Uni-Select, Canada's second largest distributor of automotive and heavy-duty replacement parts, equipment, tools and accessories, and Acklands-Grainger, distributor of industrial, fleet and safety supply products, announced a joint venture combining Uni-Select's Western division and Acklands-Grainger's automotive after-market division, operating as Bumper to Bumper®.

IMARK Group recently added four new members. Kovalsky-Carr Electric Supply, Rueff Lighting, Tri-State Lighting and Supply and Dickman Supply joined the independent electrical distributor marketing group, bringing the total membership to 197. Green Bull Ladders joined as the latest approved supplier.

ERB Industries, Inc., became 100 percent employee owned. Co-founders Florrie and Bill Erb sold their remaining 70 percent of the stock to the Employee Stock Ownership Plan Trust. This stock will be distributed to the company's 200 employees.

Applied Industrial Technologies has achieved ISO-9002:94 compliance at all of its 419 United States facilities. In addition, 81 locations are fully registered to the standard.

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The Stanley Works and Contact East, Inc. announced that they have signed a definitive agreement whereby Stanley will acquire 100 percent of the outstanding common shares of Contact East ... Emerson's Commercial Cam Co. subsidiary, Crane Co.'s Ferguson Co. division and Industrial Motion Control Holdings L.L.C. formed a joint venture which will continue to market CAMCO and Ferguson brands ... Federal-Mogul Corp. sold its Tri-Way machine tool business under terms of a management buyout.

Applied Industrial Technologies received a 2000 Outstanding Distributor Award from Baldor Electric Co. ... Newark Electronics received 10 achievement awards from suppliers including Alpha Wire, Volex Cords , Hammond, Johnson Components, Olflex and MagneTek ... J. Ray McDermott presented Motion Industries with a 2000 Top Supplier Award ... among the awards given at its annual meeting, Affiliated Distributors presented Supplier of the Year awards to DeWalt Industrial Tool and Pennsylvania Machine Works and Affiliate of the Year awards to N.H. Bragg & Sons and Harrison Pipe and Supply.

Send Update information to associate editor Richard Trombly, 275 Washington St., Newton, Mass., 02458; call (617) 558-4289; fax to (617) 558-4327; or e-mail rtrombly@cahners.com .

The Power Transmission Distributors Association won plaudits from its members for deciding to hold its annual convention last month, about a month after the terrorist attacks at the World Trade Center. Attendance at the convention was down over previous years but the content was excellent and the association unveiled a new format, making the meeting one day shorter. A number of end-user presentations were included for the first time.

Despite turbulent times, the Independent Sealing Distributors decided to hold its 10^th anniversary annual meeting. The event, which was held Oct. 4-6 in Lake Tahoe, Calif., was attended by about 200 individuals. This is a drop of nearly 20 percent over last year. Executive director Joseph Thompson noted a sharp decrease in spouse attendance.

Likewise, ISMA and I.D.A. held their annual mid-year executive committee meetings in Palm Springs to a slightly reduced attendance. I.D.A executive vice president Garry Buffington said committees discussed current issues including facilitating more end-user input to manufacturers, communicating the value-added message through alternative media, and documenting cost savings.