January 2009 - Page 4 of 6 - Modern Distribution Management

January 2009

November PT/MC Sales Fall 16%

In November 2008, U.S. distributors' sales of power transmission/motion control products experienced the largest month-to-month decrease in sales since January 2002, falling 16% when compared to October 2008, according to the latest month-end trend data from the Power Transmission Distributors Association.
 
When matched up against sales in the same month last year, sales in November 2008 were down by 4.1%. Accounts receivable collection days rose 7.8% since October 2008. The confidence index of U.S. distributors for November was also unchanged for the third consecutive month, remaining at 5.2 (on a 10-point scale).
 
Canadian distributors reported a 12.8% drop in sales in November 2008. Sales over the same period last year were down 11.2%. Accounts receivable ...

November PT/MC Sales Fall 16% Read More »

MeadWestvaco Announces Elimination of 2,000 Positions

MeadWestvaco Corp., Richmond, VA, will be taking broad actions to address current economic challenges, including eliminating 2,000 positions - about 10% of its workforce - by the end of the year. The manufacturer of packaging products also will close or restructure 12 to 14 manufacturing locations and reducing overhead expenses.
 
 We have been taking aggressive steps over the past several months to help ensure we perform in today's uncertain environment, and are poised to take advantage of the stronger, more stable periods that are sure to come, said John A. Luke, Jr., CEO.
 
MWV will generate overhead savings through corporate and business staff reductions worldwide, lower discretionary spending, and a decrease in ...

MeadWestvaco Announces Elimination of 2,000 Positions Read More »

Canadian Nonresidential Construction Spending Up in 3Q

Source: Statistics Canada

Investment in non-residential construction reached $11 billion in current dollars in the fourth quarter of 2008, up 1.7% from the third quarter. In 2002 constant dollars, however, investment was down 1.2% from the third quarter.

The increase in current dollars was mainly the result of rises in institutional and commercial building construction. Investors spent $6.8 billion on commercial projects, up 1.5% from the third quarter, while in the institutional component, investment rose 3.7% to $2.8 billion. Spending in the industrial component declined 1% to $1.4 billion.

All provinces and two territories recorded advances in the fourth ...

Canadian Nonresidential Construction Spending Up in 3Q Read More »

Gates To Close Salt Lake City DC

Gates Corp., Denver, CO, will close its Salt Lake City, UT, distribution center in the summer of 2009. The center currently services automotive aftermarket customers, and employs 42 associates.
 
Improvements in transportation and inventory management prompted the move to consolidate the distribution center into one more centrally located and closer to the manufacturing base, according to Scott Burr, president of North American distribution and demand management.
 
Gates Corp. manufactures industrial and automotive products, systems and component with operations in 25 ...

Gates To Close Salt Lake City DC Read More »

Baird Survey: Industrial Distributors See Sales Drop in 4Q

The fourth quarter Baird Industrial Distribution Survey, from Robert W. Baird Inc., indicates the industrial economy is in recession.

On average, respondents' fourth quarter revenues were down significantly, with increased pricing offsetting unit volume declines. Expectations are for continued declines through 2009, though the trajectory should not be as severe as it was in recent weeks which were negatively impacted by abnormal holiday closures.
 
Baird's Industrial Distribution Research Team, led by senior research analyst David Manthey, CFA, collected feedback on fourth quarter results from nearly 300 independent and captive distributors with combined annual revenue in excess of $30 billion. Key survey findings include:

  • ...

Baird Survey: Industrial Distributors See Sales Drop in 4Q Read More »

Pelican Products Buys Hardigg Industries

Pelican Products, Inc., Los Angeles, CA, a manufacturer of plastic injection molded protective cases, has acquired Hardigg Industries, South Deerfield, MA, a manufacturer of roto molded protective cases. The Hardigg brand name will continue to identify the company's high-end roto molded shipping cases, leveraging brand recognition.

Pelican Products was supported in the acquisition, valued at about $200 million, by the New York and San Francisco based private equity group Behrman Capital.

Collectively the new entity will employ more than 1,500 employees in 12 countries. ...

Pelican Products Buys Hardigg Industries Read More »

Key Financial Metrics for Distributors to ‘Manage the Panic of 2009’

Brent Grover was our speaker on an MDM Webcast this week, and as always with his background as a CEO and CPA, addressed a range of focus points for distributors to review as they manage the panic of 2009, the title of his talk. Brent is far from an alarmist, but he argues that this downturn is structurally different than others most business executives have experienced.
 
He covered the details, levers and pain points across several financial areas - financing, credit, cash flow, cost control - and how distributors can sharpen their focus in each. As moderator, I felt it offered some benchmarks and tools for distributors of all sizes to form the core of an executive team meeting on how to tighten the seams of the ship, even in the middle of a ...

