Think 2015 Brands

MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. (MSC) is a direct marketer of various industrial products to various customers including industrial customers all across United States. MSC Industrial Direct distribute rang of industrial products to fulfill the requirements of its customers such as MRO (maintenance, repair and operations) supplies requirements.

The company ( excluding J & L) provides more than 500,000 SKUs or stock keeping units through quarterly, monthly, and weekly promotional catalogs, master catalogs, brochures, newspapers and Internet, including company’s website, MSCDirect.com. The company has 95 branch offices and 7 customer centers that include four branch offices and 3 customer fulfillment centers, which are the part of J&L, acquired by the company. The complete integration of J&L with MSC is expected to be completed by end of fiscal year 2007. Till then J&L’s few fulfillment centers for customers will be operational and later on will be merged with MSC’s current logistics network. J&L provides various metal cutting tools, drills, abrasives, accessories for machine tool, gages, and tools for precision measurement and various other tools.

The company offers integrated and high value solutions at lower cost to purchase, administration and management of MRO needs of the customers. The company manages and maintains the purchasing process of the customers by reducing supplies costs and total MRO. To reduce the costs of MRO supplies, company offers several strategies to its customers. Company’s high quality product provides reduction in administrative burden by dealing with suppliers for customers MRO needs. The company provides delivery of its product on same day that reduce the carrying costs and inventory investment. The company also offers the e-commerce facility.

The company has various customers including Fortune 1000, government agencies like GSA (General Services Administration) and USPS (United States Postal Service). The Company has customers in all 50 states of America and primarily operates in US, through seven fulfillment centers for customer (six centers in US and 1 in UK) and 95 branch offices (94 branches in US and 1in the UK).

The company genesis was start in 1941 but MSC Industrial Direct was incorporated in 1995 in New York. On same year company has listed on New York Stock Exchange under the ticker of “ MSM “.During fiscal year ending on August 26, 2006 the company registered a net sales of $1.3billion which is an increase of 19.8% compared to that in FY 2005. This increase is primarily due to government program and national account sectors.

In June 2006, company acquired all outstanding stock of J&L, which was a subsidiary of Kennametal, Inc. The company acquires J & L through its subsidiary, MSC Acquisition Corp. For this acquisition, purchase price was about $349.5 million. Apart from this acquisition of J&L, company and J&L entered into some business arrangements, such as distributor agreement, trademark license agreement, private label agreement, and administrative services agreement.

Products

The company (excluding J & L) provide more than 500,000 SKUs that represent various MRO products, including cutting tools, tooling components, measuring instruments, fasteners, abrasives, flat stock, hand machinery, power tools, raw materials, plumbing machinery, electrical supplies, power transmission etc. The company continuously add new quality product to existing categories. The company offers products from more than one manufacturers and dealers at different prices. Quality levels of the product offer various alternatives for product selection. This type of selection provides various choices to the customer for appropriate product on cost effective manner.

Company’s technical support employees and sales representatives help customers in cost-saving purchases of products. This approach gives repeat business. It is company’s strategy to lower the supply costs of industrial customers. The company directly purchases (excluding J&L) all products from about 2,100 suppliers. Company is not dependent on any suppliers or small group.

Customer Fulfillment Centers

The company has many centers for customer fulfillment. Every product is carried as stock. Approximately 84% of sales happen through customer fulfillment centers. However specialty or customized products with very large orders are directly shipped from manufacturers. Currently company has seven such centers. They are located in Atlanta, Georgia; Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Elkhart, Indiana and Reno, Nevada. There are such centers that were part of acquisition of J&L are Livonia, Michigan, Elk Grove, Illinois; and Wednesbury, United Kingdom.

Publications

One of the important tools for company is its master catalog prepared annually. This again supported by promotional and specialty catalogs and brochures. J&L prepares master catalog twice in a year. The promotional and specialty publications are for specific customers like facilities management, metal fabrication and safety and janitorial. These catalogs and brochure are mailed to customers who are there in database and have good purchasing history. Also such customers pose as potential ones with more requirements. Thus specialty catalogs are more targeted for customers and are effective & more efficient than advertisements.

Official Website : http://www1.mscdirect.com

Xerox is one of the world’s leading company in area of service enterprise and document management. Xerox provides industry’s broadest portfolio of offerings in area of documentation. The company has in its portfolio Digital systems, which include publishing systems and white and black and color printing and publishing systems, multifunction devices, “book factories” and digital presses, fax machines, solid ink & laser network printers and copiers. Xerox also provides services through its experts, which include help businesses in developing online archives of documents, analyze and implement knowledge and document sharing in the office, operate mailrooms and in-house printing shops and build Web-based systems for personalized invoices, direct mail, brochures etc. Xerox also provides associated consumables like toner, ink and paper along with software to run the system. The entire operation of company is employee centric and customer focused with values like diversity, quality and social responsibility.

The company was founded in year 1906 as The Haloid Company. Later in year 1958 the name changed to Haloid Xerox and subsequently got the current name of Xerox Corporation in 1961. The company has 53,700 employees worldwide which includes 28,400 in the United States. Xerox operates in 160 countries and is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut, USA. The company is ranked 142 amongst Fortune 500 ranking.

Xerox has variety of customers which include companies in area of graphic communications, government establishments, education institution, Fortune 1000 corporate, document intensive firms like legal, healthcare and financial services and small business establishments. The company has channel of sales force and independent agents, dealers, system integrators and resellers etc for promoting and providing services.

