Distribution Industry News

Enerpac completes first fiscal quarter with 2.3% rise in net sales

Enerpac Tool Group Corp. reported its first fiscal quarter net sales were $145 million, a 2.3% increase compared to the prior year, with a 0.8% decline in organic sales. The quarter ended November 30.

October cutting tool orders jump 12.6% from September 

Shipments of cutting tools, totaled $212.5 million in October, increasing12.6% from September but Shipments of cutting tools, totaled $212.5 million in October, increasing12.6% from September but were down 0.2% from October 2023, 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)., 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).

BlackHawk appoints new GM, Manufacturing Group

BlackHawk Industrial, a distributor of metalworking and other mission-critical industrial products, announced the promotion of Jay Costa to the role of General Manager – Manufacturing Group.

NetPlus Alliance distributors report optimism for 2025

NetPlus Alliance distributor members are optimistic about full-year sales for 2024 and anticipate continued growth in 2025, according to the latest NetPlus Alliance Industry Outlook, a quarterly report based on a survey of NetPlus members.

thyssenkrupp Materials NA acquires Cobotix Manufacturing 

thyssenkrupp Materials NA announced its acquisition of Cobotix Manufacturing Inc., a provider of precision metal fabrication specializing in copper and aluminum.

Summit Electric Supply appoints new president

Summit Electric Supply, a Sonepar Company, has appointed Dwayne Roberts as president, effective January 3.

White Cap acquires Site Supply

White Cap, a distributor of specialty construction supplies and safety products for professional contractors, has acquired Site Supply Inc.

NAHAD opens registration for Annual Meeting

Registration is now open for NAHAD's 41st Annual Meeting & Convention. The event heads to the JW Marriott Water Street in Tampa April 12–15.

MRC Global to sell Canada business

MRC Global Inc. has announced its subsidiary, MRC Global (Canada) ULC, has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Canada operations to Emco Corp.

Teledyne strengthens Americas leadership with new VP

Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection (Teledyne GFD) has a new vice president of sales and marketing for the Americas––Gerald V. Sims brings a wealth of experience in gas utilities and a strong track record in sales leadership.

Wire specialist GCG awarded by Johnson Controls

GCG, a global provider of wire, cable and connectivity products and solutions, was recently honored with a Bronze Supplier Execution Award from Johnson Controls (JCI), Milwaukee.

ISM: Economic improvement to continue in 2025

Economic improvement in the U.S. will continue in 2025, say the nation’s purchasing and supply management executives in the December 2024 ISM Supply Chain Planning Forecast, formerly known as the Semiannual Economic Forecast.

Columbus McKinnon helps Charlotte hurricane victims 

Columbus McKinnon Corp. donated $15,000 to Habitat for Humanity of the Charlotte Region through its CMCO Cares program.

Allient launches Defense Solutions Business Unit, restructures leadership

Allient Inc. announced the launch of its Allient Defense Solutions (ADS) business unit. 

Thermal Technology Distribution Solutions acquires heaters distributor

Thermal Technology Distribution Solutions (TTDS), a platform for the distribution of industrial temperature management and related products, has acquired Applied Thermal Systems Inc.

Sellars launches new website

Sellars Absorbent Materials, a Milwaukee-based manufacturer of wipes, absorbents and towel and tissue products, has introduced a new website at Sellars.com.

October cuttings tool shipments increased 12.6 % from September

October shipments of cutting tools totaled $212.5 million, according to the latest data from the Cutting Tool Market Report compiled in a collaboration between AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology and the U.S. Cutting Tool Institute (USCTI).

DataXstream launches OMS+ Cloud for SAP Public Cloud 

DataXstream LLC, an SAP Endorsed app and Gold-level partner developing innovative solutions for SAP sales and distribution, has introduced OMS+ Cloud for SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition.

Industrial packaging executive named in Wisconsin list of 275 top leaders

Menasha Corp. President and CEO Chris Drees has been honored as one of Wisconsin's 275 Most Influential Business Leaders for 2024.

