Kennametal to divest Kemmer Praezision Electronics Business
Fastenal sales increase 22 percent
Regal-Beloit to acquire Chinese motor manufacturer
Carlson Holdings acquires Mid-Atlantic Fasteners
NetSuite introduces wholesale/distribution vertical suite
Weiler to expand offices, distribution center
Manufacturers to increase online marketing in 2006
PTDA: Distributor sales climb in February
ISM: PMI slips in March
Makita USA names sweepstakes winner
PathGuide names new president, CEO
NIBA to hold convention in September
Construction spending falls in February
Applied acquires Minnesota Bearing Company
Parker Hannifin buys majority share in Kuroda Pneumatics
Lewis-Goetz purchases Goodall Rubber Co.
PTDA to hold industry summit in October
BSA to celebrate 40 years
Factory orders increase in February
Private equity firms purchase Activant Solutions
IBC names new president
Goodyear Engineered Products names North American VP
Darex to send bit sharpeners to U.S. troops in Iraq
TGI launches new functionality in latest enterprise software
Hughes Supply posts fiscal year gains
ITW reports favorable results in latest three months

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Kennametal to divest Kemmer Praezision Electronics Business
Kennametal has signed a definitive agreement with KPAC LLC to divest Kennametal’s Kemmer Praezision Electronics business. Kemmer Praezision manufactures and markets premium quality tungsten carbide consumable tools for the printed circuit board market. The transaction, expected to be complete by September 2006, remains subject to certain negotiated conditions of closing. KPAC LLC, a private investment company, will acquire the North American, European and Asia-Pacific assets and operations of the business.

“With this transaction, we are able to move quickly on our plan to streamline manufacturing operations and to continue our focus on core businesses,” said Jim Breisinger, Kennametal vice president and president of the company’s Advanced Components Group. “We are redeploying Kennametal resources on our growing advanced materials and engineered components businesses by exiting targeted sectors. Kemmer Praezision is an industry leader with strong market position, a highly regarded brand name, and excellent workforce.”

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Fastenal sales increase 22 percent
Fastenal reported net sales of $431,703 for the first quarter of 2006, an increase of 22 percent over net sales of $353,809 in the first quarter of 2005. First quarter operating income increased from $59,428 in 2005 to $76,940 in 2006, an increase of 29.5 percent. Net earnings increased in the first quarter from $37,031 in 2005 to $47,854 in 2006, an increase of 29.2 percent.

During the first three months of 2006, Fastenal opened 73 new store sites compared to 74 new sites in the first quarter of 2005. The new sites represent 4.2 percent additional stores since Dec. 31, 2005.

During 2005 and the first three months of 2006, Fastenal has actively pursued several initiatives to improve its operational performance. These include a new freight model, tactical changes to its working capital model, and an expanded store model called CSP2.

The freight model represents a focused effort to haul a higher percentage of products utilizing the Fastenal trucking network, which operates at a substantial savings to external service providers because of the company’s ability to leverage its existing routes, and to charge freight more consistently in various operating units. “This initiative positively impacted the latter two-thirds of 2005 and the first quarter of 2006 despite the fact we experienced year-over-year increases of approximately 31.7% and 30.7%, respectively, in per gallon diesel fuel costs,” according to a company press release.

The tactical changes to Fastenal’s working capital model include establishing a central call center for accounts receivable collection and the establishment of financial business rules for purchasing products outside the standard stocking model (formerly referred to as CSP) at the store.

The CSP2 store model represents an expansion of the core stocking items and sales personnel in an existing store with the goal of driving additional product sales to existing customers, target customers, and specific geographic areas within established markets. During the first quarter of 2006, 44 stores were converted to the CSP2 format. This resulted in 74 stores converted to the CSP2 format since the third quarter of 2005.

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Regal-Beloit to acquire Chinese motor manufacturer
Regal-Beloit Corporation announced it entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the assets of Changzhou Sinya Electromotor Co. Ltd., Jiangsu Southern Sinya Electric Co. Ltd. and Changzhou Xiesheng Plastic Co. Ltd. (collectively Sinya). Sinya operations are located in Changzhou, China and will primarily produce electric motors for the HVAC industry. Completion of the acquisition is subject to the fulfillment of certain conditions precedent to closing. The purchase price was not disclosed.

