August 2011 News
Ferguson acquires Louisiana Chemical PVF
Ferguson Enterprises Inc. announced the acquisition of Louisiana Chemical Pipe, Valve & Fitting Inc.
Timken to acquire Drives LLC
The Timken Company has agreed to acquire privately held Drives LLC for $92 million in cash.
Construction employment stabilizing
A new analysis of construction employment shows that jobs increased or remained the same in more than half of the nation's metropolitan areas in the past year.
Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index up in July
The Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index (CFMMI) increased 0.5% in July, to a seasonally adjusted level of 84.8.
Airgas Mid South gets new president
Airgas Inc. announced that Bob Bradshaw has been named president of Airgas Mid South, reporting to Terry Lodge, Central Division president.
Nord-Lock acquires Superbolt
Swedish manufacturer Nord-Lock has acquired Superbolt Inc. of Carnigie, Pa., and Swiss company P&S Vorspannssysteme AG.
Burnham to step down from IBC
IBC announced today that Dan Burnham is resigning as president to pursue other career interests.
MAPI forecasts slow growth
While there remain pockets of positive areas in the U.S. economy, a host of concerns combine to temper the outlook.
Epicor introduces Cloud computing solution
Epicor Software Corporation unveiled Epicor Distribution Express Edition (Epicor Express), the on-demand version of its award-winning, enterprise resource planning (ERP) solution.
Barnes Distribution introduces new electronic catalog
Barnes Distribution announced availability of its new, 2011 digital version of its Master Catalog.
Reid Supply to be acquired
Speciality plastics and fibers maker Filtrona plc said Wednesday it will buy U.S-based industrial components supplier Reid Supply Company for up to $32 million.
DXP Enterprises and Circos embroiled in legal battle
The former owners of Precision Industries, an Omaha, Neb.-based distributor, and DXP Enterprises, the Houston-based company that acquired Precision in 2007, have filed competing lawsuits against one another.
Index shows economic activity improved in July
Led by improvements in production-related indicators, the Chicago Fed National Activity Index increased to –0.06 in July from –0.38 in June.
Barnes to sell European businesses
Barnes Group Inc. announced that it has received a binding offer from Berner SE to acquire its Barnes Distribution Europe business, comprised of Kent, BD France and Toolcom.
BlackHawk acquires Sanders Tools & Supplies
BlackHawk Industrial Distribution Inc. announced the acquisition of Sanders Tools & Supplies, a Peoria, Ill.-based industrial distributor serving the MRO marketplace.
Broadus named president of Airgas South
Airgas Inc. announced that Chuck Broadus has been named president of Airgas South, reporting to Mike Rohde, South Division president.
IBT names new president
Merriam, Kansas-based industrial distributor IBT announced the promotion of Mark Byrne as president and chief executive officer.
MAPI: U.S.-China trade imbalance worrisome
The rapidly rising U.S. and Chinese trade imbalances in manufactured goods, and underlying structural changes in trade unfavorable to U.S. export competitiveness, raise broader questions about the economic impact, according to a new Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI report.
Regal Beloit cleared to buy EPC
Regal Beloit Corporation received permission from the Department of Justice to proceed with its acquisition of A.O. Smith's Electrical Products Company.
Praxair acquires Weldco Inc.
Praxair Distribution Inc. has acquired the assets of Weldco Inc., a Cincinnati-based welding distributor.
Barnes Group sales up 16%
Barnes Group Inc. reported net sales grew 16 percent to $328.0 million, up from $281.9 million in the second quarter of 2010.
BDI adds Mexico branch
BDI announced the opening of a new branch in Mexico.
Manufacturing output inches higher
Manufacturing output increased 0.6 percent in July following gains of 0.2 percent in both May and June.
PTDA Business Index indicates continued expansion
The PTDA Business Index indicated 2Q2011 was the fifth consecutive quarter for business growth among PTDA members.
