Purchasing articles from March 2005

Purchasing archives from March 2005

Forward demand indicator 90-day.(Purchasingdata.com's)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
March 3, 2005... Buyers plan to boost purchasing activity as economist see healthy growth in the second quarter. [GRAPHIC OMITTED] West is slightly weaker than rest of U.S. Up Down Same Index Trend ...

The nuclear-power industry is laying the groundwork to build new plants in the U.S.(Tip sheet: key metrics and supply alert)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... * The nuclear-power industry is laying the groundwork to build new plants in the U.S. for the first time in two decades. Faced with skyrocketing natural-gas prices and uncertainty about the costs of containing carbon emissions from coal-fired...

Much of the history of commodities this decade will be written in China and India.(Tip sheet: key metrics and supply alert)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Much of the history of commodities this decade will be written in China and India. These two nations already have demonstrated the ability to create shock and awe in world markets for oil, natural gas, steel and industrial metals, says chief...

In less than three months, buyers in the huge and historically volatile polyolefin market will he able to hedge and manage risk.(Tip sheet: key metrics and supply alert)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... * In less than three months, buyers in the huge and historically volatile polyolefin market will he able to hedge and manage risk. with plastic futures contract for the first time. The 127-year-old London Metal Exchange is diversifying from its...

Expanded access to domestic natural gas resources could save consumers $80 billion in energy bills over the next 15 years.(Tip sheet: key metrics and supply alert)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... * Expanded access to domestic natural gas resources could save consumers $80 billion in energy bills over the next 15 years, says the American Gas Foundation. Prices could drop sharply if policies are enacted that permit drilling in the eastern...

The United Nations predicts a slowdown in global trade in 2005.(Tip sheet: key metrics and supply alert)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... * The United Nations predicts a slowdown in global trade in 2005. The UN report says global trade growth will drop to 8% this year after a 10.6% increase in 2004. The report also says growth in world output will increase by 3.25% in 2005, as...

Shortages of key building materials are easing for critical construction components.(Tip sheet: key metrics and supply alert)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... * Shortages of key building materials are easing for critical construction components and could trigger even further slides in pricing this spring. Since last summer, homebuilders have complained that concrete, lumber, and brick and wood...

Free-cutting brass rod price expectations,.(Purchasingdata.com's)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
March 3, 2005... Buyers still see purchase prices rising, but at a slower rate than previously forecast. [GRAPHIC OMITTED] Buyers' 30-day price expectations Commodities voted most likely to rise in price UP DOWN...

Market analysts are assuming continued depressed prices for hemlock and red cedar lumber.(Prices: factors affecting product cost)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... * Market analysts are assuming continued depressed prices for hemlock and red cedar lumber because the market is in excess. "We are starting the year off with weak cedar and alder lumber prices as both of these species are in an oversupply...

With demand off and capacity shutdowns planned, newsprint pricing will bounce back in 2005.(Prices: factors affecting product cost)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... * With demand off and capacity shutdowns planned, newsprint pricing will bounce back in 2005. But, by how much? Market analysts at BMO Nesbitt Burns and Deutsche Bank, now are talking about a price of $585/metric ton for 2005 in the U.S., up...

The annual average platinum price will fall to $725/ounce in 2005.(Prices: factors affecting product cost)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... * The annual average platinum price will fall to $725/ounce in 2005, the largest year-on-year fall in more than a decade, forecasts John Reade at UBS Investment Bank in London. The 2004 platinum price average was $849 in 2004 and most analysts...

Decision time is nearing for the next rate increase by the U.S. Postal Service.(Prices: factors affecting product cost)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... * Decision time is nearing for the next rate increase by the U.S. Postal Service. Postmaster General John Potter has promised that the price of mailing a letter won't go up until 2006. But with the complex procedures needed to raise prices...

Electrolux and its U.S. rivals Maytag and Whirlpool raised prices on appliances at least 5%.(Prices: factors affecting product cost)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... * Electrolux and its U.S. rivals Maytag and Whirlpool raised prices on appliances at least 5% to offset rising costs of steel and other raw materials, which had cut into 2004 profits. "In the U.S., we see that the price increases are sticking,"...

Shrinking competition among long-distance providers is bound to result in higher-priced services.(Prices: factors affecting product cost)(MCI Inc.'s acqusition of Verizon Communications Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... * Shrinking competition among long-distance providers is bound to result in higher-priced services. MCI, formerly known as WorldCom, has agreed to be purchased by Verizon. The upshot: "Pricing pressure in the enterprise market will likely...