“This acquisition is a demonstration of our commitment to expand our commercial presence in high growth markets, to continue to support our global customer base and to continue to expand our global manufacturing footprint,” said Regal-Beloit CEO Henry W. Knueppel.

The acquisition is the second wholly owned China based company for Regal-Beloit. The business reported sales of $38.7 million and net income of $2.7 million for 2005.

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Carlson Holdings acquires Mid-Atlantic Fasteners
Carlson Holdings Inc. completed its acquisition of Mid-Atlantic Fasteners, a distribution company committed to providing customers with quality products and services primarily for the fastening and packaging industries.

Mid-Atlantic Fasteners was founded in 1948 and has 23 sales offices and distribution centers located in Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia, with its corporate offices located in Jessup, Md.

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NetSuite introduces wholesale/distribution vertical suite
NetSuite Inc. announced the release of NetSuite Wholesale/Distribution Edition, the first on-demand vertical suite for distributors.

With NetSuite Wholesale/Distribution Edition, wholesalers and distributors can manage their entire business cycle from lead generation through sales, warehouse and inventory management and shipping, with accounting support throughout.

"Distributors try to cobble together multiple business applications, and numerous spreadsheets, to manage the complexity of this industry," said Stephen Wolfe, general manager of NetSuite Wholesale/Distribution. "With NetSuite, distributors stop wasting precious resources and start focusing on increasing customer service levels, cutting costs and growing their business."

For more information about NetSuite Wholesale/Distribution Edition, visit www.netsuite.com/wholesale_distribution.

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Weiler to expand offices, distribution center
Weiler Corporation, a manufacturer of power brushes for the welding, fabrication and manufacturing industries, is adding approximately 40,000 square feet to its Cresco, Pa., facility.

The building project will encompass a 25,000-square-foot addition to its offices and a 16,000 square foot addition to its existing 55,000 square foot distribution center.

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Manufacturers to increase online marketing in 2006
Over 75 percent of manufacturing companies will be increasing their online marketing budgets in 2006, according to the results of an annual survey of industrial marketing executives conducted by SVM E-Business Solutions.

The study, which surveyed more than 220 marketing executives at U.S. manufacturing firms, found that online marketing efforts are producing tangible results for manufacturers, and the vast majority of respondents plan to ramp up their online marketing efforts to address their most important business challenges in 2006.

"This study confirms that online marketing should be an essential component of a manufacturer's overall marketing mix," said Bob DeStefano, president of SVM E-Business Solutions. "Industrial marketers who hesitate to embrace online marketing will miss a critical opportunity to increase sales, grow market share and strengthen relationships with customers."

Among many other significant points, the 2006 E-Business Trends in Manufacturing Report identified the following key industrial marketing trends.

Web sites are becoming the hub of industrial marketing. The Web is increasingly becoming the hub of manufacturers marketing efforts. In fact, over half of all manufacturers consider their Web site to be their most powerful marketing tool.

Manufacturers are turning to search engine marketing to help drive sales lead generation efforts. About half of industrial marketers engaged in some form of search engine marketing in 2005, and this will increase significantly in 2006.

Manufacturers consider online marketing more effective than traditional marketing because it makes a measurable impact on their business. Industrial marketers feel online marketing is more effective at producing measurable, business-building, results.

To download a copy of the 2006 E-Business Trends in Manufacturing Report, please go to http://www.svmsolutions.com/survey.

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PTDA: Distributor sales climb in February
In February, U.S. distributors’ year-to-date sales of power transmission/motion control (PT/MC) products rose 11.1 percent compared to sales for January through February 2005, according to the Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA). Sales increased 8.9 percent over the previous month and were up 10.1 percent compared to February 2005.

Days sales in accounts receivables decreased 4.3 percent compared to January 2006 and were down 2.5 percent compared to the same month last year. Annualized sales-to-inventory ratio in February was 9.0, compared to 9.4 in 2005.

For February, the confidence level of U.S. distributors rose to 7.0 from 6.8 in January on a 10-point scale.

In February, U.S. manufacturers’ year-to-date sales of PT/MC products grew 10.7 percent compared to sales for January through February 2005. Sales were up 7.5 percent compared to the previous month and increased 5.6 percent compared to February 2005.

