Supplier news from STV and L.B. Foster

STV Group Inc., a professional services firm that plans, designs and manages North American infrastructure projects, yesterday announced it has acquired CHAMPS Inc. The Southern California-based utility power engineering firm, which will now be known as CHAMPS, an STV Company, provides substation engineering and design services, along with engineering studies, protection, control and automation, design packages, quality assurance and construction support. The acquisition will boost STV's ability to help clients modernize their systems and meet the needs of their communities, STV officials said in a press release. STV's power capabilities include utility-coordinated grid and substation upgrades, resilient facility and campus power solutions and traction power systems for transit systems. "What really stands out about [CHAMPS'] team is the quality of the people and the trust they’ve built with their clients," said STV CEO Greg Kelly. "By bringing our teams together, we will deliver greater value for communities while investing in the people and capabilities that will drive our future growth."

STV today also announced that David Costello has joined the firm as a vice president and program manager in its Transportation North operating group. In his new role, Costello will support transportation clients throughout the Northeast and help advance major transportation infrastructure projects, STV officials said. He brings over 30 years of experience leading transit and rail technology programs across North America, including communications-based train control systems, fare collection modernization programs, rail communications infrastructure and enterprise program management operations. 

L.B. Foster has appointed global logistics provider Expeditors International as its strategic distribution partner for mainland Europe, establishing a new distribution hub in Germany. The appointment builds on the companies' long-term collaboration and supports L.B. Foster's growth across the continent by streamlining project delivery and improving supply chain resilience, company officials said in a press release. The new distribution model is designed to help reduce delays and simplify customs and commercial processes, said L.B. Foster Senior Vice President, Rail, Jason Bowlin. "Strengthening our partnership with Expeditors enables us to better support our European customers by removing many of the logistical challenges that have emerged following the UK's exit from the European Union," Bowlin said.