Industrial Distribution articles from December 2004

Industrial Distribution archives from December 2004

The importance of manufacturing.(EDITORIAL)(Power Transmission Distributors Association)
December 1, 2004... NO ONE COULD DOUBT the importance of manufacturing to the U.S. economy in light of the sobering statistics presented at a workshop at the Power Transmission Distributors Assn.'s Industry Summit, held in mid-October. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Callahan wins lifetime achievement award.(AROUND and ABOUT)(Robert Callahan)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... THE POWER TRANSMISSION DISTRIBUTORS ASSN. named Robert Callahan the 15th recipient of its Warren Pike Award for lifetime achievement in the power transmission/motion control industry. Callahan retired earlier this year from U.S. Tsubaki, Inc.,...

Company news.(AROUND and ABOUT)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Airgas, Inc. has become an exclusive supplier to Discovery Channel's newest series, Monster Nation, which began Monday, Nov. 1. Airgas will supply the show with cutting and welding gases, welding consumables, safety products, and other tools...

Acquisitions.(AROUND and ABOUT)
December 1, 2004... Hughes Supply acquired Southwest Power, Inc. and Western States Electric, Inc., both large, privately owned distributors of electrical utility transmission and distribution supplies and equipment. Southwest Power and Western States share a...

Awards & honors.(AROUND and ABOUT)(SC Fastening Systems)(G.L Huyett )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Fastener manufacturer G.L Huyett of Minneapolis, Kans., hired its 100th employee in September... SC Fastening Systems of Oakwood Village, Ohio, celebrated its 5th anniversary this fall... Stone Construction Equipment, Inc. was named a winner...

Slow but steady growth in '05: Reed Construction Data's North American Construction Forecast predicts economic growth beginning in 2005 and strengthening through 2007.(NEWS)
December 1, 2004... The North American construction industry will see slow but steady growth next year, fueling an economic recovery that will continue and strengthen through 2007. That's the consensus from experts who spoke at the North American Construction...

PTDA unveils new look at Industry Summit.(NEWS)(Power Transmission Distributors Association)
December 1, 2004... The Power Transmission Distributors Assn. emphasized the importance of industrial distribution to the nation's economy as it met for the newly named Industry Summit, held Oct. 14-16 at the Contemporary Resort in Orlando. The theme of this...

Infor positioned for growth.(NEWS)(Infor Global Solutions)(Company Profile)
December 1, 2004... Infor Global Solutions, a provider of software solutions to the wholesale distribution, discrete manufacturing and process industries, has made it clear that despite rapid growth through acquisitions in the past two-plus years, it plans on...

Manufacturers bullish on industry conditions.(NEWS)
December 1, 2004... Industrial manufacturing executives are forecasting a continued rise in their own companies' revenues and cash flow, positioning themselves for more and larger new investments, and readying for an increase in new hiring over the next 12 months....

ISM survey reveals pricing pressures.(NEWS)
December 1, 2004... Price, and its influences and ramifications, is still weighing heavily on manufacturers and related industries, according to findings in the latest Manufacturing ISM Report On Business. The ISM Prices Index for October showed that there is...

Consolidation on the rise.(LETTERS)(Letter to the Editor)
December 1, 2004... In response to your article about consolidations (Consolidations on the rise again, August 2004, p.21), I would like to point out that the same is true in the Enterprise Software Solution side of the industry. The article about Prophet 21 on...

Distributors.(PLAYERS)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... SC Fastening Systems appointed John Denny as general manager... Power Drives, Inc. named Louis Panzica president and CEO. He takes over for Paul Mansell, who is stepping down after 43 years with the company... Fastco Threaded Products, Inc....

Manufacturers.(PLAYERS)(appointments)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The board of directors of Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc. elected John M. Stropki as chairman... Norgren appointed Jim Mannebach as president and CEO of the Norgren Group... Best Manufacturing added Steve Turner as territory manager for...

Software/technology.(PLAYERS)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... RedPrairie Corp. appointed Tom Dragotta as marketing leader and Carey W. Zimmerman as global marketing leader... Rockwell Automation, Inc. named Kevin Roach vice president of its Rockwell Software business. TALK BACK TALK BACK TO...

