June 2021 News

Virginia Abrasives promotes three  

Virginia Abrasives has promoted three employees in a reorganization of key sales management roles.

Protective Industrial Products acquires Paramount Safety Products

Protective Industrial Products has acquired Paramount Safety Products, headquartered in Perth, Western Australia.

Regal enhances industrial powertrain capabilities

Regal Beloit Corporation continues to enhance its industrial powertrain capabilities.

Weld Systems Integrators names new VP

Weld Systems Integrators, a U.S. manufacturer of resistance welding equipment and machinery, promoted Adam Studzenski to vice president.

Enerpac Tool Group's sales soar 40.4 percent

Enerpac Tool Group's third-quarter sales jumped 40.4 percent to $143.9 million, compared to $101.9 million in the same period last year.

Rob Johnson named president of IPT America

Innovative Productivity Technologies, also known as IPT America, has promoted vice president of sales Rob Johnson to president of the company.

Ingersoll Rand to acquire Maximus

Ingersoll Rand Inc.has agreed to acquire Maximus, a provider of digital controls and Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) production management systems for the agritech market.

Rockwell Automation acquires Plex Systems

Rockwell Automation has entered into an agreement to acquire Plex Systems for $2.22 billion in cash.

NAW members donate more than $1 million to NLC

The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW) and the National League of Cities (NLC) tannounced its partnership supporting reopening communities surpassed $1 million in donations of critical personal protective equipment and other supplies.

Dib joins PTRA board

George Dib, director of sales, Americas, for Solve Industrial Motion Group, has been appointed to serve a three-year term on the Power-Motion Technology Representatives Association (PTRA)’s board of directors as a principal director.

Home Depot launches online rental reservations

The Home Depot announced the launch of new "Rent Online, Pick-up In Store" technology.

PTDA plans in-person Industry Summit

The Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) will convene for the PTDA 2021 Industry Summit in Atlanta, Georgia Oct. 20-23, 2021.

Industrial Supply Company to move Utah County branch

Industrial Supply Company plans to move its Utah County branch location from Orem to Spanish Fork, Utah.

GPC names new head of technology and digital initiatives

Genuine Parts Company announced that Naveen Krishna has joined the company as executive vice president and chief information & digital officer.

Infor launches program for small to mid-sized distributors

Infor announced a “Three for Free” program for smaller distributors in North America.

Berkshire eSupply launches BESN Network

Berkshire eSupply recently launched its new global Berkshire eSupply Network (BESN).

Ingersoll Rand to buy German pump manufacturer

Ingersoll Rand Inc. has entered into an agreement to acquire positive displacement pump manufacturer, Seepex GmbH.

Brady acquires Code Corporation

Brady Corporation has completed the acquisition of The Code Corporation for approximately $173 million.

Chicago Fed National Activity Index rises

Led by improvements in production-related indicators, the Chicago Fed National Activity Index increased to +0.29 in May from –0.09 in April.

B&D Industrial acquires GTI Technology

Macon, Georgia-based B&D Industrial announced the acquisition of GTI Predictive Technology, a division of GTI Spindle Technology Inc. of Manchester, New Hampshire.

Omni Cable acquires Houston Wire & Cable

Omni Cable has completed its acquisition of Houston Wire & Cable Company, following approval of the transaction by HWCC stockholders at a special meeting.

Global Industrial and NAW donate PPE to small and mid-sized cities

Global Industrial announced that it has partnered with The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW) to support the National League of Cities.

Streamlight names new regional sales manager

Streamlight has named Alyssa E. Hicks regional sales manager – Midwest for the Industrial/Fire Division.

BlackHawk Industrial acquires two companies

Tulsa-based BlackHawk Industrial announced the acquisitions of ArgoDe Valle in Mexico and Southern Tool and Machine in Florida.

Kaman Distribution Group names head of Automation business

Kaman Distribution Group has appointed C. Todd Boone as vice president and general manager of its Automation business.

Industrial production increased 0.8 percent in May

Total industrial production increased 0.8 percent in May.

Hunter Industrial Fans names Braitsch channel director

Hunter Industrial Fans, a division of the Hunter Fan Company, has added Benjamin Braitsch as Channel Director for the company’s Jan Fan division.

NetPlus Alliance members optimistic about 2021

NetPlus Alliance distributor members are optimistic about 2021 sales growth amid the COVID-19 recovery, according to the latest NetPlus Alliance quarterly Industry Outlook.

Distribution One now offers tax compliance solution

Distribution One, a developer of distribution ERP software, has partnered with Avalara, a provider of tax compliance automation for businesses of all sizes.

Manufacturing Technology Orders increase year to date

U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders totaled $404.6 million in April 2021, a decline of 12 percent from March 2021 but an increase of 72 percent from April 2020.

PSS Industrial enters PVF market

PSS Industrial Group, a service provider and distributor supplying customers in the energy and industrial industries, announced its entry into the pipe, valve and fittings market.

April cutting tool orders up 26.3 percent

April 2021 U.S. cutting tool consumption totaled $170 million, up 26.3 percent compared with $134.6 million reported for April 2020.

3M helps U.S. Marshals seize over one million suspected counterfeit N95s

3M has worked with the U.S. Marshals Service in the Eastern District of Kentucky to stop the sale of more than one million suspected fake N95 respirators.

Diamond Blade Warehouse acquired by private equity

Two private equity firms have partnered together to acquire Diamond Blade Warehouse, a distributor of cutting and grinding equipment.

Systemax changes name to Global Industrial Company

Systemax Inc. is changing its legal name to Global Industrial Company, and will trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol GIC, effective Monday, June 21.

Industrial Scientific names new VP

Industrial Scientific has named Himanshu Khurana vice president of engineering, responsible for leading the company’s engineering team and developing and executing the company’s global technology strategy.

Manufactured goods orders declined in April

New orders for manufactured goods decreased 0.6 percent in April to $485.2 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today.

SBP Holdings acquires Kenco Hydraulics

SBP Holdings has acquired Kenco Hydraulics and subsidiaries, which will operate within the Dakota Fluid Power fluid power / automation platform for SBP Holdings.

Fastenal sales declined in May

Fastenal posted sales of $477.2 million in May, a 3.2 percent decline from $493.2 million in the same month last year.

Continental Abrasives acquires Edmar Abrasives

Continental Abrasives has acquired The Edmar Abrasive Company, based in Broomall, Pennsylvania.

Productivity increased 5.4 percent in Q1

Labor productivity increased 5.4 percent in the first quarter of 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, as output increased 8.6 percent and hours worked increased 3.0 percent.

Winsupply acquires Atlantic Coast Supply

Winsupply Inc. has completed the purchase of Atlantic Coastal Supply, a specialty plumbing distributor in Greenville, North Carolina.

MSC buys controlling interest in Wm. F. Hurst Co.

MSC Industrial Supply has acquired a majority interest in Wm. F. Hurst Co., a Wichita, Kansas-based distributor of metalworking tools and supplies.

B&D Industrial to help build Habitat for Humanity home

Industrial distributor B&D Industrial is participating in a project to build a home for Macon Area Habitat for Humanity.

Optimas Solutions opens Knoxville regional DC

Optimas Solutions announced the opening of a regional distribution center in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Nelles named CEO of ContiTech business

Philip Nelles has officially taken up his responsibilities as the new CEO of Continental’s ContiTech business area.

Manufacturing continues growth trajectory

Manufacturing performed well for the 12th straight month, with demand, consumption and inputs registering strong growth compared to April.

Construction spending grew in April

Construction spending during April 2021 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,524.2 billion, 0.2 percent above the revised March estimate of $1,521.0 billion.