March 2012 News
Airgas acquires Nordan Smith
Airgas has acquired Nordan Smith, a Hattiesburg, Miss.-based distributor of industrial, medical, and specialty gases and related supplies.
Graybar to open Charleston branch
Graybar announced plans to open a new, full-service branch in Charleston, S.C., on April 2.
WinWholesale names top vendors
WinWholesale named five vendors in different industries as a 2011 Vendor of the Year.
Mechlin joins Machinery Tool advisory board
Machinery Systems and its subsidiary, Machinery Tooling & Supply, announced that Stu Mechlin has joined the company's board of advisors.
Dixon opens Innovation Center
Dixon, a manufacturer and supplier of hose fittings and accessories, announced the opening of the Dixon Innovation Center.
Durable goods orders increase
New orders for manufactured durable goods increased 2.2 percent in February to $211.8 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced today.
Park-Ohio acquires Fluid Routing Solutions
Park-Ohio Industries Inc. has completed the acquisition of Fluid Routing Solutions Inc, a manufacturer of industrial hose products and fuel filler and hydraulic fluid assemblies.
Blue joins AD
Affiliated Distributors announced that Tom Blue has accepted the newly created position of vice president of Marketing and Affiliate Relations for the Industrial Supply Division.
Chicago Fed National Activity Index drops slightly
Led by weaker production-related indicators, the Chicago Fed National Activity Index decreased to -0.09 in February from +0.33 in January.
TTI sales up by 8.4%
Hong Kong-based Techtronic Industries Co. Ltd., which owns Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation, said its profits for 2011 rose by 58.9% to $151 million.
MAPI Survey: Manufacturing rebound continues
The U.S. manufacturing recovery continues on track and should outperform overall GDP growth through 2013, according to the quarterly Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI) U.S. Industrial Outlook.
Actuant sales up 8%
Actuant Corporation said sales for the second quarter were $378 million, 14% higher than the comparable prior year quarter.
FCX Performance acquires ISI
Columbus, Ohio-based FCX Performance has completed the acquisition of Instrumentation Services Inc.
Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index rises
The Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index increased 1.3% in January, to a seasonally adjusted level of 90.1.
Industrial production unchanged in February
Industrial production was unchanged in February after having risen 0.4 percent in January.
ISA members demonstrate continued strength
According to the latest ISA Economic Indicators Report (EIR) from the Industrial Supply Association, activity among its manufacturer and distributor members demonstrated strength in early 2012.
Good news on NY, Philly manufacturing
Two regional reports on factory activity bring positive economic news for manufacturers.
Metalformers expect business to remain steady
According to the March 2012 Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) Business Conditions Report, metalforming companies anticipate steady business conditions during the next three months.
BlackHawk acquires Kendeco Tool Crib
BlackHawk Industrial Distribution announced the acquisition of Kendeco Tool Crib, a St. Cloud, Minn., industrial distributor serving the MRO marketplace.
AD launches new Web site
Affiliated Distributors (AD) launched a new public Web site at www.ADHQ.com.
Survey says distributors plan to hire soon
A recent survey by the NAW Institute for Distribution Excellence on behalf of the Industrial Careers Pathway (ICP) found that 91 percent of distribution firms surveyed plan to hire new employees within the next five years.
Bearings maker NN sales flat
NN Inc. reported its sales for the fourth quarter were $96.3 million, flat with $96.3 million for the comparable period of 2010.
January manufacturing technology orders rise
January U.S. manufacturing technology orders totaled $401.69 million, up 8.4% from January 2011, according to AMT - The Association For Manufacturing Technology.
HD Supply to sell Industrial PVF business
HD Supply has agreed to sell its Industrial PVF business to Shale-Inland Holdings LLC.
Grainger February sales up 18%
Grainger reported sales for the month of February increased 18 percent versus February 2011.
Manufacturing job gains in February
Manufacturing employment rose by 31,000 in February according to the latest jobs statistics reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
AMTDA merges with AMT
AMT-The Association For Manufacturing Technology and AMTDA-The American Machine Tool Distributors' Association announced the merger of the two associations.
ISA seeking American Eagle nominations
The Industrial Supply Association is seeking nominations for its annual American Eagle Award program.
White Cap opens Texas branch
HD Supply White Cap Construction Supply announced the opening of its newest branch location in Conroe, Texas.
Acklands-Grainger president to resign
Grainger announced that Sean O'Brien, president, Acklands-Grainger Inc., Grainger's Canadian subsidiary, will resign from the company effective March 23.
Q4 labor productivity increased
Nonfarm business sector labor productivity increased at a 0.9 percent annual rate during the fourth quarter of 2011, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.
Survey: Manufacturers and distributors gain optimism
The number of manufacturing and distribution executives who are optimistic about the U.S. economy is 146 percent greater now than a few short months ago.
Manufactured goods orders fall
New orders for manufactured goods decreased 1 percent in January to $462.6 billion according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
H.B. Fuller acquires Forbo Group adhesives business
H.B. Fuller Company announced that it has completed the acquisition of the global industrial adhesives business of Forbo Group.
Lewis-Goetz acquires Industrial Rubber and Supply
Lewis-Goetz and Company Inc. announced it has acquired certain assets of Industrial Rubber and Supply of Savannah.
Bostwick-Braun Industrial names new president
Bostwick-Braun Company of Toledo, Ohio, named Matt Mazur as president and chief operating officer of the Bostwick-Braun Industrial Supply Division.
Milwaukee Electric Tool to expand Mississippi warehouse
Milwaukee Electric Tool plans to build a larger distribution center in Olive Branch, Miss.
Ironclad Performance Wear sales up 35%
Ironclad Performance Wear reported net sales for the fourth quarter of 2011 of $7.68 million, an increase of 34.9% percent from $5.70 million in Q4 2010.
ISM: Factory activity growth slows
Factory activity expanded for the 31st consecutive month, according to the Institute for Supply Management.
DXP Enterprises has 28.7% sales gain
DXP Enterprises reported that its fourth-quarter sales increased 28.7% to approximately $218.4 million from $169.7 million for the same period in 2010.
HD Supply sales up nearly 15%
HD Supply reported fourth-quarter net sales of $1.8 billion, a 14.8 percent increase compared to the same period in 2010.
Lawson Products reports loss
Lawson Products said its fourth-quarter sales declined by 9% to $72.9 million compared to $80.0 million in the prior year quarter.
