April 2007

Eaton Acquires UK-Based Aphel Technologies

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Diversified industrial manufacturer Eaton Corporation, Cleveland, OH, has acquired UK-based Aphel Technologies Limited, a supplier of high-density, fault-tolerant power distribution solutions for data centers, technical offices, laboratories and retail environments.
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In 2006, Aphel Technologies had sales of $12.3 million.
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The acquisition of Aphel Technologies expands our power quality and distribution offerings to customers in key European markets," said Randy Carson, Eaton senior vice president and president - Electrical Group.
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Eaton Corporation is a diversified industrial manufacturer with 2006 sales of $12.4 ...

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Rexel to List on European Exchange April 5

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Paris-based electrical distributor Rexel will be officially listed Thursday, April 5, 2007, on Eurolist by Euronext, a European exchange. Forbes reports that the company will set a price for its initial public offering Wednesday night, aiming toward the lower end of 16.35-19.00 euros.

(Here's a pdf of the details of the offer. Look to the second half of the document for English.)

Owners of Rexel, Eurazeo, Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, and Merrill Lynch, will maintain control over the distributor. The group is seeking to raise around 1.015 billion euro at the midpoint of the price range, ...

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Alfa Laval Acquires Dutch Company Helpman

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Alfa Laval, Stockholm, Sweden, manufacturer in heat transfer, centrifugal separation and fluid handling, has finalized the acquisition of the Dutch company Helpman B V.

Helpman is manufacturer in the European market for air heat exchangers used in the sensitive logistical chain for food, such as refrigeration and temperature control to secure the final quality of the products. Helpman had a turnover in 2006 of about SEK 200 million and has 130 employees in R & D, sales and at two manufacturing units, in Groningen, Netherlands and in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Alfa Laval's products are also used in power plants, aboard ships, in the mechanical engineering industry, in the mining industry and for wastewater treatment, as well as for comfort climate and refrigeration ...

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MSC Industrial Reports Softening in 2Q

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MSC Industrial Direct Inc., Melville, NY, distributor of MRO supplies to industrial customers, reported sales of $404.6 million in the second quarter 2007, an increase of 32.3% from the same period last year. J & L Industry Supply, acquired in 2006, accounted for 70% of this growth.

Growth minus the J & L acquisition was 9% in the second quarter, according to MDM calculations.
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Profit for the second quarter 2007 increased 21.5% to $40.5 million.
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Sales in the first half of fiscal 2007 were $806.6 million, an increase of 34% versus a year ago, with J & L accounting for 70% of this growth. Growth minus J & L was about 10% in the first half.&nbsp ; Profit for the first half of fiscal 2007 was $80.8 million, compared to $65.3 million in the ...

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Pro-Build Subsidiary Buys Riverside Roof Truss

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US Components, Morristown, NJ, a truss and wall panel supplier and subsidiary of Pro-Build Holdings, has acquired Riverside Roof Truss, Home Channel News reported.
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Riverside Roof Truss, Danville, VA, is a high-volume maker of floor and roof trusses for Virginia and North Carolina area builders.
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HCN says that the addition of Riverside expands US Components' reach from New York to South Carolina.
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According to Pro-Build, US Components will look to continue its expansion through acquisitions as well as start-up operations. Eventually, US components will provide truss and wall panel products to all of Pro-Build's building supply locations, HCN reported.
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US Components operates six truss plants in the East and Northeast. Pro-Build ...

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Parker Hannifin Adds to Global Fluid Handling Business

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Parker Hannifin, Cleveland, OH, has acquired Rectus AG, a manufacturer of quick disconnect couplings and related products for pneumatic, hydraulic, medical and chemical processing applications.
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The company had revenues of about $115 million in 2006. It employs 380 people worldwide including its headquarters in Nussdorf, Germany, its Nycoil operation in Randleman, NC, its TEMA operation in Skovde, Sweden, and several international sales offices.
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Rectus will operate within the Industrial North America and Industrial International segments of Parker's global fluid connectors business.
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With annual sales exceeding $9 billion, Parker Hannifin is a diversified manufacturer of motion and control technologies and systems for a wide variety of ...

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Saint-Gobain to Move Abrasives Plant to Mexico

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The Worcester Telegram & Gazette in Worcester, MA, reported that Saint-Gobain Abrasives will close its Littleton, NH, manufacturing plant and move its operations to Mexico.
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The plant employs 43. It produces sharpening stones, abrasive sticks and microabrasive products. The closing is expected by the end of the ...

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Manufacturing Expands Again in March

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Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in March for the second consecutive month, while the overall economy grew for the 65^th consecutive month, say the nation's supply executives in the latest Manufacturing Institute for Supply Management Report On Business& reg; .
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Manufacturing improved slightly in March as the PMI reflected growth for the second consecutive month. The New Orders and Production Indexes advanced while the Employment and Inventories Indexes declined. A positive for March is the Customers' Inventories Index (falling below 50% after five consecutive months above the breakeven line), which is a possible indication that manufacturers' inventories are nearing satisfactory levels. On the negative side, prices appear to be ...

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