Wolseley plc announced that Steve Webster is stepping down as CFO on March 31, 2010. John Martin will succeed Webster as CFO. More

Grainger, Chicago, IL, reported fourth quarter sales of $1.6 billion, up 3% from a year ago. Profit decreased 10% to $97 million. For 2009, sales were $6.2 billion and profit was $430 million. More

Thomas & Betts Corp. (NYSE:TNB), Memphis, TN, has agreed to buy JT Packard & Associates Inc., a service provider for critical power equipment used by industrial and commercial enterprises. The purchase price was $22 million. More

France-based Schneider Electric has agreed to acquire Cimac, a systems integrator for industrial automation solutions in the Middle East Gulf region. More

Alstom and Schneider Electric have signed an agreement with Areva for the acquisition of Areva T&D, its transmission and distribution business. More

Carlsson & Möller AB, a subsidiary of Indutrade (DTO: INDTB), Stockholm, Sweden, has acquired Metallcenter Sverige AB’s construction plastics business, with annual sales of approximately SEK 6 million (US$812,700). More

Worthington Industries, Inc. (NYSE: WOR), Columbus, OH, announced its Steel Processing business segment has acquired the steel processing assets of Gibraltar Industries, Inc. (NASDAQ: ROCK). The acquisition will expand the capabilities of The Worthington Steel Company’s cold rolled strip business. More

The Conference Board Leading Economic Index (LEI) for the U.S. increased 1.1% in December, following a 1.0% gain in November, and a 0.3% rise in October. The Coincident Economic Index (CEI) increased 0.1% for the month, while the Lagging Economic Index (LAG) decreased 0.2%. More

Canadian wholesale sales rose 2.5% to $42.4 billion in current dollars in November, the fifth increase in six months, according to Statistics Canada. During that period, Canadian wholesalers regained one-third of the losses incurred since the last peak in July 2008. In volume terms, wholesale sales were up 2.1%. More

The Chicago Fed Midwest Manufacturing Index (CFMMI) decreased 0.3% in December to a seasonally adjusted level of 84.1. The Federal Reserve Board’s industrial production index for manufacturing (IPMFG) was unchanged in December. Regional output in December declined 6.4% from a year earlier, and national output decreased 1.4%. More

The Chicago Fed National Activity Index decreased to -0.61 in December, down from -0.39 in November. Three of the four broad categories of indicators that make up the index moved lower. In contrast to the monthly index, the index’s three-month moving average, CFNAI-MA3, increased slightly to -0.61 in December from -0.68 in November. More

The fourth-quarter Baird Industrial Distribution Survey indicates average revenue declines improved moderately in the fourth quarter at -12.4% year over year compared to -15.6% year over year last quarter. More

In the fourth-quarter PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP Manufacturing Barometer, nearly half (47%) of respondents are optimistic about the U.S. economy’s prospects, whereas only 5% were optimistic a year ago. Similarly, 41% of panelists who sell internationally are optimistic about the prospects for the world economy, compared to only 4% a year ago. More

In December, Canada’s Industrial Product Price Index (IPPI) and the Raw Materials Price Index (RMPI) fell 0.1% and 1.7% respectively, pulled down by lower petroleum prices, according to Statistics Canada. The IPPI edged down 0.1% after the 0.9% upturn in November. The movement of the index has remained relatively stable since May 2009. More

Economic activity in the manufacturing sector expanded in January for the sixth consecutive month, and the overall economy grew for the ninth consecutive month, according to the latest Manufacturing ISM Report on Business. The report, issued by the Institute for Supply Management each month, showed the PMI rose to 58.4%, its highest level since August 2004. A reading above 50% indicates expansion. More

According to a survey conducted by Cleveland Research on behalf of Power Transmission Distributors Association in October 2009, 41% of PTDA members are forecasting year-over-year sales growth in 2010, 58% predict flat sales, and only 1% anticipate a decline in sales compared to 2009. More

