March 2019 News
IBS founder dies
John. T. "Jack" Butcher Jr., founder of Industrial Bolt & Supply Inc. in Auburn, Washington, passed away on March 24. He was 79.
4Q GDP increased 2.2 percent
Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 2.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2018, according to the third estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Whittemore expands Riten Industries relationship
The Whittemore Co. has expanded its partnership with Riten Industries to include the states of Kansas and Missouri.
Winsupply names top companies
Winsupply Inc. named Odessa Winlectric of Texas, its 2018 Company of the Year.
Applied names director of investor relations
Applied Industrial Technologies announced that Ryan D. Cieslak has joined the company as director of investor relations and treasury.
Goggins named STAFDA keynote speaker
David Goggins, a former Navy Seal, Army Ranger, Air Force tactical controller and ultra-marathoner, will be keynote speaker at STAFDA's 43rd Annual Convention & Trade Show.
Chicago Fed National Activity Index declines
The Chicago Fed National Activity Index edged down to –0.29 in February from –0.25 in January.
Lawson Products names new chairman
Lawson Products announced that J. Bryan King, CFA and a principal of Luther King Capital Management, has been appointed chairman of the company’s board of directors.
Actuant sales dip in Q2
Actuant reported net sales for the second quarter were $271.9 million, 1.2 percent lower than the $275.2 million recorded in the comparable prior year quarter.
Turtle & Hughes names compliance officer
Long-time Turtle & Hughes employee Karen Barcellona has been appointed the company’s compliance officer.
DDI System webinar
DDI System will host a live, online event for distributors looking to learn more about eCommerce as an extension of their business.
Airgas completes Tech Air acquisition
Airgas announced that it has completed its acquisition of Tech Air, an independent distributor of industrial gases and welding supplies from CI Capital Partners.
HD Supply sales climb 18.1 percent
HD Supply Holdings reported net sales of $6.0 billion in fiscal 2018, an increase of 18.1 percent compared to fiscal 2017.
Industrial production higher in February
Industrial production edged up 0.1 percent in February after decreasing 0.4 percent in January.
Ohio Transmission Corp. founder Derrow dies
Ohio Transmission Corporation announced the passing of company founder, David Derrow.
3M reorganizes business segments
3M announced the realignment of the company from five to four business segments: Safety & Industrial, Transportation & Electronics, Health Care, and Consumer.
Emuge Corp. names marketing manager
Emuge Corp. has appointed Shannon Filippelli as marketing manager, effective April 1.
Allied Motion sales up 13 percent
Allied Motion Technologies reported fourth-quarter revenue of $74.0 million was up 13 percent from $65 million in the same period last year.
January construction spending up 0.3 percent
Construction spending during January was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,279.6 billion, 1.3 percent above the revised December estimate of $1,263.1 billion.
U.S. cutting tool consumption up 13.4 percent in January
January 2019 U.S. cutting tool consumption totaled $208.27 million according to the U.S. Cutting Tool Institute (USCTI) and AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology.
Pelican Products names director of case product development
Pelican Products Inc. recently promoted Scott Bossenbroek to director of case product development.
Ballard Industrial announces leadership changes
Seattle-based Ballard Industrial has announced changes in its executive leadership effective immediately.
Dynabrade celebrates 50 years
Dynabrade Inc. is celebrating its 50th anniversary on April 1.
Dorner begins manufacturing in Mexico
Dorner Latin America has begun manufacturing belt and flexible chain conveyor systems for customers throughout Latin America.
Manufacturing technology orders record second strongest January
U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders for January totaled $396 million, marking the second strongest January in the history of the U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders program.
Register for NAW Distribution Program for Rising Stars
Registration is open for the NAW 2019 Distribution Program for Rising Stars, June 17–21, at The Ohio State University (OSU) in Columbus, Ohio.
Lafert North America adds inside sales team member
Lafert North America, a manufacturer of metric AC motors, metric gearboxes and coolant pumps, appointed Lorri Fernandes to the role of inside sales representative.
Manufacturing jobs rose in February; construction jobs decline
Manufacturing employment rose by 4,000 jobs in February, after increasing by an average of 22,000 per month over the prior 12 months.
Brenntag acquires New England Resins & Pigments
Brenntag announced the acquisition of New England Resins & Pigments Corporation, a regional distributor of specialty chemicals and packaging solutions with commercial operations predominantly in the New England states.
DXPE 2018 sales climb 20.8 percent
DXP Enterprises announced that its fourth-quarter sales increased 17.1 percent to $311.0 million, compared to $265.6 million for the fourth quarter of 2017.
Breaux and Storer share GPC award
Motion Industries announced that its parent company, Genuine Parts Company, presented Randy Breaux and Kevin Storer the 2018 GPC Manager of the Year honor.
PTDA adds new members
The Power Transmission Distributors Association recently welcomed six new member companies.
SC Fastening Systems celebrates 20 years
SC Fastening Systems, an Ohio-based distributor of hardware and industrial supplies, is celebrating its 20th year in business.
AD wins Top Workplace Award
AD was awarded a Delaware Valley Top Workplaces 2019 honor by The Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper.
Manufacturing productivity increased in 4Q
Manufacturing sector labor productivity increased 2.0 percent in the fourth quarter of 2018, as output increased 2.7 percent and hours worked rose 0.8 percent.
What's in store for manufacturing?
by John Wiborg, president and founder, Stellar Industrial Supply
NEFCO acquires Blume Supply
The NEFCO Corporation, a distributor of construction and industrial supplies, announced its acquisition of Blume Supply Inc.
Whittemore expands Dormer Pramet line into Wisconsin
The Whittemore Co. announced the expansion of its Dormer Pramet territories to the state of Wisconsin.
Construction spending declined in December
Construction spending during December 2018 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,292.7 billion, 0.6 percent below the November estimate of $1,300.6 billion.
Newcastle Systems partners with Andreas Laubner
Newcastle Systems, a provider of mobile-powered workplace solutions, announced a new partnership with German-based Andreas Laubner GmbH that brings its mobile-powered solutions to the European market.
AD holds largest gathering of bearings and PT distributors
AD Bearings & Power Transmission hosted its fourth annual AD Winter Meeting in Miami Feb. 5-8, but it was the first since the group merged with IDC-USA.
AD eCommerce Summit a success
Over the last three years, AD has normalized and attributed more than four million SKUs and 88 AD member companies have launched Digital Branches with AD eContent.
NetPlus Alliance names new marketing director
NetPlus Alliance has named Robert Louden marketing director of the industrial and contractor supplies buying group.
Purvis Industries acquires Snake River Supply
Purvis Industries has acquired Snake River Supply based in Idaho Falls, Idaho.
ISM: Manufacturing expansion slowed in February
Manufacturing expanded at a slower pace in February compared to January, according to the latest report on manufacturing from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM).
Radians names new VP of industrial sales
Radians Inc. recently promoted Dave Larimer to vice president of industrial sales.
Knipex announces management promotions
Knipex Tools has named a new vice president of marketing and a new vice president of operations.