Industrial Distribution articles from August 2005

Industrial Distribution archives from August 2005

Health care costs continue to soar.(EDITORIAL)
August 1, 2005... IT DOESN'T MATTER if you own a small distributorship or a large one: health care costs continue to be a major problem for all businesses throughout the country. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] INDUSTRIAL...

Network Services forms alliance with INPACS.(AROUND and ABOUT)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... NETWORK SERVICES CO., an organization of independent distributors serving North America, has formed a strategic alliance with INPACS, a similar organization serving European markets. Headquartered in Mt. Prospect, Ill., Network Services is...

Company news.(Nissen Fasteners Inc)(Vertex Fasteners )
August 1, 2005... Nissen Fasteners Inc., an importer and master distributor of industrial fasteners, has expanded its Miami operation to a larger building. The new facility offers larger office space while doubling the size of the warehouse.... The Bradley...

Awards.(AROUND and ABOUT)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Grant Forest Products of Englehart, Ontario, was presented with the 2004 Ron Baker Award for Excellence in OSB Manufacturing by the Structural Board Assn. The award recognizes an outstanding record of excellence during the previous calendar...

Distributors change with the times: finding new customers and developing better business methods are top priorities, as traditional markets continue to change.(NEWS)
August 1, 2005... STATISTICS from INDUSTRIAL DISTRIBUTION'S 59th Annual Survey of Distributor Operations show that industrial distributors are continuing to look beyond traditional markets to build business. Though categories such as machine/job shops and the...

Grainger sees record second quarter.(NEWS)(W.W. Grainger Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... W.W. Grainger reported in July a 24 percent increase in earnings per share for the second quarter ended June 30, 2005. Earnings per share of 89 cents versus 72 cents in the 2004 quarter set an all-time, second-quarter high, according to the...

Employment, factory orders improved, says ISM.(NEWS)(Institute for Supply Management)
August 1, 2005... Generally positive signs in key areas such as employment, production and overall manufacturing were found in the June Report on Business, published by the Institute for Supply Management. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ISM's monthly report is...

Machine tool orders continue to rise.(NEWS)
August 1, 2005... A report issued in early July found that U.S. machine tool consumption grew in May, sustaining that sector's marked improvement over the past year. The report, co-sponsored by the American Machine Tool Distributors' Assn. and the Assn. for...

NIBA to meet in New Orleans.(NEWS)
August 1, 2005... NIBA--The Belting Assn. will host its 2005 Convention, themed, "Our Industry, Our Challenges, Our Opportunities!" Sept. 17-20 in New Orleans. Scheduled activities include educational sessions, networking opportunities, a conference booth...

Clarification.(Correction Notice)
August 1, 2005... In the News section of ID's May, 2005 issue ("Four leading distributors to benefit from organic growth," p. 25), we incorrectly stated that National Waterworks, Inc. had total debt outstanding of $2.13 billion at year-end 2004. The sentence...

Trade groups may co-locate meetings.(NEWS)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The talk that some organizations may be looking seriously at joining forces to "co-locate" their conventions and trade shows is being heard more and more. Brian Kundinger, president of the Fluid Power Distributors Assn., told members at their...

Fax debate as good as over.(NEWS)
August 1, 2005... The U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation, as has the Senate, to restore pre-2003 rules for sending unsolicited commercial faxes, ending the debate over whether a business may send unsolicited advertisement faxes to a recipient...

Distributors.(PLAYERS)(Precision Industries appoints Beth Hattel )(AHS appoints Steve Schrecker, Lorie Cribbs and Tina Hogel )(INCOM Distributor Supply appoints Dan Wasvick )(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... MSC announced in June that Sidney Jacobson, founder and chairman emeritus, passed away. Jacobson, 87, retired in 1983 but remained a senior adviser. His son Mitchell Jacobson continues as chairman and CEO... Precision Industries named Beth...

Manufacturers.(PLAYERS)(Spir Star Ltd. appoints Scott Bentley )(appointments at Cardinal Fastener and Specialty Co., Inc. )(Leviton Manufacturing appointed Dennis French)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... SPIR STAR Ltd. named Scott Bentley director of sales... Cardinal Fastener & Specialty Co., Inc. named Smokey Delafosse quality assurance coordinator, Roberta Knisely customer service manager, and Erin Forgach business development manager......

