June 2023 News

ISA installs 2023-2024 board of directors 
The Industrial Supply Association (ISA) announced its newly appointed board of directors for the 2023-2024 term. Comprising a diverse group of industry leaders, the board will continue to uphold ISA’s mission of anticipating and serving the needs of its member companies, including distributors, manufacturers, and independent manufacturer representatives.

Wisconsin Better Business Bureau offers tips for social media policy
With more than 70% of Americans and 80% of Canadians using some social media, social networks provide a vast opportunity to reach and engage your customers. That said, you’ll need to lay down some ground rules to ensure your business’s social media channels accurately and professionally represent your brand. Here’s what to know when developing your company’s social media policy.

Allied Motion's Robert Maida to retire
Allied Motion Technologies Inc., a designer and manufacturer of precision and specialty controlled motion products and solutions for the global market, announced June 30 that Robert P. Maida, senior vice president and group president, will retire September 30, 2023 after more than 10 years with the company. Upon his retirement, he will serve in an advisory role to the CEO.

Patti Engineering team members become Siemens certified
Patti Engineering, Inc., a leading control system integration company with offices in Michigan, Texas, and Indiana, today announced that four engineers have achieved Siemens SINAMICS S120 Motion Control Partner Academy Certification.

Record attendance at IWDC convention 
The Independent Welding Distributors Cooperative (IWDC) enjoyed record attendance at its Sales & Purchasing Convention as 124 member companies and 108 vendor partners – totaling over 600 participants – gathered to focus on growth June 18–20 in Indianapolis.

NetPlus Alliance grows team
NetPlus Alliance, an industrial and contractor supplies buying group, has added two staff members to its growing team: Jennifer McMillan has been named executive assistant to the president, and Tori Dalio is a new accounting representative.

Fed: Banks able to weather even severe recession
On June 28, The Federal Reserve Board released the results of its annual bank stress test, which demonstrates that large banks are well positioned to weather a severe recession and continue to lend to households and businesses even during a severe recession.

PTDA launches Learning Hub
The Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) announced the launch of its online learning management system, the PTDA Learning Hub.

Bosch Rexroth opens production plant in Mexico
Bosch Rexroth is opening a new plant in Querétaro, Mexico, creating more manufacturing capacity for the growth markets of mobile hydraulics and factory automation in North America and shortening delivery routes.

May durable goods up for third consecutive month
New orders for manufactured durable goods in May, up three consecutive months, increased $4.9 billion or 1.7% to $288.2 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau announced June 27.

IKO appoints new national distribution sales manager
IKO has named Jeff Williams as national distribution sales manager. Contributing to the company's efforts to build and enhance relationships with its customers, Williams will be based in Parsippany, New Jersey and will work closely with its distributors and sales teams.

Henkel Adhesive Technologies celebrates 100 years 
One-hundred years ago this week, Henkel began selling its first adhesive solutions to neighboring companies.

Year-to-date cutting tool orders up 15% over '22
April 2023 U.S. cutting tool consumption totaled $190.0 million, according to the U.S. Cutting Tool Institute (USCTI) and AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology. This total, as reported by companies participating in the Cutting Tool Market Report collaboration, was down 15.8% from March’s $225.6 million and up 7.5% when compared with the $176.7 million reported for April 2022. With a year-to-date total of $809.0 million, 2023 is up 15.2% when compared to the same time period in 2022.

Wesco achieves 100 home builds with Habitat for Humanity
On June 22, Wesco hosted inaugural Day of Caring events for employees at sites around the globe to celebrate its commitment to communities and achieving its goal of 100 home builds with Habitat for Humanity.

Venco Venturo adds paybles, sales personnel 
Venco Venturo, a manufacturer and provider of service and sales of work-ready service cranes, truck bodies, hoists and accessories, has appointed Jade Dennis as the newest member of its accounts payable team. The company also hired Katie Sennett as inside sales and marketing support specialist.

PTDA welcomes six new members
The Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA), the leading association for the industrial power transmission/motion control (PT/MC) distribution channel, welcomed two new distributors, three manufacturers and one associate to its membership.

NetPlus Alliance: 88% of distributor members expect 2023 sales growth
NetPlus Alliance distributor members remain optimistic about 2023 revenue, despite talent challenges and lingering inventory obstacles, according to the latest NetPlus Alliance Industry Outlook, a quarterly report based on a survey of NetPlus members.

Index suggests economic growth declined in May
Led by declines in production-related indicators, the Chicago Fed National Activity Index (CFNAI) decreased to –0.15 in May from +0.14 in April. Two of the four broad categories of indicators used to construct the index decreased from April, and three of the four categories made negative contributions in May. The index’s three-month moving average, CFNAI-MA3, increased to –0.14 in May from –0.20 in April.