Compared to January, sales of mounted bearings, unmounted bearings, standard industrial motors, positioning system/linear motion products, gear products, mechanical drive systems and other PT products, clutches and brakes, and shaft couplings increased. Sales of variable speed drives decreased.

Year-to-date orders of PT/MC products from U.S. manufacturers grew 11.8 percent compared to 2005. February orders increased 9.4 percent over January and were up 11 percent compared to February 2005. Annualized sales-to-inventory ratio in February was 9.8, compared to 10.8 in 2005.

For February, the confidence level of U.S. manufacturers remained flat at 5.6 on a 10-point scale.

Click here to view the charts.

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ISM: PMI slips in March
Economic activity in the manufacturing sector grew in March for the 34th consecutive month, while the overall economy grew for the 53rd consecutive month, according to the latest Manufacturing Report On Business from the Institute for Supply Management (ISM).

"The manufacturing sector, led by continued strength in new orders and production, continued to grow in March," said Norbert J. Ore, chair of the ISM Manufacturing Business Survey Committee. " The first quarter is now complete, and the ISM data indicates that it was a good quarter for U.S. manufacturing. Prices are still a major concern, particularly in the energy and metals markets. In general, manufacturing continues to experience a significant level of growth."

The PMI indicates that the manufacturing economy grew in March for the 34th consecutive month as it registered 55.2 percent, a decrease of 1.5 percentage points when compared to February's seasonally adjusted reading of 56.7 percent.

A reading above 50 percent indicates that the manufacturing economy is generally expanding; below 50 percent indicates that it is generally contracting.

The March PMI indicates that both the overall economy and the manufacturing sector are growing. The past relationship between the PMI and the overall economy indicates that the average PMI for January through March (55.6 percent) corresponds to a 4.7 percent increase in real gross domestic product (GDP). In addition, if the PMI for March (55.2 percent) is annualized, it corresponds to a 4.5 percent increase in real GDP annually.

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Makita USA names sweepstakes winner
Makita USA Inc. recently announced the winner of its national Maximum Impact Sweepstakes: Karen Hearn of Chatham, Va., won the Max’d Out National Grand Prize consisting of a Weekend with Ricky and a Suzuki RM-Z450.

The Weekend with Ricky is an all-expense paid trip for two to Carmichael MX Kamp with the reigning 2005 AMA Supercross/Motocross Champion Ricky Carmichael, plus she will get $1,000 spending cash.

Karen Hearn entered the Maximum Impact Sweepstakes online at www.makitatools.com while registering her husband’s new Makita power tool.

Her husband, Grant, is an electrician/mechanic at Columbia Forest Paneling Products in Chatham, where he uses Makita power tools on a daily basis. Her entire family are huge Supercross and Ricky Carmichael fans.

“It is rewarding to be able to present a loyal customer and Supercross fan with the Maximum Impact Sweepstakes grand prize,” said Brent Withey, Makita brand marketing manager.  “After speaking with Karen it is clear that she and her husband take great pride in their work and are thrilled about winning.”

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PathGuide names new president, CEO
PathGuide’s board of directors promoted Eric Allais, vice president of sales and marketing, to president and CEO of the company.

“We are very confident that Eric can build on the company’s strong reputation and capitalize on what we see as major growth opportunities – particularly in the wholesale/industrial distribution sector,” said David Allais, founder and chairman of the company.

According to Eric Allais, PathGuide’s warehouse automation and time and attendance software initiatives will continue to extend the value added functions and performance requirements of the company’s broad portfolio of customers. 

“Thanks to the spectacular bottom line results PathGuide’s clients have experienced with Latitude and OASYS software, the business outlook for the company is excellent,” Eric Allais said.

Eric Allais has lead PathGuide’s marketing and sales efforts for the past seven years. Prior to joining the company, he held numerous marketing positions for 18 years with Intermec Technologies Corporation, most recently as senior product manager. He received a business administration degree from Central Washington University and M.B.A. from City University.

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NIBA to hold convention in September
The Belting Association will hold its three-day convention September 16-19 at Westin Mission Hills, Rancho Mirage, California, with the theme, Strike the Right Balance, People-Performance-Profits.

Keynote speaker Keith Harrell returns to the NIBA convention to address delegates on the topic, Connect: Building success through people, performance & profits.

