March 2007 - Page 3 of 4 - Modern Distribution Management

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March 2007

Illinois Tools Works Buys Quasar International

Companies, Finance, Free, Mergers & Acquisitions, News, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors /

Illinois Tool Works Inc., producer of highly engineered components, equipment, consumable systems, and specialty products, has bought Quasar International, Inc., the inventor of PCRT (Process Compensated Resonant Testing), a NDT (Nondestructive Test) method. Quasar is in Albuquerque, NM. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.


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Quasar will continue to operate as an independent company, consistent with the ITW decentralized organization structure. Quasar will be associated with MAGNAFLUX, a division of Illinois Tool Works Inc., a supplier of Magnetic Particle equipment, Dye Penetrant inspection equipment, and associated chemical products used for nondestructive testing. Quasar operations in Albuquerque and Detroit will remain essentially unchanged, and …

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Going Global

Research & Analytics, Subscriber Only /

This article details two mid-sized distributors' experiences with global sourcing and is adapted from presentations at the National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors' annual meeting, with additional information provided through follow-up interviews with MDM.

To use a cliché, the devil is in the details. Andrew Berlin, president of Berlin Packaging, says this has never been truer than when sourcing from China.

And one more cliché," he says. "You get out of it what you put into it."

Berlin should know. He's been sourcing from China for his customers and suppliers for almost 20 years, and understands the value of taking the time required to set up a profitable transaction rather than …

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MDM Interview, Part 2: Wolseley’s European Ambitions

Companies, Management, Strategy, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors /

In Part II of MDM’s interview with Wolseley CEO Chip Hornsby, he addresses the differences between the global building materials and HVAC/plumbing distributor’s North American and European markets, and Wolseley’s aim to grow significantly on the European mainland -doubling its market share every five to seven years.

MDM: Can you talk a little about the European distribution landscape?

Chip Hornsby: The first thing I had to understand -we laugh about it all the time -was that in fifth-grade geography they didn’t teach us that there’s another continent out there called the UK. And then there’s Europe. And those 22 miles are bigger than the ocean between us and them. I get asked all …

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Home Depot to Refocus on Retail

Management, Research & Analytics, Strategy, Subscriber Only /

Home Depot CEO Frank Blake reinforced his drive to refocus on the business’ retail division at the company’s annual investor and analyst conference at the end of February.


To that end, Blake told participants that acquisitions outside of the retail core won’t be a priority for us. HD Supply acquisitions have slowed and will continue to, with the exception of White Cap’s recent purchase of concrete distributor GSI General Materials.


Soon after the annual meeting – at which HD executives only briefly touched on the possible sale of HD Supply, and then only in response to a question – reports started to emerge on private equity firms’ interest. Many analysts and industry-watchers expect the supply division to be sold, despite Blake’s insistence that a decision has not …

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Commentary: Time to Review Your Review Process

Management, Perspective, Strategy, Subscriber Only /

As this first quarter comes to a close, it’s a good time to evaluate the annual plan created in September, or in January for those who subscribe to JIT strategic planning. This is when most plans start rotting on the shelf. The end-of-quarter flurry is too hectic to perform a disciplined review. Then a new cycle starts.


Perhaps you know where you are on the most important scale – your own internal sense of behind, on or ahead of plan year-to-date. Your sales force is crystal clear where they are. Most of the time that’s good enough. But with as volatile as current markets, customers, competition and the economy are, your company might benefit from a more formal review process with your entire executive team. Consider a different approach to the typical rearview mirror …

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MDM News Digest 3705

Free, Subscriber Only /

Grainger, Chicago, IL, distributor of facilities maintenance supplies, has released a new specialty catalog for plumbing products and supplies. Products offered through the catalog include water heaters and coolers, pipes, valves, fittings, fixtures, faucets and water filtration systems. The catalog is 316 pages, with more than 16,000 Plumbing, Valves and Fittings, of which 12,000 are new to Grainger’s offering. An additional 1,500 products that are related to Plumbing bring the total to about 17,750 items. More …

Nucor Corp., Charlotte, NC, has acquired 96 percent of Toronto-based Harris Steel for C$46.25 in cash per share. Nucor intends to eventually buy …

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MDM Inflation Index: January 2007

Economic Trends, Research & Analytics, Subscriber Only /

Modern Distribution Management’s January Inflation Index, which measures a cross-section of industrial supplies, was up 0.59% from the previous month, and up 3.27% from January 2006.


