system is estimated to be 40 percent more energy-efficient than a standard lighting system. Additionally, the 5,500-ft. smart conveyor system, which runs only when objects are placed on it, is estimated to be 35 percent more efficient than a belt-driven system and is designed for worker safety and ease of use. “The conveyor will be positioned at the right height so that product can be pushed directly onto the conveyor without lifting, reducing injuries,” commented McGee. The conveyor will be positioned at the right height so that product can be pushed directly onto the conveyor without lifting, reducing injuries" Voice Picking Technology With Bluetooth headsets and Android devices directing them to their next pick, employees will also have their hands and eyes free, and be able to confirm vocally in their preferred language. The new voice picking technology is expected to improve efficiency and accuracy as well as worker safety. According to Anixter CEO, Bob Eck, the new Alsip facility embodies the smart building approach that Anixter champions in the marketplace. “We excel at assisting customers in laying the groundwork for smart buildings—from structured cabling to automation and lighting systems—to improve safety, productivity, space utilization and efficiency. We’ve applied our own smart building principles to Alsip, and this new facility demonstrates the quantifiable business value of the smart building approach.” Anixter’s expanded distribution center in Alsip, Illinois, is expected to open in mid-April of this year.

Anixter International Inc. announced it will provide an update on smart building technology on a new Science Channel series, Tomorrow’s World Today. Tomorrow’s World Today is a new technology-inspired television program dedicated to exploring topics such as sustainability, educating viewers on new technology, and showcasing worldwide concepts around innovation. Tomorrow’s World Today will air on the Science Channel in May 2018. Smart Building Applications Aymon DeMauro, VP Branded Content Distribution at Discovery Communications, remarked, “We are thrilled Anixter will share with viewers unique insight into what technologies make up a smart building and how the efficiencies gained in smart buildings can lead to better productivity, improved sustainability, greater cost savings and even happier occupants." Anixter will discuss smart building applications including intelligent lighting, access control, video surveillance, facial recognition and other technologies that can be utilized in any environment whether it is in a commercial building, theme park, stadium or classroom. Anixter representatives were on hand in the Anixter Infrastructure Solutions Laboratory with Discovery reporter, Tamara Krinsky of Tomorrow’s World Today, for a guided tour illustrating what smart building technology looks like today and how it is evolving for the future. Financial And Environment-Friendly Insights Anixter CEO, Bob Eck commented, “As a company that is passionate about STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) education, we are honored and excited to be selected to speak on the topic of smart building technology on Tomorrow’s World Today. We’re looking forward to sharing the merits of smart building technology with viewers, which includes both financial and environmentally friendly insights.” 

Anixter International’s acquisition of Tri-Ed could help to accelerate implementation of IP video and access control by small and mid-sized dealer/integrators. In announcing the $420 million acquisition, Anixter emphasized the opportunity to expand its IP business through the new Tri-Ed customer base that has previously been more focused on analog video as well as access control, intrusion detection and fire/life safety. It’s just one of the opportunities for Anixter to leverage the value of the “milestone” acquisition, the largest in Anixter’s 57-year history. Tri-Ed sells 110,000 different products to 2,000 active dealers and integrators through 61 branches and two technical sales centers located throughout North America. Although Tri-Ed’s commercial integrator base tends to be smaller, they do have several large national accounts in their portfolio. The opportunity to expand IP sales to mid- and small-sized integrators may have the most potential to provide a “multiplier effect” to Anixter’s security business, which is already on the upswing. The addition of Tri-Ed’s customer mix brings a new, different set of dealers that Anixter has not previously played to. The combined companies now cover everything from multi-national to small integrators, in effect covering 100 percent of the available market. (Tri-Ed also has a small presence in IP, in part resulting from its previous acquisition of Northern Video, but IP is less an emphasis than for Anixter, says Bob Eck, Anixter president and CEO.) The trends toward IP video systems that are easier to integrate and install could be useful as Anixter looks to attract traditionally analog dealers to its IP products. Another upside for Anixter is entry into the residential market. The market served by Tri-Ed’s 2,000 dealers is about 40 percent residential, which is a new sector for Anixter, whose focus has previously been on the commercial and enterprise markets. The entry into residential is coming at “an attractive time in the recovery cycle,” says Eck. There may also be an opportunity for the Tri-Ed business to be “bolted onto” Anixter’s international footprint quickly to create additional upside by expanding the product mix available to overseas customers. Tri-Ed also has a small but growing e-commerce business (about 4 percent of sales), that can contribute to Anixter’s ongoing e-commerce initiatives. “They have experience in the multi-channel approach that we think is so important,” says Eck. 

The combination brings Anixter’s expertise in IP video surveillance to Tri-Ed’s customers Anixter International Inc. recently announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Tri-Ed, a leading independent distributor of security and low-voltage technology products from Audax Group (“Audax”) for a purchase price of $420 million. The acquisition is expected to be accretive to earnings in the first full year of operation, exclusive of transaction and one-time integration expenses. Headquartered in Woodbury, NY, Tri-Ed serves four major segments of the security business including video, access control, intrusion detection and fire/life safety, and provides approximately 110,000 products to over 20,000 active dealer and integrator customers. The company employs over 600 people across 63 locations in the US and Canada. The company’s multi-channel distribution strategy integrates branches, technical sales centers and an e-commerce platform. Tri-Ed generated approximately $570 million in sales and $36 million in adjusted EBITDA over the trailing twelve months ending June 30, 2014. Bob Eck, Anixter’s President and CEO, stated, “The acquisition of Tri-Ed is a strategic opportunity for Anixter and our security business, consistent with our vision to create a leading global security platform and to accelerate profitable revenue growth. Through expanding our offering into highly complementary product lines, our customers will benefit from a broader set of products and solutions in the areas of video, access control, fire/life safety, and intrusion detection. As well, the combination brings Anixter’s expertise in IP video surveillance to Tri-Ed’s customers. In addition, this transaction provides access to the residential construction end market at an attractive point in the recovery cycle as well as to a community of security integrators and dealers not currently serviced by Anixter. We look forward to having the Tri-Ed team join the Anixter family when the transaction closes. Together we will be able to offer even better service and broader security solutions to our respective customers as well as substantial long term growth and value-creation for all Anixter stakeholders.” "The acquisition of Tri-Ed is a strategic opportunity for Anixter and our security business, consistent with our vision to create a leading global security platform and to accelerate profitable revenue growth" Pat Comunale, Tri-Ed’s President and CEO, stated, “We have great respect for Anixter and are excited about the opportunities that this combination will create for our people and our business. We look forward to building on our long-standing supplier partnerships and customer relationships to create an even stronger security platform.” Ted Dosch, Anixter’s Executive Vice President of Finance and CFO, stated, “Consistent with our stated priorities for capital allocation, the Tri-Ed acquisition accelerates the pace of growth in our security business, which is one of our strategic growth initiatives. We expect our strong cash flow generation will enable us to return to our target debt-to-capital range within 12 months, providing us with the continued financial flexibility that is a hallmark of our financial strategy.“ Subject to regulatory approval and certain customary closing conditions, this transaction is expected to close near the end of the third quarter of 2014 and will be financed using available cash and borrowings under a new term loan that is expected to be entered into prior to closing. The majority of transaction and integration costs will be incurred in fiscal years 2014 and 2015. Greenhill & Co. served as financial advisor, Skadden Arps served as legal counsel, and KPMG served as accounting advisor to Anixter on the transaction.