Distribution Industry News

3M second quarter sales down 0.5% YOY 

3M reported net sales of $6.3 billion for its second quarter, down 0.5% year over year.

Gemtex Abrasives announces 50th anniversary

Gemtex Abrasives announced it will begin celebrating its 50th anniversary October 1.

June durable goods decrease 6.6%

Following four consecutive monthly increases, new orders for manufactured durable goods in June, decreased $18.6 billion or 6.6% to $264.5 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced.

Wright appoints Quality Line Sales as new manufacturer representative

Wright has selected Quality Line Sales as a new manufacturer representative that will serve Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

June wholesale inventories inch up

Wholesale inventories for June, adjusted for seasonal variations and trading day differences, but not for price changes, were estimated at an end-of-month level of $903.3 billion, up 0.2% (±0.2%)* from May 2024, and were up 0.1% (±0.7%) from June 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Careers in Welding Mobile Experience heads to Montana Fair

The  Careers in Welding Mobile Experience will roll into the Montana Fair in Billings August 9–11.

PTDA hosts growth-focused Canadian Conference 

Nearly 130 power transmission/motion control (PT/MC) manufacturers and distributors assembled for the Power Transmission Distributors Association's (PTDA) annual Canadian Conference in Niagara Falls, June 4-6.

Kimberly-Clark delivers Q2 net sales of $5.0 billion 

Kimberly-Clark Corp reported net sales of $5.0 billion, down 2%, for its second quarter of 2024. The company achieved organic sales growth of 4% versus the prior year.

T.J. Davies appoints marketing coordinator 

T.J. Davies Company Inc., a manufacturer of retention knobs, has hired Annie Harley to fill the newly created role of marketing coordinator.

CIRCOR Weihai facility achieves COS Gold Certification

CIRCOR International Inc. announced its Weihai facility has achieved the coveted COS (CIRCOR Operating System) Gold certification.

Global Industrial introduces Bolted Teardrop Pallet Rack

Global Industrial Co., a value-added national distributor of industrial products and MRO supplies, announced the launch of the newest product in its Made To Exceed line of Global Industrial Exclusive Brands: the Global Industrial Bolted Teardrop Pallet Rack.

MSC announces Great Place to Work Certification 

MSC Industrial Supply announced it has been Certified by Great Place To Work.

AD partners with Case for Smiles in giving back event

On June 12, 35 AD associates from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico came together for a Case for Smiles giving back event at AD's facility in Wayne, Pennsylvania.

Sonepar creates new industrial VP role

Sonepar announced Dave Jay has been appointed to the newly created role of vice president industrial solutions and business development, Sonepar USA.

Disabled American Veterans honors Sonepar

Disabled American Veterans (DAV) honored Sonepar with the 2024 DAV Patriot Employer Special Recognition award for Excellence in Veteran Hiring. This national-level award recognizes Sonepar’s commitment to providing meaningful opportunities for career growth for military veterans.

AWS Foundation awards grants to 14 schools

As demand for skilled welders in manufacturing and construction continues to soar, the American Welding Society (AWS) Foundation continues to provide financial assistance to educational institutions dedicated to training the next generation of welding professionals.

Stellar Industrial Supply acquires USA Safety Supply

Stellar Industrial Supply is acquiring USA Safety Supply Corp., a family owned, 20-year-oldpersonal protection equipment distirbutor based in Eagan, Minnesota. The deal is scheduled to close July 31.

Kimberly-Clark names new chief research and development officer

Kimberly-Clark announced that Craig Slavtcheff has been appointed chief research and development officer, effective July 29. He will succeed Robert Long, who is retiring from the company after 45 years in the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry, including the last three years at Kimberly-Clark.

Global Industrial hosts NASCAR event for veterans non-profit

Global Industrial Co. announced it is raising awareness for veterans by supporting K9s For Warriors – the company's Partnerships With Purpose initiative held a NASCAR event for the leadership, veteran and canine members of the charity on July 13 at the Pocono Raceway in Long Pond, Pennsylvania.

White Cap closes B&R Reinforcing deal 

White Cap, a distributor of specialty construction supplies and safety products for professional contractors, has closed on an agreement to acquire B&R Reinforcing, Inc., a supplier of concrete accessories and fabricated rebar located in Columbus, Ohio, serving non-residential and infrastructure end markets.

Kimball Midwest named among best companies to sell for

Kimball Midwest has earned its eighth straight appearance on an annual list of best companies to sell for.

Jeff Watts promoted to president of Fastenal

Fastenal Co. has appointed Jeff Watts to the position of president, effective August 1.

Fastenal net sales up 1.8%

Fastenal reported its net sales increased $33.1, or 1.8%, in the second quarter of 2024 when compared to the second quarter of 2023.

PFERD parent company acquires Italian milling, drilling toolmaker

The majority stake in Silmax SpA, an Italian manufacturer of milling and drilling tools for metalworking, has been acquired by the Rüggeberg Group. Rüggeberg, known for its PFERD brand, specializes in developing, manufacturing, and selling tools for surface processing and metal cutting.

Customer sustainability tops Grainger ESG five focus areas 

Grainger has released its 2024 Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Report, "Focusing on What Matters – We Keep The World Working" online at www.GraingerESG.com.

Vallen buys Irish MRO provider EES

Vallen Distribution is expanding its global footprint with the acquisition of Eastland Engineering Supply (EES) from MML Growth Capital Partners Ireland, management and founders.

BISON launches rebrand, dynamic new website

Bison, a business of AMETEK, has launched a rebrand and freshly redesigned website.

