January 2017 News
Carlisle buys Arbo Holdings
Carlisle Companies announced the acquisition of Arbo Holdings Limited, a provider of sealants, coatings and membrane systems.
Permatex names director of marketing
Permatex named Paco Agrafojo its director of marketing.
Tech Air acquires Gases & Arc Supply
Tech Air has completed the acquisition of Gases & Arc Supply Inc., a distributor of welding and industrial supplies and industrial gases located in Denver.
Cline Tool names national sales EVP
Cline Tool appointed Mark Ritchie to the newly created position of executive vice president of national sales.
Chicago Fed National Activity Index rises
Led by improvements in production-related indicators, the Chicago Fed National Activity Index increased to +0.14 in December from –0.33 in November.
H.B. Fuller acquires Wisdom Worldwide Adhesives
H.B. Fuller Company announced the purchase of the industrial adhesives business of Wisdom Worldwide Adhesives for $122 million.
GDP up 1.9 percent in fourth quarter
Real gross domestic product increased at an annual rate of 1.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2016 according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
WESCO International 4Q sales decline 3.7 percent
WESCO International reported fourth quarter 2016 net sales declined 3.7% to $1.79 billion, compared to $1.86 billion for the fourth quarter of 2015.
2Q sales decline for Applied
Applied Industrial Technologies reported second quarter fiscal 2017 net sales were $608.1 million, a decrease of 0.4% compared with $610.3 million in the same quarter a year ago.
Grainger full-year sales up 2 percent
Grainger reported sales of $10.1 billion were up 2 percent versus $10 billion in 2015.
Revco Industries names new president
Revco Industries announced that Steve Hwang has been named president of the Santa Fe Springs, California, glove and protective apparel company.
Winsupply names new CEO
Winsupply Inc. announced Roland Gordon has been named chief executive officer of the company, effective Jan. 31.
PT/MC market estimated at $70.4 billion
The PTDA Power Transmission & Motion Control Market Size Report recently restated the North American power transmission and motion control (PT/MC) market.
3M sales relatively flat
3M reported fourth-quarter sales increased 0.4 percent year-on-year to $7.3 billion.
PTDA adds seven companies
The Power Transmission Distributors Association recently welcomed seven new member companies.
Würth Industry North America announce personnel moves
Würth Industry North America announced the retirement of Gary Huck as CEO/managing director of Würth Adams.
Bay Supply introduces BayFast brand
Bay Supply (www.baysupply.com), a division of Bay Fastening Systems, has introduced its own brand of engineered fastening products called BayFast.
Ceratizit USA to acquire Best Carbide Cutting Tools
Ceratizit USA Inc. has signed an agreement to acquire a majority stake of Best Carbide Cutting Tools.
Ritz Safety acquires Lone Star Safety & Supply
Dayton, Ohio-based Ritz Safety announced the acquisition of Lone Star Safety & Supply, headquartered in Dallas, with additional branches in San Antonio, Texas, and Oklahoma City.
Industrial production rose 0.8 percent in December
Industrial production rose 0.8 percent in December after falling 0.7 percent in November.
H.B. Fuller sales up 4.9 percent
H.B. Fuller Company reported net revenue grew 4.9 percent to $574.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2016 versus the fourth quarter of 2015.
Tech Air acquires Gasco Affiliates
Tech Air announced that it has completed the acquisition of Florida-based Gasco Affiliates, a producer of specialty gases.
Swift Industrial Power names territory manager
Swift Industrial Power announced that Nathan Jones has been named territory manager for the state of Alabama and the panhandle of Florida.
Fastenal reports growth in 2016
Fastenal Company reported fourth quarter net sales of $ 947.9 million, a 2.7 percent improvement from $922.8 million in the same period last year.
ISA members finish year on positive note
The January ISA Economic Indicator Report (EIR) from the Industrial Supply Association showed that manufacturers and distributors finished the year in growth mode.
Newell Brands to sell Rubbermaid
As part of an effort to simplify and strengthen its portfolio, Newell Brands Inc. has agreed to sell Rubbermaid.
