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November 2013 News

Chicago Fed National Activity Index decreases
Led by declines in employment- and production-related indicators, the Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) decreased to –0.18 in October from +0.18 in September.

Midwest manufacturing improves
The Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index increased 0.4% in October, to a seasonally adjusted level of 97.4.

ICP offers free job listings to distributors
The Industrial Careers Pathway, the North American workforce initiative supported by an alliance of ASA, ISA Education Foundation, NAHAD and the PTDA Foundation, offers free job listings for distributors and manufacturers.

Manufacturing activity picks up
Manufacturing activity picked up steam according to Federal Reserve Bank reports from Dallas and Kansas City.

Brady 1Q '14 sales up 13 percent
Brady Corporation said its sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2014 were up 13.0 percent to $306.0 million compared to $270.9 million in the same period last year.

Hahn Systems acquires ECS Fasteners
Hahn Systems LLC, a construction and industrial tools supplier, has acquired ECS Fasteners LLC located in Westport, Ind.

Walter Meier sells tools business
Walter Meier has sold its machinery and tools business to the private equity firm Tenex.

PTDA Business Index falls
The 3Q13 PTDA Business Index produced a reading of 51.6, a decrease over last quarter's reading of 54.7 and the third consecutive quarter of slower growth.

Tour de Force version 6.0 released
Tour de Force CRM released Tour de Force CRM Version 6.0.

ISA Economic Index rises in October
The monthly Economic Indicator Report (EIR) from the Industrial Supply Association continued its upward trajectory for the year.

Grainger launches new iPad app and web platform
Grainger launched several eCommerce solutions that the company says will make it easier for customers to find what they need and get back to their jobs.

Turtle & Hughes names new president
Turtle & Hughes Inc. named Richard (Rick) Reffler president.

Graybar opens Ala. branch
Graybar announced the opening of a new full-service branch in Montgomery, Ala.

Zep Inc. announces reorganization
Zep Inc. is consolidating its North American commercial organizations to align product and market development.

Airgas to build air separation unit in Chicago area
Airgas announced that the Prologis International Centre South in Minooka, Ill., will be the site for its new air separation unit in the Chicago area.

DeWALT announces reshoring initiative
Power tool maker DeWALT announced an initiative to build more than 600 different cordless power tools, hand tools and accessories in the United States.

Cutting tool consumption falls
September U.S. cutting tool consumption totaled $156 million, according to the U.S. Cutting Tool Institute and AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology.

Applied introduces maintenance catalog
Applied Industrial Technologies introduced its first edition Applied Maintenance Supplies & Solutions Product Catalog.

Graybar opens Texas branches
Graybar announced the opening of new full-service locations in Odessa and La Porte, Texas.

Interline Brands sales up 20.4 percent
Interline Brands reported sales for the third quarter were $421.5 million, a 20.4% increase compared to sales of $350.3 million in the same period last year.

Allied Motion sales up 2.3 percent
Allied Motion Technologies announced that its third-quarter revenues increased 2.3 percent to $24.87 million.

C.H. Hanson acquires Palmgren
Hand tool manufacturer C.H. Hanson has purchased Chicago-based Palmgren Steel Products.

Chicago Fed National Activity Index rises
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index increased to +0.14 in September from +0.13 in August.

Grainger October sales up 7 percent
Grainger reported sales for the month of October increased 7 percent versus October 2012.

September manufacturing technologies orders fall
September U.S. manufacturing technology orders totaled $397.57 million, down 31.1% compared to September 2012.

Guardair names new marketing director
Guardair Corporation, a manufacturer of pneumatic tools used for industrial cleaning and maintenance, appointed Heather Bean director of marketing.

Manufacturing job growth in October
Manufacturing added 19,000 jobs in October, with job growth occurring in motor vehicles and parts (+6,000), wood products (+3,000), and furniture and related products (+3,000).

Rockwell Automation sales and earnings rise
Rockwell Automation reported fiscal 2013 fourth quarter sales of $1.71 billion, up 3 percent from $1.66 billion in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012.

RBC Bearings sales up 1.6 percent
RBC Bearings said its net sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2014 were $102.0 million, an increase of 1.6% from the same period last year.

Victor Technologies acquires Gas-Arc
Victor Technologies has acquired Gas-Arc Group Ltd., a manufacturer of gas control equipment based in the United Kingdom.

Fastenal October sales rise
Fastenal reported that its October sales were $310.9 million, 7.7% higher than the $288.5 million reported last year.

IBC announces award winners
IBC recently announced the winners of several distributor and supplier awards at its annual national meeting.

Apache celebrates 50 years
Cedar Rapids, Iowa-based wholesale distributor Apache Inc. is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

HD Supply sales up 6.9 percent
HD Supply Holdings reported preliminary sales results of $2.29 billion for the third quarter, a 6.9% increase from the same period last year.

Caldwell and J.C. Renfroe announce merger
The Caldwell Group and J.C. Renfroe have merged to create an organization capable of providing a significantly broader array of lifting solutions to its global customers.

ERIKS acquires C&C Industries and CCTX Flow Products
ERIKS NV, a Netherlands-based industrial service provider, has acquired C&C Industries Inc. and CCTX Flow Products Inc.

Purvis Industries acquires Bates companies
Purvis Industries has acquired The Bates family of companies, which comprises eight companies in Missouri, Kansas, Tennessee, Arkansas, Illinois and New Mexico.

AD member sales up 4 percent
Affiliated Distributors announced that sales for all AD affiliates grew by 4% in the first three quarters of 2013 to $21 billion.

Manufacturing activity picks up
Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in October for the fifth consecutive month according to the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.

Motion Industries acquires AST Bearings
Genuine Parts Company announced two acquisitions in its Industrial and Electrical Groups.

WinWholesale opens new DC
WinWholesale Inc. recently opened a new 200,000 square foot regional distribution center in Middletown, Conn.

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