vfraza@reedbusiness.com

In October, David J. Witwer of Minarik-Midwest won the Warren Pike Award for lifetime achievement in the power transmission/motion control industry. Witwer is the 14th recipient of the award, which is given by the Power Transmission Distributors Assn. He received the award at PTDA's annual convention in New Orleans on Oct. 17.

Witwer was honored for his professional accomplishments and his contributions to both the PT/MC industry and PTDA. As general manager of Reserve Motion Control Systems, an independent distributor in Cleveland, Witwer served on PTDA's board of directors from 1995 to 1998 and was the association's president in 1997. He has served on the PTDA Educational & Scholastic Foundation board of trustees since 1997, as the foundation's president in 1999, and as its vice president in 2000 and 2003.

Witwer served on PTDA's executive, membership and steering/bylaws committees, as well, and was chairman of the association's international and nominating committees. In addition, he's played leadership roles on PTDA's planning task force and its young executives group.

Witwer remained active in PTDA after Reserve Motion Control was purchased by Minarik in 2001. He continues to serve on the association's marketing committee and recently was re-elected president of the Educational & Scholastic Foundation's board for 2004-2005.

"Dave Witwer truly deserves PTDA's Warren Pike Award," said Mary Sue Lyon, PTDA executive vice president. "He personifies the core values of PTDA through his unfailing efforts to establish community among members, his encouragement of frank and open dialogue on issues in the industry, and efforts to build mutual trust among members."

PTDA's Warren Pike Award was established in 1984. It is presented only if a qualified individual is identified, and is not necessarily given every year.

Buying/marketing group Affiliated Distributors presented several awards to its Industrial Supply Division at the recent A-D 2003 North American Meeting. Distributors Drago Supply Co., Inc., Empire Machinery & Supply Corp., and Aviation Industrial Supply Co. won Affiliate of the Year awards; distributors Turner Supply Co., Quality Mill Supply Co., Inc. and Plumbing & Industrial Supply Co., Inc. won Affiliate Excellence in Marketing awards; LPS Laboratories and United American Sales, Inc./Westgate Sales Corp. won Supplier of the Year awards; Sorbent Products Co., Inc. and Streamlight, Inc. won Supplier Excellence Marketing awards; and Klein Tools, Inc. and Milwaukee Electric Tool Corp. were honored with Excellence in Local Support awards …United American Sales, Inc. also was named a top perfromer by manufacturer MSA during the National Safety Congress in September.

Tool maker Greenlee launched a new and improved Web site, www.greenlee.com. New features include its entire catalog online, a distributor locator, and an image library, which includes every product image that appears in the full-line catalog …Cooper Wiring Devices launched an expanded Web site, www.cooperwiringdevices.com, which includes password-protected online ordering, order-tracking information, e-mail confirmation of shipments, downloadable digital product photos, and training assistance.

Hyde Manufacturing Co. of Southbridge, Mass., acquired A. Richard Ltd. of Berthierville, Quebec. Both companies make hand tools for the paint, drywall, flooring, masonry and industrial knife markets …Centro, Inc., a distributor of flow control products with offices in Memphis, Tenn., and North Little Rock, Ark., acquired Green Controls of Jacksonville, Ark.