February 2014 News
Singer Equities acquires Texas Rubber Supply
Singer Equities has acquired Texas Rubber Supply, headquartered in Dallas.
Home Depot appoints new retail president
The Home Depot today announced that Craig Menear has been named president, U.S. retail, effective immediately.
WinWholesale names Midwest leader
WinWholesale has appointed Rob Ferguson an area leader for four Midwestern states.
Kaman to acquire B.W. Rogers Co.
Kaman Industrial Technologies announced its agreement to acquire B.W. Rogers Company.
Kaman sales up 7.7 percent
Acquisitions helped drive a 7.7% sales increase in the fourth quarter for Kaman Industrial Technologies.
NAHAD gears up for Phoenix convention
NAHAD - The Association for Hoses and Accessories Distribution is gearing up for its 30th annual convention in Phoenix April 26-30.
Interline Brands sales up 20.5 percent
Interline Brands reported that sales increased 20.5% to $390.1 million in the fourth quarter.
Brady to sell die-cut business
Brady Corporation has reached an agreement to sell its die-cut business to Boyd Corporation.
Chicago Fed National Activity Index declines
Led by declines in production-related indicators, the Chicago Fed National Activity Index decreased to –0.39 in January from –0.03 in December.
Ace Hardware acquires Emery-Waterhouse
Ace Hardware Corporation has acquired Emery-Waterhouse, a 170-year-old distributor of hardlines products for independent lumber, paint, industrial and hardware outlets.
ISA Index expands for 13th straight month
Business conditions for distributors and manufacturers expanded for the 13th straight month according to the latest Economic Indicator Report (EIR) from the Industrial Supply Association.
Martin acquires J&K Sales and Engineering
Martin Inc. has agreed to acquire J&K Sales and Engineering, Nashville Tenn.
PTDA establishes Wendy B. McDonald Award
The PTDA Foundation has established the Wendy B. McDonald Award to honor the memory of one of the power transmission/motion control industry's true pioneers.
Brady sales up 6.8 percent
Brady Corporation's fiscal 2014 second quarter sales were up 6.8 percent to $291.2 million compared to $272.7 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2013.
Riechman Crosby Hays merges with IAC Inc.
Riechman Crosby Hays announced that it merged with IAC Inc. in January.
Lawson Products 4Q sales rise
Lawson Products reported fourth quarter sales increased 1.9% to $65.7 million from $64.5 million in the same period in 2012.
A tribute to John Buckley
By Rich Vurva
Editor/Publisher, Industrial Supply magazine
John Buckley was a master at telling stories. No phone conversation ended until John told the listener at least one funny story, usually making himself the butt of the joke. Every meal was an opportunity to share an anecdote; every meeting was his stage and the other participants were his audience.
KH Industries appoints national sales manager
KH Industries, a U.S. manufacturer of industrial grade lighting and power products, named Sean Wittmann to the position of national sales manager.
NewAge Industries names Midwest region sales manager
NewAge Industries appointed Michael L. Yakes to the newly created position of Midwest regional sales manager.
Motion Industries sales decline
Sales at Motion Industries declined to $4.42 billion in 2013, compared to $4.45 billion in 2012.
New York manufacturing improves
Manufacturing conditions in New York improved marginally according to the February 2014 Empire State Manufacturing Survey.
DPA Industrial adds distributors
The DPA Buying Group has added several new distributor partners and national vendor contracts within the last three months.
Tribute adds MITS Distributor Analytics solution to offering
Tribute Inc. and MITS announced a partnership to offer the MITS Distributor Analytics solution to Tribute’s TrulinX ERP customers.
Colfax acquires Victor Technologies
Colfax Corporation has acquired Victor Technologies from private equity firm Irving Place Capital.
ISA executive vice president John Buckley dies
John Buckley, executive vice president of the Industrial Supply Association, died suddenly of an apparent heart attack on Feb. 12. He was 66.
Industrial production dips in January
Industrial production decreased 0.3 percent in January after having risen 0.3 percent in December.
PTDA Index rises
The PTDA Business Index reading for the fourth quarter of 2013 came in at 60, which is higher than the 52 reading of the third quarter index.
Grainger January sales up 3 percent
Grainger reported sales for the month of January increased 3 percent versus January 2013.
Continental AG to acquire Veyance Technologies
German automotive supplier Continental AG announced plans to acquire Veyance Technologies from the private equity firm Carlyle Group.
Cutting tool consumption falls in December
December U.S. cutting tool consumption totaled $138 million, according to the U.S. Cutting Tool Institute and AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology.