Winning the price game: if you don't believe in your company or the value of the products you sell, it's time to go back to school.(STRICTLY for SALES)
December 1, 2004... MOST PRICE OBJECTIONS are the result of self-inflicted wounds. Salespeople routinely sabotage their own efforts at negotiating for higher prices. Here are three cases in point: [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The first comes from a real-life...

NAW releases new book.(ASSOCIATIONS)(National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The Distribution Research and Education Foundation of the National Assn. of Wholesaler-Distributors released a new book on pricing and margin management for wholesaler-distributors, entitled Price for Success: A Practical Guide for Improving...

ISSA news.(ASSOCIATIONS)(International Sanitary Supply Association)(www.issafoundation.org)
December 1, 2004... The ISSA Foundation, the charitable arm of the International Sanitary Supply Assn., announced the continuation of its University of Industrial Distribution scholarship program, where the foundation pays the full individual tuition of up to five...

LAFA installs new board.(ASSOCIATIONS)(Los Angeles Fastener Assn)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... At its September meeting, the Los Angeles Fastener Assn. installed Adam Wallerstein of Askew Hardware Products as LAFA's 2004-05 president; John Gaudette of Metric & Multistandard Components as vice president; and Kevin Chavis of Porteous...

ASA and PHCC collaborate on program.(ASSOCIATIONS)(American Supply Assn)(Plumbing, Heating, Cooling Contractors-National Assn)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The American Supply Assn. and the Plumbing, Heating, Cooling Contractors-National Assn. announced a collaboration for 2005, called "Network '05," to be held Sept. 7-10, 2005, in Orlando, Fla. Network '05 will be one consolidated industry...

Calendar.(Calendar)
December 1, 2004... Jan. 10-13 MHIA ProMat 2005 Chicago (800) 345-1815 www.promat2005.org Jan. 17-20 NFPA Spring Conference & Annual Meeting Maui, Hawaii (414) 778-3344 www.nfpa.com Jan. 18-21 World of...

Affordable on-demand logistics services: demand for real-time information can be met more efficiently than ever.(E-BIZ)
December 1, 2004... FINDING WAYS to reduce transportation and operating costs while improving service is an increasingly challenging task. There are many sophisticated logistics solutions available that help achieve this to varying degrees of success--and at...

Eclipsing the competition.(TECH NOTES)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Intuit, Inc.'s Distribution Management Solutions division released Eclipse Business Connect XML, a new technology to benefit wholesale distributors by extending their reach to customers and vendors via a secure, online channel. This enables...

Managing issues and actions.(TECH NOTES)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... AssurX announced the availability of CATSWeb Version 6.1, a comprehensive, real-time automated quality system that is designed to track and manage issues and actions, from identification to disposition and corrective action. CATSWeb Dynamic...

Monitoring risk and hedging.(TECH NOTES)(Vivecon Corp., )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Vivecon Corp., a provider of supply chain risk management solutions, announced two new offerings that enable automakers to optimize tooling, capacity and sourcing decisions. The Strategic Component Manager and Tooling & Capacity Manager...

Old meets new: Quality Mill Supply combines tradition with modern value for success in the Midwest.(Cover Story)
December 1, 2004... Many successful distributors combine the old with the new. But few carry it over to an interior design statement as Quality Mill Supply Co. does at its Franklin, Ind., headquarters. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When a visitor enters the...

Selling solutions, not just products: Three case studies are examples of how companies have moved beyond selling their product into collaborating with customers in finding solutions.(STRATEGY)
December 1, 2004... Most distributors think that the concept of selling a solution is a basic, no-brainer way of doing business. Those distributors would be surprised how many of their peers still go about their customer service by selling just their products, and...

The life and death of a distributor agreement: the renewal and termination of distributor agreements all comes down to the language used at their conception.(CONTRACTS)
December 1, 2004... FOR EVERY AGREEMENT, there is a birth, life and death. The length of life is always a variable, but the birth and death are surely unavoidable. The language used during the agreement's conception is as important as the renewal conditions and...