Manufacturers' reps.(PLAYERS)
August 1, 2005... Sems and Specials announced its newest manufacturer's representative, Jean-Luc Pare of Pare Distributions. Send your personnel additions, promotions and changes to Players editor, Alice Yu Miller, at ayumiller@reedbusiness.com.

The power of expectations: if a salesperson thinks price will be an issue, then it probably will be.(STRICTLY for SALES)
August 1, 2005... WE DON'T ALWAYS GET what we want, but we generally get what we expect. From antiquity to the present, people have recognized the power of expectations. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "They can because they think they can." (Virgil) "A...

NAED names chairman.(ASSOCIATIONS)(National Association of Electrical Distributors apppoints John Duda)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The National Assn. of Electrical Distributors named John Duda, chairman and CEO of Butler Supply, Inc. in St. Louis, as the incoming chairman of the NAED Board of Directors. Duda will serve as chair-elect in 2005-06, preparing to lead the Board...

News from BSA.(ASSOCIATIONS)(Bearing Specialists Assn appoints officers)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The Bearing Specialists Assn, elected its 2005-06 officers and Board of Directors, including: Douglas Savage as president; Tom Miller as first vice president; Cam Lawrence as second vice president; Steve Durston as treasurer; and Craig Gipson...

FPDA elects directors, appoints officers.(ASSOCIATIONS)(appointments)(Fluid Power Distributors Association)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... FPDA--Serving Fluid Power and Motion Technology Distributors elected its directors and appointed association officers at its annual meeting in Palm Desert, Calif. Officers include: Steve Ellis as president-elect; Scott Dickson as vice...

PTDA launches online catalog.(ASSOCIATIONS)(Power Transmission Distributors Association)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The Power Transmission Distributors Assn. launched a new resource for apparel and other promotional products available only to PTDA members. The new online catalog offers an array of products that can be co-branded with the PTDA and members'...

Calendar.(Calendar)
August 1, 2005... Sept. 8-10 ASA Annual Convention Orlando, Fla. www.asa.net Sept. 14-16 AHTD 2005 Fall Meeting Albuquerque, N.M. www.ahtd.org Sept. 17-20 NIBA Annual Meeting New Orleans ...

Plan your content strategy: when discussing a product content management solution, careful evaluation pays off.(E-BIZ)
August 1, 2005... IS YOUR COMPANY looking at a product content management solution for catalog and e-commerce? Taking a strategic approach early in the technology evaluation process is critical to finding the best solution. This is especially true for...

On-demand supply chain solutions.
August 1, 2005... MITRIX, INC., a subsidiary of global trading company Mitsui & Co., Inc., announced the launch of SCM Live, a revolutionary, on-demand, supply chain management solution delivered via the Internet. SCM Live offers small- to mid-sized enterprises...

Totally RFID.(TECH NOTES)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... The 3600RW label printer/applicator from MPI Label Systems allows users to print, validate, write and affix variable RFID labels in a single process, eliminating the need for pre-printed RFID labels. The device prints, validates, writes and...

XL drives efficiencies.(TECH NOTES)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... XL Parts, a distributor of automotive parts, announced the results of implementing an advanced inventory management, forecasting and redistribution solution from Custom Technology Solutions. Launched two years ago, the online solution enabled...

Electrical training on the Web.(TECH NOTES)
August 1, 2005... Leviton Manufacturing Co.'s ez-learn Web-based electrical training program offers industry professionals instant on-line access to Leviton's full suite of Web-based electrical training courses. Users may log on from the convenience of their...

P21 helps distributor cut AR days.(TECH NOTES)(E.F. Bailey Co.)(Brief Article)
August 1, 2005... Two and a half months after meeting with a Prophet 21 Application Consultant, distributor E.F. Bailey Co. saw accounts receivable days drop by 31 percent, and profit points increase by 1.5 percent, according to the distributor and Prophet 21....

The results are in ... ID's annual survey shows that distributors are overcoming many obstacles to increase their importance in the supply channel.(59TH ANNUAL SURVEY)(Cover Story)
August 1, 2005... A decade ago, many industry observers predicted that the growth of the Internet would mean the demise of industrial distributors. They claimed that buyers would simply bypass or "disintermediate" distributors and do all their purchasing on the...

Power to your people: when it comes to software selection, getting it right the first time means getting your employees involved in the process.(TECHNOLOGY)
August 1, 2005... There is an old joke that says there are only two steps to software selection. Step one is to select a solution, and step two is to throw it out. With forethought and a little effort, you can make a successful software selection the first time,...