Canadian contractors took out $6.2 billion in building permits in December, up 2.4% from November and 32.6% higher than in December 2008, according to Statistics Canada. In the non-residential sector, municipalities issued permits worth $2.3 billion, 6.8% more than in November and 13.3% more than in December 2008. In the residential sector, the value of permits remained steady at $3.9 billion. More

According to the semiannual Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI European Industrial Outlook: 2009-2010, preliminary data indicate that the European economy emerged from recession during the second half of 2009, but improvement in the industrial sector lagged. Coming out of contraction, the industrial sectors of the Eurozone, Central Europe and the CEE3 all are expected to grow roughly in the 2% to 2.5% range in 2010. More

WESCO International Inc. (NYSE: WCC), Pittsburgh, PA, reported sales for the fourth quarter were $1.13 billion, down 20.8% from the prior-year period. Profit was $21.8 million, down from $39.7 million in the prior-year period. Sales for the full year 2009 were $4.6 billion, down 24.3% from last year. Profit was $105 million, about half that of last year. More

Airgas, Inc. (NYSE: ARG), Radnor, PA, reported sales for the third quarter were $942 million, down 13% from the same period a year ago. Same-store sales declined 14%. Profit decreased 25.5% to $46.9 million. Fiscal year to date, sales were $2.88 billion, down 14% from the prior year. Profit was down 23.6% to $156.2 million. More

Avnet Inc. (NYSE: AVT), Phoenix, AZ, reported sales of $4.83 billion for the second quarter fiscal 2010 ended Jan. 2, 2010, an increase of 13.2%. Organic growth was 9.6%. Profit for the second quarter was $103.9 million. More

Praxair, Inc. (NYSE: PX), Danbury, CT, reported fourth-quarter sales of $2.41 billion, up slightly from fourth quarter 2008 sales of $2.4 billion. Profit increased 70% to $340 million, largely due to a cost reduction program charge in the prior year quarter. Excluding this charge, profit increased 8%. For the full year of 2009, sales were $8.96 billion, down 17% from 2008. Profit increased 3.6% to $1.25 billion. More

Anixter International Inc. (NYSE: AXE), Glenview, IL, reported sales for the year ended Jan. 1, 2010, were $4.98 billion, down 18.8% from the prior year. The distributor reported a loss of $29.3 million, compared with a profit of $187.9 million the year before. In the fourth quarter, sales were $1.22 billion, down 17% from the prior-year period. In the fourth quarter, profit was $12.7 million, up 72%. More

Beacon Roofing Supply, Inc. (NASDAQ: BECN), Peabody, MA, reported sales for the first quarter ended Dec. 31 were $367.7 million, down 20% from the prior year period. Profit declined 58% to $7.8 million. More

Kennametal Inc. (NYSE: KMT), Latrobe, PA, reported sales for the second quarter ended Dec. 31, 2009, were $443 million, a decrease of 19% driven by an organic decline of 23%. Profit fell 61.9% to $5.97 million. Fiscal year to date, sales were $852 million, a decrease of 28% from the prior year period. The company recorded a loss of $2.95 million for the first half of the year, compared to profit of $51.1 million a year ago. More

Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE: ITW), Glenview, IL, reported operating revenues for the fourth quarter 2009 were $2.76 billion, 5% lower than the year-ago period. Profit was $507.4 million, compared to profit of $233.8 million a year ago. Full-year 2009 operating revenues of $13.88 billion were 18.8% lower than 2008. Full-year profit declined 37.7% to $947 million. More

Cooper Industries plc (NYSE: CBE), Dublin, Ireland, reported fourth quarter 2009 sales were $1.26 billion, down 17.5% from the same period a year ago. Profit increased 15.9% to $128.8 million. Sales for 2009 were $5.1 billion, a 22.3% decrease from sales for 2008. Profit fell 30.5% to $439.1 million. More

Swedish manufacturer SKF reported fourth quarter sales were down 14.8% in SEK, primarily due to lower volumes. Profit declined by 38.3%. Full year sales were down 11.3% in SEK; profit fell by 64%. More