Grainger to buy European distributor
Grainger announced its intention to acquire the shares of Fabory Group, a European distributor of fasteners and related MRO products.
Protective Industrial Products makes acquisition
Protective Industrial Products Inc. announced the acquistion of McHenry Knitting and Manufacturing Inc.
Wildeck acquires Ladder Industries
Waukesha, Wis.-based Wildeck Inc. announced the acquisition of Ladder Industries Inc. based in Goodyear, Ariz.
Grainger sales up 10% in July
Grainger reported July sales increased 10 percent versus July 2010.
WinWholesale names new CFOs
WinWholesale announced the appointment of new chief financial officers for WinWholesale Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary, Noland Company.
ITW merges fastener divisions
Illinois Tool Works announced the integration of two of its Midwest industrial fastener divisions.
Q2 productivity falls
Manufacturing sector productivity fell 2.0 percent in the second quarter of 2011, as output rose 0.6 percent and hours increased 2.6 percent, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.
Applied Industrial sales up 16.9%
Applied Industrial Technologies reported fiscal 2011 year sales were a record $2.2 billion, up 16.9% from fiscal 2010 sales of $1.8 billion.
Manufacturing technology orders climb
June U.S. manufacturing technology orders totaled $459.39 million, up 15.3% from May and up 91.7% when compared with the total of $239.68 million reported for June 2010.
Beacon Roofing Supply hits record
Beacon Roofing Supply reported fiscal third quarter sales increased 14.0% to $540.7 million in 2011, a record for a third quarter.
Grainger enhances inventory management program
Grainger announced recent enhancements to its KeepStock suite of inventory management solutions.
Manufacturing jobs picture brightens
Manufacturers added 24,000 jobs in July, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.
Record income for NN
NN Inc. reported net sales for the second quarter of 2011 rose 25% to $115.9 million, compared to $92.7 million for the second quarter of 2010.
Interline Brands sales up 17.6%
Interline Brands said its sales for the quarter were $317.7 million, a 17.6% increase compared to $270.2 million in the comparable 2010 period.
Kaman Industrial Technologies sales up 13.5%
Kaman Industrial Technologies reported sales increased 13.5% in the 2011 second quarter to $239.3 million compared to $210.9 million a year ago.
Applied acquires Chaines-Plus
Applied Industrial Technologies Ltd., the Canadian subsidiary of Applied Industrial Technologies, announced it has acquired the business of Chaines-Plus.
EnPro Industries acquires PI Bearing
EnPro Industries announced the acquisition of PI Bearing Technologies, a privately held manufacturer of bearing blocks and other bearing products used in fluid power applications.
RBC Bearings sales up 13.3%
RBC Bearings Incorporated reported net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2012 were $93.3 million, an increase of 13.3% from $82.4 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2011.
Allied Motion achieves record sales
Allied Motion Technologies Inc. announced record sales and profit for the second quarter.
Manufactured goods orders fall
New orders for manufactured goods decreased 0.8 percent in June to $440.7 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today.
Construction employment rises
A new analysis of federal employment data released by the Associated General Contractors of America shows private sector demand is fueling a gain in construction employment.
Emerson sales climb 16%
Emerson announced that net sales for the third quarter were $6.3 billion, an increase of 16 percent from the prior year quarter.
Parker hits record numbers
Parker Hannifin Corporation reported all-time record results for the fiscal 2011 fourth quarter.
June construction spending up 0.2%
June construction spending was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $772.3 billion, 0.2 percent above the revised May estimate of $770.5 billion.
Garlock Sealing buys pump diaphragm maker
EnPro Industries Inc. subsidiary Garlock Sealing Technologies LLC has completed the acquisition of the ONE-UP Pump Diaphragm business from W. L. Gore & Associates Inc.
U.S. manufacturing slows
Manufacturing grew for the 24th consecutive month, but at a slower pace than previous months, according to Institute for Supply Management.
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.