Leadtime index all commodities.(Purchasingdata.com's)(manufacturing industries)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
March 3, 2005... For the 12 months ending January 2005, PURCHASING's Leadtime Index (1992=100) averaged 22.1% higher than in the corresponding 12-month period a year earlier. [GRAPHIC OMITTED] Tracking the economy ...

U.S. retail sales dipped 0.3% in January, the weakest performance since a matching 0.3% drop in August.(Economy: how supply managers see high-tech business)(automobile sales )(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... * U.S. retail sales dipped 0.3% in January, the weakest performance since a matching 0.3% drop in August. Purchases outside the volatile car sector gained a healthy 0.6%, the strongest monthly rise since October. However, automobile sales fell...

Productivity in the U.S. economy is likely to grow about 2.5% annually in the foreseeable future.(Economy: how supply managers see high-tech business)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... * Productivity in the U.S. economy is likely to grow about 2.5% annually in the foreseeable future, a trend that should keep inflation under control, says Janet Yellen, president of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. She believes the...

Home sales, new-home construction and mortgage activity will all slow in 2005.(Economy: how supply managers see high-tech business)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... * Home sales, new-home construction and mortgage activity will all slow in 2005 from what in 2004 were blistering paces that caught economists by surprise. The National Association of Home Builders' 2005 forecast calls for new-home sales to...

China's economy is cooling, the World Bank says.(Economy: how supply managers see high-tech business)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... * China's economy is cooling, the World Bank says. The Chinese government's monetary policy and administrative measures taken last year are showing "clear signs" of triggering a slowdown in domestic demand and investment growth. So, despite...

Inventories at U.S. businesses were as tight in December as they've ever been.(Economy: how supply managers see high-tech business)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... * Inventories at U.S. businesses were as tight in December as they've ever been, according to Commerce. Inventories increased 0.2% in the month, a rise slower than the 1% rise in sales. As a result, the inventory-to-sales ratio fell back to...

Metal buyers at manufacturing companies now believe they have too much inventory on hand.(Economy: how supply managers see high-tech business)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... * Metal buyers at manufacturing companies now believe they have too much inventory on hand. That's why 55% of those polled in February plan to reduce or maintain those stockpiles by holding back on orders.

A global indicator based on national surveys of manufacturers shows the sector grew at a slower pace in January.(Economy: how supply managers see high-tech business)(global index decreased)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... * A global indicator based on national surveys of manufacturers shows the sector grew at a slower pace in January as slack new orders offset firmer output. The global index dipped to 53.0 in January from 53.3 in December, according to data from...

30-day industrial machinery buying plans.(Purchasingdata.com's)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
March 3, 2005... Long-term commitments are needed, yet machinery buy is down 3.5% from a year ago. [GRAPHIC OMITTED] Forward demand, 30-days COMMODITY DIFFUSION CATEGORY PERIOD UP DOWN...

The tool steel market is strong and is likely to remain so through much of 2005.(Supply: what's happening in high-tech supply chains)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... * The tool steel market is strong and is likely to remain so through much of 2005, says Clarence M. McAninch, president of Universal Stainless & Alloy Products. "Tool steel is a good indicator for industrial manufacturing and our order book for...

Car companies are at a vehicle-mix crossroads.(Supply: what's happening in high-tech supply chains)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... * Car companies are at a vehicle-mix crossroads. Record-high gas prices over the past year have dampened sales of sports utility vehicles, SUVs. So, manufacturers are putting more emphasis on cross-over utility vehicles, or CUVs.

Comerica Bank's annual survey says 20.6 weeks of median family income was needed to buy an average-priced new vehicle.(Supply: what's happening in high-tech supply chains)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... * Comerica Bank's annual survey says 20.6 weeks of median family income was needed to buy an average-priced new vehicle during the fourth quarter of last year. In the year-prior quarter, an average-priced vehicle took 20.8 weeks of income, the...

The telecommunications industry continues its steady consolidation.(Supply: what's happening in high-tech supply chains)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... * The telecommunications industry continues its steady consolidation. Ma Bell and her seven Babies, created with the break-up of AT&T in 1984, have re-coalesced into just four big firms: Verizon, SBC, BellSouth and Qwest. A wave of mergers in...

Ever heard of SmartLine multi-protocol printers?(Supply: what's happening in high-tech supply chains)(Hewlett-Packard and Sun Microsystems contracts with Printronix)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... * Ever heard of SmartLine multi-protocol printers? You will. Hewlett-Packard and Sun Microsystems have selected the Printronix-made brand as the preferred radio frequency identification printer for their products.