Turtle & Hughes recognized by state of New Jersey
Turtle & Hughes recently welcomed New Jersey Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno to its Central Distribution Center in Bridgewater, N.J., as part of her statewide tour of New Jersey’s fastest growing companies.
Greenlee makes personnel moves
Greenlee announced several promotions within its sales and marketing structure with Denis Hanna, Joel Smith, Tim Vanderaa. Kim Schleiff and Becky Neys taking on new or expanded roles.
Ingersoll-Rand earnings impacted by spin-off
Ingersoll-Rand PLC revenues grew for the fourth quarter of 2013, but costs related to the sale of its security segment held earnings down.
Regal Beloit reports 4Q loss
Regal Beloit Corporation reported a loss of $33.2 million in the fourth quarter after taking a nearly $75 million charge related to goodwill and intangible asset impairments.
Grainger customer show draws 15,000 attendees
Grainger reported that more than 15,000 attendees will visit its annual show in Orlando, Fla., scheduled through Feb. 11.
Manufacturing technology orders rise
December U.S. manufacturing technology orders totaled $491.89 million, up 9.9% from November and up 11.8% compared with $439.90 million reported for December 2012.
Alaska Rubber Group expands in Wash.
The Alaska Rubber Group acquired five additional locations with the acquisition of Washington-based Pacific Rubber Group.
Manufacturing and construction job growth
A pickup in factory and construction jobs in January aided those industries, but the total number of jobs added during the month was disappointing.
4Q factory productivity up 2 percent
Manufacturing sector productivity increased 2.0 percent in the fourth quarter of 2013, as output increased 6.6 percent and hours worked increased 4.4 percent.
Snap-on earnings and sales rise
Snap-on Inc. reported fourth quarter sales of $797.5 million increased 5.9% from 2012 levels.
ITW to sell industrial packaging unit
Illinois Tool Works Inc. plans to sell its Industrial Packaging Group to The Carlyle Group for $3.2 billion.
RBC Bearings earnings up 5.4 percent
RBC Bearings said its net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2014 were $100.5 million, an increase of 4.4% from 2013.
DeVoney named Turtle & Hughes division president
Michael DeVoney has been named president of Turtle & Hughes Integrated Supply, a division of Turtle & Hughes Inc.
Dillon Supply acquires Brammer Safety
Dillon Supply Company, a subsidiary of Descours and Cabaud S.A., has acquired Brammer Safety Supply Inc. of Lynchburg, Va.
AD Industrial division sales up by 2 percent
Affiliated Distributors (AD), the largest industrial and construction products buying group in North America, reported record sales in 2013 of $28 billion.
Weiss plans for growth
Rotary tables and automation manufacturer Weiss North America plans to expand its manufacturing facility by 15,000 square feet by the end of 2014.
Insite Software strengthens Sitecore alliance
B2B e-commerce provider Insite Software announced that it is strengthening its strategic alliance with Sitecore, a provider of customer experience management software.
NN Inc. acquires V-S Industries
NN Inc. has completed the acquisition of V-S Industries, a privately held manufacturer of precision metal components with operations in Wheeling, Illinois and Juarez, Mexico.
Eaton earnings up 63 percent
Eaton Corporation announced operating earnings for the fourth quarter of 2013 of $516 million, up 63 percent over the fourth quarter of 2012.
Emerson sales up slightly
Emerson reported net sales for the first quarter 2014 increased 1 percent to $5.6 billion.
Pelican Products acquires Cool Logistics
Pelican Products Inc. announced the acquisition of UK-based Cool Logistics, provider of temperature controlled packaging solutions.
WinWholesale opens Dublin Winwater Works
Dublin Winwater Works has opened in Dublin, Ga., to provide contractors and municipalities in a 70-mile radius in Middle Georgia with infrastructure and water works products.
Praxair acquires industrial gases joint venture
Praxair Inc. has completed the acquisition of Praxair Distribution Mid-Atlantic, its industrial gases distribution joint venture.
Inweld names new reps
Inweld Group introduced two new representatives for sales territories in the Great Lakes region.
January manufacturing growth slows
Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in January for the eighth consecutive month.
Tech Air acquires Endweld Supply
Tech Air has acquired Endweld Supply Corporation of Johnson City, N.Y.
GOJO Industries acquires French company
GOJO Industries announced the acquisition of Laboratoires Prodene Klint, a French manufacturer of professional hygiene, cosmetics and disinfectant products.
Van Leeuwen Pipe and Tube acquires Brazilian distributor
The Van Leeuwen Pipe and Tube Group has acquired Tubexpress, a Brazilian distribution company supplying pipes and tubes to the petrochemical and oil and gas industry.