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 Expertise

The award draws on decades of electrical test equipment and networking accessories expertise through the Etcon brand within the Vertex Products portfolio. 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 building Etcon as a brand within Vertex Products," 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. Vertex Products LLC has grown from its origins as a business unit nearly a decade ago into a full-service industrial IoT and data system provider, serving warehouse automation, factory operations, and transportation sectors across the United States.

The company's journey began with the establishment of the Vertex business unit, focused on bridging the gap between traditional electrical infrastructure and modern data systems. Over time, the unit adopted the Vertex Products identity as it expanded its capabilities into IoT server platforms, industrial networking, and end-to-end data system design and deployment.

Post-COVID Expansion

In the post-COVID era, Vertex Products has been active in its current verticals for the past 4–5 years, responding to the accelerating demand for industrial automation, warehouse digitization, and transportation data infrastructure. The company's investment in Lenovo and Dell-based server platforms, ruggedized networking solutions, and edge computing capabilities has positioned it as a trusted partner for organizations modernizing their operational data systems.

Etcon as a Core Brand

Central to the Vertex Products portfolio is the Etcon brand — a trusted name in electrical test equipment and networking accessories for decades. Etcon's product line, including handheld wire sorting devices, underground wire splicing kits, and networking accessories, is distributed through tier-one partners including Grainger, Ideal Industries, Menards, Home Depot, and over a dozen regional electrical distributors.

"Etcon represents the foundation of electrical and networking expertise that Vertex Products was built on," said a company spokesperson. "As we've grown into IoT and data systems, Etcon has remained a core brand within our business — connecting our heritage in electrical test equipment with our future in industrial data infrastructure."

Looking Forward

With the recent award of a major transit and rail data system contract in the Midwest, Vertex Products continues to expand its footprint in transportation data infrastructure. The company remains headquartered at 7750 Grant Street, Burr Ridge, Illinois 60527, where it maintains manufacturing, system design, and distribution operations.