Master distributor ORS Nasco opened new distribution centers in Houston and Jacksonville, Fla. The new centers enable next-day delivery of products to the company's network of 12,000 industrial and welding supply distributors.

Riverside, Calif.-based American Quality Tools, Inc. formed a manufacturing alliance with Izar cutting tools of Spain, expanding the company's offering to its worldwide network of distributors.

Gates Corp.'s U.S. Industrial Sales organization is realigning its sales force into two product-specific groups: Hose and Connector products, and Power Transmission products. The realignment is expected to be complete in the fourth quarter. The goal is to help Gates "more quickly and effectively anticipate and respond to customer and industry opportunities," said Patrick Lee, vice president, Gates Industrial Sales.

For the full story and latest news updates, go to www.inddist.com.

Baldor Electric Co. announced plans to acquire Energy Dynamics, Inc. of Mukwonago, Wis., a maker of industrial generator sets … Distributor Buckeye Industrial Supply Co. purchased Kashway Supply of Nicholasville, Ky.…Bearings producer The Timken Co. completed its $840 million purchase of Torrington, a subsidiary of Ingersoll-Rand Co. … Cutting Tool maker Tool Alliance acquired Mil-Tec USA …Bluff Manufacturing acquired the portable dock division of Torbeck Industries, Harrison, Ohio... Cleveland-based distributor Meier Transmission acquired Electric Motor Repair Co., Inc., also of Cleveland ... Distributor Baldwin Supply Co. purchased Arrowhead Belt Service Co. of Bemidji, Minn. ... Sioux Tools Inc. of Murphy, N.C., purchased E.A. Selzer and Associates, Prescott, Ariz. Sioux Tools is a subsidiary of Snap-on Inc.

W.W. Grainger was named the most admired company in 2002 among diversified wholesalers in Fortune magazine's annual listing of America's Most Admired Companies …I.S.K. Industries won Ergodyne's LeadDog Award for independent manufacturer's representative performance in 2002 …Waterloo Industries, manufacturer of tool storage products, was honored with a top supplier award from Canadian Tire …Clear Technologies' C2CRM software was named a Top 15 CRM Software Package for 2003 by ISM, Inc., a customer relationship management consulting firm.

Send Update information to Managing Editor Victoria Fraza, 275 Washington St., Newton, Mass., 02458; call 617-558-4791; fax to 617-558-4327; or e-mail to vfraza@reedbusiness.com.

How tough is your Pelican flashlight? The answer could win you $1,000 worth of Pelican products.

Leaders at Pelican Products, makers of flashlights and protective cases, recently launched their Pelican Tough Contest to see just how much abuse their flashlights and cases can take. Inspired by customer testimonials, the contest is designed to uncover the roughest situations a flashlight has encountered – and survived. Pelican recently heard about a 10-year-old, coral-encrusted (and working!) light that was retrieved from the sea floor. Another unusual story involves a road rally in South America. Pelican cases strapped to the roof of a Land Rover were undamaged after the vehicle rolled multiple times.

Customers can share their stories by visiting www.pelican.com and following the links to Pelican Tough Contest. Three grand prize winners will receive $1,000 in Pelican products and five consolation prize winners will receive $300 in products, to be selected from Pelican's 2003 MSRP price list.

The contest ends June 30, so act now.