Distribution Industry News

Continental celebrated groundbreaking for Iowa compounding center 

Continental’s group sector ContiTech will host a groundbreaking ceremony April 8 for its new state?of?the?art compounding center at the ContiTech Mount Pleasant, Iowa plant.

Mouvex celebrates 120 years making eccentric disc pumps

Mouvex, a leading manufacturer of positive displacement pumps, is celebrating its 120-year anniversary in 2026.

March manufacturing growth outpaces February

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in March for the third consecutive month, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest ISM Manufacturing PMI Report.

SpaceGuard Products earns MHEDA’s MVS Award for 10th consecutive year

SpaceGuard Products, a North American leader in wire mesh security solutions, has been recognized with the 2026 Most Valuable Supplier (MVS) Award from the Material Handling Equipment Distributors Association (MHEDA) for achievements in 2025.

Convert great interns into hires — and stay connected with the ones you can’t

The best internship programs aren’t measured by how they end but by what happens next.

Fabricating machinery distributor adds MySpot spot welder

International Technologies, Inc., a Chicago-area distributor of technologically advanced metal fabricating machinery, said it now offers the NK23 MySpot resistance spot welder from Koyo Giken.

AD appoints Bill Condron as first-time board member

AD announced its owner/members elected Bill Condron, CEO of The Granite Group Wholesalers, LLC, to the board for the first time. Karla Neupert Hockley, chair & CEO of Consolidated Supply Co., and George Vorwick, president and CEO of United Electric Supply Company, Inc., were re-elected to additional terms.

Enerpac reports 6% increase in second quarter net sales

Enerpac Tool Group Corp. announced its second quarter net sales were $155 million, a 6% increase compared to the prior year, with a 2% increase in organic sales.

Fastenal celebrates 25 years in Mexico

Fastenal Company is marking its 25th anniversary in Mexico. The decision to enter the Mexico market came in 2000, and the Apodaca branch officially began doing business early the following year.

Orbbec, Basler partnership promises 3D vision solutions for industrial robotics, logistics

On March 25 during LogiMAT 2026, Orbbec announced a technology collaboration with Basler, an international manufacturer of high-quality industrial cameras and a long-standing reference in machine vision. The partnership aims to provide customers worldwide with integrated and scalable industrial 3D vision solutions for demanding automation tasks in robotics and logistics.

Core & Main opens new Florida facility 

Core & Main, Inc. announced the opening of its new facility located in Rockledge, Florida.

Kimberly-Clark named to Ethisphere's 'World's Most Ethical Companies' list 

Kimberly-Clark Corp. has been recognized as one of the '2026 World's Most Ethical Companies' by Ethisphere, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices.

Ethisphere names Grainger one of the '2026 World's Most Ethical Companies'

Grainger?has been recognized as one of the "2026 World's Most Ethical Companies" by Ethisphere, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices.

Fed holds rates steady after strong capital investment from manufacturers

By Kristin Bartschi

The Federal Reserve opted to keep interest rates steady today at a target range of 3.5% to 3.75% in a move that was widely anticipated by financial markets.

3M acquires Madison Fire & Rescue, forms joint venture in fire safety business

3M announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Madison Fire & Rescue, in partnership with Bain Capital.

NetPlus Industry Outlook: Distributors expect '26 sales to grow at least 3%

After a generally successful 2025, the vast majority of NetPlus Alliance members are looking forward to increased sales in 2026 and implementing strategies to enhance profitability.

Manufacturers' Q4-25 after-tax profits inch up 2.1%

U.S. manufacturing corporations' seasonally adjusted after-tax profits in the fourth quarter of 2025 totaled $247.3 billion, up $5.1billion from the after-tax profits of $242.2 billion recorded in the third quarter of 2025 — according to the Census Bureau's Quarterly Financial Report: U.S. Manufacturing, Mining, Wholesale Trade, and Selected Service Industries, Fourth Quarter 2025.

January construction spending up 1% YoY

Construction spending during January was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2,190.4 billion, 0.3% below the revised December estimate of $2,197.6 billion.

