ISA Economic Indicators Report drops for second consecutive month

According to the latest Industrial Supply Association’s Economic Indicators Report (EIR), activity among its manufacturer and distributor members decreased for the second month in a row but remains in positive territory. The report showed manufacturer activity in April at 58.92% compared to 61.82% the previous month and the distributor index at 57.8% compared to 62.6% [...]

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Demand for industrial control equipment rises

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association’s Primary Industrial Controls Index increased 11.3% on a quarter-to-quarter basis during the first three months of 2012. The index stands 12% above its year-ago level and 52% above the cyclical trough observed in mid-2009. The Primary Industrial Controls and Adjustable Speed Drives Index, a broader measure of industrial control demands, [...]

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ELANTAS acquires casting resins business of Marbo Group

ELANTAS Electrical Insulation, a division of the German-based specialty chemicals group ALTANA AG, has acquired the casting resins business for electrical and electronic applications of the Italian Marbo Group. The casting resins business of Marbo includes products for the encapsulation or coating of electronic components with insulation materials (compounds). ELANTAS will mainly take over Marbo’s customers [...]

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PTDA Business Index for first quarter of 2012 indicates expansion and sales growth

The Power Transmission Distributors Association Business Index indicated that the first quarter of this year was the eighth consecutive quarter for business growth among PTDA members, with a reading of 75.4. Compared with a reading of 67.3 for the fourth quarter of 2011, the recently released first quarter results indicate the power transmission/motion control industry [...]

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March manufacturing technology orders up 11.3%

March U.S. manufacturing technology orders totaled $495.97 million according to AMT – The Association For Manufacturing Technology, based in McLean, Va. This total, as reported by companies participating in the U.S. Manufacturing Technology Orders (USMTO) program, was up 11.3% from February but down 1.4% when compared with the total of $502.89 million reported for March [...]

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Horace Barks, 1921-2012

Horace B. Barks, publisher and president of Barks Publications, Inc., died May 1 following a long illness. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, May 11. Friends and business associates who are able to attend are invited to call our office for details: 312-321-9440. In lieu of flowers, Mr. Barks’s family [...]

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ABB reports growth in the first quarter of 2012

ABB, the Zurich, Switzerland-based electrical manufacturer, reported higher orders and revenues in the first quarter of 2012, led by growth in North America. Operational Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortization (EBITDA) declined 7% compared to the same quarter a year earlier while net income was up 5%. Orders were 2% above the high levels [...]

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EBCI for North American conditions slowed in April

The National Electrical Manufacturers Association’s (NEMA) Electroindustry Business Confidence Index (EBCI) for current North American conditions retreated nearly 13 points in April to 59.1, following a sharp run-up earlier in the year to its highest levels since 2005. Despite the slide seen in the latest month, the index continues to point to an “economic environment [...]

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APEM celebrates 60 years of switch manufacturing

APEM, a Haverhill, Mass.-based manufacturer of industrial switches and joysticks, announced that it is celebrating its 60th anniversary. From its founding in 1952 as a manufacturer of toggle switches,  APEM has grown into a manufacturing group with more than 120 product lines produced in 12 manufacturing facilities across 4 continents. The company today supplies professional [...]

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ISA economic report down slightly from last month but expansion continues

According to the latest Industrial Supply Association Economic Indicators Report (EIR), activity among its manufacturer and distributor members dipped slightly compared to last month but remains in positive territory. The report showed manufacturer activity at 61.82% compared to 63.99% the previous month and the distributor index at 62.86% compared to 64.83% in February. For each [...]

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