Distribution Industry News

Cortec names new president

Cortec CEO, Chairman, and Founder Boris Miksic announced Caleb Pheneger, COO, as the new president of Cortec Corp.

Ingersoll Rand reports record second quarter orders, revenues

Ingersoll Rand Inc. reported record second quarter 2025 orders, revenues, and adjusted EBITDA.

Grainger's second quarter sales up 5.6% YoY

Grainger reported results for the second quarter of 2025 with sales of $4.6 billion, up 5.6%, or 5.1% on a daily, constant currency basis, and adjusted diluted EPS of $9.97, up 2.2% compared to the second quarter of 2024.

RBC Bearings' fiscal first quarter net sales rise 7.3%

RBC Bearings Inc. reported its fiscal first quarter net sales of $436.0 million were 7.3% higher versus the same period last year. Its aerospace/defense business was up 10.4% and Industrial was up 5.5%.

AD reports record sales, strong growth for H2-25

AD reports that member sales in the first six months of 2025 increased 25% to a record $50.7 billion across the group’s 13 divisions and three countries. Member purchases from AD suppliers grew 28% to $12.9 billion.

Manufacturing remains in 2.5-year contraction mode

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

June construction spending estimates dip 0.4% from May

June construction spending was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2,136.2 billion, 0.4% (±0.8%) below the revised May estimate of $2,143.9 billion.

Spartan Industrial hosts engineering interns 

Spartan Industrial, a member of the Singer Industrial family, recently hosted a group of engineering interns from Audubon Companies at its Belle Chasse, Louisiana facility.

Anderson Process named a '2025 Future 50 Company'

Anderson Process, a supplier of fluid management equipment and value-added service, has been named a 2025 Future 50 company by BizTimes Media in partnership with the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC).

Bellofram Elastomers adds 12 new compression molding presses

Bellofram Elastomers has expanded its U.S. manufacturing facility to accommodate 12 new compression molding presses with vacuum for its diaphragm division.

Platinum Tooling expands tool program for automatic lathes

Platinum Tooling Technologies Inc., the exclusive importer of Heimatec live tools, angle heads, and multi-spindle heads, announced their extended product offering to the current Citizen tool program.

Columbus McKinnon orders rise 2% in second quarter

Columbus McKinnon Corp., a designer, manufacturer, and marketer of intelligent motion solutions for material handling, announced second quarter orders of $258.6 million increased 2% driven by an 8% increase in project-related orders.

Global Industrial Co. Q2 revenue up 3.2% from 2024

Global Industrial Company, a value-added distributor and source for industrial equipment and supplies, announced record profitability with second quarter sales increasing 3.2%.

Sonepar and Klein Tools donate $8K to the Bob Woodruff Foundation

Sonepar and Klein Tools donated $8,004 to the Bob Woodruff Foundation as part of a collaborative initiative supporting veterans.

June advance wholesale inventories estimated 1.5% up YoY

Advance wholesale inventories for June were estimated at an end-of-month level of $907.7 billion, up 0.2% (±0.2%) from May 2025, and were up 1.5% (±0.5%) from June 2024.

June manufacturing orders dip 9.3%

June orders for manufactured durable goods decreased $32.1 billion or 9.3% to $311.8 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced.

National Hose & Accessory celebrates 40 years in industrial hose industry

National Hose & Accessory is celebrating its 40th anniversary this July, recognizing four decades of service to customers across Texas and the surrounding region.

DPA Buying Group relocates to larger headquarters 

DPA Buying Group relocated to a new, expanded office space as of July 1, a move they say reflects the organization’s sustained growth and long-term vision for the future.

Wright taps Rouzer Group as latest manufacturer representative

Wright announced Rouzer Group is its newest manufacturer representative.

MSC CFO steps down

MSC Industrial Supply Co. announced Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Kristen Actis-Grande has decided to step down from her position with MSC effective August 8 to become the CFO of a publicly traded company.

E Tech Group appoints first chief revenue officer

E Tech Group, a provider of industrial automation and control systems integration, 2025 System Integrator of the Year, and Platinum certified Rockwell Automation Partner,has appointed Sean Smiley as chief revenue officer, effective immediately.

AMH names new sales manager

Chicago-based lifting and rigging company All Material Handling (AMH), has promoted Lukasz Biela to national sales manager. 

STUDSON achieves US-Canadian dual certification for new industrial helmet

North American safety helmet innovator STUDSON announced its flagship SHK-1 Full Brim safety helmet has achieved dual certification under both Canadian CSA Standard Z94.1-15 (R2024) and American ANSI/ISEA Z89.1-2014 (R2019) at the ASSP Safety 2025 Conference in Orlando.

Brass Knuckle releases workplace poster on back injury prevention

Brass Knuckle has created a quick-reference guide for safe lifting, suitable for posting around plants and other workplace buildings.

LGG Industrial hires new region vice president and GM 

LGG Industrial has appointmented Michael Bagwell as region vice president and general manager for the West region. Michael will report directly to CEO Jeff Crane.

EMUGE-FRANKEN moves TiNox-Cut VAR manufacturing to U.S.

EMUGE-FRANKEN USA announced the EMUGE TiNox-Cut High Performance End Mills Line is now being manufactured in its West Boylston, Massachusetts, facility.

Sonepar named a Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion 

Sonepar was recognized for the second year in a row as a “Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion.”

RBC Bearings completes purchase of VACCO Industries

RBC Bearings Inc. has completed its previously announced acquisition of VACCO Industries from ESCO Technologies Inc. for $275 million in cash.

May cutting tool orders down 2.3% from April

Shipments of cutting tools totaled $207.8 million in May, decreasing 2.3% from April and 5% from May 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).

