Distribution Industry News

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 at the Orange County Convention Center, as 12,000 attendees, mostly invited customers, met with Grainger executives and staff as well as approximately 500 exhibitors –– Grainger suppliers — spanning 450,000 square feet.

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.