Summary of&nbsp ; MDM Inflation Index for the past 12 months:

January 2007 Index 268.7
December 2006 Index&nbsp ; 267.1
November 2006 Index 266.5
October 2006 Index 265.9
September 2006 Index 265.6
August 2006 Index 265.2
July 2006 Index 264.0
June 2006 Index 263.0
May 2006 Index 262.1
April 2006 Index 262.1
March 2006 Index 262.1
Febuary 2006 Index 261.2
January 2006 Index 260.2


Please click below on Related Document to view a print-ready pdf of the&nbsp ; MDM Inflation Index for January 2007, listing the ten …

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MDM March 10, 2007

Subscriber Only /

This is the pdf of this issue of Modern Distribution Management. Apply the full $24.95 pay-per-view cost toward an annual subscription (within 30 days of purchase), which includes two issues a month plus access to more than six years of online archives and market data. Call 1-888-742-5060 or email info@mdm.com to …

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MDM March 10, 2007 Read More »

U.S. Market Analysis: Janitorial Supplies

Companies, Economic Trends, Research & Analytics, Subscriber Only /

Janitorial Supplies represented a market in 2006 of $19.98 billion, according to estimates by Industrial Market Information, Minneapolis.



These charts show the top ten industries, by SIC code, consuming these products; and the 2006 end-user consumption of these groups sorted by the nine government market regions.


Click on Related Document below to see the charts and breakdown by end-user.

…

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Stuart C. Irby to Expand in Mississippi

Electrical, Free, News, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors /

Stuart C. Irby Co., Jackon, MS, a subsidiary of Sonepar USA, signed an agreement to become the authorized AllenBradley distributor for the Columbus and Meridian, MS, markets effective March 31, 2007. Irby will establish two new locations as full-line commercial and industrial branches to complement their existing Mississippi footprint.


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Irby is the authorized distributor in Tupelo, Jackson, Hattiesburg, McComb and Pascagoula, Mississippi. Irby also has 12 additional locations in six additional states authorized by Rockwell Automation providing AllenBradley products and services.


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“We are especially excited about the prospect of increasing our overall industrial and


commercial/contractor presence in our home state, said …

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Pro-Build’s Dixieline Buys Sandstone Brick Co.

Building Materials/Construction, Finance, Free, Mergers & Acquisitions, News, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors /

San Diego, CA-based Dixieline Lumber Company, a supplier of building materials to professional builders and contractors, has purchased Sandstone Brick Company. Dixieline is a division of Pro-Build Holdings.

A lumber, truss and building materials supplier, Sandstone Brick Company, Bakersfield, CA, serves the professional contractor retail market in California’s Kern County. The organization is comprised of a truss manufacturing plant and lumber distribution yard.

“The growing Southern California metro markets have performed favorably over the last few years and are expected to regain their strength in years to come. said Joe Lawrence, president of Dixieline Lumber Company. “The acquisition of Sandstone Brick Company complements our current operations in …

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Founder of Foodservice Distributor SYSCO Dies

Free, Grocery & Foodservice Distribution, News, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors /

John F. Baugh, the founder of foodservice distributor Sysco Corp., has died at age 91.


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Baugh left his job in 1946 as a manager for the local A & P, Waco, TX, to launch food distributor Zero Foods. He made deliveries in the company’s only truck six times a week – and after that he would make sales calls to cafeterias, bakeries and hospitals.


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More than 20 years later, in 1969, Baugh met with eight other distributors and created SYSCO Corporation. Since the company’s initial public offering in 1970, when the company was at $115 million; SYSCO has grown to $30.3 billion in sales, according to its Web site.


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SYSCO has 69 distribution facilities and provides products and services to more than 390,000 …

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F& M Mafco to Buy Carolina Industrial Tools

Finance, Free, Mergers & Acquisitions, News, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors /

F & M Mafco, Inc., Cincinnati, OH, a distributor of construction and industrial supplies, has agreed to buy Carolina Industrial Tools, Inc., Charlotte, NC. Carolina is a distributor of tools, equipment, consumables, machinery and related products.


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The Carolina Industrial Tools acquisition will expand F & M Mafco’s ability to serve customers in the southeast U.S.


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Mike McKenna, vice resident of sales, said: “Not only does this acquisition carry out our strategic plan, it also adds to our already growing business in the consumables market and will give us the opportunity to establish our tool & equipment rental capabilities in this area.


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F & M Mafco is a distributor of construction tools and …

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European Industrial Outlook: Growth Moderate in 2007

Economic Trends, Free, News, Research & Analytics, Subscriber Only /

The European manufacturing sector, much like that of the U.S. and Japan, saw its industrial cycle peak in 2006 and will see its growth moderate in 2007, according to the Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI Industrial Outlook for Europe February 2007, a report that analyzes 27 major industries.


