September 2006

Moderate acceleration in the manufacturing sector in 2006 will likely be followed by pronounced slowing in 2007, according to the Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI Quarterly Industrial Outlook-Second Quarter 2006, a report that analyzes 27 major industries. In a sign of consistent strength in manufacturing, second quarter 2006 figures show that 19 of the 27 industries tracked in the […]

Genuine Parts Company, Atlanta, GA, has announced a new operating unit, the Heavy Vehicle Parts Group USA. The new unit, based in Atlanta will have dedicated facilities across the U.S. that supply replacement parts for the repair and maintenance of heavy-duty trucks and trailers. This group will serve fleet operators, major repair facilities, trailer OEM’s and others

Graybar, St. Louis, MO, distributor of electrical and communications products and related supply chain management and logistics services, posted 19.7% growth in the first half of 2006 to $2.45 billion compared to the same period last year. ‘Our revenues are up nearly 20%, and we only increased head count 5%, mostly in customer-facing roles,’ said

Lawson Products President and COO Jeffrey B. Belford will retire in January after more than 26 years with the company. Thomas Neri, Lawson’s executive vice president for finance, planning and corporate development, will assume the role of COO immediately and will become president beginning in January. In other Lawson news, the company is starting construction to

Motion Industries, Inc., Birmingham, AL, a distributor of industrial maintenance, repair, and operation (MRO) replacement parts, has acquired Ruston Industrial, Ruston, LA, and Hydraulic Depot in West Monroe, LA. Ruston Industrial sells bearings, mechanical power transmission, fluid power products, and industrial products. Ruston Industrial has a total of five locations: Ruston, LA; Pine Bluff, AR;

HD Supply of Canada has acquired Grafton Utility Supply, an electrical utility distributor in Canada.Established in 1978, Grafton Utility Supply distributes transmission and distribution products. It has 72 associates and operates in four cities: Colborne, Ontario; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Calgary, Alberta; and Surrey, British Columbia. Serving major Canadian-based utilities and utility contractors, its products include wire