November 2020 News
PPG to acquire Ennis-Flint
PPG has agreed to acquire Ennis-Flint, a global manufacturer of coatings with a broad portfolio of pavement marking products, including paint, thermoplastics and other advanced traffic technologies.
Third-quarter GDP grew by 33.1 percent
Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased at an annual rate of 33.1 percent in the third quarter of 2020, as efforts continued to reopen businesses and resume activities that were postponed or restricted due to COVID-19.
Ray Prichard memorial
Ray Prichard, a veteran of the industrial distribution industry, passed away Nov. 21 at the age of 87.
Alro Steel moves to new Milwaukee location
Alro Steel, a distributor of metals, industrial supplies, and engineering plastics. is moving to a new location in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Chicago Fed National Activity Index increased in October
Led by improvements in production-related indicators, the Chicago Fed National Activity Index increased to +0.83 in October from +0.32 in September.
MSC names VP of Cross-Channel Growth
MSC Industrial Supply announced that Mark Pickett has joined the company as vice president, Cross-Channel Growth.
Norco acquires Arc Services
Norco, a welding, safety, medical and gas distributor, has acquired Arc Services in West Jordan, Utah.
Three bearings/PT companies form Solve Industrial Motion Group
Three companies in the bearings and power transmission industry -- P.T. International, IPTCI Bearings and LMS Bearings -- have formed Solve Industrial Motion Group.
Weekly Pandemic Revenue Index down again
Indian River Consulting Group’s (IRCG) weekly Pandemic Revenue Index for the work week of Nov. 9-13 indicated a 2.2 percent decrease compared with the same week a year ago.
PTDA elects leadership team
The Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) elected its 2021 Board of Directors and Manufacturer Council to lead the Association next year.
Protective Industrial Products acquires Primax Manufacturing
Protective Industrial Products announced the acquisition of Primax Manufacturing & Trading Inc., maker of the Caiman brand of gloves and protective clothing.
Beta Tools introduces Italian-made tools to North America
Beta Tools USA announced its North American presence as a wholly owned subsidiary of Beta Utensili S.P.A., a leading Italian manufacturer of high-quality professional tools that expanded its global presence.
Industrial production rose 1.1 percent in October
Industrial production rose 1.1 percent in October but still lags pre-pandemic levels.
September cutting tool sales declined 20.5 percent
September 2020 U.S. cutting tool consumption totaled $156.1 million, up 14.7 percent from August's $136.1 million, but down 20.5 percent when compared with the $196.3 million reported for September 2019.
Rockwell Automation to acquire CMMS provider Fiix Inc.
Rockwell Automation has entered into an agreement to acquire Fiix Inc., a privately-held, AI-enabled computerized maintenance management system company.
The Home Depot 3Q sales rose 23.2 percent
The Home Depot reported sales of $33.5 billion for the third quarter of fiscal 2020, an increase of 23.2 percent from $27.2 billion in the third quarter of fiscal 2019.
PrimeSource to be sold to Clearlake Capital Group
Platinum Equity has agreed to sell PriSo Holding Corporation (PrimeSource) to Clearlake Capital Group L.P.
Home Depot to acquire HD Supply Holdings
The Home Depot has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire HD Supply Holdings Inc. for an all-cash offer of over $8 billion.
Bain Capital to acquire US LBM
US LBM, a distributor of specialty building materials, announced the signing of a definitive agreement for Bain Capital Private Equity to acquire a majority stake in the company.
PT/MC industry donates $212K to PTDA Foundation
Power transmission/motion control companies donated more than $212,000 to the PTDA Foundation in 2020.
PT Hose & Bearing to open Fort Collins site
PT Hose & Bearing, part of Cheyenne-based Wyoming Bearing and Supply, plans to open a location in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Weekly Pandemic Revenue Index jumps up by 8.6 percent
Indian River Consulting Group’s (IRCG) weekly Pandemic Revenue Index for the work week of Nov. 2-6 indicated an 8.6 percent increase compared with the same week a year ago.
Würth Industry North America and Baker Hughes to partner on 3D printing offering
Würth Industry North America (WINA) and Baker Hughes announced a joint service offering to expand their capabilities to provide advanced design, digital inventory, and customized 3D printing services to customers in a range of industrial sectors.
WESCO International taps chief information and digital officer
WESCO International announced the appointment of Akash Khurana as its executive vice president and chief information and digital officer.
Bloom Manufacturing picks general manager
Bloom Manufacturing has named Joshua Weig general manager of the 110-year-old Independence, Iowa-based company.
AD meeting focused on growth
AD’s Industrial & Safety-U.S. Division hosted its first ever virtual North American meeting Oct. 26-29, welcoming over 148 member companies and 100 supplier companies to the event, which centered around a theme of growth.
