The Leading Source for Industrial Distribution News
Airgas Inks Supply Pact With BAE Systems
September 7, 2010 5:16 am | News | CommentsRADNOR, Penn. – Airgas recently announced it has signed a Strategic Agreement with BAE Systems, the United Kingdom-based defense and aerospace company. Airgas will supply BAE System's manufacturing locations throughout the United States with bulk and packaged industrial gas, welding hardgoods and related products, and personal protective equipment (PPE) products.
Fed: The U.S. Economy Is 'Vulnerable'
September 2, 2010 7:25 am | Videos | CommentsThere's no doubt about it, the economic situation in the United States is worsening. Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke says the economy "remains vulnerable to unexpected developments." However, Bernanke said the Fed is ready to take major action to help stimulate the economy, if necessary. Stay tuned.
U.S. Productivity Falls While Labor Costs Increase
September 2, 2010 5:04 am | by Martin Crutsinger, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsWASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. productivity in the spring fell by the largest amount in nearly four years while labor costs rose, signals that companies may have reached the limits of squeezing more work out of fewer workers. Productivity dropped at an annual rate of 1.8 percent in the April-to-June quarter, double the 0.
Bourland & Leverich Sees Change In Ownership
September 2, 2010 5:03 am | News | CommentsPAMPA, Tex. – Jefferies Capital Partners, Bourland & Leverich management, Edgen Murray and Edgen Murray management have formed an ownership group to acquire the assets of Bourland & Leverich Supply Company. Bourland & Leverich is one of the largest distributors of oil country tubular goods (OCTG) to the onshore upstream industry in North America, and Edgen Murray is a leading global provider of specialty steel products for energy infrastructure markets.
Airgas Announces Supply Pact With University Of Missouri
September 2, 2010 5:02 am | News | CommentsRADNOR, Penn. - Airgas, Inc. recently announced it has signed a supply agreement with the University of Missouri, one of the nation's largest and most prestigious public research universities. Under the agreement, Airgas will provide specialty gases, equipment, safety products, and services to the university system, which includes campuses in Columbia, Kansas City and St.
Kaman Names New KIT President
September 2, 2010 5:00 am | News | CommentsBLOOMFIELD, Conn. – Kaman Corporation recently announced that Steven J. Smidler has assumed the role of President of its subsidiary, Kaman Industrial Technologies Corporation (KIT). Smidler succeeds T. Jack Cahill, who retired yesterday, and he reports to Neal J. Keating, Chairman, President and CEO of the parent company.
U.S. Jobless Rate Declines For Second Straight Week
September 2, 2010 4:59 am | by Christopher S. Rugaber, AP Economics Writer | News | CommentsWASHINGTON (AP) — The number of people requesting unemployment benefits declined for the second straight week, suggesting that the slowing economy isn't prompting widespread job cuts. New claims for unemployment aid fell last week by 6,000 to a seasonally adjusted 472,000, the Labor Department said Thursday.
MSC Industrial Direct Releases 2010-11 Big Book
September 2, 2010 4:57 am | News | CommentsMELVILLE, NY – MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc., one of the country's leading distributors of metalworking and maintenance, repair and operation supplies, continues to support industrial customers throughout the United States with the release of the 2010/2011 Big Book. The catalog was be available online and in print startingon September 1, 2010.
The Counterfeit Conundrum
September 1, 2010 12:24 pm | by Duane Sword, vice president, Thermo Portable Optical Analysis, part of Thermo Fisher Scientific | Articles | CommentsOnce a product leaves its manufacturer, it enters a world where it can be adultered, completely faked, diluted, relabeled, or repackaged without authorization. Trying to pinpoint the exact vulnerabilities in the supply chain is almost impossible. Counterfeiters have become increasingly sophisticated at imitating real products, from shoes and handbags to DVD’s, chainsaws, watches, airplane parts, and drugs.
Let There Be (LED) Light
September 1, 2010 12:12 pm | Articles | CommentsSwitching to LED luminaries inside one's distribution facility can lead to reduced energy consumption and operating costs, as well as better performance and less maintenance. A global, world class manufacturer of premium paper products, Rockline Industries has grown to become a major supplier of private label wet wipes to its Arkansas neighbor, Walmart.
