Eric Smith

Wayne, Pennsylvania-based buying group AD on Monday announced it has established AD Canada as a distinct business unit to serve the more than 150 members of its three Canada-based divisions. Rob Dewar, current president of the Industrial & Safety-Canada Division, is being promoted to president of AD Canada. Dewar, who is based in Mississauga, Ontario, […]

Building materials distributor 84 Lumber on Monday announced the opening of an Andersen Window & Door Showroom in Rockville, Maryland. Officially open this week, the showroom is an extension of the Mt. Airy 84 Lumber store, serving the Greater Washington, D.C. metro area. “This is the first showroom of its kind, and we’re excited to […]

Systemax Inc. (NYSE: SYX), Port Washington, New York, on Monday announced the appointment of Claudia Hughes to senior vice president and chief sales officer, effective immediately. In this newly created position, Hughes will report to Barry Litwin, CEO of Systemax, the parent company of industrial distributor Global Industrial. Hughes “will be responsible for sales and customer […]

Kraft Fluid Systems, a Cleveland, Ohio-based industrial distributor of hydraulic equipment and provider of mobile drive solutions in the Midwest U.S., recently announced the promotion of Scott Durand to president and Melissa Book to CFO. Durand has served as the sales and marketing leader for Kraft since 2008. Prior to this, he was a territory […]

Indian River Consulting Group’s (IRCG) weekly Pandemic Revenue Index for the work week of Jan. 11 to Jan. 15 increased 4.6%, reverting to normal growth after weeks in the double digits. “After a spike to start the year, some of it calendar driven, the index has reverted to mid-single digits,” said Mike Emerson, IRCG partner. […]

PPG Industries (NYSE: PPG), Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, reported sales for 2020 of $13.8 billion, down 8.7% year-over-year. Profit for the period was $1.1 billion, down 15.4% from the prior year. The company reported sales for the fourth quarter of $3.8 billion, up 2.3% from the same period a year ago. Profit decreased 6.8% to $272 million. Photo […]

Privately owned housing units authorized by building permits in December were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,709,000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. This is 17.3% above the December 2019 rate of 1,457,000 and 4.5% above the revised November rate of 1,635,000. Single-family authorizations […]

Industrial distributor Hisco Inc., Houston, Texas, has acquired Kimco Distributing Corporation, a Mentor, Ohio-based supplier of products, services and solutions to the manufacturing, testing and repair industries to numerous companies in the Midwest. Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. “We are thrilled with the acquisition of Kimco,” said Hisco President Bob Dill. “The team […]

Industrial distributor MSC Industrial Supply Co. (NYSE: MSM), Melville, New York, and Davidson, North Carolina, this week said it will permanently close 73 branch offices, which have been temporarily closed due to COVID-19, and eliminate 115 jobs. MSC said the “sales associates who previously worked in these offices will continue to work remotely through virtual customer care […]

American Construction Source, a Springfield, Missouri-based building materials distributor backed by Angeles Equity Partners LLC and Clearlake Capital Group LP, this week announced the acquisition of Builder’s Resource Group, Woodville, Wisconsin. Financial terms of the deal weren’t disclosed. BRG will operate under the Arrow Building Center brand already established in Minnesota and Wisconsin. BRG marks the eighth acquisition by ACS under […]

On Wednesday’s earnings call with analysts, Fastenal Co. executives shared the usual facts and figures from the Winona, Minnesota-based distributor’s impressive fourth quarter. CEO Dan Florness and CFO Holden Lewis ticked off such metrics as revenue and profit growth, earnings per share increase, operating margin improvement and other key stats from both 4Q and 2020. […]

Electrical distributor Schaedler Yesco Distribution Inc., Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on Wednesday announced a corporate restructuring at the fourth-generation, family-owned distributor. Greg Schaedler has been named the company’s CEO, succeeding his father, Jim Schaedler, who, after 48 years, has transitioned from the role but will remain active as the company’s chairman of the board. Greg Schaedler most […]

Fastenal Co. (Nasdaq: FAST), Winona, Minnesota, reported fourth-quarter sales of $1.4 billion, a 6.4% increase compared with same period a year ago. Quarterly profit was $196.1 million, a 9.7% increase compared to the year-ago period. Fastenal said the 4Q increase was due to “higher unit sales of safety and janitorial products. Demand for these products was […]

Motion Industries Inc., Birmingham, Alabama, a distributor of maintenance, repair, and operation replacement parts and a wholly owned subsidiary of Genuine Parts Co., this week announced it is rebranding as simply “Motion.” The company said “the move to rebrand is intended to solidify the company’s structure and advance its position in the marketplace,” and that […]

Air Hydro Power Inc. (AHP), Louisville, Kentucky, has acquired Uland Supply, also of Louisville. Uland will remain in its downtown location. For more than 82 years, Uland Supply has been serving the hydraulic hose and the industrial hose field, as well as the accessories market. “We are very happy to add Uland Supply to our […]

Beacon Roofing Supply Inc., (Nasdaq: BECN), Herndon, Virginia, on Tuesday announced today that it has received early termination of the waiting period required under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 in connection with the $850 million divestiture of its Interior Products business. Announced on Dec. 21, 2020, the deal saw Beacon agree to sell […]

Industrial distributor Bearing Headquarters (BHQ), Broadview, Illinois, has named Jimmy Timble president and CEO. Timble spent 17 years as vice president, Metal Working Shops Division, where he focused on the machining and repair operations and capabilities of Bearing Headquarters. Jim Scardina was promoted from senior vice president to executive vice president. In addition to his […]

Kimball Midwest, a national industrial supplier based in Columbus, Ohio, has appointed three senior leaders. Julio Ramirez joined Kimball Midwest on Jan. 11 as the company’s first CFO. Tyler Wooddell was promoted to chief business development officer (CBDO) effective Jan. 1. And Steve Thompson was named general sales manager effective Jan. 1. “We’re excited to […]

The Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA), Chicago, will host its first virtual trade show on March 16. PTDA said the event will give “power transmission/motion control (PT/MC) manufacturers and distributors the opportunity to focus on PT/MC product knowledge and channel partner relationships.” The virtual trade show will allow PTDA manufacturer and associate members to showcase […]

NetPlus Alliance, Lockport, New York, announced that on Jan. 1, the organization’s founder and chairman, Dan Judge, transitioned ownership of the industrial and contractor supplies buying group to his daughter and NetPlus president, Jennifer Murphy. The event marked the fifth generation of family ownership. “After an unprecedented year in our industry, our team has played […]