victoria.kickham@reedbusiness.com

At the May ISCON Show, sponsored by the Industrial Distribution Assn. and the Industrial Supply Manufacturers Assn., several distributors and manufacturers were honored for their work to merge I.D.A. and ISMA into one group, the Industrial Supply Assn. The task force was made up of I.D.A. and ISMA members, and was charged with hammering out the details of the proposed merger, which was approved by the membership of both groups this spring.

The Special Task Force began gathering input and researching the potential merger last fall, and subsequently developed an organizational and governance structure; worked through due diligence; evaluated the programs, services and activities of each association; and developed a transition plan for the new association.

Members of the Special Task Force were thanked for their service during the ISCON Opening Session, Sunday, May 23, in Orlando, Fla. Recognized were: Ray Reynertson, Sturtevant Richmont Div.; Jim Beckstein, Mill Supplies, Inc.; William Matthews, 3M Industrial Business; Tom Berger, Fuchs Machinery, Inc.; Timothy Tevens, Columbus McKinnon Corp.; Wes Delnea, Windsor Factory Supply, Ltd.; David Thompson, Kennedy Manufacturing Co.; Mort Harris, Replenex; Roger Taylor, North American Tool Corp.; Alan Gilbert, Quality Mill Supply Co.; and Steve Short, Updike Supply Co.

I.D.A. and ISMA officially became ISA on July 1.

Also during the ISCON show, members of I.D.A. recognized and thanked Don Ruggles of Martin Supply Co. for his work as interim director of the association during the past year. Ruggles stepped in to run I.D.A. after the death of executive vice president Gary Buffington last July, and saw the association through to its transition into ISA this month.

Precision Industries opened a branch in Mishawka, Ind…Auburn Manufacturing, Inc. recently became the first company to attain the FM Approval Standard 4950 rating for welding fabrics. The insurance-driven standard is aimed at reducing the risk of fire during hot work, such as welding…Consolidated Electrical Distributors donated $100,000 to the National Assn. of Electrical Distributors' Education & Research Foundation…Industry consulting firm Pembroke Consulting, headquartered in Philadelphia, opened a Chicago-area office in June…Almetek Industries launched an enhanced global Web site featuring: a new information section with material specifications and finish/process descriptions; four separate navigational menus; improved product descriptions; a complete media section; and email access to communicate with company representatives…

Hughes Supply, Inc. acquired Standard Wholesale Supply Co., a distributor of waterworks, electrical and plumbing products serving the Las Vegas area, and Todd Pipe & Supply, a wholesale plumbing supplier serving Southern California and Las Vegas…Cutting tools distributor Machine Tools Supply has agreed to purchase Neuhart Tool, also a cutting tools specialist. The companies cover the Southern California marketplace…Parker Hannifin Corp. acquired Mead Fluid Dynamics Ltd., the European subsidiary of Chicago-based Mead Fluid Dynamics, Inc. Located in the United Kingdom, Mead Fluid Dynamics Ltd. designs and assembles pneumatic components and control systems for the transportation and process control markets. The business will be integrated into Parker's Automation Group and transferred to its Pneumatic Division Europe, located in Cannock, UK…US Bearings & Drives, the Vancouver, Wash.-based division of The BC Bearing Group, acquired the assets of Bearings & Drives, Inc., Fargo, N.D.

Wright Tool received a Gold Circle of Excellence award from Sphere 1, a national purchasing cooperative of tool and fastener distributors… Machine tool distributor Reynolds Machine and Tool Corp. of Bellwood, Ill., celebrates its 60th year in business.