Distribution Industry News

E-Z LOK hires new business development representative 

E-Z LOK, a manufacturer and master distributor of threaded inserts for metal, plastic and wood, has introduced Grant Govel as their business development representative.

AMT opines on taxes, regulations, reshoring

By Amber Thomas

Setting tariffs aside, let’s focus on other aspects of President Donald Trump's agenda to create jobs and strengthen U.S. manufacturing.

PTDA Foundation calls for leadership award nominations 

The PTDA Foundation is inviting nominations for its Wendy B. McDonald Woman of the Year Award and Robert K. Callahan Advancing Leaders Award.

Columbus McKinnon wins gigafactories deal

Columbus McKinnon Corp. a designer and manufacturer of intelligent motion solutions and , products and technologies for material handling, announced it won the bid to become the supplier for stacking and intralogistics technology for PowerCo, the battery company of Volkswagen Group.

TIPCO Technologies partners with Potter Associates 

TIPCO Technologies announced a strategic partnership with Potter Associates that expands TIPCO's footprint to 38 locations across 16 states.

Blackline Safety makes Fast Company's 'World's Most Innovative' list

Blackline Safety Corp. has been named to Fast Company’s list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies of 2025.

January cutting tool orders up 9.2% YoY

Shipments of cutting tools totaled $199.9 million in January 2025, 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). Orders increased 9.2% from December 2024 but were down 4.1% from January 2024.

Vacuum pioneer marks 175 years of innovations

German vacuum specialist, Leybold, is celebrating its 175th anniversary.

Ruland acquires RoCom Couplings

Ruland Manufacturing has acquired the assets of RoCom Couplings, a Santa Maria, California-based company specializing in beaming technology, including beam couplings, machined springs, and custom beamed components.

Ammeraal Beltech celebrates 75-year milestone 

Ammeraal Beltech, AMMEGA Group’s brand for conveyor belting, announced it is celebrating its 75th anniversary leading up to its 2025 Belting Technology Conference May 12–14.

AWS releases new edition of 'Standard Welding Terms and Definitions'

The American Welding Society (AWS) has released the latest edition of the industry’s most comprehensive welding terminology reference: AWS A3.0M/A3.0:2025 – Standard Welding Terms and Definitions Including Terms for Additive Manufacturing, Adhesive Bonding, Brazing, Soldering, Thermal Cutting, Thermal Spraying, and Nondestructive Examination (AWS A3.0M/A3.0:2025).

KBC celebrates 60th anniversary

KBC Tools & Machinery is celebrating its 60th anniversary and Founder’s Day on April 8.

Honeywell software to power drones for inventory tracking 

Honeywell's SwiftDecoder barcode-decoding software will be integrated into Corvus Robotics’ self-flying inventory drones.

PTDA spotlights tariffs, economy, cybersecurity at Canadian Conference

The Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) will convene for the PTDA 2025 Canadian Conference in Victoria, British Columbia June 3–5.

MRC Global partners on new meter services company 

MRC Global Inc. has entered into a joint venture with Frisbie Measurement Services, LLC (FMS) forming IMTEC Services, a provider of integrated smart meter technical services to the gas utilities sector.

AMT elects new board leadership 

By Kristin Bartschi

Michael Cicco, president and CEO of FANUC America Corp., has been elected chairman of the board for AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology.

Fastenal reports flat net sales

Fastenal reported February net sales were flat YoY at $627.1 million. Overall, daily sales of $31.4 million increased 5% from February 2024.

Allient sees strengthening orders, margin expansion in Q4

Allient Inc., a global designer and manufacturer of precision and specialty motion, controls and power products and solutions for targeted industries and applications, reported total orders for the fourth quarter of 2024 increased 15%, driven by power quality and defense.

Kennametal honors '2025 Women MAKE' award winner

Kennametal Inc. announced Mandy Lv, senior analyst logistics, has been recognized as a 2025 Women MAKE Award honoree by The Manufacturing Institute.

DXP reports 7.4% sales increase for fiscal '24

DXP Enterprises Inc. reported fiscal 2024 sales of $1.8 billion, up 7.4% from fiscal 2023. Fourth quarter 2024 sales rose 15.7% versus Q4-23.