PTDA welcomes five new members

The Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA), announced distributors 3BG Supply and Aim Industries have joined the association.

AMMEGA Group launches Belting Technology Connect

AMMEGA Group, a global provider of belting solutions for conveying and power transmission, has launched its Belting Technology Connect Program.

Packer Fastener opens Atlanta distribution center

Packer Fastener, a threaded fastener and industrial supply distributor, opened its newest distribution center in Austell, Georgia.

Sidney Lee Welding Supply buys two Florida companies

Sidney Lee Welding Supply, a member of the Independent Welding Distributors Cooperative headquartered in Hampton, Georgia, acquired VMW Welding Supply Co. in Tallahassee, Florida on July 1.

Fastenal earnings climb 8.6% in second quarter

Fastenal reported net sales increased $164 million or 8.6% year over year in the second quarter.

Fastenal net sales up 15.3% in June

Fastenal reported net sales rose 15.3% in June to $701 million.

Kimball Midwest named 'One of Best Companies to Sell For'

Kimball Midwest, a national industrial supplier based in Columbus, has earned its ninth straight appearance on an annual list of best companies to sell for.

Kennametal recognized as one of 'America's Best Midsize Companies' by TIME

Kennametal Inc. has been named to TIME's list of America's Best Midsize Companies 2025, a prestigious recognition presented by TIME and Statista Inc., the leading statistics and industry ranking provider.

Motion opens branch in Quebec

Motion Industries Inc., a distributor of maintenance, repair and operation replacement parts, and a provider of industrial technology solutions, has opened a new sales branch in Quebec, Canada.

Morse adds to sales team 

The M. K. Morse Co. has hired Matt Pomeroy as technical sales manager, United Kingdom and Ireland.

Proton.ai unveils conversational AI assistant for distributors

Proton.ai, maker of an AI-powered CRM built for distributors, announced the launch of Pronto, a conversational AI assistant designed to lighten the load for distribution sales reps by automating routine, time-consuming tasks.

HECO acquires Fife-Pearce Electric Co.

HECO Inc. has acquired Fife-Pearce Electric Company, a Detroit-based AC & DC electric motor service and repair provider.

Warehouse automation provider appoints new Americas president and CEO

Swisslog, a provider of warehouse automation and software, announced Mike Barker as the company’s new president and CEO of Swisslog Logistics Inc.

Ideal Tridon Group acquired by private equity firm 

Ideal Tridon Group, a global provider of engineered clamps, brackets, fittings, and metal framing systems, has been acquired by Nautic Partners LLC, a middle-market private equity firm based in Providence, Rhode Island.

Global business sentiment drops: D&B global survey 

Dun & Bradstreet released its Global Business Optimism Insights report, demonstrating the lowest level of optimism for the upcoming quarter since late 2023.

AFC Industries expands military, defense services with acquisition 

AFC Industries has acquired Chicago-based Cavanaugh Government Group (CGG).

DXP acquires Moores Pump & Services

DXP Enterprises Inc. has completed the acquisition of Moores Pump & Services, Inc. (“Moores”).

TRUMPF promotes 4 US leaders

TRUMPF Inc., a manufacturer of machine tools and laser technology, has promoted four North American leaders.

It’s time for a reinvention

Whether driven by crisis or opportunity, distributors should embrace healthy cycles of planned renewal and implementation.

Services sector returns to expansion in June

Economic activity in the services sector grew in June after just one month of contraction, say the nation’s purchasing and supply executives in the latest Services ISM Report On Business. The Services PMI indicated expansion at 50.8%, above the 50% breakeven point for 11th time in the last 12 months.

Industrial distribution employment steady in June

Employment showed little change in June for major industries such as mining, quarrying, and oil and gas extraction; construction; manufacturing; wholesale trade; retail trade; and  transportation and warehousing, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported.

May new orders for manufactured goods rise 8.2%

New orders for manufactured goods in May, up five of the last six months, increased $48.5 billion or 8.2% to $642.0 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported.

Holston Gases acquires Advanced Welding Supply

Holston Gases has purchased Advanced Welding Supply effective June 30.

Purvis Industries buys Johnson Bearing & Supply

Purvis Industries has acquired all assets, personnel, brand rights, and intellectual property of Johnson Bearing & Supply, Inc. effective July 1.

Evergreen elects new board of directors

Evergreen Supply Network announced its newly elected board of directors, who began their term on July 1.

Ingersoll Rand acquires Italian air/gas compressor company and RNG subsidiary 

Ingersoll Rand Inc. has acquired Termomeccanica Industrial Compressors S.p.A. (“TMIC”) and its subsidiary Adicomp S.p.A. (“Adicomp”) (collectively “TMIC/Adicomp”) with a purchase price of approximately $188 million.

NIBCO donation supports next generation of skilled trades professionals

NIBCO Inc. has donated two custom-built boiler and water heater system training boards to support hands-on education at two leading trade education institutions: Chicago Pipefitters Training Center, Local 597, in Mokena, Illinois, and ABC Construction Prep Academy in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

IDCO welcomes 4 new members, strengthening national presence

IDCO, The Hoser Network, a premier co-op for independent distributors in the hose, fittings, and fluid power industry, announced the addition of four new member companies: Hydraulic Controls, Thaman Rubber Co., Green Rubber, and Quad Power Products.

Manufacturing's rate of contraction slows in June

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted in June for the fourth consecutive month, 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.

May construction spending down 0.3% from April estimate

May construction spending was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2,138.2 billion, 0.3% (±0.8%) below the revised April estimate of $2,145.5 billion.

MSC reports 0.8% dip YoY for fiscal third quarter

MSC Industrial Supply Co. reported fiscal Q3 net sales of $971.1 million, a decrease of 0.8% YoY.