February 2018 News
4Q GDP increased by 2.5 percent
Real gross domestic product increased at an annual rate of 2.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017, according to the "second" estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Triad Technologies acquires Cincinnati Hose & Fittings
Triad Technologies has acquired Cincinnati Hose & Fittings and its subsidiary Kentucky FluidAir.
Kaman Industrial sales decline 2.3 percent
Kaman Industrial Technologies reported a 2.3 percent decline in sales for 2017 to $1.081 billion compared to $1.106 billion in 2016.
Herem retires from Baldwin Supply
Baldwin Supply Company announced the retirement of 23-year veteran Ron Herem.
KNIPEX Tools expands product and sales personnel
KNIPEX Tools has named Tony Arena as its sales manager and Peter Grable as its product manager.
Columbus McKinnon launches CM Authorized Rigging Centers
Columbus McKinnon Corporation announced the launch of a network of CM Authorized Rigging Centers.
Kimball Midwest makes executive appointments
Columbus, Ohio-based Kimball Midwest announced two executive promotions, naming Chas McCurdy chief sales officer and Patrick McCurdy III vice president of sales.
Little change in economic growth in January
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index moved to +0.12 in January, down slightly from +0.14 in December.
PTDA adds five members
The Power Transmission Distributors Association recently welcomed five new member companies.
MRC Global sees 20 percent sales gain
MRC Global posted sales of $3.6 billion in 2017, a 20 percent increase from $3.0 billion the year before.
PTDA distributors sales up 4.2 percent
The third quarter 2017 Sales History & Outlook Report released by the Power Transmission Distributors Association showed PTDA distributors total sales reached a record high in the third quarter with sales up 4.2 percent from one year ago.
Lawson Products returns to profitability
Lawson Products reported sales of $306 million in 2017, a 10.6 percent increase from $277 million the previous year.
Essendant 2017 sales down 6.2 percent
Essendant Inc. reported 2017 sales of $5.0 billion were down 6.2 percent from $5.4 billion in 2016.
Ohio Transmission acquires Compressed Air Systems
Ohio Transmission Corp. has acquired Compressed Air Systems LLC based in Lafayette, Louisiana.
Wynnchurch acquires Anderson Metals
Wynnchurch Capital announced that it has completed an investment in Anderson Metals Corporation Inc.
Genuine Parts Co. recognizes Breen
Motion Industries announced that its parent company, Genuine Parts Company, named Motion Industries president and CEO Tim Breen as its 2017 GPC Manager of the Year.
Crown Equipment opens new MN facility
Crown Equipment Corporation announced the opening of a new sales and service location in Champlin, Minnesota.
AD hosts eCommerce Summit
More than 250 independent distributors across six industries and three countries recently attended AD's second annual eCommerce Summit at the Westin in Denver.
Motion Industries posts 7.2 percent sales gain
Motion Industries recorded sales of $4.96 billion for 2017, a 7.2 percent gain from $4.63 billion in 2016.
DDI System earns top vendor award
DDI System has been named a “Top ERP Vendor to Watch in 2018” according to Solutions Review.
PTDA seeking nominees for McDonald Award
The PTDA Foundation is now accepting nominations for the 2018 Wendy B. McDonald Award.
IWDC announces staff changes
The IWDC announced several organizational changes that line up with its strategic direction.
Tencarva Machinery acquires Saladin Pump
Tencarva Machinery Company acquired Saladin Pump & Equipment Co. Inc. of Beaumont, Texas, and Lake Charles, Louisiana.
NOW Inc. loss lessens on 25.7 percent revenue gain
NOW Inc. reported 2017 revenues of $2.6 billion, a 25.7 percent increase from $2.1 billion the year before.
Dearing Compressor & Pump acquires Kruman Equipment
Dearing Compressor & Pump Co. announced that it has merged with Pittsburgh-based Kruman Equipment.
American Producers Supply acquires Louisville Mill Supply
American Producers Supply Company announced the acquisition of Louisville Mill Supply, an industrial supplier with locations in Louisville, Southern Kentucky and Indiana.
