Company news and milestones.

Burr Ridge, IL — March 2026. Vertex Products LLC announced today that it has been awarded a major contract to design and build data systems for a major transit and rail system in the Midwestern United States. The contract represents one of the largest single projects in the company's history and validates its strategic expansion into transportation data infrastructure.

Under the agreement, Vertex Products will provide a comprehensive data system solution including control center server infrastructure, wayside networking equipment, fleet data integration platforms, and redundant communications architecture. The systems will be built on Lenovo and Dell server platforms, configured for the demanding reliability requirements of transit and rail operations.

Scope of Work

The contract covers the design, procurement, assembly, configuration, deployment, and commissioning of a complete transit data infrastructure. This includes:

• Control center server and display wall infrastructure
• Wayside communications and networking systems across the rail network
• Real-time train position tracking and operational data integration
• Redundant, fail-safe system architecture with automatic failover
• Integration with existing signaling, interlocking, and traction power systems

Leveraging Etcon Heritage

The award draws directly on the company's 2024 acquisition of Etcon Corporation, which brought decades of electrical test equipment and networking accessories expertise to Vertex Products. That deep domain knowledge of electrical infrastructure and network connectivity — combined with the company's modern IoT server and data system capabilities — positioned Vertex as a uniquely qualified partner for transit agencies seeking to modernize their data infrastructure.

"This contract validates the vision behind the Etcon acquisition," said a company spokesperson. "By combining decades of electrical and networking expertise with modern data system design, we can offer transit agencies something they can't get from a traditional IT vendor — infrastructure that truly understands the operational demands of rail."

Project work is scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2026, with phased deployment expected over the following 18 to 24 months.

Burr Ridge, IL — February 2024. Vertex Products LLC announced the acquisition of the Etcon Corporation business of Burr Ridge, Illinois, bringing decades of electrical test equipment and networking accessories manufacturing expertise into the Vertex portfolio.

Etcon Corporation built its reputation manufacturing high-quality electrical test equipment, handheld wire sorting devices, underground wire splicing kits, and networking accessories. The company's products are essential tools for electrical supply vendors, contractors, and tier-one distribution partners, with products distributed through Grainger, Ideal Industries, Menards, Home Depot, and over a dozen local and regional electrical distributors.

Strategic Rationale

The acquisition enables Vertex Products to combine Etcon's deep expertise in electrical test equipment and networking accessories with Vertex's capabilities in IoT server platforms, industrial networking, and data system design. The combined entity offers a unique value proposition — serving both the legacy electrical test equipment needs of supply vendors and contractors, and the modern data infrastructure requirements of industrial automation and transportation.

"Etcon Corporation has been a trusted name in electrical test equipment and networking accessories for decades," said a Vertex Products spokesperson. "We are committed to maintaining the full Etcon product line, supporting existing customers and distribution partners with the same quality and service they have come to expect, while bringing new capabilities in IoT and data systems to the industries we serve."

Continued Operations

Following the acquisition, all Etcon product manufacturing and distribution continue without interruption. The company maintains its supply relationships with Grainger, Ideal Industries, Menards, Home Depot, and regional electrical distributors. Existing customer relationships, product specifications, and distribution channels remain in place.

The combined company is headquartered at 7750 Grant Street, Burr Ridge, Illinois 60527.