Federal Judge Okays Visteon's Plan For Bankruptcy
September 1, 2010 5:29 am | News | CommentsWILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — A federal judge has confirmed auto parts supplier Visteon's reorganization plan, clearing the way for the company's emergence from bankruptcy. Visteon, a major supplier of parts to Ford Motor Co., said Tuesday that it expects to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy by Oct.
U.S. Consumer Confidence Improves In August
September 1, 2010 5:28 am | News | CommentsNEW YORK (AP) -- Americans' confidence in the economy improved slightly in August, but the mood is still gloomy amid job worries, according to a monthly survey. The Conference Board said Tuesday that its Consumer Confidence Index improved slightly to 53.5, up from a revised 51.0 in July.
Sample Air Accurately
August 31, 2010 9:40 am | Product Releases | CommentsCasella USA (Amherst, NH) recently expanded its Apex line of personal air sampling pumps to include the Apex Standard and the Apex Pro I.S. They are designed to undertake personal and area sampling for dusts, fumes, gases and vapors in hazardous areas. When used with a low-flow adapter assembly the pumps have flow rates between 5 and 200 ml/min.
VOC-Free Degreaser
August 31, 2010 9:32 am | Product Releases | CommentsSolvent Kleene (Peabody, MA) now offers a VOC-free, non-alkaline industrial degreaser/cleaner for high-performance and eco-friendly products. According to the company, D-Greeze 7880 offers performance comparable to that of a conventional-based product. Furthermore, it doesn’t expose users and the environment to toxic components or emissions.
Detect Even The Smallest Leaks
August 31, 2010 9:29 am | Product Releases | CommentsSpectronics (Westbury, NY) has introduced OIL-GLO™ 50, a fluorescent dye designed for detecting leaks in petroleum or synthetic-based fluid systems. OIL-GLO™ 50 pinpoints leaks in a wide variety of oil-based fluid systems. Examples include hydraulic fluid, lubrication fluid, compressor oil, engine oil, and gearbox oil.
Better Torque Support
August 31, 2010 9:27 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe “Torque Supporter” Precision Rack & Pinion Drive Systems from ATLANTA Drive Systems, Inc. (Farmingdale, NJ) handle dynamic and heavy loads, according to the company. Precision planetary reducers with an integral output housing and outboard bearing provide a rigid support.
Airgas Continues To Battle Potential Air Products Takeover
August 31, 2010 5:23 am | News | CommentsRADNOR, Pa. (AP) — Airgas Inc. on Monday told shareholders that if Air Products & Chemicals Inc.'s buyout plans don't receive majority support, Airgas will call a special meeting of its stockholders on June 21 next year. At that meeting, Airgas said it will take action to assure that Air Products or other stockholders will be able to nominate a number of individuals to its board.
Obama Expected To Criticize Chinese Aluminum Export Industry
August 31, 2010 5:19 am | by Foster Klug, Associated Press Writer | News | CommentsWASHINGTON (AP) — Analysts say the Obama administration, under congressional pressure to take a tough stance on Chinese trade policies, is expected to declare that China unfairly helped its aluminum industry. The finding, which could spark higher import duties, was anticipated Tuesday as the White House attempts to strike a delicate balance ahead of November congressional elections that will be dominated by the weak U.
Ford Settles Lawsuit Over Employee Stock Losses
August 31, 2010 5:18 am | News | CommentsDETROIT (AP) -- Ford Motor Co. has settled a lawsuit over losses suffered by nonunion employees and retirees who held company stock in retirement accounts. The company will offer free investment advice for four years but no money will be paid except to lawyers. In a court filing Friday, lawyers for plaintiffs say Ford Motor's improved health and stock price could have helped the company win the lawsuit or defeat some claims.
R.B. Mosher Picks PUMP-FLO Selection Software Solution
August 30, 2010 11:19 am | News | CommentsLACEY, Wash. -- PUMP-FLO™ Solutions, a provider of software solutions to the pump and fluid handling industry, recently announced that R.B. Mosher, a distributor of products and services to the petrochemical, oil, power and municipal industries, has awarded PUMP-FLO Solutions a contract for its ePUMP-FLO™ web-based selection software.
