Distribution Industry News

March manufacturing orders up 9.2%

New orders for manufactured durable goods in March increased 9.2% ($26.6 billion) to $315.7 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced. 

Transportation, warehousing employment trend up in April

Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 177,000 in April, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.2%, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Employment continued to trend up in transportation and warehousing, among other sectors.

Grainger appoints new chief human resources officer

Grainger has named Melanie Tinto as senior vice president, chief human resources officer effective April 28.

Ingersoll Rand revenues up 3% in first quarter

Ingersoll Rand Inc. reported first quarter orders rose 10% to $1,882 million, while revenues climbed 3% to $1,717 million.

Kimberly-Clark plans $2-billion US manufacturing expansion 

Kimberly-Clark Corp. announced plans to invest over $2 billion over the next five years in its North America business, marking the company's largest domestic expansion in more than 30 years.

Manufacturing demand weakens in April: ISM

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted in April for the second month in a row, following a two-month expansion preceded by 26 straight months of contraction, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business. 

PTDA Foundation fund drive surpasses half of '25 goal

The PTDA Foundation announced it has raised over $200,000 toward its $325,000 goal in support of workforce development in 2025.

March construction spending dips slightly below February estimates

March construction spending was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2,196.1 billion, 0.5% (±0.8%) below the revised February estimate of $2,206.9 billion.

Streamlight presents Holt & McArdle with sales award

Streamlight Inc., a provider of high-performance flashlights, named Holt & McArdle Associates Inc. its 2024 Sales Rep Agency of the Year for the Industrial and Fire Markets.

AD member sales increase 23%

AD reported its member sales increased 23% in the first three months of 2025 to a record $24 billion across the group’s 14 divisions and three countries.

Grainger Q1 sales up 1.7%

Grainger reported first quarter sales of $4.3 billion, up 1.7%, or 4.4% on a daily, constant currency basis, and diluted EPS of $9.86, up 2.5% compared to the first quarter of 2024.

Parker net income increases 6%

Parker Hannifin Corp. says it achieved record margins in its fiscal third quarter. Sales were $5.0 billion, and organic sales growth was 1%.

DSG Q1 revenues up 14.9%

Distribution Solutions Group, Inc. (DSG) reported its first quarter revenue increased $61.9 million, or 14.9%, to $478.0 million, including $50.8 million of revenue from five acquisitions closed in 2024.

Applied Industrial Technologies bumps net sales up 1.8% in fiscal Q3

Applied Industrial Technologies reported fiscal Q3-25 net sales of $1.2 billion, an increase of 1.8% over the prior year.

Wesco reports 6% organic growth in first quarter

Wesco International reported first quarter net sales were down 0.1% YOY but realized 6% organize growth. The company noted data center sales were up 70%.

IDWC hires new vice president and GM

The IWDC has appointed Chris Stout as vice president and general manager effective April 28.

Grainger shareholders elect 12 directors

W.W. Grainger, Inc. held its annual meeting of shareholders virtually April 30. Chairman and CEO D.G. Macpherson provided 2024 financial and operational highlights, and shareholders elected 12 directors.

Sonepar retrofits lighting for 13 non-profits

Sonepar is completing 13 free LED lighting retrofits for community non-profits as part of its annual “Bright Lights Brighter Futures” program.

Latest GDP report shows mixed messages for manufacturers

Today, the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis released their first estimate of GDP for the first quarter of 2025. According to the estimate, GDP contracted 0.3% at an annualized rate.

Sellars marks 40th anniversary with call for 'Messy Moments'

Sellars Absorbent Materials, the Milwaukee-based company built on cleaning up spills, splashes and drips, is looking for “Messy Moments.” As part of its 40th anniversary, Sellars wants anyone and everyone to submit any mess they’ve caused or encountered – whether it’s at work, home or anywhere else.

Belting Technology Conference begins May 12

AMMEGA Group, a global provider of belting solutions for conveying and power transmission, announced its Belting Technology Conference (BTC), is returning May 12–14 at the Chateau Elan Resort & Conference Center in Braselton, Georgia.

Transporation equipment leads March rise in orders

March new orders for manufactured durable goods increased $26.6 billion or 9.2% to $315.7 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced. 

EXAIR partners with University of Cincinnati Robotics Team

EXAIR has a long history of community engagement, particularly with the University of Cincinnati. Recently, an opportunity arose to help bring engineering dreams to life through the University of Cincinnati’s Combat Robotics Team.

Bellofram Elastomers appoints MARN as manufacturers’ rep 

MARN (Manufacturer’s Alliance Resource Network) is the new manufacturers’ rep for Bellofram Elastomers. The territory covers Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and north to Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. The agreement is effective immediately.

NAVAC expands vacuum technology team 

NAVAC Vacuum, a rotary vane pump manufacturer with a three-decade history of vacuum technology advancements, has hired William Schwerdtmann and Ryan Billings as business development managers for the West Coast and East Coast, respectively.

