Distribution Industry News

Manufacturing slowed in September

Manufacturing slowed in September, as the Institute for Supply Management's monthly index fell to 50.9 percent, 1.9 percentage points lower than the 52.8 percent recorded in August.

Epicor acquires eFlex Systems

Epicor has acquired eFlex Systems, a provider of cloud-based Manufacturing Execution System (MES) technologies.

Core & Main acquires Trumbull waterworks division

Core & Main has closed its previously announced acquisition of substantially all of the assets of the municipal waterworks division of Trumbull Industries Inc., as well as the assets of an affiliated entity, a supplier of specialty and private label products for the municipal and industrial markets, based in Ohio.

Turtle & Hughes invests in battery maker

Turtle & Hughes announced a strategic investment in Cadenza Innovation, a growth-stage company that has developed a patented technology platform – the ‘superCell’ – which is enabling a new generation of safe, high-performing, low-cost lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries and energy storage solutions.

VS Carbonics forms The Cryo Group

VS Carbonics Inc., Florida’s largest distributor of liquid nitrogen, has acquired the assets of InCryo Systems Inc. to create InCryo LLC and Cryo Asset Management LLC.

Diversified CPC International names regional sales manager

Diversified CPC International welcomed Beau Besancenez as regional sales manager.

Winsupply acquires Hydrologic Distribution

Continuing its largest year of acquisition investments, Winsupply announced the acquisition of Hydrologic Distribution Company.

Abrasive Technology names new CEO

Abrasive Technology announced that Clement Wiekrykas has been named as the company’s chief executive officer.

BlackHawk expands California logistics team

BlackHawk Industrial announced that Eric Irving has joined BlackHawk as its regional logistics manager in Tustin, California.

Hospeco Brands acquires ChemCor

Hospeco Brands Group, a manufacturer and supplier of personal care, cleaning, and protection products serving the away-from-home marketplace, is acquiring ChemCor Chemical Corp.

Hultafors Group acquires Martinez Tool

Hultafors Group AB of Gothenburg, Sweden, has acquired the Martinez Tool Co.

Alro Steel acquires Access Metals

Alro Steel completed the acquisition of Access Metals in Baltimore, Maryland, on Sept. 30.

MSA Safety opens new UK plant

MSA Safety has opened a newly expanded, state-of-the-art facility for producing firefighter protective apparel in Yate, near Bristol, UK.

Enerpac Tool Group's 4Q sales up 4.4 percent

Enerpac Tool Group reported that its net sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 were $151.8 million, a 4.4 percent increase compared to $145.4 million in last year's fourth quarter.

NetSuite launches Ship Central

To help organizations further improve the efficiency of warehouse operations, Oracle NetSuite unveiled NetSuite Ship Central.

ECI Software Solutions names new CMO

ECI Software Solutions, a provicer of cloud-based business management solutions, has named former Blue Prism and Infor executive Chip Coyle as chief marketing officer.

Sonepar acquires PEPCO

Sonepar announced that its U.S. subsidiary has entered into an agreement to acquire Professional Electric Products Co. Inc. (PEPCO).

NIBCO names new plant manager

NIBCO Inc., a provider of valves, fittings, and flow control products, has promoted Mariza Gutierrez Galindo to Reynosa plant manager.

Grainger named a best workplace for women

Grainger has been named by Great Place to Work and Fortunemagazine as one of the 2022 Best Workplaces for Women.

Sonepar acquires Basin-River

Sonepar's U.S. subsidiary has agreed to acquire Basin-River Electrical Supply of Plaquemine, Louisiana.

Sonepar names two SVPs to focus on digital transformation

Sonepar has appointed Don Sarno to senior vice president of Digital Enterprise North America and Mike Smith to senior vice president, Business Relationship Management and Data Insights.

Economic growth moderated in August

Led by declines in production-related indicators, the Chicago Fed National Activity Index decreased to a neutral value in August from +0.29 in July.

Optimas Solutions expands BI team

Optimas Solutions recently reached a milestone in its Forward Faster transformation strategy.

Crosby Group to acquire KITO Corporation

The Crosby Group and KITO Corporation have received regulatory clearances for Crosby to commence a cash tender offer to acquire all outstanding shares of KITO.

BSA honors two companies

The Bearing Specialists Association (BSA) recognized NTN Bearing Corporation and BDI Canada as winners of its Annual BSA Excellence Awards.

How can distributors win the war against inflation?

Inflation is on the rise, and it can be difficult for businesses to keep up. In this webinar, we'll discuss the factors contributing to increased inflation and how to protect your margins in a volatile market.