United Parcel Service plans to open new warehouse and distribution centers in two dozen cities in China by 2006.(Supply: what's happening in high-tech supply chains)(United Parcel Service of America Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... * United Parcel Service plans to open new warehouse and distribution centers in two dozen cities in China by 2006. The Atlanta-based company already has 40 logistics and distribution centers in China that are being operated by its UPS Supply...

Lesser-known brands Norcent, Syntax and BenQ have jumped on the flat-panel TV bandwagon.(Supply: what's happening in high-tech supply chains)(Norcent Technology, Syntax International Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... * Lesser-known brands Norcent, Syntax and BenQ have jumped on the flat-panel TV bandwagon, attempting to capture market share from well-established consumer electronics manufacturers Panasonic, Philips, RCA and Sony. They all are using the same...

Staying out in front: even the best must get better.(inside purchasing)(Purchasing's global procurement conference)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Greg Tennyson, vice president of procurement for Oracle Corp., in a conversation last month, talked about the importance of "staying out in front of the curve" in terms of where procurement is heading. "You endeavor to achieve world-class,"...

Global Procurement Conference April 13-14, 2005: strategies and tools to meet the global challenge.(Purchasing Magazine )(Advertisement)
March 3, 2005... Register today at www.globalprocurement.purchasing.com Purchasing Magazine will host its 4th Global Procurement Conference on April 13-14, 2005. Each day the conference will kick off with a keynote webcast followed by symposium sessions...

What's hot.(metals)(Dofasco Inc. new plant and deals with Arcelor)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Dofasco Inc. of Hamilton, Ontario, has scrapped plans to build an automotive steel plant in the southern U.S. that would have made galvanized coils for body panels in North American-made motor vehicles. Dofasco had planned to start building the...

Revision in standards for auto-grade materials: standards under the TS2 banner will soon replace existing quality systems such as QS-9000 and ISO 9001.(Steel)(technical standards, quality standards, International Organization for Standardization)
March 3, 2005... Buyers of steel and other production materials at the major automakers are learning all about ISO/TS 16949:2002. And, if they haven't done so already, buyers of steel and other products at automotive parts plants will soon be studying the...

Algoma exits Stelco bidding.(Steel)(Algoma Steel Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Algoma Steel of Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, has withdrawn its name from the list of bidders seeking to acquire Canada's largest steel producer Stelco of Hamilton, Ontario, saying the risks and obligations of such a deal aren't in its...

Expect traded, metals price averages to slip in 2005.(Nonferrous Metals)
March 3, 2005... With world growth slowing, average prices for most London Metal Exchange (LME) traded metals are expected to be falling throughout 2005 as output starts to catch up with demand. That's the conclusion of a twice-yearly poll of almost...

Mini-mill giant Nucor of Charlotte, N.C., has acquired Fort Howard Steel.(Metals Chips)(North Carolina)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Mini-mill giant Nucor of Charlotte, N.C., has acquired Fort Howard Steel, a producer of cold-finished steel bar products in Oak Creek, Wis., with 140,000 tons of annual capacity.

Gerdau Ameristeel will spend $85 million to install a new melt shop.(Metals Chips)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Gerdau Ameristeel will spend $85 million to install a new melt shop at its Jacksonville, Fla., mini-mill to replace original equipment installed in the early 1970s with a new electric furnace, billet caster and reheat furnace. The work will...

Piper Impact, a cold forged impact extrusion business in Jackson, Miss., has been sold.(Metals Chips)(Mississippi)(Piper Metal Forming Corp.'s acquisition)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Piper Impact, a cold forged impact extrusion business in Jackson, Miss., has been sold by Quanex Corp. to Piper Metal Forming Corp., a privately held company.

Ferrolux Metals Co. of Ohio.(Metals Chips)(automotive slitting line installation)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Ferrolux Metals Co. of Ohio is installing a single-loop precision class-one automotive slitting line at its flat-rolled steel processing plant in Cleveland. The line will process coils measuring up to 78-inch wide and up to 110,000 pounds at a...

Chaparral Steel has begun a project to expand and upgrade the walking-beam reheat furnace.(Metals Chips)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Chaparral Steel has begun a project to expand and upgrade the walking-beam reheat furnace to double the heating capacity of its large structural section mill in Midlothian, Texas. The upgrade includes removal of the existing combustion system...

