Industry News

MiTek realigns Benson, SidePlate and Ultra-Span structural framing brands

The three brands will now be offered as MiTek portfolio products. 

US LBM acquires Texas-based Higginbotham Brothers

Building materials leader expands network to more than 320 locations nationwide.

75th National Hardware Show is set for October 21-23, 2021 in Las Vegas

Show launches new NHS Connects as digital home of NHS.

Werner to offer on-site and virtual safety training for annual Safety Stand-Down

Werner will continue free virtual training programs when OSHA’s annual safety events return in May; Fall Protection and Ladder Safety trainings offered nationwide.

Milwaukee Tool announces plans to expand into downtown Milwaukee

New downtown facility will house 1,200 employees.

Dirteeze partners with Moffitt for Mid-Ohio 150 race

Dirteeze trade wipes join Thad Moffitt’s No. 46 Ford Fusion race team.

U.S. construction spending inches up in March

Residential construction leads the industry again, with a 1.7 percent increase month-over-month.

Drillco Cutting Tools adds new Director of Sales

Tracy Miller will lead sales efforts in Drillco's western USA territories.

Promotion offers a $20 gift card rebate when select SuperFinisher® tools are purchased and registered online.

DEUTZ promotes Brian Monaco to business development manager

Monaco has been with DEUTZ since 2007.

Remote boom control now available on select JLG Telehandlers

New feature enables operators to control the boom from outside the cab.

Simpson Strong-Tie sponsors Building Safety Month in May

Building Safety Month builds awareness of safe, sustainable structures.

Topcon releases MAGNET 7

Latest release of construction and survey software streamlines workflows through GNSS receivers, total stations, and other positioning tools and instruments.

ARA launches online Job Board

Board will connect employers and qualified candidates.

Handling Systems International, Inc. partners with W.H. Humphrey, Inc. Sales

Humphrey will be H.S.I.'s new rep agency for the Ohio River Valley, Upstate New York and Lower Michigan.

Coxreels announces price increase

Soaring materials costs force a 5.2-percent increase.

Motion Industries names NSK Supplier of the Year

NSK is the top supplier of bearings in Japan and the third largest in the world by market share.

U.S. new home sales soar 20.7 percent in March

Average sales price nears $400,000 as buyers scramble for deals.

Owens Corning Pure Safety High-Performance Insulation named a Hot 50 Product

2021 Editors’ Choice Hot 50 Products recognize the top green products.

Equipment finance industry confidence at all-time high in April

Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation Monthly Confidence Index shows 73.3% of  respondents believe U.S. economic conditions will improve over the next six months.

Makita U.S.A. breaks ground on major expansion in Atlanta region

Ceremony marks the beginning of construction of new state-of-the-art facility.

NEFCO acquires Sigma Engineering Int’l

Sigma provides structural engineering services to the construction industry.

Milwaukee Tool to expand manufacturing in Mississippi

New facility in Grenada will create over 1,200 new jobs.

Snap-on Industrial rebrands as Williams

Rebranding brings Snap-on into the 8,000-SKU Williams family of professional tools.

Channellock strengthens leadership with promotions

Lynn Reynolds is named Marketing Manager; Ken Burchill becomes Product Manager.

STAFDA announces Orlando Associate State-of-the-Industry speaker

Don Kudlak, president, Aerosmith Fastening Systems, will be convention's featured Associate Speaker.

Simpson Strong-Tie donates $20,000 to AAPI Community Fund

Donation will help combat violence and harassment in the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.

BuildFax March Housing Health Report shows housing and renovation activity charging forward

Single-family housing authorizations increased 13.52% year-over-year in March.

OZ Lifting joins WSTDA

The Web Sling & Tie Down Association (WSTDA) promotes the safe operation of synthetic web slings and tie downs.

Yanmar Compact Equipment celebrates 50th anniversary of tracked carrier

In 1971, Yanmar added a cargo box to a crawler combine harvester — and the rest is history.

Dodge Data merges with The Blue Book

Merger will create the most complete construction industry database.

