Specialty chemicals and ingredients distributor LBB Specialties will consolidate its business divisions under one brand.
Operations
Article
Sonepar’s Springfield Electric Adds Indianapolis Branch
The latest branch to open is located on 96th Street in Indianapolis. with a grand opening planned for later this summer.
Human Resources
Article
Teamsters Head Asks White House Not to Intervene if UPS Workers Strike
A 10-day union strike would reportedly be the nation’s most expensive walk-out in at least 25 years, costing the economy more than $7 billion
Economic Trends
Article
May U.S. Cutting Tool Orders Up 11% vs. April, 20% YoY
The strong growth figures suggest that metal-cutting production has not been drastically affected yet by an industrial slowdown.
Economic Trends
Article
June U.S. Container Imports Down 16% YoY, Top Pre-Pandemic
Compared with 2022, TEU volume was down 16.1% in June, but up 6.0% from pre-pandemic June 2019, according to Descartes.
Operations
Article
Tentative Labor Deal Ends Canada West Coast Port Strike
Port employers reached a tentative agreement on a new four-year deal with the union representing more than 7,000 dockworkers.
Facilities Maintenance (MRO)
Article
Maintenance Distributor AZP Multifamily Abruptly Closes
Also known as AZ Partsmaster, the company reportedly had 2022 sales of approximately $155 million.
Operations
Article
Mid-Coast Electric Supply Rebrands as The Reynolds Company
Mid-Coast was acquired by The Reynolds Company, a subsidiary of McNaughton-McKay Electric Company, in 2021.
Economic Trends
Article
June Wholesale Inflation Nearly Halts at 0.1%
Economists polled by the Wall Street Journal had predicted a 0.2% increase in the producer price index, MarketWatch said.
Operations
Article
Grainger to Add Large Distribution Center in Oregon, 11th Overall
The new Northwest Distribution Center is expected to house more than 135,000 industrial supply items, Grainger said.
Manufacturing
Article
Milwaukee Tool Probed on Alleged Forced Labor in China
Two lawmakers express concerns after an investigative report alleges Chinese prisoners manufacture Milwaukee Tool gloves.
Earnings
Article
Fastenal 2Q Sales & Margins Decelerate Amid Softer Demand
Total year-over-year sales growth of 5.9% was a sharp slowdown compared to 1Q, as daily sales slowed in each month during the quarter.