Enerpac Tool Group reports Q3 record gross profit margins
Enerpac Tool Group reported its third quarter net sales were $156 million, 3% higher than the prior fiscal year’s third quarter net sales. The company also stated it achieved record gross profit margins and adjusted EBITDA margins since its launch in 2019.

ERIKS NA appoints key director of refining, petrochemical 
ERIKS North America, a distributor in the industrial market, has promoted Daron Steinmann to the role of key industry director of refining & petrochemical.

Applied Industrial rings NYSE 'Closing Bell'
As part of Applied Industrial Technologies' 100-year anniversary being celebrated throughout 2023, company representatives rang The Closing Bell at the New York Stock Exchange June 21, 2023, at 4 p.m. ET. President & Chief Executive Officer Neil Schrimsher will be joined on the podium by members of the company’s senior leadership team and board of directors.

Gartner names Tecsys in 'Magic Quadrant' for Warehouse Management Systems
Tecsys Inc., a supply chain management software company, has been named a Challenger in the 2023 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Warehouse Management Systems (WMS). This evaluation marks the 12th consecutive time that Tecsys’ Elite WMS has been recognized by Gartner.

Kimball Midwest honors centennial with Nevada event
National industrial supplier Kimball Midwest continued its centennial celebration this month with events at its distribution center in Sparks, Nevada. On June 10, Kimball Midwest’s Sparks associates and their family members gathered at a local entertainment center to celebrate the company’s centennial and spend time together.

PTDA takes Industry Summit to Amelia Island in October
The Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) will convene for the PTDA 2023 Industry Summit in Amelia Island, Florida, October 19-21. This year’s program—themed “Discover”— will offer cross-channel networking, shared learning, and collaborative experiences.

Emerson outlines ESG strategy, progress 
Global technology and software company Emerson released its 2022 ESG Report, detailing the company’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) achievements, impact and continued priorities.

Hargrove Controls & Automation manager awarded
Senior Project Manager Sean Phillips, P.E., of Hargrove Controls & Automation, an industrial automation system integrator and a subsidiary of global EPC firm Hargrove Engineers & Constructors, was presented the prestigious 2023 Rising Star Award at the 2023 Control System Integrators Association (CSIA) Executive Conference in New Orleans.

New CIO and customer experience officer at Sellars
Sellars Absorbent Materials, a Milwaukee-based manufacturer of wipes, absorbents and towel and tissue products, has promoted Yusuf Abu-Hatoum to chief information and customer experience officer. Abu-Hatoum, who has more than 30 years of experience in IT and business technology, joined Sellars in 2020.

ANGI Energy Systems celebrates 40 years
ANGI Energy Systems, a Vontier company and supplier of innovative solutions in compressed natural gas and hydrogen refuelling systems, is marking its 40th anniversary. To mark the occasion, Vontier President and CEO Mark Morelli and his leadership team joined the staff in celebrating at ANGI’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Janesville, Wisconsin.

MOSIL enters U.S. lubricants market, seeks distribution
MOSIL, a lubricants manufacturer based in India, has announced the opening of its U.S. business for the MOSIL line of synthetic and specialty lubricants with a focus on direct customers and new distributors. 

Metal Forming & Coining (MFC) changes name to NETFORM
Metal Forming & Coining (MFC), a provider of engineered cold-formed powertrain components, has changed its name to NETFORM as part of the company’s growth strategy and to better reflect its industry leadership position.

Airgas sponsors SkillsUSA conference
Airgas, an Air Liquide company, announced it is sponsoring SkillsUSA in support of the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Skills Conference in Atlanta, June 19-23. Airgas will supply the industrial gases and equipment needed for many SkillsUSA Championship competitions including Collision Repair Technology, Diesel Equipment Technology, HVACR, Residential and Commercial Appliance Technology, Welding, Welding Fabrication and Welding Sculpture.

RealWear wins 'Best Manufacturing and Industrial Solution' award
RealWear, a pioneer of assisted reality wearable solutions for frontline industrial professionals, has won ‘Best Manufacturing and Industrial Solution’ at the XR Today Awards 2023.

Global Industrial wins Comparably Awards 
Global Industrial Co., a value-added national distributor of industrial products and MRO supplies, has won 2023 Comparably Awards in two categories: Best Leadership Teams and Best CEOs for Diversity. The company says the awards reflect its proactive efforts to engage and build closer relationships with its employees, while creating a productive, engaging and inclusive work environment.

B&F Fastener Supply acquires Northern States Supply
B&F Fastener Supply has acquired its long-time competitor, Northern States Supply, creating what it calls "a regional powerhouse distributor" of both industrial and construction supplies in the Midwest.