Powermatic celebrates 100 years

Company begins celebration with 7 new commemorative stationary tools.

Evergreen honors professional development recipients at annual conference

Thirty-nine professionals earn Certified Tool Specialist or Certified Operations Specialist credentials.

Fecon restructures dealership program

New tiered structure groups distributors into Associate, Partner or Signature levels according to the depth of their product and service offerings.

Kärcher and R-Zero partner to deliver UV-C disinfection solution across North America

R-Zero’s hospital-grade Arc touchless germicidal UV-C device destroys over 99.99% of surface and airborne pathogens in a 1,000 sq ft space, in just 7 minutes.

Housing starts surge to 15-year high in March

Starts soar 19.4 percent overall; single-family starts increase 15.3 percent for month.

Evergreen recognizes Members and Suppliers of the Year

Colony Hardware and Milwaukee Tool take tier 1 honors.

FEIN lowers prices on its most popular magnetic base drills

Promotion runs through the end of 2021 and includes a free cutter.

Curry Supply strengthens its footprint in Great Lakes region

Curry names John Brun RSM for Indiana, Michigan, Ohio and Western Pennsylvania.

Equipment Leasing & Finance Foundation predicts 5.7 percent GDP growth this year

Q2 update to 2021 Economic Outlook forecasts 11.2% expansion in equipment and software investment growth and 5.7% GDP growth as pandemic wanes.

NAVAC announces return of popular free evacuation tool promotion

The May 1 to September 30 “Need for Speed” promo provides two free evacuation tools when purchasing one of six premium vacuum pumps.

Coxreels issues new aviation industry products catalog

Catalog features products designed to withstand the demands of aviation industry professionals.

AD secures third consecutive Top Workplace award

AD has been recognized as a Top Workplace in the greater Philadelphia region.

Outsmarting the labor shortage: Successfully retain temporary contractors in 2021

GigSmart connects connect businesses and private users looking for labor with local workers.

Southwire again recognized as a U.S. Best Managed Company

Award program is sponsored by Deloitte Private and The Wall Street Journal.

Product Knowledge: Caring for fall protection harnesses

Jendco Safety offers tips for cleaning and maintaining fall protection products.

Jennifer Murphy receives 2021 Women in Distribution Award

NetPlus Alliance President Jennifer Murphy wins MDM award.

Protective Industrial Products appoints new Director of Marketing – Industrial

Laura Proctor brings PIP extensive Fortune 500 safety management experience.

Cross Country Infrastructure Services opens new location in Carrizo Springs, Texas

Cross Country now has 20 locations across the U.S. and Canada.

Construction and factory jobs surge in March

Construction added 110,000 jobs in March; Manufacturing employment rose by 53,000.

Dodge Momentum Index moves up in March

1.7 percent increase brings Index to highest level since mid 2018.

Northern Tool + Equipment acquires Jacks Small Engines

Maryland-based e-commerce parts powerhouse bolsters Northern Tool’s parts and service business.

Simpson Strong-Tie launches national pergola design contest

Contest will find the best pergola design project designed with Simpson's Pergola Planner Software.

Marketing: Makita takes to the road to deliver a truly hands-on cordless product experience

A fleet of custom promotional trucks allows dealers and end users nationwide to demo the world’s largest line of 18V lithium-ion cordless power tools first hand.

JLG launches “Access Your World” experience

Online program features virtual jobsites filled with JLG products and services across multiple applications and stages of construction.

IRCG reviews 2020 Pandemic Revenue Index

Index authors look back at 2020, an unstable year for distributors.

Applications: Mobile home anchoring made easy

The proper tools can make mobile home anchoring a breeze.

GSSI offers in-person and online GPR training

Programs cover correct ground-penetrating radar equipmnent usage in the field.

Road Widener names two new RSMs

Todd Dohnal will serve the eastern U.S. and Europe and Jack Nate will manage the central U.S. and Canada.

U.S. construction spending dips 0.8 percent in February

However, YOY spending tracks at 4.9 percent over February 2020.