Dr. Kevin Freiberg will speak on creating a workplace that explodes with productivity, passion and profitability. In addition, workshops on vital business topics Time: The Currency of the 21st Century and Trends in Business Globalization will be featured.

NIBA’s Conference Booth Program is Sept. 19, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Other events for business and social interaction include an opening welcome evening, tours, golf outing, three spouse/companion programs, and a farewell evening with buffet dinner and entertainment.

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Construction spending falls in February
The Department of Commerce announced that construction spending during February 2006 was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.2 trillion, 0.8 percent above the revised January estimate.

The February figure is 7.4 percent above the February 2005 estimate of $1.1 trillion.

During the first two months of this year, construction spending amounted to $161.5 billion, 8.5 percent above the $149 billion for the same period in 2005.

Total commercial construction fell to $74.8 billion in February from $76.5 billion in January. The February 2005 total was $73.2 billion.

"The biggest worries are materials costs and availability," said Ken Simonson, chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). "As AGC's latest Construction Inflation Alert documented, numerous materials are going up in price much faster than are consumer items or most producer costs. An agreement with Mexico to allow cement into the U.S. for a duty of $3 per metric ton instead of the previous $26 takes effect today, and that may provide limited relief for some regions. But I fear cement shortages will reappear this spring. And by fall, there may be shortages of liquid asphalt. Several refiners have announced they plan to curb asphalt production as they produce lower-sulfur diesel fuel."

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Applied acquires Minnesota Bearing Company
Applied Industrial Technologies announced the acquisition of Minnesota Bearing Company, a distributor of bearings, power transmission and related specialty products headquartered in Minneapolis.

Applied acquired all divisions of Minnesota Bearing, which include Iowa Bearing Company, Western Bearing & Supply Company, and Nebraska Bearing Company, as well as Air-Hydraulic Systems Inc., a full-service provider of hydraulic and pneumatic components and systems.

Founded in 1936, Minnesota Bearing operates nine locations throughout the Upper Midwest, including Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota and Wisconsin. Annual sales for the company are approximately $35 million.

Minnesota Bearing serves a broad range of customers in virtually every industry. Air-Hydraulic Systems specializes in developing systems for taconite mining and processing, logging, food processing, energy, manufacturing, agriculture and construction. Together, the Minnesota Bearing divisions produce multi-product systems, install equipment, make repairs and offer preventive maintenance.

"The strength of Minnesota Bearing, together with the expertise of Air- Hydraulic Systems, provide a good fit with Applied in terms of both product and service capabilities," said Todd Barlett, Applied's vice president-Acquisitions and Global Business Development. "Minnesota Bearing's technical knowledge and geographic coverage strengthens our position in the Upper Midwest and creates opportunities for additional growth. We are also pleased to add Air-Hydraulic Systems to our growing fluid power business as part of this transaction."

Tony Greaton, a 36-year veteran who has held numerous management positions, will assume the new title of regional manager for the Minnesota Bearing Company locations, reporting to Benjamin Mondics, Applied's vice president-Midwest Area. Air-Hydraulic Systems will operate as a subsidiary within Applied's fluid power business unit led by Warren Hoffner III, vice president-Fluid Power.

"As a part of Applied, Minnesota Bearing will be able to offer a far greater assortment of products, services and resources to better support our customers," said Robert Weiser, owner and CEO of Minnesota Bearing Company.

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Parker Hannifin buys majority share in Kuroda Pneumatics
Parker Hannifin Corp. acquired 70 percent of the shares of Japan-based Kuroda Pneumatics Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Kuroda Precision Industries Ltd. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Kuroda Pneumatics employs 150 people and had 2005 sales of approximately $50 million.

"This transaction strengthens Parker's automation business capabilities to better serve the Japanese marketplace," said Roger Sherrard, president of Parker's Automation Group. "The deepening relationship between Parker and Kuroda will provide a strong platform for growth in the region and build on our proven record of delivering customer value. This partnership also supports our longer term commitment to accelerating the company's growth in the Asia Pacific region overall."

Kuroda Pneumatics is a unit of Kuroda Precision Industries Ltd., a company in which Parker holds a 33 percent stake. Kuroda Pneumatics manufactures high performance actuators, cylinders, valves, controls and other related products for a wide variety of industrial automation applications. 