Fastenal sales increase 8.3% in March

Fastenal reported March net sales of $680 million, an increase of 8.3% March 2024. Daily sales were 32 million.

Streamlight launches special-edition 'Lights for a Cause'

Streamlight Inc., a provider of high-performance lighting tools, announced the launch of four new “Lights for a Cause” models to support two major non-profit organizations.

Radians enters disposable glove marketplace

Radians, a manufacturer of personal protective equipment, recently launched 14 new disposable gloves to meet the growing demand for single-use gloves, a PPE essential to safeguard people and products from contamination, chemicals, and injuries.

February cutting tool orders down 0.7% from January

Shipments of cutting tools totaled $198.6 million in February – orders decreased 0.7% from January 2025 and were down 9.2% from February 2024, according to the latest Cutting Tool Market Report compiled in a collaboration between AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology and the U.S. Cutting Tool Institute (USCTI).

Grizzly Industrial announces customer appreciation, tent sale event

Grizzly Industrial's annual tent sale returns to Springfield, Missouri, Friday and Saturday June 6–7, with product demonstrations, prizes and giveaways, and deep discounts on woodworking and metalworking tools and machines.

Sternlieb featured on Motley Fool webcast

Enerpac Tool Group CEO Paul Sternlieb participated in a discussion with The Motley Fool co-founder Tom Gardner and analyst Andy Cross on their daily Fool24 webcast.

Platinum Tooling becomes importer of QUICK knurling, marking tools 

Platinum Tooling announced it is now the North American importer of the QUICK knurling and marking tools from Hommel & Keller.

KBC Tools celebrates 60 years with Customer Appreciation Days

To celebrate its six decades in the metalworking industry, KBC Tools & Machinery announced its KBC Customer Appreciation Days 2025 – 60th Anniversary Edition – offering customer savings, hands-on demos, and lunches scheduled in six cities beginning April 30 in Oldcastle, Ontario.

Adhesive and Sealant Council names innovation winners

The Adhesive and Sealant Council (ASC) presented the 2025 Innovation Award to 3M and Ryan McKenney, Chris Pattillo, Lili Qie, Andrew Horvath, Tom Schaefer, and Taylor Hodne for their development entitled "3MTM Fastbond Pressure Sensitive Adhesive 1049.”

Sonic taps OneSolution to spearhead US manufacturing expansion

Sonic, a provider of professional-grade tool solutions and equipment, has announced OneSolution as its lead sales representative to grow its U.s. customer base within manufacturing.

The Whittemore Co. appoints Laitinen to Northern Midwest territory

The Whittemore Co., a manufacturers representative in the metalworking manufacturing industry has added Tim Laitinen as its newest territory representative.

AWS releases latest edition of welding code

The American Welding Society (AWS) announces the release of D1.1/D1.1M:2025, Structural Welding Code – Steel (D1.1/D1.1M), the latest edition of AWS’ flagship structural welding code.

Ingersoll Rand buys two air treatment companies

Ingersoll Rand Inc., a global provider of mission-critical flow creation and life science and industrial solutions, has acquired G & D Chillers Inc. (G & D) and Advanced Gas Technologies Inc. (AGT) for a combined purchase price of approximately $27 million.

STAFDA announces education lineup for November convention

The Specialty Tools & Fasteners Distributors Association will host a variety of workshops to meet the educational needs of distributors, manufacturers, reps, as well as newcomers and well-established leaders during its Phoenix Convention November 9-11.

Rivet|MRO, Profit2 form strategic partnership to benefit independent distributors

Rivet|MRO, a marketing resource organization specializing in services for independent industrial and electrical distributors, and Profit2, a pricing optimization firm with over 25 years of experience in helping distributors enhance margins, announced a strategic partnership aimed at providing comprehensive growth solutions for independent distributors.

Kimball Midwest takes 13th 'Top Workplaces' honor

Kimball Midwest, a national industrial supplier based in Columbus, has been named one of Central Ohio’s Top Workplaces for 2025.

Malco Tools awarded for manufacturing excellence 

Malco Tools, a solution developer and manufacturer of high-quality tools for the HVAC and building construction trades, has earned the 2025 Metal of Honor Award from Metal Roofing Magazine.

Core Industrial Gases acquires Cobourg Welding Supply

Core Industrial Gases Inc., an independent Canadian gas distributor, has acquired Cobourg Welding Supply, effective April 7.

Net sales increase 3.4% in Fastenal's first quarter

Fastenal's net sales increased $64.3, or 3.4%, in the first quarter of 2025 when compared to the first quarter of 2024.

Manufacturing machinery orders increase in February

New orders of metalworking machinery, totaled $389.9 million in February, a 9.9% increase from January and a 12.5% increase from January 2024, according the latest U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders (USMTO) Report published by AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology.