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In a sign of manufacturing sustainability, however, 23 of the 27 industries tracked in the report had inflation-adjusted production above the level of the previous year, indicating continued broad-based growth in the industrial sector.


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Top industry performers in 2006, recording year-over-year double-digit growth, were valves, tubes and electronic components (20 percent); machine tools (14.7 percent); optical instruments (14.3 percent); electric …

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SUMMIT Electric Opens Office in Dubai

Electrical, Free, News, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors /

Albuquerque-based SUMMIT Electric Supply has opened a new sales office in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.


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< “Opening shop in Dubai signifies our commitment to global electrical professionals, says SUMMIT president and CEO Vic Jury. "SUMMIT has been servicing international customers for many years through our export division in Houston."


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< SUMMIT's Dubai office opened in February and is a partnership with the drilling supplies and services company Driltools.


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< SUMMIT's export department is staffed by multilingual personnel versed in export law and regulations, as well as packing and shipping procedures. They can solicit requests and contracts, purchase material worldwide, negotiate agreements, and ...

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Despite Construction Slowdown, 84 Lumber Expands

Building Materials/Construction, Free, News, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors /

In a time when most building
materials distributors and suppliers are cutting assets, href=http://www.84lumber.com/” target=_blank>84 Lumber
Company, Eighty Four, PA, supplier of building materials, recently
announced it has opened three new stores.


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The first, in w:st=”on”>Gonzales, w:st=”on”>LA, includes a 5,865 square-foot main building
and 38,580 square-foot warehouse on 9.1 acres of property. The second is in
Sarasota, w:st=”on”>FL, the company’s 23rd location in
the state. It includes a 6,918 square-foot main building and …

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RONA Sales Grow to $6B With Recent Acquisition

Free, News, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors /

RONA Inc., Canadian retailer and distributor of home improvement, hardware and gardening products, reported sales grew 13.1% in fiscal 2006; organic growth (without major acquisitions) was 6%. Profit reached $190.6 million, up 8.8% over 2005.


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Same-store sales were up 1.3%.


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“RONA’s 2006 results are in line with our 7-07 target, said Chief Executive Robert Dutton. “Our growth was both solid and profitable: Network retail sales are now nearing the&nbsp ; $6 billion mark and earnings have increased for the 16th straight year. We also made significant progress against all our benchmarks, especially those related to operating efficiency.”

“Still promising in the medium and long term, our market is being affected by the …

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Interline Brands Names William Sanford President

Companies, Facilities Maintenance (MRO), Free, News, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors /

Interline Brands Inc., Jacksonville, FL, distributor of MRO products, has named William Sanford president. The role was previously held by Michael Grebe who continues to serve as chairman and CEO.


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Sanford joined Interline Brands as Chief Financial Officer in March of 1999 and was promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in September of 2004. He has more than 24 years experience in distribution, holding senior executive positions with MSC Industrial Direct and Airgas, Inc.


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Bill has played a major role in building Interline Brands into the organization it is today and our board is very pleased to recognize his contributions with this promotion,” Grebe said.


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Interline reported sales of $1.068 …

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Brady Industries Acquires Boulder Creek Supply

Companies, Finance, Free, Mergers & Acquisitions, News, Subscriber Only /

Brady Industries, Las Vegas, NV, a janitorial supply distributor, has acquired Boulder Creek Supply, a Boise, ID-based company.

Boulder Creek was founded in 1999.  With this acquisition, Brady Industries expands its geographic footprint to seven locations with plans for further expansion in 2007.

"The Boise acquisition compliments our regional coverage of the Idaho market, said Travis Brady, president of Brady Industries. "With branches in Salt Lake City and Idaho Falls, this acquisition strengthens our regional service capabilities."

Brady Industries supplies janitorial supplies and commercial cleaning equipment and service in the Las Vegas market. Brady has expanded its offering to include a complete warewash product line along with its already extensive kitchen cleaning and sanitation program.

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Columbus McKinnon Sells Larco Unit

Finance, Free, Mergers & Acquisitions, News, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors /

Columbus McKinnon Corporation, Amherst, NY, manufacturer of material handling products, has sold Larco Industrial Services, Ltd., the Canadian subsidiary of the company’s wholly owned subsidiary Crane Equipment & Service, Inc.


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Larco, a manufacturer and servicer of large capacity overhead cranes based in Stoney Creek, Ontario, was sold to Canadian Overhead Handling Inc. of Montreal, Quebec. The net proceeds of the Larco sale will be used for debt reduction and general operating purposes.


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For the latest 12 months, Larco contributed revenue of approximately $10 million and operated near breakeven.


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Columbus McKinnon CEO Timothy T. Tevens said: Given its narrowly focused product line and market, Larco was not an …

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