Changes ahead for the safety industry?

By Staff -- Industrial Distribution, 5/1/2000

Las Vegas-There could be a unified meeting of the safety industry in 2001, according to speakers at the recent Glove Industry Conference.

Carolyn Johnson of the Safety Equipment Co. and president of the National Industrial Glove Distributors Assn. said there is the possibility that such a meeting could be held in July next year. The meeting would include members of the Safety Equipment Distributors Assn., NIGDA, the International Hand Protection Assn. and others, she said. "This would be a great opportunity for all of us involved in the safety area," she said.

Johnson made the comments during the NIGDA business meeting at the annual conference, held at Caesars Palace March 26-29. The glove conference was sponsored by NIGDA and IHPA.

Johnson was re-elected president of the association during the convention. Paul Elvin of Elvin Safety Supply in Eden Prairie, Minn., was elected 2nd vice president and Sal Longo of the Northern Safety Co., Utica, N.Y., was elected secretary/treasurer.

During a reception prior to the annual banquet, Jack Arndt, a 33-year veteran of the glove business, was elected to NIGDA's Hall of Fame. Arndt joined Riegel Textile Corp.'s Glove Division in 1957. When that company got out of the glove business in 1961, Arndt went to work for the Southern Glove Co. in 1961. He served as sales manager, executive vice president and president until his retirement in 1991.

Bruce Merrifield of the Merrifield Consulting Group, was the keynote speaker at this year's meeting. Merrifield focused on the challenges that lie ahead for manufacturers and distributors in light of e-commerce. Merrifield also detailed the effects that MRO exchanges and auctions are having on the distribution channel.