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Lewis-Goetz purchases Goodall Rubber Co.
Industrial distributor Lewis-Goetz and Company Inc. agreed to acquire the assets of Goodall Rubber Company from Trelleborg AB, a Swedish manufacturing firm. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed but the company expects to close the acquisition on April 28.

“The acquisition of Goodall Rubber Co. marks a continuation of our strategy to acquire industrial rubber distributors in geographic and industrial markets that provide diversification opportunities for our company," said David R. Goetz Sr., chairman, CEO and president of Lewis-Goetz. "This particular transaction expands Lewis-Goetz’s scope into much of the Canadian market as well as the Gulf Coast, the Midwest and the West Coast of the U.S.”

The combined company’s revenues will exceed $200 million.

Lewis-Goetz operates distribution facilities from the East Coast to the Great Lakes and south to Florida. Goodall’s assets include distribution locations throughout Canada and the U.S. In all, the combined companies will have more than 50 locations throughout North America. The transaction also includes a hose manufacturing facility in Collingwood, Ontario. This marks the 12th acquisition in the last 21 years for Lewis-Goetz.

The board of directors of Lewis-Goetz also announced the following organizational changes.

George (Randy) Fox was named chief operating officer and general counsel for the company. Fox served as outside counsel for 10 years and as a member of the board for the past six years.

Jeff Crane was named president of the company. Crane went to work for the company in 2003 after an 11-year career with Goodyear. Most recently, he managed the southern region of Lewis-Goetz and has been a member of the board since 2004.

Scott Johnson was named executive vice president and general manager of Lewis-Goetz. Johnson went to work for the company in 2002 as part of the acquisition of Industrial Rubber Products Company of Charleston, W.Va. For the past 18 months, Johnson served as vice president of sales and marketing. Johnson was also named to the board of directors of the company.

Jim Thieman was named executive vice president of supply chain logistics. Thieman began his career with the company in 1973. He served in outside sales and a variety of operating roles within the company. Most recently, Thieman has been executive vice president of operations and a member of the board since 2000.

John Veon was named vice president and general manager of the Pittsburgh division. Veon worked for the company since 1990 and spent time in outside sales and conveyor belt products marketing. He served as the general manager of the Pittsburgh division for the last three years.

Scott Holquist was named vice president of national account sales. Holquist went to work for the company in 1992 as part of the acquisition of Shields Rubber Company. He spent the majority of his career in high-profile, outside sales assignments.

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PTDA to hold industry summit in October
The Power Transmission Distributors Association (PTDA) 2006 Industry Summit will be held Oct. 26-28 at the Boston Marriott Copley Place in Boston. 

Themed “Forging Success, Making History,” the 2006 event is designed to help members make their mark on the industry. Sessions will help attendees grow business and the bottom line by honing leadership and talent management skills, implementing value selling tactics and tools, and strengthening business relationships.

As the premier networking and educational event for the power transmission/motion control distribution industry, PTDA’s Industry Summit provides unparalleled networking opportunities, outstanding educational programming and exceptional social events.

Highlights of the 2006 program include:
• Keynote presentation by Keith Freiburg on how manufacturers and distributors can make meaningful and lasting change within their organizations.

• Futurist and economist Lowell Catlett’s keynote presentation on evolving technologies and their impact on daily life and economic trends.

• A workshop by Kevin Asbjornson of PianoOne LLC on how business owners and managers can unlock their organizations’ creative potential, creating meaningful connections and becoming inspired leaders.

• A tactical session with Chris Frieburger on why talent management is critical to any organization’s success and how to implement a successful program, including a succession plan.

• A workshop on communicating with customers, consultative selling techniques and overcoming price objections by Joe Ellers of Palmetto Associates.

• Demonstration on how to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of potential technology innovations; getting sales force buy-in; and the impact of technology on employee efficiency, recruitment and retention.

• Panel of PTDA members discussing their involvement with the PTDA Foundation’s Industrial Careers Pathway initiative, plus opportunities for attendees to benefit and get involved. 

• Dialogue with directors of PTDA’s board and Manufacturer Council as part of new distributor and manufacturer Town Hall meetings.

• One-on-one discussions with current and potential business partners as part of the Manufacturer-Distributor Idea Exchange (MD-IDEX).

• Elegant networking event with unparalleled views of the Boston skyline at the Prudential Center’s Skywalk.

• Golf outing at Granite Links and tours of area attractions.