Applied AI for Distributors comes to Chicago in June

Distribution Strategy Group will host its Applied AI for Distributors conference June 23–25 in Chicago.

Winsupply to add 1.6 million square feet of distribution capacity

Winsupply, a distributor of residential and commercial construction and industrial supplies, announced a multi-year expansion of its national distribution network.

Sonepar sets new record with $37.9 billion in global sales

Sonepar said it delivered record sales of $37.9 billion in 2025 and strengthened its profitability despite a challenging global economic environment.

Core & Main ends FY 25 with 2.8% increase in net sales

Core & Main, Inc. announced net sales decreased 6.9% to $1,581 million for its fourth quarter, while net sales increased 2.8% to $7,647 million for the fiscal year ended February 1.

Proton releases purpose-built cloud platform for distributors

Proton.ai launched what its calling the first industry cloud platform purpose-built for distribution, offering a unified suite of AI-powered products that replaces the patchwork of disconnected tools most distributors rely on today, the company stated.

Radians opens new Salt Lake City distribution center

Radians, a manufacturer of personal protective equipment (PPE), announced the opening of a new warehouse and distribution center in Salt Lake City, Utah on March 16.

Grainger hosts three-day show in Orlando

The biannual Grainger Show descended on Orlando March 15–17 as 12,000 attendees poured into 450,000 square feet of tradeshow and seminar spaces at the Orange County Convention Center.

Sunnen launches machine buy-back program 

Sunnen Products Company, a global supplier of high-precision honing, bore sizing, and engine rebuilding equipment, announced its machine buy-back program that gives manufacturers a cost-effective path to upgrade or replace existing equipment while preserving the value of their capital investments.

Manufactured durable goods orders holds steady

New orders for manufactured durable goods in January, down three of the last four months, decreased $0.1 billion or virtually unchanged to $321.2 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced.

Zekelman names new division president of Sharon Tube

Zekelman Industries, an independent steel pipe and tube manufacturer in North America, announced that Jean-Marc “JM” Athanassiadis will take over as division president for the company’s Sharon Tube business unit.

Industrial measures moderate in February 

By Kristin Bartschi

?Industrial production increased 0.2%, and capacity utilization remained flat across the U.S. economy from January to February 2026, according to the latest report issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. For manufacturers, both industrial production and capacity utilization grew at the same rate as the overall index, 0.2% and 0.0%, respectively.

Fastenal to break ground on Southeast distribution facility

Fastenal Company announced it will begin construction of a new Southeast U.S. regional operations and logistics center in Carrollton, Georgia.

Global Industrial introduces pallet jack for safer, faster pallet handling

Global Industrial Company announced the availability of its Global Industrial Electric Pallet Jack with Charger, a compact, self-propelled pallet truck designed to help warehouses and distribution facilities move palletized goods more efficiently while reducing physical strain on operators.

Big Joe Forklifts names new director of dealer development 

Big Joe Forklifts promoted Cullen Wurzer to director, dealer development, Midwest & Southeast.

January cutting tool shipments up 9.9% YoY

Shipments of cutting tools totaled $220.7 million in January, increasing 2.7% from December 2025 and 9.9% from January 2025, according to the latest Cutting Tool Market Report, a collaboration between AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology and the U.S. Cutting Tool Institute (USCTI).

Services sector expands in February

Economic activity in the services sector continued to expand in February, say the nation’s purchasing and supply executives in the latest ISM Services PMI Report. The Services PMI registered 56.1%, its 20th month in a row in expansion territory.

Fastenal net sales rise 13.3% in February

Fastenal reported February net sales climbed 13.3% to $7.1 million.

Distribution Solutions Group reports 9.8% full-year revenue growth 

Reporting full-year and fourth quarter results, Distribution Solutions Group Inc. said 2025 revenue was $1.98 billion, an increase of $175.9 million or 9.8% (on one less selling day), of which $121.5 million resulted from five acquisitions only partially included in 2024.