Key Financial Metrics for Distributors to ‘Manage the Panic of 2009’ Read More »

Distributor Liability and Risk: Number of Counterfeits Seized in 2008 Grows

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported this week that the value of all seized counterfeit and pirated products for the year ended Sept. 30, 2008, was nearly $273 million, up 38% over 2007 - including a 43% increase in counterfeit electric products. The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) reported the news on its Web site. Electrical products represented 8% of all seizures and ranked fifth among all product categories of counterfeit goods.
 
Footwear topped the list of counterfeit products, with handbags and apparel following. Counterfeit pharmaceuticals saw a dramatic increase in 2008 of 152% over 2007.
 
Last year I wrote a series of articles on the topic of counterfeits and private label risks; the most interesting fact I ...

Distributor Liability and Risk: Number of Counterfeits Seized in 2008 Grows Read More »

Breaking Through Complacency

According to Harvard Professor John Kotter, a sense of urgency is a desire to act on critical issues now - making real progress every day on issues that are central to an organization's success. And when an economic crisis hits (or any crisis for that matter), a sense of urgency in a business becomes all that more important if you want to come out of that crisis ahead of where you started.
 
Unfortunately, Kotter says the recession has created very little true urgency. Why?
 
He said: "People don't understand what true urgency is. The economic situation is creating a lot of false urgency, which is this anxiety-driven, anger-driven frenzy of activity where we all run in circles figuring out what to do. It is activity-focused not ...

Breaking Through Complacency Read More »

Conversation Over Shipping Options Doesn’t Happen Enough

Stop me if you've heard this one: A manufacturer, a distributor and a logistics coordinator are making a deal. The manufacturer says to the distributor, How do you want that delivered? The distributor says, "Overnight it to me on Tuesday; I need it Wednesday." Meanwhile, the logistics coordinator mutters under his breath about how much money could have been saved by sending it LTL Monday night.
 
Sound familiar? The first part might, but what about the second? Did you know there was another option that could meet your needs and save you money?
 
For a recent article, three different players - Dan Muller of The Timken Company (the manufacturer), Doug Savage of Bearing Service Inc. (the distributor), and Don Louis of CoLinx (the ...

Conversation Over Shipping Options Doesn’t Happen Enough Read More »

MAPI Report: Bleak Global Outlook

As the U.S. remains the epicenter of the global economic crisis, a shell-shocked world begins a new year with a somber outlook, according to a new report from MAPI.

In the MAPI Quarterly Forecast of U.S. Exports, Global Growth, and the Dollar: First Quarter 2009 Through Fourth Quarter 2009, economist Cliff Waldman writes that data and forecasts through the end of 2008 reveal the bleakest global outlook in the post World War II era.

The depth of the U.S. economic downturn and financial disruptions which have spread globally have created a nearly synchronized slump in industrialized country output, Waldman said. "In addition, recent data reveal an eroding picture for the emerging world, in sharp contrast to the mixed prospects that were expected ...

MAPI Report: Bleak Global Outlook Read More »

Zep Reports 1Q Loss of $1.5M

Zep Inc., Atlanta, GA, a producer, marketer, and service provider of a wide range of cleaning and maintenance solutions, reported a loss for the first quarter ended Nov. 30, 2008, of $1.5 million. The company reported profit of $6.3 million for the same period the prior year.
 
First quarter sales declined 10% to $129 million.
 
 We are facing a new economic reality - a broad-based recession that is significantly impacting most of the customer segments we serve, resulting in weaker demand for our products. While we planned for a challenging first quarter, the depth and breadth of this recession is much more severe than what we had anticipated, said John K. Morgan, president and CEO. "However, we continue to maintain a strong balance ...

Zep Reports 1Q Loss of $1.5M Read More »

Lincoln Electric Sues Distributor

Cleveland,OH-based The Lincoln Electric Co. and Lincoln Global, Inc., two subsidiaries of Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc., have filed a lawsuit against Lisco, Inc., a Los Angeles-based company doing business as Rhino Welders and Phoenix Welding Supply Co., for patent, trademark, copyright and trade dress infringement and unfair competition. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.

Rhino Welders recently imported and started selling a family of Chinese-manufactured MIG welders through its distributor, Phoenix Welding Supply. Lincoln Electric alleges that the machines are copies of Lincoln's POWER MIG(R) line of welders and infringe Lincoln's intellectual property ...

Lincoln Electric Sues Distributor Read More »

Atlas Copco Buys UK Distributor

Swedish manufacturer Atlas Copco has acquired Compressor Engineering Ltd., a UK distributor and service provider for compressed air equipment, with customers throughout the Northamptonshire and Manchester areas.

