UPDATE

By Staff -- Industrial Distribution, 6/1/2000

Company News

Metals USA, Inc., changed the name of its Heavy Carbon product group to the Plates and Shapes group...Principal shareholders of Michigan distributor R.P.M., Inc., Ed Bunda and John Livingston, agreed to sell their interests to Bruce A. Baker, who will assume the role of president and CEO... NTN Bearing Corp. reorganized their aftermarket activities into a separate business unit under the direction of Joe Muncer... Pentair opened a new electronic packaging manufacturing facility in Des Plaines, Ill. ... Uvex Safety announced a new promotional campaign: "Uvex. You'll See." ... Tennant Co. expanded its industrial machine line to include commercial floor care equipment... ABB Automation Inc. signed a global agreement to supply IEC motors to Grainger... CTS Corp. opened a new Interconnect Systems facility in Tianjin, China ... Rockwell Automation appointed Detroit Electric a Reliance Electric distributor and an Allen-Bradley service center ... KPM America began construction of its North American manufacturing and distribution center in Anjou, Quebec... KEC North America moved its operations and warehouse from Eastlake to Mentor, Ohio... Haas Automation, Inc. opened two new Haas Factory Outlets in Farmington Hills and Grand Rapids, Mich. ... Bosch Automation Technology was awarded two U.S. patents related to advances in vane pumps... DE-STA-CO Industries celebrates its 85th anniversary this year...

Acquisitions

Distributor PrimeTech, Inc., acquired Dynamic Technology Inc. of Dayton, Ohio... Manufacturer Rockwell Automation agreed to acquire Entek IRD International Corp. of Milford, Ohio... Material handling manufacturer Gillis Associated Industries of Prospect Heights, Ill., announced its sale to Leggett & Platt, Inc., a Carthage, Mo., manufacturer ... SPX Corp. signed a definitive agreement to purchase the Fenner Fluid Power division of England's Fenner Group ... Brighton-Best Socket Screw Mfg., Inc., bought the assets of Banner Fasteners Inc. ... Manufacturer Colfax Corp. acquired Warner Electric Motors and Controls Division from Dana Corp. ... Pacific Pipe Co. acquired Valley Cities Supply Co. of South El Monte, Calif. ... Cooper Industries acquired Eagle Electric Manufacturing Co., Inc., a N.Y.-based manufacturer of wiring devices ... Marley Electric Heating acquired Patton Industrial and Building Supply Products ... The Rexel Group, parent company of the U.S. electrical distribution group, Rexel, Inc., agreed to acquire Branch Group, Inc., and its affiliates, including Branch Electric Supply Co. ...

Awards

Birmingham Family Times magazine recently recognized Mayer Electric Supply as one of the Best Companies for Working Families in Birmingham, Ala.... Toyota Industrial Equipment gave its 1999 Quality Dealer Awards to: Howard Bernstein, Atlas Lift Truck Rental & Sales; Paul Schulz, First Access; Bob Hull, Hull Lift Truck; Bill Skinner, ProLift Industrial Equipment Co.; Jim Shoppa, Shoppa's Material Handling; Leslie Doggett, Toyotalift of Houston; and Rich Andres, Toyota Material Handling Northern California ... Start magazine named ITW Paslode its most admired manufacturer in its February issue ... Motion Industries presented Rockwell Automation a "Key Supplier" award in March ... SOLO Incorporated's SOLO Model 470 gas-powered backpack blower received the Design & Engineering Award for 2000 from Popular Mechanics magazine.

Send Update information to senior editor Susan Srikonda, 275 Washington St., Newton, Mass., 02458; call (617) 558-4722; fax to (617) 558-4327; or e-mail to ssrikonda@cahners.com.