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Breaking news in Wholesale Distribution
Airgas, Inc., Radnor, PA, has acquired CFC Refimax, LLC, a full-service refrigerant supplier and reclamation company based in Atlanta, GA.  ; The business, which has about 50 employees, had about $21 million in annual sales in 2006.
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Refimax has been integrated into Airgas Specialty Products, national distributor of ammonia products and services, various process chemicals, and refrigerants. Airgas Specialty Products is part of the Gas Operations Division, which also includes Airgas Carbonic and Dry Ice, and Airgas Nitrous Oxide.  ;
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Refimax has operations in Atlanta and Houston, and five third-party distribution warehouse locations in York, PA; Reno, NV; Indianapolis, IN; New Orleans, LA; and Dallas, TX. …
Construction spending during November 2006 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1,184.1 billion, 0.2 percent below the revised October estimate of $1,186.7 billion. The November figure is 0.1 percent above the November 2005 estimate of $1,183.1 billion.
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During the first 11 months of this year, construction spending amounted to $1,110.5 billion, 5.4 percent above the $1,053.4 billion for the same period in 2005.
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Private Construction
Spending on private construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $905.8 billion, 0.6 percent below the revised October estimate of $911.0 billion. Residential construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $589.3 billion in November, 1.6 percent …
Ellison Technologies, Inc., Cleveland, OH, provider of engineered systems and industrial equipment to metal-working and metal-cutting manufacturers, has acquired Jackson Machinery Company, a privately held distributor based outside of Cleveland.The acquisition provides Ellison a stronger position in northern Ohio, a strong manufacturing base. The area includes major industrial markets such as Cleveland, Akron-Canton, Mansfield, Youngstown and Toledo. Industries represented include aerospace, automotive, agricultural, medical, and energy. Processes used include high-speed and multi-axis machining, robotic automation, continuous flow, and setup reduction. Until being acquired, Jackson Machinery was an exclusive dealer of Mori Seiki products and sub-dealer to Mori Mid-America Sales, …
Prices for manufactured goods in Canada remained unchanged for a second consecutive month in November, while prices for raw materials increased after three months of significant declines.
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Prices charged by manufacturers, as measured by the Industrial Product Price Index (IPPI), were unchanged from October to November, as downward pressure from declining petroleum prices eased. Lower prices for primary metal products and petroleum products were offset by higher prices for chemical products, fruit, vegetables and feed products and pulp and paper products.
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The 12-month change in the IPPI was up  ; 1.9%, a higher rate of growth compared to the year-over-year increase of  ; 1.2% in October. Upward pressure came mainly from higher …
MSC Industrial Direct Inc., Melville, NY, distributor of MRO supplies to industrial customers, reported sales of $402 million for the first quarter 2007, an increase of 35.9% from the same period in fiscal 2006. Profit increased 26.2% to $40.3 million from the year-ago period.
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J & L Industrial Supply, purchased from Kennametal last year, accounted for two-thirds of the growth. CEO David Sandler said the integration of J & L is going as planned, and that MSC should be able to generate the forecasted $20 million in margin improvements and cost savings that was originally anticipated.
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A conference call regarding the first quarter results and current operations is available at  ; <A href=http://www.mscdirect.com/" target=_blank ...
Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in December following a one-month decline, while the overall economy grew for the 62nd consecutive month, say the nation’s supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.
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ISM reported that manufacturing proved resilient in December, as the PMI returned to growth registering 51.4 percent after a decline (under 50 percent) in November. Both New Orders and Production made significant gains to drive the PMI back above the breakeven point. Manufacturing employment remained relatively unchanged as the Employment Index shows a negligible change for the second consecutive month.
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The Prices Index is trending downward, relieving some of the inflationary pressure that …
Praxair Distribution, Danbury, CT, a division of Praxair Canada Inc., has acquired the Canadian propane tank-exchange business of Blue Rhino, a Ferrellgas Partners L.P. company.
Under the agreement, Praxair acquired more than 900 propane tank-exchange display cages at retail locations across Canada. In addition, it will take over the contract to supply more than 300 retail gasoline stations belonging to Shell Canada Products with 20-pound propane tanks for their exchange program. In conjunction with this transaction, Praxair also signed a distributor agreement with Superior Tank Incorporated. Superior Tank will serve Praxair’s propane tank-exchange customers in the Atlantic Provinces.
Previously, Praxair provided propane …
The Home Depot’s Bob Nardelli has resigned from his posts as president, CEO and chairman of the board as of Jan. 2, 2007. Frank Blake, the company’s executive vice president, succeeds him.
The move comes amid criticism from investors over Nardelli’s pay and slow stock gains during his reign.
The board also announced that CFO Carol Tome and head of the wholesale division, Joe DeAngelo, will be assuming additional responsibilities. Tome will be assuming responsibility for mergers and acquisitions, credit services and additional strategic responsibilities. DeAngelo was appointed to the newly created position of Chief Operating Officer. In this position, DeAngelo will continue to oversee HD Supply and will assume additional responsibilities for the retail …
Kennametal Inc., Latrobe, PA, has agreed to acquire Federal Signal Corporation’s cutting tool business comprised of Manchester Tool Company, ClappDiCO Corporation and On Time Machine, Inc. for $67 million.
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With annual sales of about $40 million, Federal Signal Corporation’s cutting tool business produces, markets and services super hard polycrystalline diamond and cubic boron nitride cutting tools, tool holding systems and certain specialized turning tools which are complementary to Kennametal’s product range.
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Kennametal says the acquisition is consistent with its growth strategy and with the company’s previously stated intentions for the use of cash.
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