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January 2013 News

Applied Industrial Technologies sales up 3.4%

Applied Industrial Technologies reported net sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2013 increased 3.4% to $589.5 million compared to a year ago.

WESCO International sales up 3.5%

WESCO International said its net sales were $1.64 billion for the fourth quarter of 2012, 3.5% higher than the same period last year.

Sandvik sales and profits decline

Swedish cutting tools manufacturer Sandvik made a net profit of 728 million SEK ($113.3 million) for the last three months of 2012.

SKF sales decline by 7%

Bearings manufacturer SKF reported that its fourth-quarter sales of nearly 15 billion kronor ($2.6 billion) declined by about 7% compared to last year.

Rockwell Automation sales up 1%

Rockwell Automation reported fiscal 2013 first quarter sales of $1.48 billion, up 1 percent from $1.47 billion in the first quarter of fiscal 2012.

Industrial manufacturers optimistic

Sentiment regarding prospects for the U.S. economy in the year ahead increased among U.S. industrial manufacturers in the Q4 Manufacturing Barometer.

Newell Rubbermaid introduces Hilmor brand

Newell Rubbermaid announced its entry into the heating, ventilation and air conditioning/refrigeration (HVAC/R) category with the introduction of the Hilmor brand.

ITW revenues down by 2.3%

Illinois Tool Works reported fourth quarter revenues of $4.221 billion declined 2.3 percent.

Danaher sales up 5.5%

Danaher Corporation reported sales for the 2012 fourth quarter were $4.98 billion, 5.5% higher than the $4.72 billion reported for the 2011 fourth quarter.

Midwest Manufacturing Index rises

The Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index increased 0.7% in December, to a seasonally adjusted level of 94.7.

ICP overhauls website

Industrial Careers Pathway announced a redesign of its website to attract more job seekers and inspire them to aim for careers in industrial distribution and manufacturing.

IDG backs away from CSI purchase

Industrial Distribution Group has notified Commercial Solutions Inc. that it was withdrawing its offer to purchase the company.

Columbus McKinnon sales up 7.3%

Columbus McKinnon reported net sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2013 were $153.2 million, up 7.3% from the prior-year period.

Grainger annual sales up 11%

Grainger said its sales of $9.0 billion for 2012 increased 11 percent versus $8.1 billion in 2011.

Airgas sales and earnings rise

Airgas reported that its third quarter sales were $1.21 billion, an increase of 5% over the prior year.

3M sales rise by 4.2%

3M reported fourth-quarter sales rose 4.2 percent year-on-year to $7.4 billion, an all-time fourth-quarter record.

Stanley 4Q sales climb 4%

Stanley Black & Decker said its fourth quarter net sales were $2.7 billion, up 4% versus the prior year.

Kennametal sales decline 1%

Kennametal reported that its seals for the fiscal 2013 second quarter decline by 1% to $633 million, compared to $642 in the same quarter last year.

Timken sales fall 4%

The Timken Company reported sales of $5.0 billion for 2012, a decrease of 4 percent from the prior year.

Bostwick-Braun buys Columbus Fastener

Bostwick-Braun Company purchased the Columbus Fastener Corporation (CFC), a distributor of fasteners, construction and industrial supplies.

Praxair sales up 5%

Praxair announced full-year 2012 reported net income of $1.69 billion and reported diluted earnings per share of $5.61.

Chicago Fed National Activity Index down

Led by declines in production-related indicators, the Chicago Fed National Activity Index decreased to +0.02 in December from +0.27 in November.

Radians acquires Crossfire Safety

Safety Supply Corporation, the parent of Radians Inc., acquired substantially all of the assets of Crossfire Safety Eyewear and Pelican Bay Trading Company Inc.

ISA index falls in December

The monthly Economic Indicators Report (EIR) from the Industrial Supply Association showed a slight contraction in member activity in December, particularly among manufacturers.

Applied celebrates 90th anniversary

Applied Industrial Technologies is celebrating its 90th year in business.

Parker earnings fall

Parker Hannifin reported fiscal 2013 second quarter sales were $3.07 billion compared with $3.11 billion in the prior year quarter.

Grainger earns FORTUNE distinction

Grainger announced that it was named to the 2013 FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For list.

