June 2008

Canadian Construction Permits Up in April

Building Materials/Construction, Economic Trends, Free, News, Research & Analytics, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors / MDM Staff

Source: Statistics Canada

The total value of building permits was up strongly in April as construction intentions rose in all provinces and in both the residential and non-residential sectors.

Contractors took out $6.4 billion worth of permits in April, up 14.5% from March and the highest level since October 2007.

In the residential sector, the value of building permits increased 13.4% to $4.0 billion, the highest value in six months. The increase was generated by a strong gain in the value of multi-family permits.

In the non-residential sector, the value of permits advanced 16.5% to $2.4 billion, due to strong commercial intentions.

Despite the fact that permits increased in …

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Parker Hannifin Buys Titan Industries

Companies, Finance, Free, Mergers & Acquisitions, News, Power Transmission/Motion Control/Fluid Power, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors / MDM Staff

Parker Hannifin Corp., manufacturer in motion and control technologies, has acquired Titan Industries, South Gate, CA, a manufacturer of industrial rubber, custom made and composite hoses for fluid and material transfer as well as related products, services, and accessories.

Titan has additional locations in Houston, Texas and Salisbury, NC, and employs 150 people.

Titan Industries achieved sales of $28 million last year. The acquisition of Titan strengthens Parker’s position as an industry leader in the industrial hose market by expanding the product offering and providing entrance into the marine, aircraft, food and dock side refueling markets.

Titan will be integrated into the Industrial Hose Products Division, part of Parker’s Fluid Connectors …

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Author: MROP Cost Savings Opportunities Often Overlooked by Purchasing Community

Facilities Maintenance (MRO), Free, Management, Strategy, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors / MDM Staff

Industry veteran Joel Roth looks at how organizations buy supplies for MROP in a recently published book, The 20% Solution: A Practical Guide to Dramatic Cost Reduction in MROP Procurement. Roth says that in most organizations, raw materials, purchased components, capital goods and packaging materials represent 75%-85% of total dollars spent on physical goods. And MROP represents about 15%-25%.

The characteristics of MRO buying are different from other types of goods, he says -requiring entirely different methods of analysis, sourcing, negotiating, stocking and tracking and an entirely different cost structure.

Why did he write a book on the subject? The procurement of maintenance, repair, operating and production supplies accounts for 20% of total …

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Alfa Laval Buys Standard Refrigeration

Finance, Free, HVACR, Mergers & Acquisitions, News, Plumbing Products & PVF Distribution, Power Transmission/Motion Control/Fluid Power, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors / MDM Staff

Alfa Laval -manufacturer in heat transfer, centrifugal separation and fluid handling -has acquired Standard Refrigeration, a supplier of shell-and-tube heat exchangers for refrigeration, air-conditioning and industrial applications in the North American market.

By acquiring Standard Refrigeration we are increasing our presence in the North American commercial refrigeration and industrial markets,”says Lars Renström, president and CEO of the Alfa Laval Group. “Standard Refrigeration will be integrated into Alfa Laval in order to capture synergies such as a wider product portfolio combined with an enhanced market presence.”

Standard Refrigeration had annual sales of about SEK 220 million (US$36 million) and 185 employees in two locations in the U.S.: …

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WinWholesale Opens Company Focused on Renewable Energy

Companies, Free, HVACR, News, Plumbing Products & PVF Distribution, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors / MDM Staff

WinWholesale, Dayton, OH, has opened the first renewable energy resources company in the Win Group of Companies. The company -Framingham Winsupply Company, Holliston, MA -will focus on the renewable energy market by providing contractors with photovoltaic, solar thermal, geothermal and wind turbine products for residential and commercial use.

The products provide electricity and domestic hot water, as well as heating and air conditioning. Framingham Winsupply serves Boston and the Greater MetroWest area, Cape Cod and the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket.