AD announces electrical meeting highlights
Over 230 U.S. and Candian distributors attended the AD Electrical Spring Network Meeting May 10–12 to network with fellow AD members, share best practices, discuss the state of the industry, and learn ways to strengthen their partnership with AD.

JKF Americas redesigns website for industrial and automotive markets
JKF Americas Inc, a subsidiary of JK Fenner (India) Ltd., has redesigned its North American website – www.jkfamericas.com –featuring the Top Drive line of belts, hoses and accessories for automotive and industrial markets.

SPATCO Energy Solutions acquires MSCS, hires CFO
Kian Capital-backed SPATCO Energy Solutions, an infrastructure services provider of innovative turnkey solutions for petroleum, environmental and EV market segments, completed the acquisition of MSCS Ltd., a Dallas-based petroleum services company providing construction, installation and maintenance services. The acquisition expands the company’s geographic footprint into Texas after its January 2023 acquisitions of McKinney Petroleum Equipment and Petro Supply.

Turtle partners with Catalyze on renewable energy
Turtle, a privately-held electrical and industrial distributor, and Catalyze, a national clean energy transition company, are partnering to expand the availability of energy-efficient solutions to commercial and industrial entities and support them in achieving net zero carbon and ESG goals.

Columbus McKinnon releases third sustainability report
Columbus McKinnon Corp. (CMCO), a designer and manufacturer of intelligent motion solutions for material handling, has announced the publication of its third annual Corporate Sustainability (CSR) Report. It details key initiatives in the areas of environmental sustainability, social impact, and governance responsibility.

Ingersoll Rand to acquire Roots from Chart Industries
Ingersoll Rand Inc., a global provider of mission-critical flow creation and industrial solutions, has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Howden Roots LLC (Roots) from Chart Industries, Inc. for an all-cash purchase price of approximately $300 million.

AFC Industries buys WDS
AFC Industries in Fairfield, Ohio, has acquired White Distribution and Supply (WDS) based in Muscatine, Iowa. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

April orders dip double digits
New orders of manufacturing technology totaled $336.7 million in April 2023, according to the latest U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders Report published by AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology. April orders declined 38.7% from March 2023 orders and declined 34.4% from April 2022 orders. Year-to-date orders totaled $1.72 billion in 2023, 13.6% below the same period in 2022.

ISA appoints senior director of business development
The Industrial Supply Association (ISA) has promoted Joby Strobo from director of strategic initiatives to her new role as senior director of business development. She will lead the organization's membership efforts in addition to her current responsibilities.

President/CEO leaves Bosch Rexroth 
Bosch Rexroth announced its president and chief executive officer, Gregory Gumbs, will leave the company July 1. Gumbs, who joined the organization in late 2020, successfully led the increased growth of the North American region to record achievements, improved competitiveness in the region, and established a strong customer-focused and people culture.

FastenMaster Celebrates 25 years
FastenMaster, a division of OMG, Inc., is celebrating 25 years of providing professional building contractors with innovative products and fastening solutions that make work faster, easier, and more efficient.

DSG closes Hisco acquisition
Distribution Solutions Group, Inc. (DSG)), a specialty distribution company, has completed its previously announced acquisition of HIS Company, Inc., (“Hisco”), a distributor of specialty products serving high growth industrial technology applications. In connection with this transaction, DSG will combine the operations of TestEquity and Hisco, creating one of the largest suppliers serving the electronics design, production, and repair industries.

STAFDA replaces UID professional ed program 
STAFDA has announced its “Excellence in Distribution” school for all professionals in the construction and industrial space, replacing the University of Innovative Distribution (UID) annual spring management school for professionals in distribution and the supply chain. 

ISA announces eight summer educational sessions
The Industrial Supply Association’s all-new Summer Session program offers eight free virtual sessions designed to demystify the omnichannel customer experience.The sessions provide a unique opportunity for professionals in leadership, sales, marketing, customer experience, and human resources to gain valuable insights and strategies to navigate the evolving landscape of the B2B customer buying experience.

Grainger extends tuition reimbursement for part-timers
Grainger, a broad line distributor of maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) products serving businesses and institutions, has expanded its long-standing educational assistance program to include part-time team members and has partnered with new institutions to provide high-quality degree programs, with some offered at no cost.

'We Supply America' hits the road to tell distributor stories 
The We Supply America RV has hit the road again for Season 3. With the help of sponsors Infor and Wipfli, executive producer and host Dirk Beveridge is on a mission to celebrate the independent, family- and employee-owned businesses that are the backbone of the country, bettering communities small and large with meaningful jobs and economic stability.