Jon-Don acquires Factory Cleaning Equipment
Jon-Don, a supplier of commercial supplies, equipment, consumables, and know-how to specialty contractors, has acquired Factory Cleaning Equipment Inc.
Rockwell Automation sales fall 5.5 percent
Rockwell Automation said its fiscal 2020 sales were $6,.3 billion, down 5.5 percent from $6.7 billion in fiscal 2019.
Turtle & Hughes names new VP of Gulf region
Robert Courcy has joined Turtle & Hughes electrical and industrial distributors as vice president, Gulf Region.
Festo and KYKLO form ecommerce agreement
KYKLO and Festo, a global leader in the pneumatic and electrical automation industry, have jointly developed a plan to drive improved customer service through Festo’s North American distributor channel.
Fasteners Inc. selects VP of sales
Fasteners Inc. Southwest Supply and Professional Contractor Supply welcomed Brett Wilson to the organization as the new vice president of sales.
Manufacturing technology orders up 26.4 percent in September
U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders totaled $373.7 million in September 2020, an increase of 26.4 percent from August 2020.
DXP Enterprises sales fall 32.7 percent
Third-quarter sales for DXP Enterprises were $220.2 million, a 32.7 percent decline compared to $327.2 million for the third quarter of 2019.
Weekly Pandemic Revenue Index shows small decline
Indian River Consulting Group’s (IRCG) weekly Pandemic Revenue Index for the work week of Oct.26-30 indicated a 0.4 percent decrease compared with the same week a year ago.
Bishop Lifting Products and SENAR partner on training app
Bishop Lifting Products and SENAR announced the release of an Augmented Reality (AR) Sling and Rigging Hardware Inspection and Lifting Training App for mobile devices.
Third quarter productivity increased 4.9 percent
Nonfarm business sector labor productivity increased 4.9 percent in the third quarter of 2020, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today, as output increased 43.5 percent and hours worked increased 36.8 percent.
WESCO International 3Q sales soar
WESCO International net sales of $4.1 billion for the third quarter of 2020 compared to $2.1 billion for the third quarter of 2019, an increase of 92.8 percent due to the merger with Anixter that was completed in June.
Allied Motion 3Q revenue down 2 percent
Allied Motion Technologies reported revenue of $94.7 million was down 2 percent from $96.6 million, reflecting lower sales to most markets given the ongoing impact from the pandemic.
Fastenal: October sales relatively flat
Fastenal said its October sales of $488.2 million were down 0.4 percent from $490.1 million in October of last year.
Pelican Products names new VP
Pelican Products has named Brad Antoine vice president of financial planning and analysis.
Viega's Rademacher elected to ASSE board
Daniel Rademacher has been elected vice president of the board of directors of the American Society of Sanitary Engineering (ASSE) -- International.
AD Bearings & Power Transmission Division hosts virtual meeting
AD’s Bearings & Power Transmission Division hosted its first virtual member-only network meeting Sept. 22, with over 90 member companies represented.
Eaton 3Q sales fall 14.8 percent
Eaton Corporation reported sales in the third quarter of 2020 were $4.5 billion, a 14.8 percent decline from $5.3 billion in last year's third quarter.
Emerson reports 9 percent sales decline
Fourth-quarter sales declined 8 percent for Emerson to $4.6 billion were down 8 percent; with Automation Solutions finishing at the low end of expectations and Commercial & Residential Solutions finishing above expectations.
AD finalizes merger agreement with Delta Distributors
AD has finalized a merger agreement with pipe, valves and fittings buying group Delta Distributors effective Jan. 1, 2021.
Sales decline 23 percent for Kennametal
Kennametal said its first quarter 2021 sales sales of $400 million decreased 23 percent from $518 million in the prior year quarter.
AIS expands distribution network
All Integrated Solutions (AIS), a division of MSC Industrial Supply Co., announced the expansion of its distribution center network to Atlanta, Georgia.
Manufacturing expanded in October
Manufacturing actitivity expanded in October, according to the latest report from the Institute for Supply Management.
Construction spending up in August
Construction spending was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,414.0 billion during September 2020, 0.3 percent above the revised August estimate of $1,410.4 billion.
Shanahan named CEO of Turtle & Hughes
As the final phase of a two-year planned succession, Jayne Millard, the fourth generation of family ownership at Turtle & Hughes, is now executive chairman of the board.
AD group purchases down slightly
AD reports that its members are seeing signs of stabilization and recovery as it reports 2020 nine-month results.
Alario steps down as executive vice chairman of NOW Inc.
NOW Inc. announced that Dick Alario has stepped down from his short-term role as executive vice chairman of the company.