The PTDA Industry Summit is open to all employees of member companies and qualified prospects. For more information, contact PTDA at or . 

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BSA to celebrate 40 years
The Bearing Specialists Association (BSA) will celebrate its 40th anniversary at its 2006 Annual Convention, scheduled for April 22-25 at the Ritz-Carlton Sarasota in Sarasota, Florida.

BSA was founded in 1966 by the merger of the former Anti-Friction Bearing Distributors Association and the Association of Bearing Distributors. Since then it has developed into an association of international authorized distributors of ball-, roller- and other anti-friction bearings and their participating manufacturers.

Industry education, training, the crucial role of bearings within the greater manufacturing context, and the ability to nimbly respond to important industry issues have been hallmarks of BSA.

BSA also launched a new Web site at www.bsahome.org to better serve the needs of association members, industry leaders, and others who use it as a bearing industry resource.

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Factory orders increase in February
New orders for manufactured goods in February, up four of the last five months, increased $800 million or 0.2 percent to $401.9 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported. This followed a 3.9 percent January decrease.

New orders for manufactured durable goods in February, up four of the last five months, increased $5.6 billion or 2.7 percent to $215.8 billion, revised from the previously published 2.6 percent increase. This followed an 8.9 percent January decrease.

Transportation equipment, up four of the last five months, had the largest increase, $7.6 billion or 13.6 percent to $63.1 billion.

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Private equity firms purchase Activant Solutions
Activant Solutions Inc. signed a definitive agreement to be acquired by funds affiliated with private equity investment firm Hellman & Friedman LLC and private equity investment firm Thoma Cressey Equity Partners.

The firms will acquire Activant Solutions Holdings Inc and all its subsidiaries from investment funds affiliated with HM Capital Partners LLC, which have approved the transaction.

Activant is a premier technology provider of vertical business management solutions serving small- and medium-sized retail and wholesale distribution businesses. Activant provides customers with software, professional services, content, supply chain connectivity, and analytics. More than 30,000 customer locations use an Activant solution to manage their day-to-day operations.

“Over the past year, Activant has been on a steady and fast-paced climb in the market through organic growth and acquisitions,” said Larry Jones, CEO of Activant Solutions.  “While we have looked at a number of strategic options to best position the company for the future, we believe we have found the right partners in Hellman & Friedman and Thoma Cressey to continue the company’s success.”

The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals, as well as satisfaction of other customary closing conditions, and is expected to close during Activant’s third fiscal quarter ending June 30, 2006. Activant’s existing debt will be refinanced in connection with the transaction.

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IBC names new president
IBC announced that Daniel P. Burnham was named the company’s new president. In this role he will continue to develop the IBC internal team, support IBC members and suppliers and assertively drive the company to bid and win local, regional and national account business.

IBC was founded in 1999 by Dan Burnham and former IBC president Ed Sullivan with the goal of helping the independent distributor compete against national distributors in the industrial marketplace.

”In just over six years IBC has become a force in the marketplace,” said Burnham, whose previous position at IBC was EVP of business development. “We knew it was important to ramp up quickly, but at the same time we had to challenge Ron Nunez (IBC chief operating officer) and his team to build the operational and technological infrastructure to support our growth. As we look to 2006 and beyond, it’s comforting to know that we invested wisely in our scaleable systems and will have the infrastructure to support the amount of business our distributors are bringing into the fold.”

“Our 2006 goals are very clear and with the team of people we have assembled, I have no doubt we will exceed them in each category," said Ron Nunez, chief operating officer at IBC. "This year we will be building our brand, growing our membership, fine-tuning our supplier base, completing the janitorial and electrical divisions and enhancing our internal operations. As a result, independent distributors who are looking to defend local business will continue to be uniquely positioned for growth along with their partners in all IBC’s product divisions.”

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Goodyear Engineered Products names North American VP
To support continued growth, Goodyear Engineered Products named a commercial and manufacturing veteran to lead its North America business.

Jim Pecorelli, former director of global manufacturing for the business, has become vice president and general manager of its North America region.

Pecorelli had been director of global manufacturing for the business since 2003. Before that, he held consecutive general manager positions for the company's industrial power transmission product, hose and conveyor belt businesses over an eight-year span.

