Distribution Industry News

Milwaukee Tool to build new Wisconsin manufacturing plant

Milwaukee Tool announced plans for a new vertically integrated manufacturing plant in West Bend, Wisconsin.

Delph named president of Vallen North America

Sonepar North America announced that Chuck Delph, president of Vallen US, has been appointed president of Vallen North America.

Applied Industrial Technologies sales decline

Applied Industrial Technologies reported that its second quarter fiscal 2020 sales decreased 0.8 percent to $833.4 million from $840.0 million in the prior year.

AD elects board members

As part of its 2020 LLC board of directors’ election, AD is announcing a new director and two reelected directors among its complement of 12 board members and committee chairs.

Optimas Solutions makes three executive appointments

Optimas Solutions, a global industrial distributor and service provider for fastening and supply chain solutions, announced  the appointment of three industry executives to the company’s leadership team.

Lafert North America adds to inside sales team

Lafert North America has appointed Sadaf Irfan as an inside sales representative.

Monaghan Tooling adds to sales team

Monaghan Tooling Group welcomed industry veteran Mark Doré to the sales and business development team.

Chicago Fed National Activity Index says growth slowed in December

Led by declines in production-related indicators, the Chicago Fed National Activity Index fell to –0.35 in December from +0.41 in November.

Danfoss acquires Eaton hydraulics business

Eaton announced it has entered into an agreement to sell its Hydraulics business to Danfoss A/S, a Danish industrial company, for $3.3 billion in cash.

Ohio Transmission acquires Laron Inc.

Ohio Transmission Corporation announced the acquisition of Laron Inc., a service provider of mechanical and electric motor repair and engineering in the southwestern United States.

Evergreen Marketing Group outlines succession plan

Evergreen Marketing Group CEO Kevin Higginbotham has announced plans to retire in mid-2022.

Industrial production declined 0.3 percent in December

Industrial production declined 0.3 percent in December, as a decrease of 5.6 percent for utilities outweighed increases of 0.2 percent for manufacturing and 1.3 percent for mining.

Fastenal sales increased by 7.4 percent

Fastenal Company reported annual sales of $5.3 billion for 2019, a 7.4 percent gain from $4.9 billion the previous year.

Timken completes renovations at gear repair facility

The Timken Company has completed renovations at the Philadelphia Gear Southeast Regional gear repair facility in Birmingham, Alabama.

AD names president of Plumbing, PVF-US Divisions

AD announced that Justin Dunscomb will be promoted to president of the Plumbing and Pipe, Valves and Fittings-U.S. Divisions within the Plumbing, Heating, Cooling and Pipe (PHCP) Business Unit.

Evergreen Marketing Group schedules rep workshops

The Evergreen Marketing Group has selected the 2020 dates and locations for its popular one-day workshops for independent and factory-direct sales reps.

DDS rebrands service offerings

DDS (Distributor Data Solutions) announced the rebranding of its primary solution offerings around the delivery and management of “next-generation” product content for manufacturers and distributors.

Midland Industries acquires Stainless Adapters

Midland Industries, a portfolio company of Wynnchurch Capital, announced the acquisition of Stainless Adapters Inc.

AgoNow joins IBC industrial buying group

AgoNow LLC of Tulsa, Oklahoma, is the latest supplier partner to join the IBC industrial buying group.

Crosby Group acquires Feubo

The Crosby Group, a manufacturer of lifting, rigging, and material handling hardware, has completed the acquisition of Feubo, a developer of offshore mooring components for the oil & gas, and wind energy markets.

Grainger online business president to leave company

David Rawlinson, senior vice president and president, Grainger Online Business, will leave the company Feb. 1, to become the CEO of Nielsen's Global Connect business, a newly formed public company.

Manufacturing technology orders decline

U.S. manufacturing technology orders fell 15 percent in November from the previous month to $320 million.

WESCO and Anixter agree to merge

WESCO International and Anixter International Inc. announced that their boards of directors have unanimously approved a definitive merger agreement under which WESCO will acquire Anixter in a transaction valued at approximately $4.5 billion.

Laclede Chain announces restructuring

Laclede Chain Manufacturing Co. recently restructured its sales division to better meet the needs of specialized customers in general industry, rigging and marine, traction, and OEM sectors.

Tribute acquired by Volaris Group

Volaris Group announced the acquisition of Tribute Inc., an ERP software provider for mid-sized industrial distributors in North America.

Manufacturing and mining employment decline

Manufacturing employment decreased by 12,000 jobs in December, while the mining industry lost 8,000 jobs.

Motion Industries names VP of Central Group

Motion Industries has named Chris Pacer to vice president of the company’s Central Group, effective Jan. 1, 2020.

MSC Q1 sales down slightly

MSC Industrial Supply reported net sales of $823.6 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2020, a 1.0 percent decrease from the same period last year.

Anixter calls latest WESCO merger proposal a superior offer

Anixter International's board of directors announced that the latest offer from WESCO to acquire Anixter is superior to a previously announced merger agreement with Clayton, Dubilier & Rice.

ORS Nasco and MEDCO name new president/CEO

Kevin Short has been named president and CEO of ORS Nasco and MEDCO.

Fullerton Tool acquires Carbro

Fullerton Tool Company announced the acquisition of Carbro Corporation, a manufacturer of solid carbide rotary tools located in Lawndale, California.

Winsupply acquires Rosen Supply

Winsupply Inc. has purchased Rosen Supply, a plumbing and heating wholesale distributor in the greater Seattle-Tacoma metro area of Washington State.

Regal power transmission products migrate to new website

Regal Beloit Corporation has merged three websites into one.

Manufactured goods orders decline

New orders for manufactured goods decreased 0.7 percent in November to $493.0 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today.

Imperial Dade acquires Wagner Supply

Imperial Dade announced the acquisition of Wagner Supply Company, a distributor of janitorial and industrial products with branches in Odessa, Lubbock, and Wichita Falls, Texas.

PTDA 2020 Leadership Development Conference

The Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) is now taking registrations for the PTDA 2020 Leadership Development Conference to be held on March 25-27 at the Omni William Penn Hotel in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

North American Tool names director of manufacturing

North American Tool Corporation, South Beloit, Illinois, announced the appointment of Steve Mayse as director of manufacturing.

Manufacturing slowdown continues

Manufacturing contracted for the fifth straight month in December according to the monthly index from the Institute for Supply Management.

Construction spending rose in November

Construction spending during November 2019 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,324.1 billion, 0.6 percent above the revised October estimate of $1,316.8 billion.

WESCO submits revised proposal to acquire Anixter

WESCO International has submitted a revised proposal to the board of directors of Anixter International to acquire Anixter for $97.00 per share in cash and stock.

Sandvik acquires Melin Tool

Walter, a division within Sandvik Machining Solutions, has acquired Melin Tool Company, a manufacturer of solid carbide and HSS end mills, drills and countersinks.

Guardair makes executive appointments

Guardair Corporation promoted Thomas Ferraro to marketing manager and named Scott Burkins as the new senior director of operations.