Hartford, Conn.—IBC formed a strategic marketing alliance between its 54 independent U.S. and Mexican-based distributors and IDI Independent Distributors, Inc.

IDI is headquartered in Mississauga, Ontario. Founded in 1981, IDI has 95 members with 114 industrial supply and power transmission locations.

Founded in 1999, IBC has grown rapidly, with 108 locations.

"We have been growing quickly and that momentum is continuing forward with this new alliance," said IBC national sales manager, Bill Fitzpatrick.

The genesis of the alliance came while developing the plan to service a 47 location national account with three Canadian locations, said vice president of business development Daniel Burnham.

"We decided to pick up the phone and talk to IDI," said Burnham. "It worked out wonderfully and I found it ironic how similar we are."

IBC has been providing its industrial supplies through the program Industrial Supply Plus™ but are introducing a new program.

"IDI is strong in industrial supply and bearings and IBC is rolling out Bearing Supply Plus™," he said. "We have developed separately, but we have moved in the same direction."

IBC has benefited from IDI's experience while sharing its own expertise, added Burnham.