On a roll out: the marketing strategy behind rolling out a new product is a rarely appreciated animal, but the buzz it creates is worth its weight in sales.(MARKETING)
August 1, 2005... WITH A NEW PRODUCT'S research and development taking anywhere from 18 months to three years, and a huge investment, manufacturers and distributors know how much is riding on a key marketing strategy. Even so, rolling out a new product is a...

Make a wish: buyers close their eyes and blow out the candles, hoping that their dreams of on-time delivery, technical assistance and distributor strength come true.(PURCHASING)
August 1, 2005... The industrial distribution industry appears to be fashioning itself into a force that is much more centralized, controlled and vital. But so far, that new vitality has looked more like an unanswered wish list than a reality. Major...

Diversify for success: Jefferds and Remstar ask their customers, "what do you need from us?".(MARKET OUTLOOK)
August 1, 2005... FOR JEFFERDS CO. and Remstar International--two materials handling specialists--things are going well. But executives at both companies remain cautious in their overall business outlook. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "I've been in this...

Why "Made in the USA" matters: American-made products can represent much more than patriotic pride.(MANUFACTURER'S VIEW)
August 1, 2005... RECENTLY, the Bureau of Labor Statistics again recorded another decline in U.S. manufacturing jobs. Does this matter? Is there a difference between a "Made in the USA" product, and products made in emerging economies? [ILLUSTRATION...

What have you learned?(FEATURING TOMORROW'S DISTRIBUTION LEADERS)
August 1, 2005... Q: Given the focus placed on specialization in business today, what courses have you taken in college that you think have best prepared you for working in today's industrial distribution field? NICHOLAS A. LISEC > THROUGHOUT the four years...

It's all in the fabric ... hose: The Flexaust Co. announces two new additions to its fabric hose line.(The best new products for your customers)(Buyers Guide)
August 1, 2005... The Flexaust Co. announced the addition of two products to its line of fabric hoses, NS and Flex-Lok ET. NS is a double-ply fabric hose with a silicone-coated fiberglass inner layer and a silicone-coated Nomex outer layer. It also has an...

Storage cases.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... The 1560 case boasts more than 2,800 cubic in. of storage space; and includes features such as rubberized front and side grips for maximum comfort; ball-bearing, polyurethane wheels; and an extension handle for easy transport. ...

Flashlight.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... The eLED UniLite generates daylight-quality illumination; boasts a 360[degrees] rotating head; has a long-lasting white LED lamp ideal for industrial users; and comes standard with an industrial-strength nylon pocket clip, and a stainless steel...

Technical apparel.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... This advanced line of jobsite apparel includes t-shirts, jackets and form-fitting undershirts that feature Dri-Release, a patented microblend fabric that wicks away sweat from the skin so it can evaporate. Ironclad Performance Wear >>...

Connectors.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... V2 quick connectors lower the cost of secondary air systems, while ensuring good seals and connections; and reduce weight and assembly time while streamlining the number of components to be handled and inventoried. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Toolboxes.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... These mechanics' toolboxes are durable and mobile; and feature a specially designed wide top drawer for storing longer tools; an interlock safety system to prevent tipping; and a locking system and handles. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Fill/drain plugs.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... The fill/drain plugs, available in various thread sizes, are made of aluminum with a matte, shot-blasted finish with laser-engraved refill and drain symbols. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] J.W. Winco, Inc. >> www.jwwinco.com

Power supply.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... The MW136 external power series features a 100-250 VAC universal input; is available in both desktop and wall-mount styles; and offers a single output with 60 watts of power. Ault, Inc. >> www.aultinc.com

Fluorescent high-bay.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... This fully adjustable fluorescent high-bay lighting is energy efficient, site adaptable and durable; and is fast and easy to install. Lamar Lighting >> www.lamarlighting.com

Splice/reducer.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... The MOLE in-line splice/reducer is tailored exclusively for direct burial applications; is made with a specialized material that forms a water-tight connection; and is rugged enough to withstand abrasions that may occur. [ILLUSTRATION...

Coiled cords.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... These heavy-duty coiled cords feature a durable, Neoprene jacket for extra protection; are especially designed to withstand harsh manufacturing environments; and provide optimum retractile properties over a broad temperature range. ...