Goodyear Engineered Products has had tremendous sales growth the past few years, according to its president, Tim Toppen. The business recently reported 2005 sales of more than $1.6 billion, an 11 percent increase over the previous year.

"Jim¹s expertise and leadership skills strengthen the link between our sales and marketing, manufacturing and supply chain operations to support continued sales growth," said Toppen. "Externally, he knows our customers and understands the markets and channels. Internally, he has led our commercial and manufacturing teams."

Pecorelli said his goal is to build on the current momentum in the business.

"We're focused on market-driven excellence and flawless execution at every step of the supply chain," he said. "Our business competencies deliver innovative, valued products and efficient, seamless service to customers."

Pecorelli joined Goodyear in 1982, after graduating from Ohio University with a bachelor of science degree in industrial technology.

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Darex to send bit sharpeners to U.S. troops in Iraq
Industrial drill sharpener Darex was awarded a contract to provide their drill sharpeners to U.S. soldiers in Iraq. Darex will ship the V390 Darex Drill Sharpeners as part of a tool kit to support our soldier’s safety.

“Our servicemen are now getting what they need to help protect them, “said Darex sales manager Lana Hjorten, who worked putting this deal together for more than a year. "This kit is designed to assist with the repair of armor plating on HUMVEE vehicles, as well as the installation of satellite antennas for global positioning systems that allows vehicles to be located and contacted anywhere. Existing communication equipment was basically line-of-sight. With our sharpener, soldiers in the field can easily sharpen their dull drill bits, fix armor plates and make other repairs on their vehicles."

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TGI launches new functionality in latest enterprise software
As part of its 2006 Users Conference last month, Technology Group International (TGI) revealed a significant amount of software enhancements in the newest release of Enterprise 21.

Version 6.5 offers a substantial amount of new functionality ranging from user specific dashboards and trending reports to enhanced CRM functionality and third-party integration.

The newest release of Enterprise 21 is available to all maintenance customers as part of their standard support agreement.

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Hughes Supply posts fiscal year gains
For the fourth quarter ended Jan. 31, Hughes Supply's net sales were $1.4 billion, an increase of 23 percent from $1.1 billion in the previous year's fourth quarter.

Net income grew 58 percent to $32.8 million compared to $20.7 million in the previous year's fourth quarter. Earnings per diluted share grew 58 percent to 49 cents, compared to 31 cents per diluted share.

For the fiscal year, net sales were a record $5.44 billion, an increase of 23 percent from $4.42 billion in the previous fiscal year. 

Net income grew 23 percent to a record $151.7 million compared to $123.7 million in the previous fiscal year. Earnings per diluted share grew 16 percent to $2.27, compared to $1.95 per diluted share in the previous fiscal year.

"Thanks to the exceptional efforts of our employees, net sales, earnings and all key metrics for the year exceeded our original goals and surpassed the extraordinary results of the prior fiscal year. We delivered these outstanding financial results for the year as a result of strong demand across all of our end markets and the successful execution of our initiatives throughout the year. The record sales, earnings and cash flow we achieved are a continuing indication of the tremendous growth and profit improvement opportunities available in our company and our industry," stated Tom Morgan, president and CEO.

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ITW reports favorable results in latest three months
Illinois Tool Works Inc. reported an operating revenue increase of 7 percent for the three months ended Feb. 28, 2006. Operating revenues for the three-month period consisted of 5 percent growth from base revenues and a 6 percent increase from acquisitions.

Currency translation and intercompany sales lowered revenues 4 percent in the period. Strong demand from North American end markets, particularly those served by the company's specialty systems business units, continued to drive base revenue growth.

On a manufacturing segment basis, the company's three-month moving average percentage change for operating revenues, comprised of base revenues and acquisitions, is provided below.

After two months of actual results, the company experienced much stronger base revenue growth and operating margin performance than originally anticipated. As a result, the company is now raising its 2006 first quarter forecasted range of earnings to $1.23 to $1.27 from the prior forecast of $1.12 to $1.18.

For full-year 2006, the company also is increasing its forecasted range of earnings to $5.76 to $5.94 from the earlier forecast of $5.60 to $5.78. 

For the first quarter, base revenues are now expected to grow in a range of 4.9 percent to 5.7 percent. For the full-year, base revenues are forecasted to grow in a range of 4.2 percent to 5.6 percent.

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