July 2006

Barnes Group Inc., Bristol, CT, has acquired the KENT Division (KENT) from Premier Farnell, for approximately $41 million. KENT distributes adhesives, sealants, specialty cleaning chemicals, abrasives, tools and other consumables to the European transportation aftermarket and industrial maintenance market. The KENT business will be integrated into Barnes Group Inc.’s Barnes Distribution business. KENT complements Barnes […]

The SKF Group reported a sales increase of 5% for the second quarter of 2006. For the first half of the year, sales were up 8.3%.Sales for the SKF Group (excluding Ovako Steel in 2005) were higher in Europe, slightly higher in North America and significantly higher in Asia. Sales in Latin America were unchanged.The

Lone Star Fasteners, Houston, TX, has acquired UK-based Grange Gaskets and Grange Precision Engineering (Grange). Grange will become a new division of Lone Star Fasteners, known as Lone Star-Grange.  Established in 1948 by George Grange, Grange is based in West Yorkshire, UK, and manufactures industrial gaskets and precision engineered parts that are sold to the

Huttig Building Products Inc., St. Louis, MO, a distributor of millwork, building materials and wood products, reported sales of $296.3 million in the second quarter ended June 30, 2006, up 5% from the same period last year. Net income fell to $3.3 million from the $3.5 million reported in the second quarter of last year.For

Industrial Distribution Group Inc. reported a 2.8% increase in sales for the second quarter ended June 30, 2006, compared with the same period last year. That figure excludes the company’s Cardinal Machinery business unit, which was sold in the third quarter 2005. IDG’s net earnings for the second quarter were $1.5 million, down from the $1.6

Rockwell Automation, Inc., Milwaukee, WI, supplier of industrial automation power, control and information solutions, reported sales for the third quarter of $1,428.4 million, up 13% compared with $1,264.7 million in the same period a year ago.Net income for the quarter was $149 million, compared with $127.3 million a year ago.Sales for the nine months ended

Airgas, Inc., Radnor, PA, U.S. distributor of industrial, medical and specialty gases, welding, safety, and related products, reported sales of $773 million in the first quarter, up 14% over the same period a year ago. Total same-store sales were up 9%, with hardgoods up 10% and gas and rent up 9%. Industrial production, energy, and

Praxair, Inc., Danbury, CT, announced second-quarter sales of $2,076 million, up 8% from the same period last year. Net income was $247 million, up 22%.“While some macro-economic indicators point to a slowdown, we have not seen any significant decline in demand from our customers,” said Dennis H. Reilley, chairman and CEO.In North America, second-quarter sales

Kennametal Inc., Latrobe, PA, reported sales of $2.3 billion in the fiscal year 2006, up 6% versus 2005. Sales for the year include 11 months of J& L Industrial Supply before it was sold to MSC Industrial. Net income was $256 million, up from $119 million in the prior year. Kennametal reported fourth quarter sales of

The Timken Company, Canton, OH, reported sales of $1.39 billion in the second quarter, up 5% from the same period a year ago. Second quarter net income increased 11% to $74.7 million up from $67.3 million in the second quarter a year ago.“This quarter’s results reflect good progress towards fundamentally improving financial performance,” said James

Citing high debt levels and rising prices for aluminum and other raw materials, Werner Co., Greenville, PA, and its affiliated companies have filed for Ch. 11 bankruptcy protection.Werner is a global manufacturer and distributor of ladders, climbing equipment and ladder accessories.In papers filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Delaware, Werner reported audited net sales of

of the mind to convert to NetSuite or any other suite, the starting point is your basic data. Your start-up is only as good as that data."   As a smaller distributor, you don't need a host of workers focused on IT. But you do need at least one person (for Knox, it's his daughter,

double Rexel’s revenues in the U.S. consistent with Rexel’s strategy to build a stronger platform here. “That will make us more important to our customers and hopefully to our vendors as well,” Waterman said.GE Supply reported $2.2 billion in pro forma annual sales; Rexel posted $2.5 billion in U.S. sales in 2005. By comparison, WESCO

half a dozen major stresses that must be addressed if the company is to move forward. The company's playing field may be rapidly changing due to competitors' moves, and possibly due to the distributor's own failure to make necessary moves. For distributors these moves often involve key sales people moving from company to company, major

Building Materials Holding Corporation, San Francisco, CA, a provider of construction services and building materials to professional residential builders and contractors, reported sales for the second quarter of 2006 increased 31% to $922 million from $702 million in the same quarter a year ago. For the six months ended June 30, 2006, sales increased 42%

Wolseley has agreed to acquire DT Group, a distributor of building materials with operations in Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway, from CVC Capital Partners for 1.498 billion euros, or $2.48 billion, including the assumption of net debt. The acquisition will be financed using debt. About 80% of DT Group’s sales are through builders’ merchants to trade professionals,