2006

Construction spending in February 2006 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,185.4 billion, 0.8 percent above the revised January estimate of $1,176.0 billion. The February figure is 7.4 percent above the February 2005 estimate of $1,103.6 billion.February spending was a record.During the first two months of the year, construction spending amounted to […]

Modern Distribution Management’s February Inflation Index, which measures a cross-section of industrial supplies, is up 0.78% over the previous month, and up 5.32% from February 2005. Summary of MDM Inflation Index for the past 12 months: Febuary 2006 Index 261.2January 2006 Index 260.2December 2005 Index 258.1November 2005 Index 256.1October 2005 Index 255.4September 2005 Index 254.3August 2005 Index 253.9July

Kennametal Inc., Latrobe, PA, has signed a definitive agreement with Suncraft International Corp. to sell Kennametal’s UK-based Presto brand high speed steel assets. The disposition of these assets is in line with Kennametal’s recently announced intention to accelerate its manufacturing rationalization opportunities.  The sale, expected to close by June 30, 2006, (fiscal year-end for Kennametal),

Gates Corporation, Denver, CO, has acquired an equity stake in CoLinx, LLC which provides e-business and logistics services. Gates will use CoLinx logistics services in all CoLinx locations in the U.S. and Canada. The Gates on-line store for Industrial Power Transmission products is planned for launch in the second half of 2006. The store will be

Stock Building Supply, Raleigh, NC, a supplier of building materials to professionals in the United States, has acquired Home Lumber Company, in San Bernardino, CA, with $92.2 million in annual sales.  ‘Home Lumber is located in one of the most robust economies in the United States,’ says Fenton Hord, Stock president and CEO. ‘The company

MRO distributor Strategic Distribution, Inc., Bristol, PA,   reported revenues of $36.7 million for the fourth quarter 2005, up 15% from the same period the year before. Annual revenues for 2005 were up 12% to $136.9 million compared with $121.9 million in 2004.Strategic Distribution reported a net loss for the fourth quarter of $366,000. That’s

Applied Industrial Technologies, Cleveland, OH, has acquired Minnesota Bearing Company, a $35 million distributor of bearings, power transmission and related specialty products headquartered in Minneapolis, MN. Applied acquired all divisions of Minnesota Bearing, which include Iowa Bearing Company, Western Bearing & Supply Company, and Nebraska Bearing Company, as well as Air-Hydraulic Systems, Inc., a full-service provider

Airgas Inc., Radnor, PA, has acquired Byrne Specialty Gases, Inc., a Seattle, WA-based distributor of specialty gases, related equipment and cryogenic storage systems for the life sciences sectors in the Pacific Northwest. The acquired operations, including two facilities in Seattle and Vancouver, WA, employ 45 associates and generated more than $10 million in sales last

Carlson Holdings Inc., Omaha, NE, parent of distributor Carlton Systems, has acquired Mid-Atlantic Fasteners, a distribution company for the fastening and packaging industries.   Mid-Atlantic Fasteners was founded in 1948 and has 23 sales offices and distribution centers in Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia, with its corporate offices located in Jessup,

Industrial distributor MSC Industrial Direct Co., Melville, NY, sales increased 12.7% to $305.9 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2006, compared with $271.4 million in the same period last year. Profit for the second quarter rose 21.6% to $33.3 million versus $27.4 million a year ago. For the first half of fiscal 2006,

Industrial distributor Lewis-Goetz and Company, Inc., Pittsburgh, PA, has agreed to acquire Goodall Rubber Company, from Trelleborg AB, a Swedish manufacturing firm. The company expects to close the acquisition on April 28, 2006. This marks the 12th acquisition in the past 21 years for Lewis-Goetz. ‘The acquisition of Goodall Rubber Company marks a continuation of our

McLane Company Inc. a Temple, TX-based grocery and foodservice distributor, has acquired wholesale distributor McCarty-Hull, Inc. The transaction closed March 24, 2006.   McCarty-Hull is a $100 million distributor of grocery, tobacco and sundry products to convenience and grocery retailers. It serves chain customers as well as small independent retailers in a four-state service area

their time in the "super green" zone at the center-left of the diagram. Their focus is on cross-departmental communication regarding the thought behind, the nuances and the implications of the customer's strategic plan, business processes and problems. Eagle reps are providing a service that is extremely valuable to the top customer executives. It is a

Kennametal will recognize an estimated $228.6 million pre-tax gain in the quarter ending June 30, 2006, including transaction-related expenses, resulting in an earnings-per-share impact of about $3.25. The company expects to redeploy this capital in the next 12-24 months with strategic initiatives. Kennametal immediately plans to accelerate its manufacturing rationalization opportunities. This investment is expected

Synflex business unit of Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics Corp. The transaction is expected to close by the end of March. Synflex had 2005 sales of about $120 million and makes thermoplastic hoses and tubing for a range of industries, including transportation, beverage dispensing, fluid power and specialty applications.ADI International, The Netherlands, a low voltage and security

Activant Solutions Inc., Austin, TX, (purchased Prophet 21 in September 2005) has signed a definitive agreement to be acquired by private equity investment firms Hellman & Friedman LLC and Thoma Cressey Equity Partners.  The firms will acquire Activant Solutions Holdings Inc and all its subsidiaries from investment funds affiliated with HM Capital Partners LLC, which

Castrol Industrial North America Inc., Naperville, IL, plans to realign its distribution channels to focus on its strengths. The company plans to reduce the number of its suppliers and the industries it serves. Castrol Industrial North America Inc. is part of BP, one of the world’s largest energy companies, and is focused on the manufacturing

Forty-four percent of U.S. manufacturers expect manufacturing to trail the overall economy in 2006, according to the 2006 National Manufacturing Week survey of manufacturers.On the brighter side, National Association of Manufacturers President John Engler said that more than half of the respondents expect to increase capital spending in 2006 and to increase employment, and that