Toggle switches.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... The 12000X778 series of professional-grade toggle switches for industries requiring high specifications are ideal for a variety of applications; and feature a double shell case for extra strength and insulation. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Bulb lubricant.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... BULB EZ lubricant is for all types of light bulbs and lamps; makes installation easier, quicker, less hazardous and cost efficient; and can be used for large or small installation projects. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] COPPERWOLF >>...

Footwear.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... Steel Toe Hoss is a classic biker boot with slip-resistant outsoles and steel toe protection; is made of full-grain leather; and features a shock-absorbing outsole and ComfortMax insoles. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Shoes for Crews >>...

Static mixer.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... The variable head loss static mixer consists of 2 in-line static mixers in series, one with a fixed plate, and the other pivoting to achieve a mixing range of 1/2 to 10 FPS with a head loss of 3 psi from 1/2 to 8 FPS. [ILLUSTRATION...

Rotary hammer.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... The KHE 55 SDS-Max is ideal for hammer drilling, and for small to medium chiseling jobs; allows users to quickly and easily move between hammer drilling and chiseling operations; and offers high rotational torque of 531 in. lbs. ...

Glazing tape.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... The new line of self-stick glazing tapes help make window, door and mirror fabrication easier, faster and more reliable; and are available in 1/32 in., 1/16 in. and 1/8 in. cross-linked polyethylene foam thicknesses, as well as custom sizes to...

Bottle system.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... FASTDOSE dosing bottle system, a super-concentrated portable chemical management system, requires no dispenser to be installed, or any assembly; and offers end users a simple approach to cleaning. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Betco >>...

Fuel line clip.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... The fuel line clip is molded in a nylon 6/6 material rated UL94-V2; is resistant to oil and gasoline; snaps into a .250 diameter hole with a .031 to .079 panel thickness; and can also be used for routing tubes and cables. [ILLUSTRATION...

Multi-color LED.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... The TruColor XP electronic display is a single-line, multi-color LED sign that is well designed, multifunctional, and user-friendly; provides a fast way of getting messages across a room or network. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Pro-Lite,...

Oil sight glasses.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... The oil level sight glass with natural glass is made of aluminum with an NBR synthetic rubber seal, natural glass sight glass, and a heat-resistant, technopolymer plastic reflector; and is highly stable and scratch proof with leak tightness....

Lighting control.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... The EZ-MAX lighting control relays offer users power and performance in a compact, cost-efficient package that features simplified, menu-driven set up; are available in 3 ready-to-go stock cabinet versions; and are an ideal solution for basic...

CVD hose.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... This line of CVD hose is constructed of clear, flexible PVC; is offered in 4 styles to match specific dust, fume removal and ventilation requirements; and is available in a general-purpose CVD version, an all-plastic version, and a...

Oil mist eliminators.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... MV Midi-Mist oil mist eliminators remove harmful oil vapors from the vacuum pump exhaust stream to reduce the overall waste load on facility scrubbers; and virtually eliminate hydrocarbon emissions exhausted to the atmosphere. ...

Grinder.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... The Pipeliner grinder prevents expensive maintenance of downstream process equipment by eliminating ragging in secondary and tertiary sludge applications; and provides an effective solution to the disruptive, time-consuming problem of...

Line of switches.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... The newest line of switches include round rockers that can be used for low voltage applications; are available with a snap-in design and paddle toggles that have a black nylon housing and shorter actuator. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Del...

Storage/retrieval system.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... The Vertical Lift module and Automated Storage and Retrieval System stores spare parts, accessories, finished or semi-finished goods, tools and other components, with a storage tower that can hold as many as 240 drawers and comes in a variety...

Monitoring controls.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... Toggle-Aire pneumatic toggle presses combine the mechanical advantages of levers and toggles to produce a ram force that builds as it reaches the bottom of its stroke; feature new process controls that provide force monitoring for quality...

Degating tool.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... The WB-1 hot knife for plastic degating features a blade tip that can reach 850[degrees]F in less than a minute to separate the molded parts, eliminating the need for conventional knives; and features a wooden handle that remains cool during...

Non-skid tape.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... The Shur-Step line of non-skid tape provides skid resistance on a wide variety of floor types and surfaces; features a self-adhesive backing that applies in seconds and adheres to any smooth, clean, dry surface; as well as finely ground...

Shock-resistant tools.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... Insulated tools are designed to provide extra protection against shock from energized sources up to 1,000 volts; and feature handles constructed of a flame-retardant, impact-resistant outer coating and a thick, extra-tough, high-dielectric...