ERIKS NA announces executive promotion
ERIKS North America, a distributor in the industrial market, has promoted Terry Subia to vice president of key markets.

Coastal Hose and Supply joins IDCO
IDCO announced the addition of Coastal Hose and Supply to its network of members. Coastal Hose and Supply, a leading provider of hoses, fittings, and related products, brings expertise and a wide range of solutions to the IDCO community.

DSG celebrates milestone in the mile-high city
Dakota Supply Group (DSG) recently held a celebration of its 125th anniversary combined with its annual ESOP meeting, hosting employees, partners, and other stakeholders at the Gaylord Rockies Resort in Denver, Colorado.

Proton.ai partners with Infor 
Proton.ai, the leading AI-powered growth platform for distributors, today announced a partnership with Infor, an industry cloud company, to help distributors boost revenue growth. The companies say the collaboration represents a significant industry milestone, underscoring Proton.ai’s and Infor’s commitment to provide innovative AI and tailored CRM solutions that greatly improve the customer experience for distribution companies.

White Cap completes Tri-Boro acquisition 
White Cap L.P., a distributor of specialty construction supplies and safety products for professional contractors, has closed on the previously announced agreement to acquire Tri-Boro Construction Supplies, a Pennsylvania-based concrete accessories and construction supply company.

Kimberly-Clark reports sustainability progress
According to its latest annual sustainability report, Kimberly-Clark achieved by year-end 2022 an absolute reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of 42% and a 9.4% energy efficiency improvement versus the 2015 baseline. The report provided an update on the company's progress toward its 2030 sustainability strategy and goals.

Supply executives: New orders and backlogs contracting
Economic activity in the manufacturing sector contracted in May for the seventh consecutive month following a 28-month period of growth, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business.

Fastenal posts 10% YOY net sales increase
Fastenal Co. reported May net sales of $6.5 million, a 10% increase over May 2022. Its daily sales grew 9.7% in the manufacturing end market, a drop from 22.4% last May. The non-residential construction market delivered a 9.5% decline last month, versus a 10.7% increase YOY.

Cooper Electric to acquire Billows Electric Supply
Sonepar announced its U.S. subsidiary, Cooper Electric, has entered into an agreement to acquire Billows Electric Supply.

Alan Beaulieu, workshops headline business education at STAFDA convention
The Specialty Tools & Fasteners Distributors Association (STAFDA) announced Economic Consultant Alan Beaulieu will present an Economic Update at the association's 47th Annual Convention & Trade Show, November 5-7, in San Antonio. Workshop presenters and additional agenda happenings have also been released.

CIRCOR to be acquired by KKR 
CIRCOR International, Inc., a global provider of mission critical flow control products and services for the industrial and aerospace and defense markets, announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to be acquired by investment funds managed by KKR, a leading global investment firm. The all-cash transaction is valued at approximately $1.6 billion, including the assumption of debt.

IAG Cargo launches London–Cincinnati route 
IAG Cargo, the cargo division of International Airlines Group (IAG), announced it will be starting a new direct service between London-Heathrow and Cincinnati, Ohio for the first time in its history. The service will be operated by a British Airways B787-8 aircraft.

Manufactured goods nudge up half a percent
New orders for manufactured goods in April, up four of the last five months, increased $2.6 billion or 0.4 percent to $577.5 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported on June 5.

IDCO recognizes top suppliers
IDCO Co-op, a cooperative of independent distributors in North America, announced suppliers that achieved top honors in its 2023 Hoser Honors program – it's a platform to acknowledge superior performance from IDCO Endorsed Suppliers.

AD, Baron Group set to merge
AD and The Baron Group, a buying group serving independent groundwater systems distributors, have announced their intent to merge, with an expected closing on June 30.

AFFLINK names new senior leadership 
AFFLINK has appointed Michael Wilson president and CEO, and Chip Shields is the company's new chief financial officer and chief operating officer.

ERIKS North America appoints West region VP/GM
ERIKS North America, a distributor of industrial solutions, has appointed Mike Deery as vice president and general manager of its West region.

Lawless Group Rockies expands DeWalt relationship, hires supporting manager 
The Lawless Group Rockies has hired a new senior categor manager in conjunction with its expanded partnership with DeWalt Anchoring & Fasteners (ANF) – The Lawless Group will now service all of Colorado, Idaho, Utah, and Montana for the manufacturer.

Wells Fargo economists: Construction spending climbed higher in April
Total construction spending advanced 1.2% during April. The monthly gain translates to a 7.2% annual increase.

Difficult but positive 2022 for Pilz
Pilz reports it had a demanding but successful 2022 financial year – the automation company achieved record sales of 403.3 million Euro.