Fastenal sales climb 13.3%

Fastenal reported that it ended 2012 with annual sales of $3.13 billion, a gain of 13.3% compared to the previous year.

Tour de Force offers new small business CRM

Tour de Force CRM, a software provider for the distribution, manufacturing, construction, furniture dealer, and technology industries, released a new software edition and implementation process designed to meet the needs of small businesses.

Industrial production rises

Industrial production increased 0.3 percent in December after having risen 1.0 percent in November.

Lundgren named Stanley chairman

Stanley Black & Decker announced that CEO John F. Lundgren has been elected to also serve as chairman of the board, effective March 13.

November manufacturing technology orders fall

November U.S. manufacturing technology orders totaled $421.83 million, down 11.0% from October and down 8.5% compared to $460.86 million in November 2011.

Curtiss-Wright to acquire Phonix Group

Curtiss-Wright Corporation has entered into an agreement to acquire the Phonix Group for approximately $106 million in cash (EURO82 million).

IDG joins AD

Affiliated Distributors (AD) announced that Industrial Distribution Group (IDG) has joined AD’s Industrial Supply Division (ISD).

Fastenal selects Tofino Software

Tofino Software announced that Fastenal Company selected Tofino as its service provider for FAST Crib.

ITW Dymon/Atlantic Mills join forces

ITW Dymon and Atlantic Mills have combined product portfolios and will operate under the new name, ITW Professional Brands.

The Tool House acquires Applied Products division

The Tool House announced the acquisition of the Applied Products Industrial Assembly Tool & Equipment Division.

MAPI Index slips slightly

The latest Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI) Survey on the Business Outlook fell to 55 from 56 in the September 2012 survey.

MSC profits rise

MSC Industrial Direct reported net sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2013 of $577.5 million, an increase of 5.8% compared to the first quarter last year.

FCX Performance acquires Pierce Pump

Columbus, Ohio-based FCX Performance has acquired Pierce Pump Company L.P. of Dallas.

WD-40 income rises 61%

WD-40 Company reported net sales for its fiscal 2013 first quarter of $95.3 million, an increase of 12% from the first quarter last year.

Register for BSA 2013 annual convention

Registration is open for the Bearing Specialists Association (BSA) 2013 Annual Convention May 4-7.

Equity firm buys Merfish and Pipe Exchange

One Equity Partners, the private investment arm of JPMorganChase, has acquired majority stock positions in Merfish Pipe & Supply Company and Pipe Exchange Inc.

Kaman sells Canadian branches

Kaman Industrial Technologies Corporation has sold its seven Canadian branches to Wajax Industrial Components, a Canadian national industrial distributor.

Apache acquires Trico Belting & Supply

Apache Inc. has acquired Trico Belting & Supply Company, a supplier of light-duty conveyor belting with locations in Cincinnati and Chicago.

Tech Air acquires Esquire Gas Products

Tech Air, a Danbury, Conn.-based distributor of industrial, medical, and specialty gases and related welding supplies, has acquired Connecticut-based Esquire Gas Products Company.

December job gains for manufacturing and construction

The manufacturing and construction industries both made job gains in December, but the nation's unemployment rate was unchanged at 7.8 percent.

Jergens acquires John M. Allen Co.

Jergens Industrial Supply, a division of Jergens Inc., has acquired the John M. Allen Company of Brookpark, Ohio.

Airgas buys two distributors

Airgas has acquired two industrial gas and welding supply distributors with combined annual revenues of more than $30 million.

Schultz to leave United Stationers

United Stationers Inc. announced that Steve Schultz, group president of Lagasse and ORS Nasco, will leave the company at the end of January.

Singer Equities buys Summers Rubber Co.

Singer Equities Inc. has acquired the operating assets of Summers Rubber Company based in Cleveland, Ohio.

Updike Supply acquires H.D. Geisler Co.

Updike Supply Company, Dayton, Ohio, has acquired H.D. Geisler Company, a distributor of metal stamping products and tooling components.

Manufacturing ends 2012 on positive note

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in December, following one month of contraction.

Lincoln Electric acquires Tennessee Rand

Lincoln Electric Holdings has acquired privately-held automated systems and tooling manufacturer Tennessee Rand Inc.

Timken acquires Wazee Companies

The Timken Company has acquired Wazee Companies LLC, a provider of motor, generator, wind and industrial crane services.