Manufacturing technology orders up 8 percent in 2017
Orders for manufacturing technology climbed month-to-month and year-to-date in December 2017.
Guardair names director of global supply chain
Guardair Corporation announced the addition of Mark Wysk as its new director of global supply chain.
IDC-USA says e-commerce spurs growth
The Independent Distributors Cooperative-USA reported that member purchases from preferred supplier programs increased 10.1 percent in 2017.
AIV acquires Zenith Supply
Houston-based AIV, a wholesale distributor of valves and actuators, has acquired Zenith Supply.
Snap-on sales up 7.5 percent for year
Snap-on Incorporated reported full-year 2017 net sales of $3.7 billion, an increase of 7.5 percent from 2016 levels.
Robroy Industries names Tahiliani CFO
Robroy Industries promoted corporate controller Vijay Tahiliani to the position of chief financial officer.
Timken 4Q sales up 18.8 percent
The Timken Company reported fourth-quarter 2017 sales of $778 million, up 18.8 percent from the same period a year ago.
Columbus McKinnon sales up 36.9 percent
Columbus McKinnon Corporation reported sales for the 2018 fiscal third quarter were up 36.9 percent to $208.7 million.
Emerson sales up 19 percent
Emerson announced net sales in the first quarter of fiscal 2018 were up 19 percent to $3.8 billion.
Fastenal sales rise 17.4 percent in January
Fastenal said its January sales of $394.4 million increased by 17.4 percent from $336.0 million in January of 2017.
RBC Bearings sales up 13.8 percent
RBC Bearings reported net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2018 were $166.9 million, an increase of 13.8 percent from $146.7 million in the third quarter 2017.
Graybar awarded U.S. Communities contract
Graybar has been awarded a five-year contract to distribute electrical, lighting, data communications and security products and related services to the participants of U.S. Communities Government Purchasing Alliance.
A&M Industrial acquires Industrial Tool Specialist
A&M Industrial Inc. has acquired Industrial Tool Specialist (ITS), an industrial distributor headquartered in Springfield, Vermont.
SBP Holdings names new president
SBP Holdings announced the appointment of Pete Haberbosch as company president, replacing Don Fritzinger, who will remain as CEO.
Industrial Control Direct launches redesigned website
Industrial Control Direct announced the launch of its newly redesigned website.
NEFCO acquires Contractors & Industrial Supply
Hartford, Connecticut-based NEFCO Corporation has acquired Contractors & Industrial Supply Inc., headquartered in Roanoke, Virginia.
Manufacturing expands for 17th straight month
Manufacturing expanded in January as the Institute for Supply Management's purchasing index registered 59.1 percent.
Employment strong in construction and manufacturing
In January, employment in manufacturing remained on an upward trend, adding 15,000 jobs.
Kennametal sales climb by 17 percent
Kennametal said sales for its fiscal 2018 second quarter were $571 million, compared with $488 million in the prior year quarter.
Singer Equities acquires Smith Industrial Rubber & Plastics
Singer Equities Inc. has acquired Smith Industrial Rubber & Plastics Inc., headquartered in Rockford, Illinois.
PIP partners with Audax Private Equity
Audax Private Equity announced that it has partnered with the Milot and Tao families, co-founders of Protective Industrial Products Global Holdings Inc., to re-capitalize the company.
Construction spending up 0.7 percent in December
Construction spending during December 2017 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,253.3 billion, 0.7 percent above the revised November estimate of $1,245.1 billion.
WESCO International sales up 4.7 percent
WESCO International reported net sales of $2.0 billion for the fourth quarter of 2017, an 11.3 percent increase compared to $1.79 billion for the fourth quarter of 2016.
Applied completes FCX Performance acquisition
Applied Industrial Technologies announced it has completed the previously announced acquisition of FCX Performance Inc., a distributor of specialty process flow control products and services.
4Q manufacturing labor productivity increased 5.7 percent
Manufacturing sector labor productivity increased 5.7 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017, as output increased 7.3 percent and hours worked rose 1.5 percent.