April 2021 News
Grainger's Q1 sales up 2.8 percent
Grainger said its first quarter 2021 sales of $3.1 billion increased 2.8 percent compared to the first quarter 2020.
GDP grew at 6.4 percent rate in Q1
Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 6.4 percent in the first quarter of 2021, reflecting the continued economic recovery, reopening of establishments, and continued government response related to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kimball Midwest Receives Learning Award
Kimball Midwest recently received an award for its learning and development efforts.
MRC Global's sales fall 23 percent
MRC Global's sales were $609 million for the first quarter of 2021, 23 percent lower than $794 million in first quarter of 2020.
Timken's Q1 sales grew 11 percent
The Timken Company reported first-quarter 2021 sales of $1.03 billion, up 11 percent from $923 million in the same period a year ago.
AFC Industries acquired by Bertram Capital
Private equity group Bertram Capital announced the acquisition of Fairfield, Ohio-based AFC Industries, a distributor of fasteners and other C-parts.
Snap-on Incorporated reported net sales of $1.02 billion in the first quarter of 2021 increased 20.2 percent from 2020 levels.
Chicago Fed National Activity Index rebounded in March
Led by improvements in indicators related to production and personal consumption
and housing, the Chicago Fed National Activity Index rose to +1.71 in March from –1.20 in February.
Q1 sales flat at Motion Industries
Sales of $1.5 billion for Motion Industries in the first quarter were relatively flat, increasing 0.1 percent from the same quarter last year.
Makita breaks ground at Atlanta facility
Makita U.S.A. Inc. held a ceremonial groundbreaking yesterday to launch construction of a new 600,000 sq.ft. state-of-the-art facility northeast of Atlanta in Hall County, Georgia.
MSC Customer Care Model is about growth
President/CEO Erik Gershwind explains how MSC Industrial Supply decided to scrap a decades-old, branch-based business model in favor of a new virtual format
Winsupply to open new OKC regional distribution center
Winsupply Inc. announced plans to open a new regional distribution center in Oklahoma City in 2022.
Snap-on Industrial Brands rebrands as Williams
Striving to tap into the “workhorse” line of tools that have long represented the Williams brand, Snap-on Industrial Brands will now be known as Williams.
Channellock adds marketing and product managers
Channellock announced the promotions of Lynn Reynolds to marketing manager and Ken Burchill to product manager.
Milwaukee Tool to expand MS manufacturing base
Milwaukee Tool announced plans to open a new manufacturing facility in Grenada, Mississippi.
ARCH Precision Components to be sold
ARCH Global Precision announced that its majority shareholder, The Jordan Company, and ARCH have agreed to sell ARCH Precision Components Corp. to funds affiliated with Madison Dearborn Partners LLC.
IWDC member companies’ spend through their co-op was $27.9 million in March, smashing the May 2019 record by $1 million.
Conexiom, a provider of sales order automation, announced that the first quarter of 2021 was its best quarter in company history.
Industrial production increased in March
Total industrial production increased 1.4 percent in March, following a drop of 2.6 percent in February.
AD receives Top Workplace Award
For a third straight year, AD has been recognized as a Top Workplace in the greater Philadelphia region based on feedback from its annual employee engagement survey.
Winsupply names three area leaders
Winsupply Inc. announced the promotions of three of Winsupply’s local company presidents to the roles of area leaders.
Fastenal's Q1 sales up 3.7 percent
Fastenal Company reported first-quarter sales of $1.41 billion, a 3.7 percent increase from $1.36 billion in last year's first quarter.
Manufacturing technology orders increased in February
U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders totaled $377.6 million in February, a 17.8 percent increase from January and a 34.2 percent increase over February 2020.
PIP names new industrial director of marketing
Protective Industrial Products announced the appointment of Laura Proctor as director of marketing for industrial safety.
MSC's 2Q sales decline 1.5 percent
MSC Industrial Supply reported that its net sales of $774.0 million declined 1.5 percent from $786.1 million in the prior year quarter.
NOW Inc. closes on Flex Flow acquisition
NOW Inc. announced the closing of its acquisition of the Flex Flow business from GR Energy Services, a portfolio company of Pine Brook.
Van Meter to buy remaining shares of Werner Electric
Van Meter Inc., a 50 percent partner in Werner Ventures LLC, the legal entity that owns Minnesota-based Werner Electric, announced its intent to make a stock purchase of the remaining business from MacDonald Ventures.
Dayco bolsters aftermarket bench
Dayco continues to build its bench of aftermarket expertise in product management, engineering and sales with five new hires.
NAHAD changes venue for 2021 convention
Late last month NAHAD announced it would be moving the location of its 2021 Annual Meeting & Convention.
Winsupply acquires Allegheny Pipe & Supply
Winsupply Inc. has purchased the assets of Allegheny Pipe & Supply, a distributor of industrial pipe, valves and fittings located in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania, a borough located just west of Pittsburgh.
Motion names director of corporate development
Motion Industries announced that Jim May was promoted to director of corporate development, effective April 1.
WINA forms Würth Additive Group
Würth Industry North America (WINA) announced that it has formed a new company called Würth Additive Group to provide expanded 3D printing products and services, including financing and rental options on equipment.
AD hires chief marketing officer
AD has hired Marty McLaughlin as its first chief marketing officer.
Purvis Industries acquires Precision Industrial Services
Purvis Industries has acquired Precision Industrial Services of Itasca, Texas.
Winsupply names top-performing companies
Winsupply Inc. has named Thomas Pipe and Supply (Arizona), its overall Company of the Year.
The Institute for Supply Management's purchasing manager index registered 64.7 percent in March, an increase of 3.9 percentage points from the February reading of 60.8 percent.
Construction and factory jobs surge in March
The construction and manufacturing industries both recorded big job gains in March, as total employment rose by 916,000 in the month.
Motion Industries names new group VP
Motion Industries has named Aurelio Banda group vice president of Automation, effective today.
Construction spending fell in February
Construction spending during February 2021 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,516.9 billion, 0.8 percent below the revised January estimate of $1,529.0 billion.
Optimas Solutions names new COO
Optimas Solutions announced the appointment of Daniel Harms to chief operating officer