A shrinking software market: As consolidation continues in the distribution software market, experts say distributors should study the company as well as the solution when looking for a new vendor.(TECHNOLOGY)
December 1, 2004... SINCE Y2K, THE TECH CRASH OF 2000, and the recession, businesses have been reluctant to spend money on information technology, and acquisition announcements in the software industry appear almost daily. The latest round of consolidation is...

Power-driven positive attitudes? Two distributors find benefits from looking inward.(MARKET OUTLOOK)
December 1, 2004... FOR TWO DISTRIBUTORS who concentrate on the general power transmission field, business has shown good improvement in 2004 but future success will hinge more on what they do internally than on anything else. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Where technology meets personality.(FEATURING TOMORROW'S DISTRIBUTION LEADERS)
December 1, 2004... Q: Why did you decide to major in industrial distribution, and what do you hope to accomplish when you start your career? JAY L. BARTEK > AS A YOUNG MAN ENTERING COLLEGE, opportunities that present themselves are not always easily...

Emphasize value over price: demonstrate value or settle for piece pricing.(MANUFACTURER'S VIEW)
December 1, 2004... IF YOU WANT A QUICK LESSON on what drives your customers to buy your array of products, walk down the hall to your own purchasing department or the desk of your purchasing agent. You'll probably be enlightened that products are bought based...

A fast and precise lead screw: Danaher's Metric lead screws are ideal for light to medium loads.(The best new products for your customers)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Thomson Metric lead screws are ideal for positioning light to medium loads in a wide range of equipment where fast, precise and reliable positioning is a primary objective. The screws are available in diameters from 10 mm to 24 mm, and leads...

Tube expander.(The best new products for your customers)
December 1, 2004... MILLHOG tube expanders and rolling motors feature precise torque control from 25- to 325-ft. lbs. to provide the proper amount of expansion required to assure a tight, uniform bond between the tube O.D. and tube sheet. [ILLUSTRATION...

Belt sorter.(The best new products for your customers)(UniSort linear belt sorter)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The UniSort linear belt sorter, a patent-pending configuration of the UniSort sortation platform, utilizes narrow-gap, linear-belt technology to provide gentle item handling and high-accuracy diversion in an overall high-throughput design. ...

Carbide burs.(The best new products for your customers)
December 1, 2004... Carbide burs are offered in a variety of industry-standard sizes with 1/8 in. and 1/4 in. shanks, manufactured using grade K20 micrograin carbide and high-speed, heat-treated steel shanks. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Rex-Cut Products, Inc....

Valve actuation.(The best new products for your customers)
December 1, 2004... This in-house custom valve actuation can be built to custom configurations and precise customer specifications; is completed in house for quick delivery and quality control; and possesses field-rated performance characteristics. Bradford...

Aluminum reels.(The best new products for your customers)
December 1, 2004... The heavy-duty, lightweight Alumi-Pro series of hose reels is ideal for applications that demand versatility; and feature high-quality aluminum construction. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Coxreels >> www.coxreels.com

Tube lifter.(The best new products for your customers)
December 1, 2004... The VTB-12 pail lifter features 2 kidney-shaped vacuum pads that are fully adjustable on the X-Y axis to fit pail tops up to 20-in. wide; and are equipped with AnverFlex polyurethane suction cups. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Anver Corp. >>...

Pneumatic tubing.(The best new products for your customers)
December 1, 2004... Superthane pneumatic tubing is manufactured from hydrolysis-resistant polyurethane to withstand moisture, humidity and fungi; features flexibility for tight bending in and around equipment; and does not contain plasticizers. [ILLUSTRATION...

Booster cables.(The best new products for your customers)
December 1, 2004... These dependable, tangle-free booster cables are extremely flexible; feature Easy Reach low-profile cable clamps that are 100% pure copper; and are available in 12-, 16-, 20- and 25-ft. lengths. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Del City >>...

Chrome-plated collars.(The best new products for your customers)
December 1, 2004... These chrome-plated collars come in bore sizes ranging from 1/8 in. to 3 in. I.D. to fit 47 standard shaft sizes and 6 standard pipe sizes; and feature stainless steel clamping screws and can be drilled and tapped on the face. ...

