December 2011 News
Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index falls
The Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index decreased 0.1% in November, to a seasonally adjusted level of 85.8.
Fritzinger named Singer Equities president
Donald Fritzinger has been appointed president of Singer Equities Inc., effective Jan. 1.
HD Supply launches online learning system
BlueVolt (www.BlueVolt.com), a provider of online Learning Management Systems (LMS) for the construction, manufacturing and service industries has partnered with HD Supply to launch HD Supply University.
Praxair to acquire Texas Welders Supply
Praxair Distribution Inc. announced it has executed a definitive agreement to acquire Houston, Texas-based Texas Welders Supply Company.
MRC to buy Australian PVF distributor
McJunkin Red Man Holding Corporation (MRC) announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire OneSteel Piping Systems (OPS).
Chicago Fed National Activity Index falls
Led by declines in production-related indicators, the Chicago Fed National Activity Index decreased to –0.37 in November from –0.11 in October.
H.B. Fuller to acquire Forbo Group
H.B. Fuller Company announced an agreement to purchase the global industrial adhesives business of Forbo Group.
Actuant sales up 23%
Actuant Corporation reported sales for the first quarter were $393 million, 23% higher than the comparable prior year quarter.
AEA Investors acquires Singer Equities
AEA Investors and a management group have acquired Singer Equities Inc. from LLR Partners.
DXP Enterprises to acquire C.W. Rod Tool Co.
DXP Enterprises said it will acquire substantially all the assets of C.W. Rod Tool Company, a Houston-based distributor of cuttings tools, abrasives, coolants and machine shop supplies.
Kaman acquires Catching FluidPower
Kaman Industrial Technologies has acquired Catching FluidPower Inc., a distributor of fluid power products based in Bolingbrook, Ill.
Industrial production dips
Industrial production decreased 0.2 percent in November after having advanced 0.7 percent in October.
Philadelphia manufacturing improves
The Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank reports that regional manufacturing continued to improve in December.
Correction: Grainger Nov. sales up 15%
An earlier report contained an error in the November sales increase for Grainger. The actual monthly increase was 15%, not 10% as reported.
WESCO acquires RS Electronics
WESCO International Inc. announced that a subsidiary of WESCO Distribution Inc. has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire RS Electronics headquartered in Livonia, Mich.
Metalformers are optimistic
According to the December 2011 Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) Business Conditions Report, metalforming companies predict a spike in business conditions during the next three months.
NY manufacturing improves
The Empire State Manufacturing Survey indicates that manufacturing activity improved in New York State in December.
Applied names new board chairman
The board of directors of Applied Industrial Technologies elected John F. Meier as its independent chairperson.
Industrial production rebounds
U.S. manufacturing industrial production rebounded in the third quarter of 2011, according to the Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI) U.S. Industrial Outlook.
Librock named Dynabrade president
Dynabrade Inc. announced that Ned T. Librock, age 58, has been appointed president of the Clarence, N.Y.-based industrial power tool manufacturer effective immediately.
Manufacturing technology orders rise
October U.S. manufacturing technology orders totaled $463.32 million, 20.3% higher than October 2010.
Grainger sales up 15% in November
Grainger reported sales results for the month of November increased 15 percent.
Tencarva acquires GPM Industrie
Tencarva Machinery Company announced the acquisition of GPM Industries, a Macon, Ga.-based distributor of pumps and pumping systems and related products.
Graybar names new president
Kathleen M. Mazzarella has been appointed president of Graybar, effective June 1, 2012.
Kaman to relocate headquarters
Kaman Industrial Technologies Corporation announced that it will relocate its headquarters to the Bloomfield, Conn., campus of its parent company.
DDI offers system for small distributors
DDI System announced the launch of Inform SBE, a new Small Business Edition software.
HD Supply sales up 10.7%
HD Supply Inc. reported net sales for the fiscal 2011 third quarter of $2.1 billion, an increase of 10.7 percent compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2010.
Regal Beloit sells Richmond Gear
Regal Beloit has agreed to sell the assets of the Richmond Gear division to Midwest Truck and Auto Parts Inc. for an undisclosed amount.
Report says manufacturing will expand in 2012
Economic growth in the United States will continue in 2012, say the nation's purchasing and supply management executives in their December 2011 Semiannual Economic Forecast.
Unemployment rate falls to 8.6%
The unemployment rate fell by 0.4 percentage point to 8.6 percent in November, and nonfarm payroll employment rose by 120,000, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.
Construction spending rises
Construction spending rose by 0.8 percent in October to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $798.5 billion, according to the Department of Commerce.
BlackHawk acquires three distributors
BlackHawk Industrial announced the acquisition of three businesses: Tool Service Corporation, Tool Fabrication Corporation and Fluid Services Corporation.
ISM: Manufacturing expansion continues
The latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business showed that the manufacturing sector expanded in November for the 28th consecutive month.
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.
