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December 2012 News

Brady acquires Precision Dynamics

Brady Corporation has acquired Precision Dynamics Corporation in a cash transaction for $300 million.

Airgas subsidiary buys D&D Power

Airgas announced that Red-D-Arc Inc., an Airgas company, has acquired D&D Power LLC, a Texas-based equipment rental and services business.

Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index rises

The Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index increased 1.6% in November, to a seasonally adjusted level of 93.7.

Grainger settles government dispute

Grainger has settled its long-standing contract dispute with the federal government for $70 million.

Applied Industrial Technologies acquires Parts Associates

Applied Industrial Technologies has acquired Parts Associates Inc. (PAI) of Cleveland.

Shedd named Airgas West region president

Airgas announced that David Shedd has been named president of the Airgas West region, reporting to Max Hooper, Airgas Western Division president.

BlackHawk acquires E.F. Bailey

BlackHawk Industrial Distribution has acquired E.F. Bailey Company, a Seattle, Wa.-based industrial distributor focused in the metal working industry.

Chicago Fed National Activity Index rises

Led by improvements in production-related indicators, the Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) increased to +0.10 in November from -0.64 in October.

Kosciolek retires from Snap-on

Peter Kosciolek remembers his first day at work for J.H. Williams Tool Co., like it happened yesterday.

GDP increased in 3Q

Real gross domestic product increased at an annual rate of 3.1 percent in the third quarter of 2012.

Philly area manufacturing rebounds

Manufacturing activity rebounded this month, according to firms responding to the Philadelphia Federal Reserve Bank December Business Outlook Survey.

Airgas makes four acquisitions

Airgas has acquired four businesses with combined annual revenues of approximately $20 million.

Industrial outlook 'sluggish' for '13

A new MAPI report says the sluggish pace characteristic of the current economic expansion is likely to continue in 2013.

BDI moves Atlanta branch

Bearing Distributors Inc. (BDI) has moved its Atlanta-area branch to a new and expanded location at 1479 Parker Rd. in Conyers, Ga.

Haber to retire from NetPlus

NetPlus Alliance announced the retirement of Paul Haber, vice president of distributor relations.

Kaman signs Schneider Electric distribution agreement

Kaman Industrial Technologies has entered into a national distributor agreement with Schneider Electric.

Empire State manufacturing survey declines further

The December 2012 Empire State Manufacturing Survey indicates that conditions for New York manufacturers continued to decline at a modest pace.

Grainger to acquire Techni-Tool

Grainger plans to acquire Techni-Tool Inc., and its affiliate Wassco Inc., specialist distributors serving manufacturing customers with 2011 sales of $88 million.

Goodall Rubber Canada to move production

Goodal Rubber Company of Canada announced plans to move its production facility to a newly rehabilitated building in Collingwood, Ontario.

Industrial production rises

Industrial production increased 1.1 percent in November after having fallen 0.7 percent in October, the Fed said today.

WinWholesale acquires Lloyd Graves Electric

WinWholesale has acquired Lloyd Graves Electric Supply in Spring, Texas.

Tencarva acquires Southern Sales

Greensboro, N.C.-based Tencarva Machinery Company has acquired Southern Sales Company Inc., of Nashville, Tenn.

Grainger November sales up 8%

Grainger reported sales for November increased 8 percent versus November 2011.

STAFDA offers UID scholarships

The Specialty Tools & Fasteners Distributors Association (STAFDA) is providing scholarships for the upcoming March 10-13, 2013, University of Industrial Distribution (UID) in Indianapolis.

Oct. manufacturing technology orders fall

October U.S. manufacturing technology orders totaled $459.16 million, down 31.3% from September and down 0.1% from October 2011.

Pferd opens Training Academy

Pferd Inc. announced the opening of its Pferd Training Academy at its manufacturing facility in Milwaukee, Wis.

Manufacturing and construction job losses

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported job losses in construction and manufacturing in November.

TIPCO to open 9th branch

TIPCO Technologies announced plans to open an Eaton Aeroquip Hose Center in Bear, Del., on Feb. 4, 2013.

GHX acquires Express Hose

GHX Industrial LLC has acquired Phoenix-based Express Hose & Fittings II.

HD Supply sales rise 13.4%

HD Supply Inc. reported third-quarter net sales of $2.1 billion, an increase of 13.4 percent compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2011.

IDG buys Canadian distributor

Industrial Distribution Group has agreed to acquire Commercial Solutions Inc. for $51.9 million.

PTDA schedules Spring Leaders Conference

The Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) will host its annual Spring Leaders Conference March 21-23, 2013, in San Antonio, Texas.

Interline acquires JanPak

Interline Brands has entered into an agreement to acquire JanPak Inc. for $82.5 million in cash.

McJunkin Red Man to buy Production Specialty Services

McJunkin Red Man Corporation signed an agreement to acquire Production Specialty Services Inc. of Midland, Texas.

Construction spending on the rise

Construction spending increased 1.4 percent in October to an annualized rate of $872.1 billion, its highest level in 37 months.

Manufacturing slowed in November

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted in November following two months of modest expansion.