Merchant wholesaler sales up 0.9% in October YOY 

October 2024 sales of merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, were $675.1 billion, down 0.1% (±0.5%)* from the revised September level, but were up 0.9% (±0.5%) from the revised October 2023 level. (after adjustment for seasonal variations and trading day differences but not for price changes).

Manufacturing after-tax profits sink 10% in third quarter

U.S. manufacturing corporations' seasonally adjusted after-tax profits in the third quarter of 2024 totaled $187.5 billion, down $18.9 (±0.8) billion from the after-tax profits of $206.4 billion recorded in the second quarter of 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's Quarterly Financial Report on Manufacturing, Mining, Wholesale Trade, and Selected Service Industries.

Kennametal recognized on annual Newsweek list

Kennametal Inc. has been named one of America's Most Responsible Companies 2025 by Newsweek for the fourth consecutive year.

Manufacturing's order decline blunted by aerospace rebound

By Christopher Chidzik

Orders of manufacturing technology, totaled $385 million in October 2024. These orders for metalworking machinery decreased 14.5% from September 2024 and were 5.5% behind October 2023 orders, according to the U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders (USMTO) report published by AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology.

US adds 227,000 jobs in November

Employment increased by 32,000 in transportation equipment manufacturing in November,
reflecting the return of workers who were on strike, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on December 6. 

Wesco completes purchase of Ascent

Wesco International has completed previously-announced purchase of Ascent, a privately-held provider of data center facility management services based in St. Louis.

Sonnhalter wins a silver award in PR society's competition 

Sonnhalter, a communications firm marketing to professional tradespeople in the construction, industrial, and MRO markets, received a silver award in the “Trade Media Relations” category at the 22nd Annual Public Relations Society of America’s (PRSA) Cleveland Rocks Awards competition.

PTDA Foundation launches talent recruitment campaign 

The PTDA Foundation announced the launch of “Start Your Career. Move the World,” an initiative and marketing campaign designed to help power transmission/motion control (PT/MC) employers build industry awareness and attract top talent.

Fastenal net sales drop 1.5% in November

Fastenal reported net sales of $5.9 million for November, a 1.5% drop from November 2023.

BlackHawk Industrial taps two new sales managers 

BlackHawk Industrial, a distributor of metalworking and other mission-critical industrial products, has appointed Jay Dykstra and Chad Patterson as sales managers for the Lake Michigan region.

Motion to buy International Conveyor and Rubber

Motion Industries, Inc., a distributor of maintenance, repair and operation replacement parts, and a provider of industrial technology solutions, signed a definitive purchase agreement to acquire the operating assets of U.S.- based International Conveyor and Rubber (ICR).

IRS warns against bad tax advice on social media

The Internal Revenue Service and the Security Summit partners issued a consumer alert about the growing threat of bad tax advice on social media that continues to dupe people into filing inaccurate tax returns.

AD celebrates electrical division award winners

AD announced its 2024 North American Meeting for the Electrical Division concluded with "resounding success" at the Hyatt Regency Downtown in Chicago, October 28–30.

Core & Main posts record quarterly sales  

Core & Main Inc., a specialty distributor focused on water, wastewater, storm drainage, and fire protection products and related services, reported its net sales increased 11.5% to $2,038 million for the third quarter ended October 27.

Colt's acquisition takes aim at repair needs of Mountain region industrial plants

The Colt Group, a provider of on-line industrial leak repair solutions, announced it has acquired Plant Services Inc. (PSI). Colt is backed by Capstreet, a Houston-based lower middle market private equity firm. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

October construction spending up 0.4%

Construction spending during October 2024 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2,174.0 billion, 0.4% (±1.2%) above the revised September estimate of $2,164.7 billion.

Manufacturing sector contracts again

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted in November for the eighth consecutive month and the 24th time in the last 25 months, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.

Poster shows how to recognize, handle defective lithium-ion batteries

Lithium-ion batteries are prevalent in many industries, but they can be dangerous without the users even realizing there is a potential problem. DENIOS-US has recently updated their full-color poster that helps users to recognize whether lithium-ion batteries are defective, and then safely handle them.