Roanoke Electric Steel Corp. has sold reinforcing bar subsidiary, Resco Steel Products.(Metals Chips)(Rockingham Steel)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Roanoke Electric Steel Corp. has sold reinforcing bar subsidiary, Resco Steel Products in Salem, Va., to rebar-fabrication specialist Rockingham Steel of Harrisonburg, Va. Executives say Resco is no longer a good strategic fit because Roanoke's...

Sterling Steel has ordered a new endless welding rolling (EWR) line.(Metals Chips)(Sterling Steel Foundry Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Sterling Steel has ordered a new endless welding rolling (EWR) line for its 12-inch rod mill in Sterling, III. The billet welding process allows production of customized-weight coils, granting higher product marketability. The new EWR line will...

Hydro Magnesium plans to add 7,000 metric tons to the production capacity.(Metals Chips)(plant expansion )(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Hydro Magnesium plans to add 7,000 metric tons to the production capacity at its Becancour magnesium plant in Quebec. The upgrade program will increase production to 58,000 metric tons/year of cast primary metal. The plant expansion will be...

Shareholders of Nova Scotia-headquartered Magnesium Alloy Corp. have approved a name change.(Metals Chips)(MagIndustries Corp.)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Shareholders of Nova Scotia-headquartered Magnesium Alloy Corp. have approved a name change to MagIndustries Corp., which is being restructured into three business segments--MagMetals, magnesium smelting; MagMinerals, agricultural-grade potash...

Steel tube maker LJT-Tennessee is planning a $7.4-million expansion.(Metals Chips)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Steel tube maker LJT-Tennessee is planning a $7.4-million expansion at its mechanical and structural grade steel tubing plant at the Centre South Riverport in Chattanooga.

Steel Structural Systems, a new steel manufacturing company, plans to lease 40,000 sq ft.(Metals Chips)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Steel Structural Systems, a new steel manufacturing company, plans to lease 40,000 sq ft at a south Louisville, Ky., industrial park where it will produce roll-formed steel framing components and light-gauge metal construction materials.

Muted rates of metals inflation.(Exclusive Business Data)(metals markets)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Metals producers enjoyed a strong pricing run in 2004, evidenced by the all-time high in steel prices and the seven-year highs for both spot and three-month prices for the base metals, as traded on the London Metal Exchange (LME). Looking...

Buyers and suppliers team up for greater savings: both sides see benefits of working together on costs.(Purchasing Strategies)
March 3, 2005... In this era of managing costs, buyers are working more closely with suppliers to find ways to both can reduce costs that go beyond price reductions. Today the most valued suppliers are those lending a helping hand in helping buyers realize...

CPOs focus on sourcing, spend management.(Procurement Strategies)(chief procurement officer, TRW)
March 3, 2005... For Denise Clarkson, director of purchasing, advanced sourcing, procurement planning and e-Procurement for TRW, her focus is to continue to aggregate and centralize spend in order to increase spend visibility throughout the auto supplier's...

Training opportunities for buyers are haphazard.(Purchasing Survey)(purchasing professionals)
March 3, 2005... It has long been assumed that purchasing education and training programs are commonplace in manufacturing companies as purchasing and supply professionals struggle to meet the challenges and expectations of the current dynamic--and...

More discipline from e-sourcing.(ITT Industries)(electronic sourcing)
March 3, 2005... "One of the things we learned in using e-sourcing is there is much more benefit in the digitization of the sourcing process because the online process brings more structure. It forces you to do a lot of up-front thinking and planning and not be...

Who's got strategic sourcing on the brain?(Buylines: strategic sourcing news for supply chain & purchasing professionals )(TXLI Corp., Sony Corp.)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Consumer electronics giant Sony is more than halfway through a three-year restructuring plan in which it aims to reduce fixed costs by $3.18 billion by rationalizing production, streamlining procurement and cutting jobs. Texas-based energy...

Supply headaches: offshore goods being delivered late.(Grassroots Report)(logistics)
March 3, 2005... A major issue already facing buyers this year is the lack of timely deliveries of manufactured products that are being outsourced with offshore suppliers--especially products from Southeast Asian nations and China. That's the message...

Some companies jump the gun on overseas sourcing.(Research)
March 3, 2005... A recent study of procurement practices at 275 international companies found that companies are moving to source in low-cost regions before they have adequate knowledge and expertise in the markets. The Assessment of Excellence in...