The acquired company has 39 employees and annual revenues of about MSEK 40 (US$4.96 million).

Compressor Engineering Ltd. will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlas Copco Compressors Ltd. and will operate within Atlas Copco's Compressor Technique business area.

Atlas Copco has revenues of BSEK 63 (US$7.82 billion).

Atlas Copco's Compressor Technique business area develops, manufactures, markets, and services oil-free and oil-injected stationary air compressors, portable air compressors, gas and process compressors, ...

Atlas Copco Buys UK Distributor Read More »

Hagemeyer NA Launches Electrical MRO Catalog

Hagemeyer North America, Charleston, SC, has launched its 2009-2010 Electrical MRO catalog. The 642-page catalog is the first full-line Electrical MRO products catalog produced by Hagemeyer NA and features 12,845 electrical products from more than 100 Hagemeyer suppliers.
 
Hagemeyer North America recognized a need for a catalog aimed specifically at the electrical MRO industry, says Brad Pulver, senior vice president, Product Strategy and Marketing. "Our new catalog showcases products and services that satisfy the unique needs of our customers in this market. By compiling this assortment of products from industry-leading manufacturers, and supporting it with inventory investments and attractive pricing, we have created a one-stop-shop for the key ...

Hagemeyer NA Launches Electrical MRO Catalog Read More »

Kennametal Announces Plans to Eliminate 800 Positions

Kennametal Inc., Latrobe, PA, announced plans to reduce headcount by 800 positions within the next three to six months in an effort to address current market challenges and reduce costs while improving competitiveness. The cuts are in addition to 400 positions announced as part of a restructuring plan in April 2008.
 
A global decline in industrial production, amplified by customers reducing their inventories has significantly decreased demand and precipitated further cost reduction actions. In addition to the headcount reductions, the company continues to adjust its manufacturing workforce in line with production requirements and to implement other steps to reduce costs.
 
The global supplier of tooling, engineered components and advanced materials expects to ...

Kennametal Announces Plans to Eliminate 800 Positions Read More »

M&A Falls in November

M&A activity fell significantly in November, reflecting the paralyzed credit markets and an accelerating global recession, according to a report from Robert W. Baird & Co. Inc. Global M&A deal value fell 68.2% month-over-month, while U.S. deal value fell 86.1%.
 
Year-to-date, global transactions were down 15.8%, and dollar volume is down 38.4% from the year-ago period. Global middle-market transactions represented 40.4% of total year-to-date deal count.
 
Year-to-date, U.S. transactions are down 22.8% from the year-ago period, and dollar volume was down 38.3%.
 
Strategic buyers are now dominating the M&A landscape, representing 83% of total global deal volume. According to Baird, well-capitalized strategics are taking advantage of ...

M&A Falls in November Read More »

HVACR Sales Down 14.1% in November

National HVACR distributor sales for the month of November 2008 were down 14.1% from a year ago, according to the Monthly Targeted and Regional Economic News for Distribution Strategies Report produced by Heating, Airconditioning and Refrigeration Distributors International.
 
All eight HARDI regional reports indicated negative performance in November. Over the previous twelve months, U.S. and Canadian wholesale sales were collectively even with 2007.
 
The Western region reported the poorest performance with a sales decline of 31%. The West region was also the only region to report that inventories were down when compared to same month last year. Median Days Sales Outstanding stood at 48.8 days up a half -day from October ...

HVACR Sales Down 14.1% in November Read More »

Machine Tool Consumption Drops in November

November U.S. manufacturing technology consumption totaled $185.57 million, according to the American Machine Tool Distributors' Association and the Association for Manufacturing Technology. This total, as reported by companies participating in the USMTC program, was down 34.7% from October and down 51.4% from the total of $381.76 million reported for November 2007. With a year-to-date total of $4,004.31 million, 2008 is up 2.8% compared with 2007.

These numbers and all data in this report are based on the totals of actual data reported by companies participating in the USMTC program.

The November numbers demonstrate the much publicized slowdown in manufacturing, said Peter Borden, AMTDA president. "After three years of averaging over 2,000 ...

Machine Tool Consumption Drops in November Read More »

Gates Canada Closing London, Ontario, Facility

Gates Canada Inc., Denver, CO, will close its London, Ontario, Canada, power transmission facility as a result of declining sales volumes, continued pricing pressures and higher raw material costs.
 
The company plans to transition a portion of its operations to its facility in Windsor, Ontario by the end of the second quarter of 2009. Full closure of the facility is expected by December 2009 to allow for completion of production to meet customer requirements. There are 179 associates at the London facility.
 
Gates Canada Inc. is a subsidiary of Gates Corporation, a manufacturer of industrial and automotive products, systems and component with operations in 25 ...

Gates Canada Closing London, Ontario, Facility Read More »

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