Distribution Industry News

News orders for manufactured durable goods virtually flat in August

New orders for manufactured durable goods in August were virtually unchanged at $338.6 billion, according to U.S. Census Bureau's Monthly Advance Report on Durable Goods Manufacturers' Shipments Inventories and Orders on Sept. 25.

AD finalizes supplyFORCE acquisition

AD reports it has closed its acquisition of supplyFORCE, effective September 24.

Rivet|MRO's new PingReveal helps independent distributors identify website visitors

Rivet|MRO has launched PingReveal, a new AI-powered tool designed to help independent distributors identify customer prospects visiting their websites and turn anonymous website traffic into useful sales and marketing information.

LeadSmart launches enterprise growth platform for distributors, manufacturers

LeadSmart Technologies launched Meridian360 on Sept. 23, an enterprise growth platform (EGP) purpose-built for wholesale distributors and manufacturers.

ORBIS hosts 2026 Community Giving event

Recently, ORBIS Corp., a global prpvider of reusable packaging solutions, held its annual Community Giving Reception where nonprofit partners, community leaders, and employees gathered to celebrate organizations that make a positive impact throughout southeast Wisconsin.

Grainger's 5th annual 'Bucket Build' yields over 4,000 disaster recovery kits

Grainger hosted its fifth annual Grainger Bucket Build one Sept. 23. More than 500 Grainger team members, ToolBank USA partners and students from YouthBuild Lake County and YouthBuild Waukegan assembled more than 4,000 disaster relief kits at the company's headquarters in Lake Forest, Illinois.

Cavallo enhances Profit Max Platform

Cavallo, a provider of AI-powered profit maximization for distributors, has added improvements to its Profit Max Platform, including new capabilities designed to help sales teams simplify execution, improve account visibility, and reduce customer turnover.

ATC Diversified Electronics taps Quality Sales as rep group

ATC Diversified Electronics, maker of devices for automation, motor protection, electrical safety, and power quality, selected Quality Sales (QSI) as its sales representative group for the Midwest and South Central region.

Kimball Midwest, Locus Robotics win supply chain award

Kimball Midwest and Locus Robotics recently won the Best Use of Robotics category at the 2026 Supply Chain Excellence Awards USA.

Wesco earns 2026 Great Place To Work certification

Wesco International, a provider of business-to-business distribution, logistics services, and supply chain solutions, announced it is Certified by Great Place To Work for the third year in a row.

Utilization rates dip slightly as recent machine orders hit shop floors: AMT

Total U.S. industrial production was flat in August 2026, and the index for manufacturing decreased by 0.3 percentage points. Capacity utilization among manufacturers also decreased slightly.

Pelican Rope Works marks one year of Scope partnership 

One year after announcing its partnership with Scope, Pelican Rope Works is marking a successful first year of bringing AI-powered rope inspection to customers from coast to coast.

First Supply recognized for environmental innovation, supply chain excellence

First Supply has received two honors recognizing the technology, teamwork and long-term thinking behind the Joe Poehling Distribution Innovation Center in West Salem, Wisconsin. The company was named a 2026 Wisconsin Business Friend of the Environment for Environmental Innovation and, in partnership with Exotec, was shortlisted for the 2026 Supply Chain Excellence Awards USA in The Supply Chain Innovation Award category.

NETZSCH Pumps hires market manager for mining segment

NETZSCH Pumps USA, a provider of complex fluid handling solutions, has hired Cody Pierce as its market manager of mining.

SNH Capital Partners aquires partial ownership interest in Stellar Industrial Supply

Stellar Industrial Supply announced last week it has entered into a definitive agreement under which SNH Capital Partners will acquire an ownership interest in the company. Financial terms were not disclosed.

AMT comments on Fed's interest bump

For the first time in Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh’s tenure, the committee voted to raise interest rates by a quarter-point to a target range of 3.75% to 4.00% in a move that was all but certain after a flat CPI inflation reading the week of Sept. 7.

