Motion Industries, Inc., an MRO distributor based in Birmingham, Ala., has acquired Lewis Supply Co.

Headquartered in Memphis, Lewis Supply's product lines include cutting tools, fluids, machinery accessories, power transmission, material handling and safety products. The company also offers integrated supply services.

"This strategic move is a continuation of our expansion plans,” said Motion president and CEO Bill Stevens. “We are pleased to have Lewis Supply join our organization."

This continues a series of recent acquisitions by Motion. In April, they completed the acquisition of Don Hills Co., a distributor of hydraulic, fluid power, and hose products based in Union, Maine. Last December, Motion purchased Voorhies Supply Co., a Louisiana-based distributor of power transmission, bearings, hose, and mill supplies.

The Lewis acquisition is Motion's largest industrial supply purchase to date.

Lewis Supply was founded in 1916 by T. Walker Lewis in Helena, Ark. The company was later acquired by Setech Corp. in 1997. It employs more than 100 people in four facilities: Jackson, Tenn.; Corinth, Miss.; Madison (Nashville), Tenn.; and Memphis, Tenn. in addition to its integrated supply locations.

Motion Industries—which ranked seventh in Industrial Distribution's Big 50 for 2006— has more than 460 operations, including nine distribution centers, throughout North America. Motion's 2005 sales figures were $2.8 billion. They are a wholly owned subsidiary of Genuine Parts Co.