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April 2013 News

Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index rises

The Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index increased 0.3% in March, to a seasonally adjusted level of 96.5.

Kaman sales up, earnings down

Kaman Industrial Technologies reported sales increased 1.8% in the first quarter to $257.2 million compared to $252.6 million a year ago.

Gardner Denver sales fall

Pump and compressor manufacturer Gardner Denver reported 1Q revenues were $513.5 million, down 15% compared with the prior year first quarter.

ISA releases market report

The Industrial Supply Association has released the 2013 North American Industrial Markets Report.

Stanley Black & Decker sales rise

Stanley Black & Decker reported 1Q sales of $2.5 billion, up 3% versus prior year.

Lawson Products sales and earnings slide

Lawson Products reported net sales for the first quarter decreased 5.2% to $72.0 million versus $76.0 million in 2012.

3M earnings rise

3M reported first-quarter sales rose 2.0 percent to $7.6 billion, an all-time first-quarter record.

Kennametal sales fall 6%

Kennametal said its fiscal third-quarter sales declined by 6% to $655 million, compared with $696 million in the same quarter last year.

Parker sales and earnings decline

Parker Hannifin Corporation reported fiscal 2013 third quarter sales declined 2.6% to $3.30 billion compared with $3.39 billion in the prior year quarter.

Durable goods orders fall

New orders for manufactured durable goods in March decreased $13.1 billion or 5.7 percent to $216.3 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced.

Walter A. Wood celebrates 100 years

Industrial distributor Walter A. Wood Supply Company is celebrating its 100th year of continuous operation in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Rockwell Automation sales decline

Rockwell Automation reported fiscal 2013 second quarter sales of $1.52 billion, down 2 percent from $1.56 billion in the second quarter of fiscal 2012.

Timken sales fall 23%

The Timken Company reported sales of $1.1 billion for the first quarter of 2013, a decrease of 23 percent from the prior-year quarter.

Praxair sales up 2%

Praxair reported first-quarter sales of $2.9 billion, an increase of 2% compared to the prior-year quarter.

Infor acquiresTDCI

Infor announced plans to acquire TDCI Inc., a provider of configurator and guided selling solutions for manufacturers and distributors of customizable products and services.

ITW sales and earnings fall

Illinois Tool Works Total reported 1Q revenues declined by 8 percent to $4.0 billion.

Ingersoll-Rand sales dip

Ingersoll Rand reported revenues declined by 1 percent to $3.11 billion, compared with $3.15 billion for the 2012 first quarter.

HD Supply White Cap moves HQ

HD Supply White Cap announced the grand opening of its new headquarters and regional offices in Norcross, Ga.

MSC completes Barnes acquisition

MSC Industrial Direct announced that it has completed the acquisition of the North American distribution business of Barnes Group Inc. for $550 million.

NetPlus holds regional meeting

NetPlus Alliance hosted its first regional planning sessions in Texas last week.

National Activity Index declines

Led by declines in production and employment-related indicators, the Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) decreased to -0.23 in March from +0.76 in February.

Sales decline at Motion Industries

Motion Industries sales for the first quarter declined by 2 percent to $1.10 billion, compared to $1.12 billion in the same period last year.

Snap-on sales relatively flat

Snap-on reported first-quarter sales of $741.7 million increased 0.9% from 2012 levels.

WESCO International sales rise 12.6%

WESCO International said its net sales were $1.8 billion for the first quarter of 2013, compared to $1.6 billion for the first quarter of 2012, an increase of 12.6%.

Acklands-Grainger adds 200,000 products

Acklands-Grainger announced its largest ever product expansion, adding 200,000 new products to its online offering over the next several months.

DXP acquires National Process Equipment

DXP Enterprises has acquired National Process Equipment Inc., a Canadian distributor of pumps, service and repairs, integrated system packaging, compressors and related process equipment. 

WinWholesale acquires West Coast Associates

WinWholesale Inc. has acquired West Coast Associates in Tampa, Fla., which now operates as West Coast Winsupply.

1Q factory output rises

The Fed said that factory output edged down 0.1 percent in March but increased at an annual rate of 5.3 percent in the first quarter.

Grainger sales up 4%

Grainger reported first quarter sales of $2.3 billion increased 4 percent versus $2.2 billion in the first quarter of 2012.

NY manufacturing improves

The April 2013 Empire State Manufacturing Survey indicates that conditions for New York manufacturers improved slightly.

Praxair acquires Tri-State Carbonic plant

Praxair announced the acquisition of Tri-State Carbonic’s carbon dioxide (CO2) plant in Lawrenceburg, Ind.

New hose safety handbook

The NAHAD Hose Safety Institute recently unveiled its all-new Handbook for the Design & Specification of Hose Assemblies.

Atlas Copco to buy German torque wrench maker

Atlas Copco has agreed to acquire Saltus-Werk Max Forst GmbH, a manufacturer of mechanical and electric torque solutions based in Germany.

HD Supply loses $1.2 billion in '12

HD Supply reported a net loss of $1.2 billion in 2012, impacted by a $152 million impairment charge and $709 million to extinguish debt.

Airgas names Jones West Division president

Airgas announced that Douglas L. Jones has been named Airgas Division President - West Division, replacing Max D. Hooper, who resigned after 17 years with the company.

Timken acquires motor repair company

The Timken Company has acquired Smith Services Inc., a provider of electric motor rewind and repair.

MAPI survey shows marginal improvement

The results of the quarterly Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI) Survey on the Business Outlook indicate marginal improvement from the previous report.

Fastenal sales rise 4.9 percent

Fastenal reported first quarter sales of $806.3 million, a 4.9% increase from $768.9 million in the same quarter last year.

MSC sales rise slightly

MSC Industrial Direct said its net sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2013 increased 1.2% to $569.5 million.

GE to acquire Lufkin Industries

GE and Lufkin Industries Inc. announced a joint agreement whereby GE will acquire Lufkin Industries Inc. for approximately $3.3 billion.

Kellogg to lead IBC distributor effort

IBC named Robert Kellogg as its Director of Business Development - Distributors.

Graybar adds PA branch

Graybar has opened a new branch in Williamsport, Pa., and added a customer counter and on-site inventory to its existing location in Hudson Valley, N.Y.

Manufacturing technology orders fall

February U.S. manufacturing technology orders totaled $385.89 million, down 10.6% when compared with February 2012.

Midwest manufacturing grows

The Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index (CFMMI) increased 0.8% in February, to a seasonally adjusted level of 96.3.

Manufacturing jobs fell in March

Manufacturing jobs decreased by 3,000 in March, while the construction industry added 18,000 jobs, according to the latest jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

WD-40 net income falls

WD-40 Company reported that its net income for the second quarter fell by 1% to $10.5 million. Sales during the period rose 1% to $86.7 million.

Graybar sues former CFO

A report in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch says Graybar has filed suit against fomer chief financial officer D. Beatty D’Alessandro.

ISA American Eagle deadline nears

The Industrial Supply Association is seeking nominations for its revamped American Eagle Award program.

Wilson named Drillco VP of Sales, Canada

Drillco Cutting Tools Inc., Baton Rouge, La., appointed Scott Wilson vice president of Sales, Canada.

Klein Tools acquires Civitella & Cia

Klein Tools has acquired Civitella & Cia Ltda, a privately held tool and equipment manufacturer in Brazil.

ISM: Manufacturing expands

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in March for the fourth consecutive month.