December 2006

Modern Distribution Management’s October Inflation Index, which measures a cross-section of industrial supplies, was up 0.15% from the previous month, and up 4.14% from October 2005. Summary of MDM Inflation Index for the past 12 months: October 2006 Index 265.9September 2006 Index 265.6August 2006 Index 265.2July 2006 Index 264.0June 2006 Index 263.0May 2006 Index 262.1April 2006

Packaging represented a market in 2005 of $36.9 billion, according to estimates by Industrial Market Information, Minneapolis. These charts show the top ten industries, by SIC code, consuming these products; and the 2005 end-user consumption of these groups sorted by the nine government market regions. Click on Related Document below to see charts. Click Here

electronic and electromechanical controls. Ark-Les is a producer of electromechanical and electronic switches, sensors, connectors, controls, user interfaces and actuators used in household appliances and automobiles. ITW is a $12.8 billion diversified manufacturer. More …The Timken Company, Canton, OH, has acquired Turbo Engines Inc., Tuscon, AZ, provider of aircraft engine overhaul and repair services. The

Brady Corporation, Milwaukee, WI, has acquired Scafftag Ltd. and its affiliate Safetrak, Ltd., both in Barry, Wales, UK. The acquisition also includes Scafftag Pty., Ltd. in Perth, Australia.Founded in 1983, Scafftag manufactures safety identification and facility management products in the UK. It specializes in products that help companies meet legislative requirements for safety standards in

Private equity firm Grey Mountain Partners, Boulder, CO, is acquiring the U.S. industrial-products distribution unit of British building products supplier SIG plc for $51 million in cash. The business is a distributor of industrial products with 300 employees in more than 20 branch locations from Texas to Maryland and more than $130 million in annual

An explosion has destroyed two Falk Corp. buildings in downtown Milwaukee, leaving three people dead and at least 46 injured. Falk is owned by Rexnord Corp. According to news reports, the blast originated in a 170,000-pound propane tank at a Falk Corp. parts distribution center, which was destroyed in the blast. Employees reportedly detected a leak and

Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co., Los Angeles, CA, has agreed to buy Industrial Metals and Surplus, Inc., a metals service center headquartered in Atlanta, GA, and a related company, Athens Steel, Inc. Athens, GA. Industrial Metals was founded in 1978 and specializes in the processing and distribution of carbon steel structurals, flat-rolled and ornamental iron

Carolina Electronic Assemblers, Inc. has agreed to acquire Hagemeyer North America’s wire harness assembly business in Clayton, NC, that currently operates as Hagemeyer Custom Services. Hagemeyer Custom Services, a $9 million business, operates a 120,000-square foot manufacturing and distribution facility and offers capabilities and products in tooling, wiring harnesses, and customer cable assembly. ‘Hagemeyer’s core strategy is

Spenard Builders Supply, Denver, CO, has acquired Arctic Builders Source. Arctic Builders Source operates stores in Anchorage and Wasilla, AK. The Anchorage location will operate much as they have in the past. They will cater to the needs of residential builders and retail customers and be identified as Spenard Builders Supply, Lake Otis branch. The

W&O Supply, Jacksonville, FL, distributor of marine valves, pipe, fittings, engineered and automated valve systems, has acquired A-T Controls Inc., a ball valve and automation supplier. Based in Cincinnati, OH, A-T Controls designs, develops and manufactures valves, actuators and valve control products including manual ball valves and automated ball valve packages; actuators for the automation

Airgas, Inc., Radnor, PA, has acquired Southern Welding Supply Inc., in northern Alabama, and Alpena Supply Company, Alpena, MI. The two transactions, plus two smaller transactions effective Dec. 1, 2006, bring Airgas’ total number of acquisitions in fiscal 2007 to 10, with acquired sales now topping $140 million. Southern Welding Supply, an industrial gas and welding

Material handling manufacturer Bushman Equipment has announced the acquisition of Avon Engineering of Waterdown, Ontario, Canada. Ralph Deger, president of Bushman Equipment, cited the complimentary nature of the two companies. ‘While Bushman and Avon have competing lines of overhead crane related material handling equipment, they rarely compete due to each company’s geographic focus. Avon has a

Construction spending during October 2006 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,178.4 billion, 1.0 percent below the revised September estimate of $1,190.0 billion. The October figure is 0.5 percent above the October 2005 estimate of $1,172.6 billion. During the first 10 months of this year, construction spending amounted to $1,008.4 billion, 5.9 percent

Manufacturing activity declined to its lowest level in 42 months in November after 41 consecutive months of growth, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business. The economy overall grew for the 61st consecutive month.In November, the Purchasing Managers Index fell to 49.5%. The last time the PMI registered below

The Timken Company, Canton, OH, has acquired Turbo Engines Inc., Tuscon, AZ, provider of aircraft engine overhaul and repair services.  “The addition of Turbo Engines represents a significant expansion in our ability to deliver enhanced value to the aerospace aftermarket through fully integrating a total service offering of critical products and services,” said J. Ron