Mississippi Welders Supply names new operations manager

Mississippi Welders Supply Co. Inc. (MWSCO) has named Lisa Lorisch as its new operations manager.

NIBCO names vice president, specialty and retail sales

NIBCO INC. has announced the promotion of Colin Crain to vice president of specialty and retail sales.

Evergreen recognizes Member and Supplier of the Year winners

The Evergreen Supply Network has recognized five distributor members and five manufacturer partners as 2024 Member or Preferred Supplier of the Year.

Evergreen Supply Network honors certification achievers 

Twenty-four sales professionals were recognized as Evergreen Certified Specialist. Eight others were recognized for achieving their next Diamond Level.

New drone plant opens in Georgia

Flock Safety, a public safety technology company, has officially opened its new 100,000-square-foot facility for U.S.-based drone manufacturing.

Economic activity expands in March

Economic activity in the services sector expanded for the ninth consecutive month in March, say the nation’s purchasing and supply executives in the latest Services ISM Report On Business. The Services PMI registered 50.8%, indicating expansion for the 55th time in 58 months since recovery from the coronavirus pandemic-induced recession began in June 2020.

MSC sales drop 4.7% YoY for fiscal Q2

MSC INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY CO. reported net sales of $891.7 million for its fiscal 2025 second quarter ended March 1 – a 4.7% decrease year over year.

Streamlight hosts racing celebs at FDIC booth April 10

Streamlight Inc., a provider of high-performance lighting tools, is welcoming two racing celebraties to their event booth Thursday, April 10 at FDIC International at the Indiana Convention Center and Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Marsh Bellofram Companies appoint manufacturer's rep

Bellofram Precision Controls, maker of direct-acting, high-performance air pressure regulators and pneumatic controls, Automatic Timing and Controls/ATC Diversified Electronics, maker of accurate, durable automation devices, have named MARN (Manufacturers Alliance Resource Network) as its official manufacturer’s representative for the Mid-Atlantic region.

Ballymore Safety Products acquires Valley Craft Industries

Ballymore Safety Products, a portfolio company of One Equity Partners (OEP), and a designer and manufacturer of vertical access equipment and custom safety products, has completed the acquisition of Valley Craft Industries Inc., a manufacturer of material handling, drum handling, and storage solutions equipment.

Rubbermaid Commercial Products launches 'Made for Work that Matters' campaign 

Rubbermaid Commercial Products (RCP) unveiled its “Made for Work that Matters" campaign last week in conjunction with a pair of Employee Appreciation Month events in Charlotte and Atlanta.

Warehousing, transporation jobs increase by 228K in March

U.S. nonfarm employment rose by 228,000 in March, and the unemployment rate changed little at 4.2%, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.

Viega North America appoints new chief customer officer

Viega North America has appointed Todd Schwarzenbach as the new chief customer Officer, effective April 7.

NAVAC promotes DeLisi to VP 

NAVAC Vacuum, a rotary vane pump manufacturer has promoted Mike DeLisi to vice president, vacuum technology (VT) business unit.

R.S. Hughes announces leadership change

R.S. Hughes Company Inc., a distributor of industrial and safety solutions across North America and Costa Rica, announced the retirement of CEO Bill Matthews, effective May 1, following nearly two decades in executive leadership.

Airgas expands high school welding education initiative 

Airgas, an Air Liquide company, announced 72 schools from 33 states and 16 Airgas regions will participate in the High School Welding Education Initiative for the 2025 academic year.

TIPCO appoints emerging market product line manager

TIPCO announced Joe Gilliland has been hired as emerging market product line manager, focusing on data cooling solutions, beginning March 31.

Tencarva Machinery acquires Atlantic Valve & Equipment

Tencarva Machinery Company, a value-added distributor and service provider of flow control and process equipment solutions to industrial and municipal end-markets, announced it has acquired Atlantic Valve & Equipment.

Wesco named to 'Fortune's' World's Most Admired Companies 2025

The latest edition of Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies includes Wesco International – the company has been named to the prestigious list of international companies since 2022 and was ranked No. 3 in its industry category of "Wholesalers: Diversified" this year.

Manufacturing orders rise 0.9% in February

New orders for manufactured durable goods in February increased $2.7 billion or 0.9% to $289.3 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced.

Thompson wins ISA's John J. Buckley Lifetime Achievement Award

The Industrial Supply Association announced Tommy Thompson has been named the recipient of the 2025 John J. Buckley Lifetime Achievement Award. He is executive vice president at Turner Supply Company.

February construction spending up 0.7%

Construction spending during February 2025 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2,195.8 billion, 0.7% (±0.8%) above the revised January estimate of $2,179.9 billion.

March manufacturing activity slips into contraction 

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted in March after two consecutive months of expansion preceded by 26 straight months of contraction, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.