Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, November 22, 1994                   TAG: 9411230051
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

IN BUSINESS

NetEdge Systems Inc., a Research Triangle Park, N.C., maker of computer networking equipment that was spun off from FiberCom Inc. of Roanoke, said Monday it has created NetEdge Systems International in Utrecht, Netherlands, to handle sales and distribution outside North America.

NetEdge is headed by Al Bender, one of the founders of FiberCom, who formed NetEdge last year and this summer separated the operation before the sale of FiberCom to Litton Industries Inc. of Beverly Hills, Calif.

- Staff report

Hofheimers' owner expands headquarters

GLASTONBURY, Conn. - Prague Shoe Co. will add dozens of jobs at its headquarters as a result of its recent buyout of Hofheimers Inc., a Chesapeake retail chain operating stores in the Roanoke and New River valleys.

Prague's parent, Gabor International, earlier this month said it would buy the financially troubled Hofheimers and merge its operations into the Prague unit.

Prague's corporate office staff will increase from 15 people to at least 50, said Louis Schwartz, president and chief executive officer.

Prague operates 33 stores in Connecticut, Massachusetts and upstate New York.

-Staff report

Cooper acquires maker of brake parts

Cooper Industries Inc., Houston parent of the Crouse-Hinds electrical products plant in Roanoke, said Monday it has agreed to acquire the Abex Friction Products division of Abex Inc. for $207.4 million.

Abex Friction Products, based in Winchester, designs, manufactures and markets asbestos-free brake friction materials for passenger cars, light trucks, heavy-duty trucks and off-road vehicles. Products include disc brake pads, drum-brake linings and brake blocks.

The company serves original equipment manufacturers and the auto aftermarket. It also provides vertical integration opportunities for Cooper's existing automotive brake operations.

The unit has 1,400 employees in facilities in Winchester, Salisbury, N.C., and Cambridge, Ontario, Canada.

-Staff report