Atlas Copco to split into two companies
Atlas Copco announced that it plans to split into two separate companies, with the new company focused on the mining industry.
TestEquity acquires Jensen Tools + Supply
TestEquity has acquired Massachusetts-based Jensen Tools + Supply, a subsidiary of Stanley Black & Decker.
KKR to acquire Hitachi Koki
Investment firm KKR announced a tender offer to acquire a majority of shares of power tool and life science equipment manufacturer Hitachi Koki Co. Ltd.
PTDA changes membership criteria
The Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) has revised its Distributor Membership criteria to be more inclusive and ensure the association is fully representative of distributors in the power transmission/motion control industry.
KNIPEX names e-commerce sales and support specialist
KNIPEX Tools LP announced Sarah Cavallo as e-commerce sales and support specialist.
Cutting tool consumption down 5.7 percent for year
November U.S. cutting tool consumption totaled $168.69 million according to the U.S. Cutting Tool Institute (USCTI) and AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology.
MSC sales decline 2.9 percent
MSC Industrial Supply reported first quarter 2017 fiscal net sales of $686.3 million, a decline of 2.9% year-over-year from $706.8 million.
Airmaster makes personnel moves
Airmaster announced the promotion of Gregory W. Helbling from director of sales and marketing to vice president of sales and marketing.
Fairmont Supply launches new website
Fairmont Supply announced the launch of a new e-commerce website with expanded products and brand resources.
Walter forms joint venture with software firm
Walter has joined with long-standing software partner Comara to create a new company under joint leadership focused on smart manufacturing.
WD-40 Company sales decline 4 percent
WD-40 Company said its total net sales for its fiscal first quarter were $89.2 million, a decrease of 4 percent compared to the prior year fiscal quarter.
Manufacturing technology orders down slightly in November
Manufacturing technology orders declined slightly in November 2016, dropping 2.4 percent compared to October.
FPDA names new executive director
The FPDA Motion & Control Network (FPDA) announced the appointment of Barbara Dunlavey, CMP, CAE as its new executive director.
Kimball Midwest names general sales manager
Kimball Midwest announced that Patrick McCurdy III, who most recently held the position of director of strategic sales, has been promoted to general sales manager.
Strapbinder acquired by Ideal Clamp Products
Ideal Clamp Products announced that it has acquired Strapbinder, a manufacturer of hose clamps, banding, buckles and application tools.
Manufactured goods orders down 2.4 percent in November
New orders for manufactured goods decreased 2.4 percent in November to $458.3 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today.
Harrington Hoists marks 150th year
Harrington Hoists Inc. announced that the Pennsylvania-based company is celebrating 150 years in the hoist business.
Manufacturing hiring rose in December
In December, employment edged up in manufacturing (+17,000), with a gain of 15,000 in the durable goods component.
W.P. & R.S. Mars Company rebrands as Mars Supply
The W.P. & R.S. Mars Company, a family owned industrial supply company founded in northern Minnesota in 1924, has changed its name to Mars Supply and refreshed its brand logo.
Stanley Black & Decker to purchase Craftsman brand
Stanley Black & Decker and Sears Holdings Corporation have entered into a definitive agreement under which Stanley Black & Decker will purchase the Craftsman brand.
Simonds Saw names new president
Simonds International announced that David Miles was named president of Simonds Saw L.L.C. effective Jan. 1.
Butler Bros. acquires Soluble Solutions
Butler Bros. of Lewiston, Maine, announced that it has acquired Soluble Solutions Inc.
Epicor acquires docSTAR
Epicor Software Corporation announced that it has acquired privately-held docSTAR, a developer of document management software based in Schenectady, New York.
Radians opens Canadian distribution center
Personal protective equipment (PPE) manufacturer Radians announced the opening of its new Canadian distribution center in British Columbia doing business as Radians Canada Distribution Inc.
Manufacturing expanded in December
Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in December, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.
Construction spending up in November
Construction spending during November 2016 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,182.1 billion, 0.9 percent above the revised October estimate of $1,171.4 billion.