For nearly the past 20 years, electrical/industrial products distributor EIS Inc. had been operating independently as a subsidiary of Genuine Parts Company, like fellow GPC subsidiary Motion Industries.
Now, the two subsidiaries are one. Motion Industries announced Tuesday that EIS has become the Electrical Specialties Group of Motion Industries, effective Jan. 2.
EIS — which currently operates 39 branches and six fabrication facilities across North America — supplies process materials, production supplies, specialty wire & cable and value-added fabricated parts to electrical OEMs, motor repair shops and various assembly markets. Based in Atlanta, GA, EIS focuses on three main areas: Electrical & Electronic, Cable & Connectivity and Fabrication & Coating.
"We have been working directly with Motion Industries for many years, as EIS’s products and services complement Motion’s offerings in many ways," said Larry Griffin, president of EIS. "Combining our resources into one offering to the industrial marketplace makes a lot of sense with our similar markets, goals and culture."
EIS was No. 22 on Industrial Distribution's 2017 Big 50 List. It finished 2017 with full-year sales of $780.9 million, up 9.1 percent from 2016, while operating profit of $56.2 million fell 7.2 percent. EIS comprised 4.8 percent of GPC's total 2017 sales. Q4 sales at EIS increased 8.9 percent year-over-year to $192.6 million.
GPC acquired Motion Industries in 1976, and added EIS in 1998.
Motion Industries — No. 6 on ID's Big 50 List — saw 2017 full-year sales grow 7.2 percent to $4.97 billion and operating profit of $384 million increase 14.2 percent, while Q4 sales grew 7.4 percent to $1.24 billion and operating profit of $103 million jumped 34.7 percent. Motion Industries comprised 29.4 percent of GPC's total 2017 sales.
"This move creates operational synergies and new growth strategies that will make both companies stronger than ever in customer service and in the competitive market," said Tim Breen, Motion Industries president and CEO. "Together, we are leveraging our assets of people, facilities, size, strength, and expertise to provide even greater customer and shareholder value."