Letters.(Buylines: strategic sourcing news for supply chain & purchasing professionals)(Letter to the Editor)
March 3, 2005... I am president of Dynamic Air and I am writing about the article, "UCC Fills Gap When Boilerplates Conflict," published in your July 15, 2004 issue. My major concern is that the ]column by Dr. John Murray] incorrectly suggests that there was a...

Avnet Electronics Marketing.(Kudos)(Supplier Award for Outstanding Achievement)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Avnet Electronics Marketing, an operating group of Avnet, has been awarded the Supplier Award for Outstanding Achievement from Rain Bird for its new product development, responsiveness, quality and cost reduction. Avnet provides Rain Bird with...

Lucent Technologies.(Kudos)(Lucent's 2004 Golden Link Awards)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Lucent Technologies' Supply Chain Networks group announced the recipients of Lucent's 2004 Golden Link Awards and the coveted supplier of the year award. Jose Mejia, president of Lucent's Supply Chain Networks, presented the awards at a...

Agere systems.(Kudos)(Synopsys Inc. a Best-in-Class Supplier award for 2004)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Agere Systems has named semiconductor design software firm Synopsys a Best-in-Class Supplier award for 2004, Synopsys was one of four companies singled out to receive a special award in its respective service area. The award cited Synopsys as...

Nike.(Who's News)(Nicholas Athanasakos appointed as vice president )(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Footwear and apparel giant Nike has named Nicholas Athanasakos to the position of vice president of US Supply Chain. Athanasakos, the group's director since July of 2003, began at Nike in 1994, serving as apparel operations manager in the...

Starbucks.(Who's News)(Dorothy Kim joins as executive vice president)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Coffee behemoth Starbucks has appointed Dorothy Kim executive vice president, Supply Chain & Coffee Operations from her previous post as senior vice president, global logistics & procurement. Kim takes the role from E.R. (Ted) Garcia, who is...

BJ's Wholesale Club.(Who's News)(Jim Hilson promoted to vice president)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... BJ's Wholesale Club has announced that Jim Hilson has been promoted to vice president of global sourcing. In his new role, Hilson will be responsible for developing and improving the company's merchandise sourcing capabilities on a worldwide...

Laura Crone has been named vice president of Intel's Communications Group and director of Flash Products Group Operations.(Who's News)(Laura Crone has been named vice president)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Laura Crone has been named vice president of Intel's Communications Group and director of Flash Products Group Operations, responsible for forecasting, managing factory loadings, pricing and continuously improving the Flash Products Group...

American Axle and Manufacturing.(Who's News)(Alberto Satine, James Peters)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Alberto Satine has been named vice president of procurement at automotive supplier American Axle and Manufacturing. In his previous position, Satine served as executive director of global procurement for direct materials. The company also named...

FACE time: procurement is making a bigger impression on corporate executives.(CPO strategy)(chief procurement officers)
March 3, 2005... There are more chief procurement officers and vice presidents of supply chain now than ever before. But gaining the right amount of attention, support and the resources for strategic sourcing initiatives is still a struggle for procurement or...

Using procurement to feed the bottom line: by structuring and consolidating MRO buying, the procurement team at Pilgrim's Pride has helped reduce operating costs substantially.(MRO report)(maintenance, repair, operations)
March 3, 2005... In less than 16 months, Pilgrim's Pride's integration of its latest acquisition, ConAgra's chicken division, has had a clear upward impact on the sales, profits and market share of the Pittsburgh, Texas, chicken processor. Record sales of...

Ways to measure supplier performance: supplier development programs and supplier scorecards are an enormous asset in helping buyers rate the effectiveness of their supplier network.(evaluating suppliers)
March 3, 2005... Kennametal Inc. prides itself on quality products, competitive prices, and on-time delivery. So when a European supplier missed a shipment by weeks and customers bought materials elsewhere, the metalworking manufacturer's procurement chief took...

Innovation helps suppliers retain auto business: advanced high-strength steels and ultra high-strength steels are also helping automakers keep manufacturing costs down.(automotive steel)
March 3, 2005... In a recent skirmish in the automotive war on costs, the aluminum extrusions that make up the rear bumper on four General Motors models were replaced with roll-formed reinforcement beams made of UHSS. That's "ultra high-strength steel," one of...

What's hot.(logistics)(United Parcel Service of America Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Small package giant United Parcel Service (UPS) is losing market share to competitors old and new, including the U.S. Postal Service. In its most recent earnings statement, UPS said total domestic package volumes grew only 1.6% in the fourth...