Grainger anticipates 8-10% compounded annual growth

Grainger anticipates that its annual sales will hit $20 billion by the year 2025.

Epicor names new chief marketing officer

Epicor has hired Jenny Victor as its new chief marketing officer.

Motion launches Motion Ai website

Motion Industries announced the launch of the new Motion Ai website.

Wooster Products names regional sales manager

Wooster Products has promoted Erin Miller to the position of Central and Western regional sales manager.

Cortec names Pheneger COO

Cortec Corporation has promoted its director of manufacturing, Caleb Pheneger, to chief operations officer.

MSC names former Hilti executive EVP and COO

MSC Industrial Supply announced that Martina McIsaac will join the company on Monday, Oct. 3 as executive vice president and chief operating officer.

NAW launches campaign urging Congress to rein in Amazon

The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW) has launched a new public affairs campaign in support of the American Innovation and Choice Online Act, or U.S. Senate Bill 2992.

Applied recognized for HR practices

Applied Industrial Technologies has been named a 2022 NorthCoast 99 award winner.

Report: Technological innovation attracts Gen Z workers

Technological innovation in the workplace is key in attracting a Gen Z workforce, according to results from a new survey.

RS Group creates RS Integrated Supply

RS Group plc, a global omni-channel provider of product and service solutions, announced the uniting of its global maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) supply chain solutions business into a single brand, RS Integrated Supply.

PIP names new president

Protective Industrial Products has appointed Curt Holtz as its new president.

Manufacturing technology orders fell in July

New orders of manufacturing technology totaled $291.9 million in July 2022, a 14.3 percent decrease from July 2021.

July cutting tool consumption rose by 6.7 percent

July 2022 U.S. cutting tool consumption totaled $173.2 million, up 6.7 percent when compared with the $162.3 million reported for July 2021.

Caplugs acquires Safeplast

Caplugs has recently completed the acquisition of Safeplast as part of the company’s ongoing efforts to expand its capabilities in hose protection.

AD Bearings & Power Transmission Network Meeting roundup

AD Bearings & Power Transmission welcomed over 140 member and supplier partner attendees to its annual Network Meeting from August 23 to 25 in Frisco, Texas.

Fastenal reports strong sales in August

Fastenal's sales of $644.7 million in August soared 21.4 percent from $531.1 million in August of 2021.

Evergreen Marketing Group welcomes two members

The Evergreen Marketing Group welcomed two new preferred suppliers.

Timken to acquire GGB Bearing Technology

The Timken Company has agreed to acquire GGB Bearing Technology, a division of Enpro Industries.

Motion & Control Enterprises acquires Quest Engineering

Motion & Control Enterprises has acquired Quest Engineering Inc., a full-service distributor of fluid power products including hydraulic hose, fittings, and instrumentation products across the upper Midwest.

DXP Enterprises acquires Sullivan Environmental Technologies

DXP Enterprises has completed the acquisition of Sullivan Environmental Technologies, a distributor and manufacturers representative of pumps, valves, controls, and process equipment.

Sonepar to acquire Advance Electrical

Sonepar announced that its US subsidiary World Electric has entered into an agreement to acquire Advance Electrical.

Manufacturing, construction and mining jobs grew in August

Manufacturing employment continued to trend up in August, adding 22,000 jobs.

SBP Holdings acquires Catawba Industrial Rubber 

SBP Holdings has acquired Catawba Industrial Rubber Company Inc. and Coastal Hose & Rubber Inc.

Dakota Supply Group acquires Western Steel and Plumbing

Dakota Supply Group (DSG) announced the acquisition of Western Steel and Plumbing in an asset purchase effective Sept. 1, 2022.

Radians expands Memphis campus

PPE manufacturer Radians announced the expansion of its Memphis campus with a new building lease at 5335 Mineral Wells Road that began Sept. 1, 2022.

Manufacturing leveled off in August

Manufacturing activity remained steady in August, with the Institute for Supply Management's purchasing index coming in at 52.8 percent, the same as in July.

Construction spending dipped in July

Construction spending during July 2022 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,777.3 billion, 0.4 percent below the revised June estimate of $1,784.3 billion.

Alro Steel acquires Access Metals

Alro Steel has entered into an agreement to acquire certain assets of Access Metals in Baltimore, Maryland.

2Q labor productivity increased by 4.1 percent

Nonfarm business sector labor productivity decreased 4.1 percent in the second quarter of 2022, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.