Litwin to leave Global Industrial

Barry Litwin, CEO of Global Industrial Co. has notified the company's board of his upcoming departure to pursue another opportunity. Interim CEO Richard B. Leeds, executive chairman of the board, will transition to the role August 9.

Lawson Products Canada to acquire Source Atlantic

Distribution Solutions Group, Inc. announced its operating company, Lawson Products, under its affiliate Lawson Products Canada, Inc., has signed an agreement to acquire Source Atlantic Limited.

ISA launches Summer Sessions on marketing

The Industrial Supply Association (ISA) announced the launch of its 2024 Summer Sessions, titled "Industrial Marketing is Broken."

PTDA Summit heads to Colorado Springs

Members of the Power Transmission Distributors Associa-tion (PTDA) will gather at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colorado, for the 2024 Industry Summit on October 24-26.

EMUGE-FRANKEN USA celebrates 40th anniversary

EMUGE-FRANKEN USA, a manufacturer of taps, thread mills, drills, end mills, and other rotary cutting tools, is celebrating its 40th anniversary.

Minor drop for May cutting tool orders 

By Chris Chidzik

Shipments of cutting tools were $214.4 million in May, measured by the Cutting Tool Market Report compiled in a collaboration between AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology and the U.S. Cutting Tool Institute (USCTI). Orders decreased 0.1% from April 2024 but grew by 1.8% over May 2023. Year-to-date shipments totaled $1.06 billion, up 4% from shipments made in the first five months of 2023.

3M president & CFO resigns 

3M announced the resignation of Monish Patolawala, president and chief financial officer, effective July 31, 2024, to pursue another opportunity. He will stay on through July 31 to ensure an orderly transition.

BlackHawk executive appointed to ISA board 

BlackHawk Industrial Vice President of Category Management Jim Biel has been appointed to the Industrial Supply Association (ISA) board of directors.

New AWS sponsor promotes career opportunities in submarine-building 

The American Welding Society (AWS) announced its Careers in Welding Mobile Experience is now sponsored by BlueForge Alliance (BFA) to promote BuildSubmarines.com. The BFA-powered website focuses on elevating the submarine mission, integrating the industry demand signal, and aggregating education, training, and career opportunities in the skilled trades.

Texwrap appoints Western regional sales manager

Texwrap, a ProMach brand, has hired Tracey Fikes to serve as the company’s Western regional sales manager.

NIBCO makes financial team promotions 

NIBCO INC. has announced the promotions of Brian Jaebker to chief financial officer and Todd Nowicki to senior vice president, finance.

Manufacturing technology orders grow in May 

Orders of manufacturing technology, measured by the U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders Report published by AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, totaled $386.7 million in May 2024. New machinery orders were up nearly 22% from April 2024 and up 6.5% over May 2023.

Sonepar to acquire Robertson Electric Wholesale

Sonepar announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Robertson Electric Wholesale.

June unemployment shows little change

Total nonfarm payroll employment increased by 206,000 in June, and the unemployment rate changed little at 4.1%, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Job gains occurred in government, health care, social assistance, and construction.

Wholesale trade among industries reporting June declines

Economic activity in the services sector contracted in June for the second time in the last three months, say the nation’s purchasing and supply executives in the latest Services ISM Report On Business. The Services PMI registered 48.8%, indicating sector contraction for the third time in 49 months.

Durable goods orders clocks another tiny increase

New orders for manufactured durable goods in May, up four consecutive months, increased $0.3 billion or 0.1% to $283.1 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced.

New Suncor e-book highlights benefits of stainless steel in four industries

Suncor Stainless Inc., a provider of stainless steel hardware in the industrial, marine, architectural, commercial, government, and OEM markets, has released a new e-book, "Benefits of Stainless Steel in Wastewater Management, Food Processing, Lifting and Rigging, and Marine Applications."

Wesco certifies as 'Great Place to Work'

Wesco International has certified as a Great Place to Work in the U.S.

ZCO adds Mini-Winder with acquisition

AZCO Corp. has acquired S-Y-M Products Co., a manufacturer and distributor of automatic tube coiling machines. With this move, AZCO has added S-Y-M’s Mini-Winder and other coiling and winding equipment to its already expansive lineup of feeding and cutting machines.

First 5 months of construction spending up 8.8% over '23

Construction spending during May 2024 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $2,139.8 billion, 0.1% (±1.0%) below the revised April estimate of $2,142.1 billion.

ISM: More manufacturing contraction in June

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted in June for the third consecutive month and the 19th time in the last 20 months, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.

TA Industrial Solutions buys Fullmer Industrial Sales

TA Industrial Solutions has acquired Fullmer Industrial Sales, Inc., a provider of industrial solutions as of June 27.

Air Hydro Power acquires Baker Bohnert

Air Hydro Power has acquired assets of Baker Bohnert LLC as of July 1.

Lansdale begins term as ISA chair

The Industrial Supply Association (ISA) announced its newly appointed board of directors for the 2024-2025 term.

Enerpac Tool Group hires new EVP of operations

Enerpac Tool Group Corp. has appointed Eric Chack as executive vice president of operations. He will be responsible for all aspects of Enerpac’s global operations including oversight for manufacturing, procurement, logistics, continuous improvement, quality, and reliability.

Wendt USA relocates

Wendt USA, a global manufacturer of grinding, finishing, and polishing tools, has moved its operations to a new and larger facility in the historic Niagara Terminal region of Buffalo, New York, allowing for triple their current space.