Material handling safety.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... These components, designed to enhance the safety of a variety of air-powered, vacuum-based material handling applications, include a back-up vacuum reservoir and a leakage sensing system that will activate an alarm when it detects a 10%...

Pin blanks.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... The RQA and RQB model perforators and core pin blanks are available in more than 500 diameter sizes in .001 in. or .0001 in.; are machined from high-speed steel; and are manufactured and heat treated in house for optimum quality control. ...

Wing-knob latch.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... This wing-knob style latch utilizes turn-to-open conveniences to enhance the speed and simplicity of push-to-close operations of frequently used doors and panels; features corrosion-resistant construction that makes it ideal for outdoor use;...

Electrical terminals.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... This line of electrical terminals includes rings, spades, insulated and non-insulated disconnects, pins, receptacles, splices and a range of power and extension cord blades and pins; and features an open barrel ear section which permits faster...

Shaft couplings.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... Rigid shaft couplings are precision machined from steel, stainless steel and aluminum in bore sizes from 1/4 in. to 2 1/2 in. I.D. in 1 piece, 2-piece, 3-piece and PowerRing styles; and can incorporate keyways, straight-through and stepped...

Cut-off wheels.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... Cut-off and grinding wheels for stainless steel fabrications feature the Alpha-Green cut-off wheel, which is only 0.40-in. thick for fast and cool cutting of pipe, tube, rod and sheet; and for rough grinding, the Sigma Green wheel has a...

Disconnect couplings.(The best new products for your customers)(Buyers Guide)
August 1, 2005... The line of ISO A style hydraulic quick disconnect couplings are interchangeable with all brands that meet ISO7241-A standards; and is available in sizes ranging from 1/4 in. to 2 in. Holmbury, Inc. >> www.holmburyusa.com

Surveying stations.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... The TPS800 series of surveying total stations work on a variety of surveying and construction applications, and provide extended range electronic distance as far as 3,000 meters with its infrared laser beam. Leica Geosystems, Inc. >>...

Temperature regulator.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... Type EDT14 Pilot-Operated Temperature Regulator can be used with batch processing equipment; water, fuel oil or chemical storage heaters; and air heating equipment and heat exchangers. Spence Engineering Co., Inc. >>...

Mounted points.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... The newest line of mounted points features multiple layers of non-woven cotton fiber and aluminum oxide abrasive grains for deburring, blending, finishing and breaking edges on cast metal. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Rex-Cut Products, Inc....

Tension catches.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... These cast brass non-magnetic tension catches are ideal for applications where a hidden catch is needed for aesthetic purposes; feature brass screws to adjust the release tension; and are offered in lengths from 1.7-2.71 in. H.A. Guden...

Merchandising program.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... The C-Line includes user-friendly insert cards describing each product to provide customers with a better understanding of each product line; displays comprehensive package information in 3 languages; and is available in 4 modular sizes. ...

Electronic descalers.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... These industrial-size Scale Blaster electronic descalers handle standard diameters of non-steel pipe from 12 in. to 40 in., and of steel pipe from 4 in. to 26 in.; are controlled by precisely designed integrated circuitry; and are UL listed....

Shaft collars.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... Nomar shaft collars are available in aluminum, black oxide carbon steel, and stainless steel, in 1- and 2-piece clamp-style designs with bore sizes from 1/8 in. to 6 in. and 3 mm to 80 mm. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Ruland Manufacturing...

Tool organizer.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... The Toolpak allows workers to carry all their tools while keeping their hands free; features 6 tool panels that fold out for easy access; more than 100 pockets to hold tools in place; a large diagram/document pocket; and a padded back panel and...

Motorized cart.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... Moto-Cart, an electronic, self-propelled platform truck, features power both forward and reverse; variable dial-in speed control; adjustable motion alarm; dynamic and automatic braking; built-in automatic charger; 2 heavy-duty maintenance-free...

Screw compressors.(The best new products for your customers)
August 1, 2005... The SM Series 7.5 and 10hp rotary screw compressor has been updated with the addition of the Sigma Control Basic system; and its consistent pressure control provides easy-to-read display, giving operating status information as well as service...

The art of warfare: applying the wisdom of Sun Tzu to supply chain management.(Column)
August 1, 2005... WHEN IT COMES to supply chain management, there is no doubt that companies are in the thick of a battle to beat their competition and gain dominance in market share. But the fog of war is heavy, and the map pointing toward success is often...