ARG opens 2nd Oregon facility

ARG Industrial, a solutions-focused organization specializing in the distribution of hose, fittings, and rigging products, is has opened a new location in Salem, Oregon.

NetPlus Alliance outlook: distributors optimistic about 2025 growth 

Despite some uncertainty, NetPlus Alliance members reported optimism about expected growth in 2025, according to a January survey about Q4-24 results. 

Manufacturing technology orders post strongest January since 2022

Orders of manufacturing technology totaled $357.3 million in January 2025, a 29.8% decline from December but a 5.7% increase from January 2024, according to the latest U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders Report published by AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology.

Wholesale, manufacturing employment unchanged in February

Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 151,000 in February, and the unemployment rate changed little at 4.1%, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.

Ethisphere names Grainer one of 'World's Most Ethical Companies'

Grainger? has received the 2025 World's Most Ethical Companies recognition by Ethisphere, a global firm that defines and advances the standards of ethical business practices.

AMMEGA Reports 34% reduction in carbon intensity since 2019

AMMEGA Group, global provider of belting solutions for conveying and power transmission, announced their Sustainability Report evaluating the progress made towards supporting the United Nations sustainable development goals and wider sustainable development.

Flexline joins TIPCO Technologies

TIPCO Technologies (TIPCO) announced its partnership with Flexline, will continue under the leadership of President Jeff Scheininger.

Winsupply buys minority stake in data firm 

Winsupply Inc. announces its strategic acquisition of a minority stake in Mined XAI, an AI-driven company known for transforming complex data into strategic insights.

January manufacturing orders increase 3.1

January new orders for manufactured durable goods increased $8.7 billion or 3.1% to $286.0 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced. 

JobsInWelding.com expands features to support industry

The American Welding Society (AWS) has introduced key enhancements to JobsInWelding.com, the industry’s go-to welding job board, making it more efficient for both employers and job seekers.

Vallen promotes Timmons to CFO 

Vallen Distribution has appointed Sonia Timmons as its chief financial officer, effective March 1.

MCR Safety hires new vice president of sales

MCR Safety has appointed Mike Miller as its vice president of sales – North America. 

Galco purchases industrial automation provider

Galco Industrial Electronics, Inc. has acquired Brozelco Inc., a Tennessee-based industrial automation solutions provider specializing in engineering, system integration, fabrication, and contracting.

Cortec names director of innovation, product technologies

Corrosion solutions provider, Cortec Corp., has hired Rebecca Guza, Ph.D., as director of innovation and product technologies.

L.S. Starrett Co. appoints 4 executives

The L.S. Starrett Co., a global manufacturer of precision measuring tools and gages, metrology systems and more, has appointed four new executives to its global organization.

Imperial Dade acquires Athens Janitor Supply Company, Chittom Industries

Imperial Dade, a North American distributor of foodservice packaging supplies, industrial products, and janitorial supplies, has aquired Athens Janitor Supply Company, Inc. and Chittom Industries, Inc. (AJS).

Wholesale inventories tick up 1.1% in January 

Wholesale inventories for January were estimated at an end-of-month level of $905.2 billion, up 0.7% (±0.2%) from December 2024, and were up 1.1% (±0.9%) from January 2024.

White Cap buys Kris-Con Supply & Fasteners

White Cap, a distributor of specialty construction supplies and safety products for professional contractors, has acquired Kris-Con, a supplier of specialty construction supplies and equipment rentals to commercial contractors serving the Houston and Austin metropolitan areas.

Manufacturing expands 2nd month in a row

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded for the second month in a row in February after 26 consecutive months of contraction, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.

Purvis Industries acquires A & A Resources

Purvis Industries has successfully acquired all assets, brand rights, personnel, and intellectual property of A & A Resources, Inc., effective March 3.

January construction spending up 3.3% YoY

Construction spending during January 2025 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2,192.5 billion, 0.2% (±0.7%* below the revised December estimate of $2,196.0 billion. The January figure is 3.3% (±1.3%) above the January 2024 estimate of $2,122.2 billion.