What you need to know about RFID for inbound logistics: tracking towels and golf balls is not what shippers and buyers in manufacturing want.(Supply Chain Technology)(radio frequency identification technology)
March 3, 2005... No doubt most supply chain professionals have heard about radio frequency identification (RFID) technology and are aware that it has a wide variety of potential supply chain applications. Recent mandates in the defense and retail industries,...

Freight rate outlook.(Purchasing Magazine Exclusive)(Brief Article)(Illustration)
March 3, 2005... Majority of buyers see prices up in secnd quarter (Transportation serives price trend, 90-day) Up 61% Down 6% Same 33% Buyers show a slight uptick in buying plans (Transportation services buying plans, 30-day)...

A recent report says too much of the talk in the RFID world today is focusing on the physics involved in setting up networks and not enough attention is being paid to data integration issues.(RFID News)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... A recent report says too much of the talk in the RFID world today is focusing on the physics involved in setting up networks and not enough attention is being paid to data integration issues. The report, "Beyond the physics of RFID" from...

Trucking firm Con-Way Transportation Services, a subsidiary of CNF.(management)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Trucking firm Con-Way Transportation Services, a subsidiary of CNF best known for its less-than-truckload (LTL) service, has begun operation of its truckload business. Con-Way Truckload began operations in the first quarter of 2005. Since the...

A wholly owned subsidiary of Celadon Group has purchased the truckload van business.(CX Roberson)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... A wholly owned subsidiary of Celadon Group has purchased the truckload van business from CX Roberson for approximately $22.7 million. Steve Russell, chairman and CEO said, "Based on our evaluation of the business, we believe Roberson had a core...

A federal judge recently halted the Justice Department from prosecuting Stolt-Nielsen.(Stolt-Nielsen Transportation Group Ltd.)(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... A federal judge recently halted the Justice Department from prosecuting Stolt-Nielsen Transportation Group, a company that cooperated with the government in criminal antitrust prosecutions in the bulk ocean shipping industry. In 2002, bulk...

The trucking industry, in 2004, had its best year since 1998.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... The trucking industry, in 2004, had its best year since 1998. The American Trucking Association (ATA) said its advanced seasonally adjusted Truck Tonnage Index for all of 2004 increased 6.1% compared to 2003. The ATA reported the fourth quarter...

What's hot.(MRO/distribution news)
March 3, 2005... Once again, we're looking for a few good MRO buyers for PURCHASING magazine's All-Star MRO buy team. We're asking readers (on both the buy and supply side) to nominate purchasing professionals who have a handle on the MRO buy at their...

Fastenal expo showcases product demos, training: more than 200 manufacturer suppliers share expertise at employee show.(Distribution)
March 3, 2005... Quenching a thirst for industrial training, Minnesota-based industrial distributor Fastenal held a trade show for its employees late last year. Exhibiting products at the event were 200 of the distributor's manufacturer suppliers. But it wasn't...

Are you an MRO buy All-Star?(Sourcing)
March 3, 2005... PURCHASING magazine is looking for leaders in strategic MRO purchasing--and we need your help! We're asking readers to nominate purchasing professionals who demonstrate excellence in procurement and supply-chain management performance in...

The National Plant Engineering & Facilities Management Show.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... The National Plant Engineering & Facilities Management Show runs Mar. 7-10, 2005, at Chicago's McCormick Place Complex as part of National Manufacturing Week. The show presents the latest solutions in HVAC, material handling, software and...

Grainger's Lab Safety supply subsidiary has signed a definitive agreement to acquire AW Direct, Inc.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Grainger's Lab Safety supply subsidiary has signed a definitive agreement to acquire AW Direct, Inc., a direct marketer of products to the $3 billion service vehicle accessories market. AW Direct sells general towing and work truck equipment...

IBC has aligned with Safety Marketing Group (SMG).(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... IBC has aligned with Safety Marketing Group (SMG). Through its new division, SafetySupplyPlus, the alliance will allow IBC to increase the number of product lines offered to their customers. Founded in 1989, SMG is made up of more than 50...

Airgas, a leading supplier of core specialty gases, has developed a national Technical Support Services Group.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... Airgas, a leading supplier of core specialty gases, has developed a national Technical Support Services Group to provide technical and customer support to its specialty gas network. Comprised of industry veterans, the five-person panel was...

U.S. Bank Corporate Payment Systems has received the Supplier of the Year award from Autodesk.(Brief Article)
March 3, 2005... U.S. Bank Corporate Payment Systems has received the Supplier of the Year award from Autodesk. U.S. Bank was honored at Autodesk's annual Supplier Day for its purchasing card product and service.