Heat gun.(The best new products for your customers)
December 1, 2004... The MCH-100C battery-powered heat gun kit features a light-weight, hand-held tool that reaches 1,100[degrees]F and has a built-in motor with a fan to provide 2.66 CFM airflow. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Malcom Hot Air Systems >>...

Crimping tool.(The best new products for your customers)
December 1, 2004... The PATRIOT PAT600-18V crimping tool features a patented high-speed pump, transmission and piston design; provides full 180[degrees] rotation; and gives 6 tons of crimping force and an audible "pop off" signal. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Milling program.(The best new products for your customers)
December 1, 2004... This new high-insert-density cast and ductile iron face milling cutter offers higher productivity than other cast iron cutters; and has 28 inserts, double negative geometry, and positive rake insert topography. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

1-part epoxies.(The best new products for your customers)
December 1, 2004... Available in viscosities to accommodate a multitude of OEM applications, SC 2000 series single-component epoxies bond metal, ceramics, concrete and other substrates; offer unlimited working time at room temperature; and cure rapidly with heat....

Flow switches.(The best new products for your customers)
December 1, 2004... With port sizes up to 3/4 in., the FS-480 series flow switches are aimed at monitoring fluid systems' higher flow rates; accommodate pressures up to 1,000 PSI; and are ideal for processes that push more fluid through their systems and demand...

Fluid control valve.(The best new products for your customers)
December 1, 2004... The Herion 97100 directional control air valve is compact in design and suitable for applications requiring high flow rates; features a mechanical return spring and closed crossover spool/seal arrangement; and is available in 3/2, 5/2 and 5/3...

7-in. polisher.(The best new products for your customers)
December 1, 2004... The 7-in. polisher provides 40% more torque and 70% more rated input power than the previous model; features a contoured ergonomic grip on the gear housing; and includes a 1200 W motor than provides better overload capacities. ...

Chop saw blade.(The best new products for your customers)(angle iron/heavy bar, double reinforced chop saw blade)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... This angle iron/heavy bar, double reinforced chop saw blade is made with zirconia aluminum; cuts all ferrous metal applications easily and quickly; measures 14-in. X 3/32 in. X 1 in.; and can run at speeds up to 4,400 rpm. [ILLUSTRATION...

Solenoid valves.(The best new products for your customers)
December 1, 2004... The valve actuation series of solenoid valves is ideally suited for applications in which solenoid valves must predictably and reliably actuate the movement of larger process valves to control the flow of liquid or gases. Parker Fluid...

Spiral saw.(The best new products for your customers)
December 1, 2004... The Spiral Saw, a 5.5 amp, 33,000-RPM drywall router, eliminates extension cords with a built-in 50-ft. cord; weighs only 3.4 lbs.; and features a soft-grip body for a more solid grip. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] RotoZip by Bosch >>...

Helmets.(The best new products for your customers)(Advance Cap helmet )(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... The vented and non-vented Advance Cap helmet is available in 4- or 6-point StazOn or FasTrac suspensions in 8 colors; features a rain gutter and lateral contour; and is molded in polyethylene. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MSA Safety Products...

Non-flammable duster.(The best new products for your customers)(Sprayon NF Duster)(Brief Article)
December 1, 2004... Sprayon NF Duster, available in a nonflammable formulation, is able to clean energized electrical sources without risk of fire; and features an ultra-pure, non-CFC gas that removes microscopic particles of lint, dust, ferrous oxide and other...

Control panel.(The best new products for your customers)
December 1, 2004... The Gasmaster control panel is a wall-mounted device that displays all gas levels simultaneously on a large, multilingual LED display, allowing full system status checks at a glance; and can monitor up to 4 channels with 2 levels of alarm per...

Half full or half empty? The current state of industrial distribution is six of one, half a dozen of the other.(FINAL WORD)
December 1, 2004... HALF EMPTY: INDUSTRIAL DISTRIBUTION'S 58th Annual Survey of Distributor Operations was depressingly familiar reading. Respondents reported huge sales losses as a result of job migration to China, skyrocketing medical and workers compensation...