KENNESAW, Ga. - After acquiring two of Comfort System USA's independent dealers earlier this year, Automated Logic Corp. (ALC) recently acquired the business of Control Solutions Inc. - Chicago (CSIC), an ALC dealer serving the greater Chicago marketplace. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

"This acquisition is a continuation of our strategy to develop factory-owned ALC branches, like the Houston and Minneapolis transactions that closed earlier this year, and represents a critical step in establishing a major branch operation in Chicago," said Gerry Hull, president of ALC. "CSIC is an excellent dealer with a strong management team and an impressive record of technology leadership and customer satisfaction."

CSIC designs, installs, and services heating, ventilation, and air conditioning control systems for commercial, industrial, and institutional facilities in the Chicago metropolitan area. It has been an ALC dealer since 2003.

George Biskup will remain CEO at CSIC, Leslie Phillips will remain president, and the management team will continue in their respective roles within the new ALC branch office.

"This is an exciting opportunity for all of us at CSIC and we've long shared ALC's employee-focused culture and spirit of innovation," said Biskup.

"We see this as an opportunity to deliver even greater value to our customers as we become part of the ALC family," noted Phillips.

Earlier this year, ALC, a unit of United Technologies Corp., acquired United Environmental Services L.P., Houston, and Comfort Systems USA of Twin Cities Inc., Minneapolis. ALC distributes and installs building control systems through a network of independent dealers in North America and internationally.

"Ultimately, we'd like to own a significant portion of dealers, especially in good markets and where opportunities for collaboration with other parts of Carrier and UTC are the greatest," said Marty Applebaum, president of ALC's Contracting Services division.

ALC, a subsidiary of Carrier Corp., believes the controls market is very broad and can be best served through a number of channels, including integrated Carrier solutions through Carrier's existing network, as well as ALC-based automation systems involving enterprise-level applications through ALC branches.

"That said," commented Applebaum, "we're also committed to maintaining a strong, independent dealer network."

Publication date: 08/14/2006