PTDA 2026 Canadian Conference to cover AI, trade, economic strategy

The Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) will host its 2026 Canadian Conference in Montréal, Canada June 2–4, uniting power transmission/motion control (PT/MC) professionals to explore the latest industry trends and challenges.

Kimberly-Clark appoints chief information and GBS officer

Kimberly-Clark Corp. appointed Francesco Tinto as chief information and global business services (GBS) officer, effective March 9.

Employment in manufacturing, construction, wholesale trade unchanged in February

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported total nonfarm payroll employment edged down by 92,000 in February, following an increase in January (+126,000). 

MT orders predictably decline in January after historic December

By Christopher Chidzik

New orders of metalworking machinery totaled $441.4 million in January 2026, according to the latest U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders Report published by AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology.

Kennametal VP wins 2026 STEP Ahead Award

Kennametal Inc. announced that Ellen Whittingham, vice president, strategic talent enablement, has been recognized as a 2026 STEP Ahead Award Honoree by The Manufacturing Institute.

Core & Main opens new Oregon facility 

Core & Main Inc. (NYSE: CNM), a specialty distributor dedicated to advancing reliable infrastructure with local service, nationwide, announced the opening of its new facility located in Redmond, Oregon.

Distribution Solutions Group acquires Eastern Valve & Control Specialties

Distribution Solutions Group Inc. announced the acquisition of Eastern Valve & Control Specialties Ltd., a provider of industrial valve products and related services supporting customers across Atlantic Canada, as part of its Canadian Branch and Source Atlantic.

Sellars’ CFO recognized with BizTimes award

John Lutz, CFO at Sellars Absorbent Materials, a Milwaukee-based manufacturer and marketer of wipes, absorbents and towel and tissue products, has been recognized as a Notable CFO by BizTimes Media.

Teledyne GMI partners with Southern Cross to support US gas utilities market

Teledyne Gas Measurement Instruments Ltd. (Teledyne GMI), a subsidiary of Teledyne Technologies Inc., announced a strategic partnership with Southern Cross, a Sparus Company, to distribute its full portfolio of gas and leak detection solutions to gas utility customers across the Southeast region of the U.S.

BlackHawk Industrial taps industry veteran to accelerate growth

BlackHawk Industrial, a market-leading distributor of metalworking and other mission-critical industrial products, appointed Ryan Esposito to the newly created position of chief commercial officer (CCO).

DLA leadership emphasizes AI, partnerships as critical to warfighter readiness

By Matthew Mahoney DLA Distribution Public Affairs

"AI is the new gunpowder," declared Defense Logistics Agency Director Army Lt. Gen. Mark Simerly, offering a prediction on the future of military logistics.

PTDA welcomes new member Bestorq 

The Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA), announced Bestorq is their latest new manufacturer member.

DXP Enterprises reports fiscal '25 sales up 11.9% 

DXP Enterprises Inc. announced fiscal 2025 sales of $2.0 billion, up 11.9% from fiscal 2024. The company's fourth-quarter sales increased 12% to $527.4 million, compared to the same quarter of 2024.

Kimball Midwest receives training award

Kimball Midwest, a national industrial supplier based in Columbus, again has been recognized by Training magazine for excellence in training and development programs.

December construction spending ticks up from November

December 2025 construction spending was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2,168.8 billion, 0.3% above the November estimate of $2,163.1 billion. The December figure is 0.4% below the December 2024 estimate of $2,176.6 billion.

Global Industrial Q4 sales increase 14.3%

Global Industrial Company announced its fourth quarter 2025 consolidated sales increased 14.3% to $345.6 million compared to $302.3 million last year and average daily sales increased 7.4% compared to prior year.

February manufacturing activity in expansion territory

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in February for the second straight month but only the third time in 40 months, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest ISM Manufacturing PMI Report.

AFC Industries introduces Cline Tool Customs 

AFC Industries launched Cline Tool Customs, a brand focused on delivering custom engineered tooling solutions designed to solve complex manufacturing challenges with precision and speed.