SCRUBS refreshes labeling 

SCRUBS, a 30-year maker of waterless cleaning products, has refreshed the labeling across the its portfolio, making it easier for distributors, facility managers, and workers to identify the right industrial cleaning solution.

Cutting tool shipments up 29% from a year ago

Shipments of cutting tools totaled $278.1 million in July, a 2.8% increase from June and 29% higher than July 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).

ARG names new director of sales

ARG Industrial has promoted Gordy Burks to director of sales.

Kennametal introduces exclusive additive tungsten carbide gradeenabling next-generation metal cutting tools

Kennametal Inc. announced a breakthrough in additive manufacturing that enables the rapid production of custom carbide hole-finishing tools with advanced features such as optimized cooling channels and complex geometries.

Hultafors Group North America appoints new president

Christopher Berg has been named president of Hultafors Group North America (HGNA).

PTDA Foundation raises $225,000 to fuel scholarships, career awareness

The PTDA Foundation concluded its 2026 Fund Drive on Aug. 31, raising nearly $255,000 to support programs designed to introduce more people to careers in the power transmission/motion control (PT/MC) industry and help develop those already building careers in it.

Kennametal named official tooling supplier for NASCAR

Kennametal Inc. has been named the official tooling supplier of NASCAR. Dave Bersaglini, Kennametal vice president and president of metal cutting, unveiled the designation at the company's Next Level Shop exhibit on the first day of the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) 2026.

Klingspor launches welding dealer program

Klingspor Abrasives Inc., a global manufacturer of high?performance abrasive technology, launced a new welding dealer program, making its industrial sandpaper and abrasives available to welding retailers for over-the-counter sale.

17th annual Sonnhalter Tool Drive raises over $25,000

Sonnhalter, a communications firm marketing to professional tradespeople in the construction, industrial, and MRO markets, partnered with Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity for its 17th Annual Sonnhalter Tool Drive to collect more than $25,000 worth of donated tools and building materials during the month of August.

Manufacturing technology orders exceed $500M for 5th consecutive month

New orders of metalworking machinery totaled $605.8 million in July, according to the latest U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders Report published by AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology.

Chicago Bears announce partnership with Grainger

The Chicago Bears announced a strategic partnership with Grainger, a leading broad-line distributor of maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) products and services, creating a bond between two deeply rooted Chicagoland institutions.

Wright promotes Gregg Futey to vice president, business development

Wright has promoted Gregg Futey to vice president of business development, effective June 22.

MSC Industrial Supply names new chief financial officer

MSC Industrial Supply, a distributor of a broad range of metalworking and MRO products and services, has named Rob Kuhns to the role of executive vice president and chief financial officer.

Logistics company implements Autocase system for highly automated warehouse

Nowaste Logistics, a Nordic logistics company, has become the first company in the world to install an AutoCase from AutoStore at one of its warehouses. The innovative solution, launched in autumn 2025, has been supplied and empowered by Swisslog.

Manufacturing employment trends up again in August

In August, employment in manufacturing continued its upward trend (+16,000) and is up by
58,000 since a recent low in December 2025, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.

Services sector continues expansion with PMI at 55.4%

Economic activity in the services sector continued to expand in August, say the nation’s purchasing and supply executives in the latest ISM Services PMI Report. The Services PMI registered 55.4%, the 26th consecutive month in expansion territory.

Core & Main net sales up 2.5% for fiscal Q2

Core & Main Inc., a specialty distributor of products supporting reliable infrastructure, reported a net sales increase of 2.5% ($2,145 million) for its second fiscal quarter. 

NIBCO expands industry presence with acquisition of UniTorq

NIBCO has completed the acquisition of UniTorq Actuators and Controls, expanding its presence in the commercial and industrial markets and strengthening its portfolio of valve actuation solutions.

AD appoints new commercial leader for national accounts program

AD named Rocky Belmonte its new executive vice president of national account sales in anticipation of successfully closing the acquisition of supplyFORCE later this quarter.

