April 2012 News
Kaman Industrial Technologies sales up 7.9%
Kaman Industrial Technologies said its sales increased 7.9% in the first quarter to $257.6 million compared to $238.9 million a year ago.
Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index unchanged
The Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index (CFMMI) was unchanged in March, at a seasonally adjusted level of 92.2.
COO departs Lawson Products
Lawson Products announced that its chief operating officer, Harry Dochelli, is leaving the company to pursue a senior level position with another organization.
Barnes Distribution sales up 4%
Barnes Distribution reported first quarter sales were $93.4 million, up 4 percent from $89.9 million in the same period last year.
Chicago Fed National Activity Index falls
Led by declines in production-related indicators, the Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) decreased to –0.29 in March from +0.07 in February.
Lawson Products sales decline by 8%
Lawson Products said its net sales for the first quarter of 2012 were $76.0 million versus $82.6 million in the first quarter of 2011.
Applied Industrial Technologies earnings up
Applied Industrial Technologies reported that third quarter fiscal 2012 sales increased 7.0% to $605.5 million.
Kennametal sales up 8%
Kennametal reported third-quarter fiscal 2012 sales were $696 million, compared with $615 million in the same quarter last year.
Amazon launches AmazonSupply
In an announcement that is sure to gain the attention of industrial distributors doing business online, Internet powerhouse Amazon.com announced the release of a Beta Web site called AmazonSupply.
Applied Industrial Technologies makes acquisition
Applied Industrial Technologies announced a definitive agreement to acquire SKF's company-owned distribution businesses in Australia and New Zealand.
United Stationers sales up 2.8%
United Stationers said its first-quarter net sales were up 2.8% to $1.3 billion.
3M sales up 2.4%
3M reported record first-quarter sales of $7.5 billion, up 2.4 percent year-on-year.
ITW revenues up 6.4%
Illinois Tool Works Inc. reported first quarter 2012 revenues increased 6.4 percent to $4.55 billion.
Parker Hannfin sales up 4.7%
Parker Hannifin Corporation reported fiscal 2012 third quarter sales of $3.4 billion, an increase of 4.7 percent from $3.2 billion in the prior year quarter.
Eaton to acquire South Korean hydraulics company
Eaton Corporation has agreed to acquire Jeil Hydraulics Co., Ltd. headquartered in South Korea.
H.B. Fuller to close six facilities
H.B. Fuller Company announced plans to close six manufacturing facilities and eliminate approximately 130 positions.
Stanley Black & Decker sales up 12%
Stanley Black & Decker said its net sales for the first quarter were $2.7 billion, up 12% versus prior year.
Snap-on sales rise 6%
Snap-on Incorporated reported sales of $735.2 million in the first quarter increased $41.5 million, or 6.0%, from 2011 levels.
Bullard Abrasives acquires Marvel Abrasives
Bullard Abrasives, a manufacturer of branded and private label resin bonded cutting and grinding wheels, announced the acquisition of Marvel Abrasive Products.
Motion Industries sales up 12.2%
Motion Industries had sales of $1.1 billion for the first quarter, 12.2% higher than the $999.7 million reported in the same period last year.
WESCO International sales up 12.2%
WESCO International said its net sales were $1.6 billion for the first quarter of 2012, compared to $1.4 billion for the first quarter of 2011, an increase of 12.2%.
Danaher sales jump 31%
Danaher Corporation reported sales for the first quarter were $4.3 billion, 31% higher than the $3.3 billion reported for the 2011 first quarter.
ISA report: Expansion continues
According to the latest ISA Economic Indicators Report (EIR) from the Industrial Supply Association, activity among its manufacturer and distributor members dipped slightly compared to last month but remains in positive territory.
Manufacturing output dips in March
The Federal Reserve said industrial production was unchanged in March for a second month but rose at an annual rate of 5.4 percent in the first quarter of 2012.
DXP Enterprises makes three acquisitions
DXP Enterprises Inc. completed three acquisitions: Pump & Power Equipment Inc., Aledco Inc. and Force Engineered Products Inc.
Grainger Q1 sales up 16%
Grainger reported first-quarter sales of $2.2 billion were up 16 percent versus $1.9 billion in the first quarter of 2011.
Industry veteran Haag passes away
Long-time industry veteran John A. "Jack" Haag of SGS Tool Company passed away on April 8 following a brief struggle with cancer.
Fastenal sales up by 20%
Fastenal reported net sales of $768.8 million for the first quarter, a 20% increase from $640.5 million in the same period last year.
Survey predicts continued industrial growth
A new survey predicts continued growth for the industrial sector, but at a more moderate pace during 2012.
Manufacturing technology orders up in February
February U.S. manufacturing technology orders totaled $444.06 million according to AMT - The Association For Manufacturing Technology.
Midwest manufacturing output up in February
The Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index increased 1.0% in February, to a seasonally adjusted level of 91.7.
ISK Industries acquires Fleming Safety Group
ISK Industries, a Rolling Meadows, Ill., manufacturer rep firm, announced the acquisition of Fleming Safety Group (FSG), based in Lombard, Ill.
Manufacturing gained jobs in March
Factory employment rose by 37,000 in March, a month in which overall jobs gains were lackluster.
WD-40 sales rise 9%
WD-40 Company reported net sales for the second quarter were $86.0 million, an increase of 9% from the second quarter last fiscal year.
Nowlin promoted at Acklands-Grainger
Grainger announced that O.W. Eric Nowlin, 51, has been named to the position of president, Acklands – Grainger Inc., Grainger's Canadian subsidiary.
ISA awards Buffington Scholarship
The Industrial Supply Association (ISA) announced that University of Alabama at Birmingham student James “Randy” Carter was chosen to receive the 2012-13 Gary L. Buffington Memorial Scholarship.
MSC Industrial sales up 16.5%
MSC Industrial Direct said its net sales rose 16.5% to $563.0 million, compared with $483.4 million in the prior year period.
Grainger buys distributor in Brazil
Grainger has acquired AnFreixo S.A., broad line distributor of maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) supplies in Brazil.
Parker acquires Snap-tite
Parker Hannifin Corporation has acquired Snap-tite Incorporated of Erie, Pa., a manufacturer of high-pressure fluid power components for oil and gas, industrial and research markets.
Construction spending down in February
Construction spending during February 2012 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $808.9 billion, 1.1 percent below January, the U.S. Census Bureau said today.
Manufacturing expands for 32nd consecutive month
Manufacturing continued its growth in March as the Institute for Supply Management's factory index registered 53.4 percent, an increase of 1 percentage point compared to February's reading of 52.4 percent.
ITW sells finishing group to Graco
Illinois Tool Works Inc. announced that it has completed the sale of its finishing group of businesses to Graco Inc. in a $650 million cash transaction.
SCS Supply assumes Applied name
The SCS Supply Group Inc. business has changed its operating name to Applied Industrial Technologies, effective April 1.
INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY MAGAZINE
The May/June issue of Industrial Supply magazine features an in-depth cover story about GHX Industrial. Plus, we're featuring articles by contributing writers Dr. Bharani Nagarathnam and Frank Hurtte, as well as interviews with numerous product and distribution industry experts.
