Distribution Industry News

Ingersoll Rand expands air treatment portfolio with acquisitions

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.