In addition to products, parts and accessories, Framingham Winsupply provides consultation services and training in partnership with Greenfield Community College at the company’s Holliston …

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Atlas Copco Expands Capacity in China

Free, News, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors / MDM Staff

Swedish manufacturer Atlas Copco has opened a new plant in Wuxi, China. The plant replaces an old factory and adds capacity. The facility will manufacture diamond bits for regional markets, as well as casing shoes and reaming shells for global markets.

China is one of Atlas Copco’s focus markets. Our new manufacturing facility will provide us with a strong base for further growth in the Chinese market as well as a supply support to global markets,”says Björn Rosengren, Business Area President, Construction and Mining Technique.

The new facility belongs to Atlas Copco (Wuxi) Exploration Equipment Ltd in the Atlas Copco Geotechnical Drilling and Exploration division.

At the end of May, Atlas Copco Compressors LLC, in the U.S., purchased Gulf …

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Manufacturing Contracts in May

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

Manufacturing failed to grow in May, according to the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.

According to the report, the manufacturing sector failed to grow in May as the PMI fell below 50% for the fourth consecutive month.

In relative terms, May was down slightly from April as the rate of contraction in manufacturing slowed. The Production Index was a bright spot as it moved above 50% after declining for two months.

Manufacturers find themselves caught between rising costs and weakening demand in many industries. Exports continue strong due to the weak dollar — without the weak dollar the story would be much more negative in manufacturing.

Daniel Meckstroth, chief economist for the …

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Canada Residential Investment Up 7.5% in 1Q

Building Materials/Construction, Economic Trends, Free, News, Research & Analytics, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors / MDM Staff

Source: Statistics Canada

The total value of residential construction investment in Canada reached $19.8 billion in the first quarter of 2008, an increase of 7.5% compared with the first quarter of 2007. Increases seen in most provinces and for the three components of residential construction (new housing construction, renovations and acquisition costs) explained this quarterly increase.

The favorable job situation, growth in disposable income, flexible financing options and the strength of the economy in Western Canada continued to support the demand for housing. The increase in investments depends upon the rise in the price of houses. The New Housing Price Index (house-only component) increased by 6.0% in the first quarter …

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Canada Industrial Product Price Index Rises in April

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

Source: Statistics Canada

In April, a second consecutive strong monthly increase in petroleum prices caused indexes for manufactured goods and raw materials prices to reach record levels in Canada.

From March to April, prices charged by Canadian manufacturers, as measured by the Industrial Product Price Index (IPPI), rose 1.4%. While down slightly from the 1.8% increase observed in March, the growth in prices remained strong for a second consecutive month, pushing the IPPI above its last historical peak reached in April 2007. This increase was almost entirely driven by petroleum and coal products, which continued their upward climb with an increase of 7.9%, similar to the rate recorded in March.

Prices of other IPPI products, …

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Gates Corp. to Close SC Plant

Free, News, Subscriber Only, Top Distributor Sectors / MDM Staff

After an extensive study, Gates Corp., Denver, CO, is restructuring its belt manufacturing facilities in North America and closing its Moncks Corner, SC, belt plant. Production from the plant will be absorbed into its other North American belt production facilities.

We are in a very competitive business, both here and internationally. We regret having to consider any plant closing,”said Brian Harris, president of Gates Power Transmission Group. “The closure is not a reflection on the performance of plant employees or plant operations. Moncks Corner has been in operation for a long time, and we respect and appreciate our longstanding relationship with our employees and the community.”

The Moncks Corner plant closing is expected to be complete in the first quarter …

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June 2008

Canadian Construction Permits Up in April

Parker Hannifin Buys Titan Industries

Author: MROP Cost Savings Opportunities Often Overlooked by Purchasing Community

Alfa Laval Buys Standard Refrigeration

WinWholesale Opens Company Focused on Renewable Energy

Atlas Copco Expands Capacity in China

Manufacturing Contracts in May

Canada Residential Investment Up 7.5% in 1Q

Canada Industrial Product Price Index Rises in April

Gates Corp. to Close SC Plant

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