Six days after reporting its 2023 first quarter final results, metalworking and MRO supplies distributor MSC Industrial Supply reported a pair of acquisitions in Ohio.

MSC — No. 14 on MDM’s 2022 Top Industrial Distributors List (No. 6 for MRO) — said it has acquired Buckeye Industrial Supply Co. and Tru-Edge Grinding. Buckeye is an independent metalworking distributor based in Columbus, while Tru-Edge is a custom tool manufacturer based in St. Henry near the Indiana border.

In a news release, MSC noted that Buckeye and Tru-Edge had combined 2022 revenues of approximately $28 million and a headcount of 80 employees. They are separate companies with shared ownership and will continue to operate under their current names as MSC companies.

Founded in 1947, Buckeye Industrial Supply primarily serves the metalworking needs of large manufacturing customers. MSC said it plans to build on Buckeye’s technical, high-touch relationships and value-added services.

Meanwhile, Tru-Edge Grinding brings new tool manufacturing capabilities to MSC. Founded in 1996, the company operates a manufacturing/regrind facility in St. Henry and an indexable tool repair shop in Dayton. MSC noted that a large part of Tru-Edge’s business focuses on designing and producing tools from scratch, with a strong focus on the automotive and medical markets. Tru-Edge will seve as MSC’s center of excellence for engineering and design and will join MSC’s existing regrinding business to support customers in the U.S. midwest.

“We are excited to add Buckeye and Tru-Edge to our growing portfolio of businesses as they’ll contribute greatly to fortify and expand our position as the leading metalworking supply distributor in North America,” MSC President and CEO Erik Gershwind said. “Their focus on providing high-touch support to customers aligns well with our commitment to helping customers solve their mission-critical challenges and improve the productivity of their operations.”

“MSC is a recognized and respected leader in the industrial supply distribution industry,” added Rick Meizlish, a Principle of Buckeye and Tru-Edge. “We are looking forward to combining our metalworking expertise with MSC’s to bring even greater value and success to manufacturing customers.”

The additions mark the fourth and fifth acquisitions for MSC in a 19-month span. Prior to Buckeye and Tru-Edge, MSC’s previous recent acquisitions include:

• Tower Fasteners — a Holtsville, New York-based distributor of OEM fasteners and components, announced Aug. 3, 2022.
• Engman-Taylor – a Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin-based distributor of metalworking tools and supplies, announced June 3, 2022.
• Wm. F. Hurst Co. – a Wichita, Kansas-based distributor of metalworking supplies, announced June 1, 2021.

In its Sept. 4-Dec. 3 fiscal 2023 first quarter, MSC reported sales of $957.7 million that were up 12.9% year-over-year. Operating profit of $116 million jumped 27.9% and net profit of $81 million increased 23.1%.