RivetMRO awards Shively Bros. for marketing campaign

Rivet|MRO announced Shively Bros. as the first-ever recipient of the Rivet ROI Award, recognizing its distributor customer that achieved the highest measurable return on investment through the Rivet|MRO Co-Optimizer program.

FUCHS Lubricants hosts grand opening of Americas Technology Center in Massachusetts

FUCHS Lubricants Co. held the grand opening of its new Americas Technology Center in Taunton, Massachusetts, a hub for research, development, and technical support focused on advanced lubrication and tribology solutions across the Americas.

Warsh recommits to fighting inflation, touts growing capital investment

AMT reported last week that in Kevin Warsh's first address Aug. 31, from the helm of the U.S. central bank at the Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium, the Federal Reserve chair reiterated the Fed’s commitment to bringing inflation back to the 2% target, stating that the Fed has work to do as long as underlying inflation trends are not heading toward that goal.

Global Industrial and Richard Childress Racing highlight K9s For Warriors Station Dog Program during Daytona race weekend

Global Industrial Company partnered with Richard Childress Racing (RCR) and K9s For Warriors during NASCAR race weekend in Daytona to highlight K9s For Warriors’ Station Dog Program and its work supporting Veterans and first responders.

New orders for manufactured goods climb 0.9% in July

New orders for manufactured goods in July, up following two consecutive monthly decreases, increased $5.8 billion or 0.9% to $663.6 billion, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Wesco names vice president, supplier relations for Electrical & Electronic Solutions

Wesco promoted Ben Jaffe to vice president, supplier relations within the company's Electrical & Electronic Solutions (EES) organization, effective Sept. 7.

AFC Industries acquires Signature Engineered Solutions

AFC Industries (West Chester, Ohio), a provider of supply chain and manufacturing solutions, announced the acquisition of Signature Engineered Solutions (SES), an Aurora, Illinois-based provider of highly engineered fasteners, components and application solutions.

LindFast Solutions Group launches new digital commerce experience for US customers

LindFast Solutions Group (LSG), an industrial distribution supply chain solutions provider, announced Sept. 2 the launch of shop.lindfastgrp.com, a new digital commerce experience designed to enhance the customer experience through greater accessibility, flexibility, and convenience across its three premier fastener brands: Star Stainless Screw Company, Stelfast, and Lindstrom Fasteners.

Distribution Solutions Group acquires American Fasteners Corp.

Distribution Solutions Group Inc. (DSG), a specialty distribution company, today announced Sept. 2 its acquisition of American Fasteners Corp., a South Florida distributor of fasteners, tools, construction supplies and other industrial products.

CMCO launches 2026 Lifting for the Troops campaign

Columbus McKinnon Corporation (CMCO), a supplier of intelligent motion solutions,  announced this week the launch of its 2026 fundraising campaign in support of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation's Mae and George Siller Scholarship Program.

Manufacturing sector expands again in August

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in August for the eighth consecutive month, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest ISM Manufacturing PMI Report.

July construction spending estimated 0.5% below June

Construction spending during July 2026 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2,157.6 billion, 0.5% below the revised June estimate of $2,167.7 billion, said the U.S. Census Bureau.

MTS Threaded Products joins TIPCO Technologies 

TIPCO Technologies announced a new partnership with MTS Threaded Products, expanding their footprint to 45+ locations across 16 states.

Norm Fasteners buys Michigan auto fastener plant

Norm Fasteners, a Turkish manufacturer in the fastener industry, has acquired an automotive fastener manufacturing operation in Plymouth, Michigan, adding local production to its established North American sales, engineering, logistics and warehousing capabilities.

Grainger acquires technology assets from Adroit Worldwide Media

W.W. Grainger Inc. bought  technology, intellectual property, and talent assets from Adroit Worldwide Media (AWM), a technology solutions company, for $210 million in cash.