3M (NYSE: MMM), St. Paul, MN, reported sales of $23.1 billion in 2009, down 8.5% from last year. Profit was $3.31 billion. Fourth-quarter sales were $6.1 billion, up 11.1% over the year-ago period. Profit for the quarter was $935 million. More

United Rentals, Inc. (NYSE: URI), Greenwich, CT, reported sales for the fourth quarter totaled $557 million, down 29.6% from the prior year period. The equipment rental company recorded a fourth quarter loss of $26 million, compared to a loss of $853 million a year ago. For the full year, total revenue declined 27.8% to $2.4 billion. The company recorded a full year loss of $62 million, compared to a loss of $704 million in 2008. More

Rexnord LLC, Milwaukee, WI, reported sales for the third quarter ended Dec. 26, 2009, were $366 million, down 18% compared with the prior year third quarter. Core sales declined 20%. Profit was $2.8 million, compared with a loss of $409.9 million a year ago. For the nine month period ended Dec. 26, 2009, sales were $1.1 billion, down 21.4% from the prior year same period. The company recorded a loss of $16.7 million during the period, compared to a loss of $386.5 million a year ago. More

NSK Ltd., Osaka, Japan, reported sales for the third quarter ended Dec. 31, 2009, were ¥155.7 billion (US$1.74 billion), an increase of 1.6% over third quarter a year ago. Third-quarter profit was ¥3.34 billion (US$37.39 million), compared to a loss of ¥598 million in the prior year period. For the nine months ended Dec. 31, sales were ¥413.6 billion, down 22.9% in a year-over-year comparison. The manufacturer recorded a loss of ¥2.55 billion, compared to profit of ¥17.06 billion a year ago. More

Snap-on Inc. (NYSE: SNA), Kenosha, WI, reported sales in 2009 were $2.36 billion, down 17.2% from 2008 levels. Organic sales declined 14.2%. Profit decreased 43.3% to $134.2 million. For the fourth quarter, sales were $618.1 million, down 7.4% from the same quarter a year ago but up 6.2% from third quarter 2009. Organic sales declined 11.1% in a year-over-year comparison. Profit declined 37.5% to $36.6 million. More

Sandvik (STO: SAND) reported sales of 18.2 billion SEK (US$2.5 billion), down 25%, and operating profit of 408 million SEK (US$56.1 million) for the fourth quarter 2009. The company reported a net loss of 132 million SEK (US$18.1 million) for the quarter. For the full year, Sandvik reported sales of 71.9 billion SEK (US$9.8 billion), down 22% from 2008. The company recorded a net loss of 2.6 billion SEK (US$357 million) and operating loss of 1.41 billion SEK (US$192 million). More

Carlisle Companies Inc. (NYSE: CSL), Charlotte, NC, reported sales of $555.2 million for the fourth quarter, down 15% from fourth quarter 2008. Organic sales decreased by 17%. Profit was $35.9 million, compared to $13.7 million a year ago. For 2009, sales were down 23% to $2.38 billion. Profit was $144.6 million, compared to $55.8 million in 2008. More

SecoTools, Stockholm, Sweden, reported sales for 2009 were SEK 4.889 billion (US$672.9 million), down 31% in constant currency. Profit was SEK 161 million (US$22.2 million). Fourth quarter sales were SEK 1.23 billion (US$169.3 million), down 24%. Operating profit fell 48% to SEK 121 million (US$16.7 million). More

ITT Corp. (NYSE: ITT), White Plains, NY, reported sales for 2009 were $10.9 billion, down 6.8% from 2008. Profit was down 19% to $643.7 million. For the fourth quarter, sales were down 2.6% to $2.9 billion, while profit improved 7.4% to $199.2 million. More

Thomas & Betts Corp. (NYSE: TNB), Memphis, TN, reported fourth quarter sales of $492.8 million, down 13.8% compared to fourth quarter 2008. Profit increased 58.5% to $27.1 million. Full year 2009 sales were $1.9 billion, down 23.2% compared to 2008. Profit declined 59.3% to $107.9 million. More

