November 2015 News

AD founder David Weisberg passes away at 89

Affiliated Distributors announced that company founder David Weisberg died peacefully at his home in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Nov. 22, surrounded by family. He was 89 years old.

Bolts & Nuts Corp. to open Kentucky facility

Chattanooga, Tenn.-based Bolts & Nuts Corporation announced that it will expand its footprint into Kentucky by opening a new facility in Danville.

Kaman Corp. acquires GRW Bearing

Kaman Corporation announced today that its Aerospace segment has acquired GRW Bearing GmbH (GRW), a German-based designer and manufacturer of super precision, miniature ball bearings.

Mallory Safety and Supply acquires Sanderson Safety

Mallory Safety and Supply announced that it has acquired the safety distribution business of Sanderson Safety Supply Co. of Portland, Oregon.

MAPI: Moderate growth in 2016; deceleration in 2017

Strong consumer demand driven by job growth should lead to increased manufacturing production through 2017, according to a new forecast.

AD wins HR award

AD, the $31 billion contractor and industrial products wholesale buying/marketing group, was named 2015’s “HR Department of the Year” in the Greater Philadelphia area by the HR Department of the Year Awards.

Northern Safety names new CFO

Northern Safety & Industrial, a member of the Würth Group, has hired Mike Borrelli as its new chief financial officer.

PTDA Business Index shows slower growth

The PTDA Business Index for the third quarter indicates continued slowing compared to the previous quarter with a reading of 37.7, down from 46.6 in 2Q2015.

Chicago Fed National Activity Index up in October

Led by improvements in employment- and production-related indicators, the Chicago Fed National Activity Index rose to –0.04 in October from –0.29 in September.

Milwaukee Tool plans expansion of Wisconsin headquarters

Milwaukee Tool announced that it is working on a proposed major expansion of its Brookfield, Wis., headquarters.

PTDA sales report shows slower sales growth

The second quarter Sales History & Outlook Report (SHOR) released by the Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) shows power transmission/motion control (PT/MC) distributor sales moving counter cyclically to the leading industrial indicators, with the growth rate up 11.7 percent from one year ago.

McCausland to receive $962 million on sale of Airgas

Airgas founder and executive chairman Peter McCausland is set to receive about $962 million when the sale of Airgas to Air Liquide is finalized.

Timken to build new bearing plant in Eastern Europe

The Timken Company announced that it will construct a new bearing plant near Ploiesti, Romania.

PTDA Foundation surpasses fundraising goal

Industry support for the PTDA Foundation reached record heights again in 2015, surpassing all expectations with a final total of nearly $345,200.

Lewis-Goetz opens Salt Lake facility

Lewis-Goetz has opened a new distribution, production and service center in Salt Lake City.

Air Liquide to acquire Airgas

Air Liquide and Airgas announced an agreement under which Air Liquide will acquire Airgas.

ContiTech emphasizes social and environmental responsibility

With a focus on social and environmental responsibility, Jim Hill, CEO of ContiTech NAFTA Region explained to a group of hose manufacturers that the key to long-term success is maintaining a commitment to quality in every facet of the business.

Osborn names director of sales

Osborn announced the hiring of André Pelletier as its director of sales for its distribution division.

PTDA names 2016 leadership

The Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) elected its 2016 Board of Directors and Manufacturer Council at the recent PTDA Industry Summit in Chicago.

Hitachi to buy Metabo

Hitachi Koki Co. Ltd. announced that it will acquire 100 percent ownership of Metabo Aktiengesellschaft, headquartered in Nurtingen, Germany.

Mid-State Industrial acquired by RelaDyne

RelaDyne announced that it has acquired Mid-State Industrial Supply Inc. and J.B. Weimar Inc.

Grainger reports October sales decline

Grainger reported that daily sales declined 1 percent in October of 2015 versus October of 2014.

Essendant announces management changes, cost cutting moves

Essendant Inc. announced changes to the company's management team and detailed a plan to reduce operating costs by $20 million annually.

U.S. cutting tool consumption down 1.9%

September U.S. cutting tool consumption totaled $170.8 million, according to the U.S. Cutting Tool Institute (USCTI) and AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology.

Manufacturing technology orders up in September

September 2015 U.S. manufacturing technology orders saw a monthly gain of 10.9% from August, but overall were 16.6% down for the first three quarters of 2015 compared to the previous year.

Kaman Aerospace acquires GRW Bearing

Kaman Corporation announced that its Aerospace segment has entered into an agreement to acquire GRW Bearing GmbH, a German-based designer and manufacturer of super precision, miniature ball bearings.

DXP Enterprises reports 3Q loss

DXP Enterprises said its third quarter sales were $303.1 million, a decrease of 21.7 percent from $387.1 million reported in the third quarter of 2014.

Kaman acquires Calkins Fluid Power Inc.

Kaman Corporation announced that its Distribution Segment agreed to acquire Calkins Fluid Power Inc., a distributor of fluid power components and systems.

SouthernCarlson formed by merger

Three family owned companies, Southern Fastening Systems, Carlson Systems, and Kentec, have merged to form SouthernCarlson.

October construction employment up, manufacturing jobs unchanged

Construction employment increased by 31,000 in October, following little employment change in recent months, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today.

NN Inc. posts 3Q sales and income gains

NN Inc. reported net sales for the third quarter of 2015 increased $29.2 million, or 23% to $154.8 million, compared to $125.6 million for the third quarter of 2014.

Fastenal sales down 5.1% in October

Fastenal reported that sales in October fell 5.1% to $337.9 million, down from $356.3 million in October 2014.

Allied Motion Technologies income falls

Allied Motion Technologies announced net income increased 4% to $4.3 million, or 46 cents per diluted share for the quarter, compared to $4.1 million, or 45 cents, for the same period last year.

RBC Bearings sales up 32.1%

RBC Bearings posted net sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2016 of $148.7 million, an increase of 32.1% from $112.6 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2015.

Manufacturing productivity increased 4.9% in 3Q

Manufacturing sector labor productivity increased 4.9 percent in the third quarter of 2015, the largest gain since a 6.1-percent increase in the third quarter of 2011.

Graybar reports record 3Q sales

Graybar reported record third quarter net sales of $1.6 billion, a 0.9 percent increase compared to the same period last year.

The JET Group acquires Sellstrom

The JET Group announced the acquisition of Sellstrom Manufacturing, a Schaumburg, Ill.-based provider of personal protective equipment.

Purvis Industries acquires Acadiana Bearing

Purvis Industries has acquired Acadiana Bearing, a Lafayette, La.-based distributor that serves customers in the oil & gas, sugar mills and other industries.

Kennametal posts loss for 1Q

Kennametal said its 2016 fiscal first quarter sales were $555 million, compared with $695 million in the same quarter last year.

Jones joins IWDC to market PurityPlus program

Erica Jones has joined the IWDC as PurityPlus marketing director.

Manufacturing activity slowed in October

The pace of manufacturing activity slowed in October compared to September according to the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.

AD sales up 3% in 3Q

Affiliated Distributors reported sales for all AD members across all seven divisions and three countries, grew by 3% in the third quarter year-to-date to $25.4 billion.

PTDA hands out Pike and McDonald Awards

The Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) has named John Masek, senior vice president, Bearing Service Inc., Livonia, Mich., the 25th recipient of its Warren Pike Award for lifetime achievement in the power transmission/motion control (PT/MC) industry.

WESCO Distribution acquires Needham Electric Supply

WESCO International announced that WESCO Distribution Inc. has acquired Needham Electric Supply.