Atlas Copco reported fourth quarter sales of SEK 15.49 billion (US$2.2 billion), a decline of 19% compared to the prior year. Profit for the industrial group was SEK 1.7 billion (US$235.1 million). More

Emerson (NYSE: EMR), St. Louis, MO, reported sales for the first quarter ended Dec. 31 were $5.0 billion, a decline of 7% from the prior year quarter. Profit fell 7% to $471 million. More

The Timken Company (NYSE: TKR), Canton, OH, reported sales of $3.1 billion for 2009, a decrease of 38% from a year ago. In 2009, the company incurred a full-year loss of $134 million, including a loss of $72.6 million, from the discontinued Needle Roller Bearings business. Excluding special items, net income in 2009 was $30.7 million. More

RBC Bearings Inc. (Nasdaq: ROLL), Oxford, CT, reported sales for the third quarter ended Dec. 26 were $67.5 million, down 20.9% from the same period a year ago. Profit declined 31.8% to $5.2 million. Fiscal year to date, sales were $194.9 million, down 28.3% from the prior year. Profit declined 47.4% to $14.7 million. More

Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT), Providence, RI, today reported a fourth quarter 2009 net loss of $63 million, compared with a net loss of $209 million during fourth quarter 2008. Sales declined 21% to $2.8 billion. Sales for 2009 were $10.5 billion, down 25% from 2008. Full year net loss was $31 million, compared to profit in 2008 of $486 million. More

Columbus McKinnon Corp. (NASDAQ: CMCO), Amherst, NY, reported sales for the third quarter ended Dec. 31, 2009, were $119 million, down 27.9% from the same period a year ago. The company recorded a net loss of $2.3 million for the period, compared to profit of $3.8 million a year ago. Fiscal year-to-date sales were $353.2 million, down 25% from the prior year same period. Net loss for the first nine months was $7.5 million, compared with profit of $24.1 million during the first nine months of fiscal 2009. More

Hubbell Inc. (NYSE: HUBA, HUBB), Orange, CT, reported sales for the fourth quarter were $591.9 million, a decrease of 9% compared to the year ago period. Profit increased 7% to $49.6 million. Sales for the full year 2009 were $2.36 billion, down 13% compared to 2008. Profit declined 19% to $180.1 million. More

Hexcel Corp. (NYSE: HXL), Stamford, CT, reported fourth quarter sales were $266.6 million, down 7.9% from fourth quarter 2008. Profit declined 80% to $5.7 million. For 2009, sales were $1.11 billion, down 16.3% from the prior year. Profit was down 49% to $56.3 million. More

Crane Co. (NYSE: CR), Stamford, CT, reported fourth quarter sales of $545 million, down 8% from the same period a year ago. Profit was $47.7 million, compared to a loss of $8.3 million for fourth quarter 2008. Total sales in 2009 were $2.2 billion, a decline of 16% from 2008. Profit was $133.9 million, down 1% from the prior year. More

Sealed Air Corp. (NYSE: SEE), Elmwood Park, NJ, reported sales for fourth quarter 2009 were $1.15 billion, a decline of 2% from the prior year period. Sequential sales increased 6%. Profit improved 38% to $65.1 million. Sales for full-year 2009 were $4.24 billion, down 12% from 2008. Profit increased 36% to $244.3 million. More

EatonCorp. (NYSE:ETN), Cleveland, OH, reported sales for the fourth quarter 2009 were $3.1 billion, a decrease of 10% from the same period 2008. Profit increased 29% to $211 million. Core sales declined 15%. For the full year 2009, sales were $11.9 billion, 23% less than the prior year. Profit was $383 million, down 64% over 2008. More

Precision Castparts Corp. (NYSE: PCP), Portland, OR, reported third-quarter sales of $1.37 billion, down from $1.61 billion in the same period last year. Profit from continuing operations was $228.7 million. More