The company has almost 8,000 sales people, 12,000 employees in managed service at customer sites, and 13,000 employees in technical service. The company also has more than 7,000 agents and more than 10,000 resellers in technology. Xerox also forms alliances with business houses and big IT firms to provide complete integrated solution and service to customers.

Xerox Corporation is listed in New York Stock Exchange under the ticker XRX. The company registered annual revenue of $16 billion in year 2006 which is 1% increase than FY 2005 and income was registered as $1.2billion.

The company acquired Amici LLC which is provider of e-discovery i.e. electronic discovery services which supports regulatory compliance and litigation. Hence Amici is now branded Xerox Litigation Services. Xerox also purchased XMPie, Inc, to increase presence in growing market. XMPie provides products which are used for personalized communications and marketing campaigns which involve email, customized websites and digital printing.

In year 2006, Xerox introduced 14 new products in the market and they have won 200 different industry award. Few of them are as follows:-

• Xerox got certification of excellence from J.D. Power and Associates in area of customer service and support for two years in a row.
• DiversityInc, Fortune, Essence, Black Enterprise, the Human Rights Campaign, Latina Style, the Human and others have awarded the company’s diversity and workplace programs.
• The World Environment, the Chamber of Commerce US, the National Wildlife Federation Community etc have awarded company’s environmental efforts
• The company has been consistently ranked amongst the “Most Admired” companies by Fortune magazine.
• Xerox was ranked No. 1 by computers industry for 2006 in area of “social responsibility”.

The company has following segments which are used for reporting purposes:-

• Production: This segment caters to 28.81% of total business i.e. $4.5 billion. It provides high end color systems and digital monochrome systems for clients in communication & graphics industry. The devices include digital printing, enterprise printing and full-color printing. The company has FreeflowTM which is a digital workflow and can improve content creation & management. In 2006 company introduced following products Xerox iGen3 90; Xerox DocuColor® 5000; Xerox 4590 EPS & 4110® EPS; Xerox DocuTech®, Custom Color Program; XMPie: Xerox Nuvera TM, which is digital perfecting system.
• Office: This segment caters to 47.97% of total business i.e. $7.6 billion. It caters to national, global regions covering small to medium customers. It also covers government, education and public sector clients. It has black and white as well as color multifunctional systems that Color and black-and-white multifunction systems that combine copying, printing, scanning and faxing. It also has laser and solid ink color printers which can be networked in office space. It also provides necessary software to enhance productivity and streamline the information flow and storage. The primary products of this segment include: Phaser®, WorkCentre®, , DocuShare®, office document assessment and CentreWare®.
• DMO (Developing Markets Operations): This segment caters to 12.19% of total business i.e. $1.9 billion. It includes sales, marketing and servicing of company products in developing markets like Brazil, Latin America, India, Eurasia, the Middle East, Africa and East-Central Europe. This segment utilizes subsidiaries, Joint ventures, distributors, affiliates, resellers and dealers to manage business of servicing.
• Others: This segment caters to 11.03% of total business i.e. $1.7 billion. This segment primarily incorporates wide format systems, paper sales and value adding services. It provides paper of various sizes to customer as per their printing needs. Its value added services include providing solution to customers’ document output and infrastructure requirements. It helps in simplifying, streamlining and digitizing the processes which are document intensive.

Official Website : http://www.xerox.com/

Lincoln Electric Holdings is manufacturing & reselling company, which is into whole range of products related to cutting and welding. The company’s welding products are systems related to wire-feeding, arc welding power sources, packages for robotic welding, consumable fluxes and electrodes and equipment for fume extraction. The Company also produces torches and regulators that are utilized in oxy-fuel cutting and welding. Apart from this core production the Company is in soldering and the brazing alloys market.

The Company manufactures various wire feeding systems and arc welding power sources that are used in various technology such as basic units of light maintenance and manufacturing and various machines used in robotic applications, fabrication and welding production. The company produces three types of primary arc welding electrodes i.e. stick or coated manual electrodes, solid electrodes which are produced in drum or coil reel forms for feeding in continuous manner in welding and cored electrodes which is produced in form of coil form continuous feeding.

Lincoln Electric Holdings has various manufacturing facilities in joint venture or fully-owned subsidiaries in United States, Brazil, Australia, Canada, United Kingdom, Colombia, Germany, France, Ireland, Indonesia, Italy, the Netherlands, Mexico, China, Spain, Poland, Turkey, Venezuela and Taiwan. The company has two operating segments in Europe and North America and all other operating units located in various geographic locations are combined under the segments of Other Countries. This Other Countries segments includes operations of Company’s businesses in Australia, Argentina, Brazil, Indonesia, Colombia, China, Mexico, Venezuela and Taiwan. The Company has it’s headquarter along with manufacturing facilities in Cleveland, Ohio portion of the United States. In addition, the Company has manufacturing in four other locations in the United States and 30 other manufacturing locations, which includes joint ventures as well, in 18 foreign countries

In 1895 John C. Lincoln founded The Lincoln Electric Company. In 1998, reorganization of The Lincoln Electric Company was done into a structure of holding company. The new company got the name that is Lincoln Electric Holdings, Inc and it became a publicly-held company and parent company of all subsidiaries of Lincoln Electric. The company has headquartered in Cleveland and has various joint ventures in 19 countries. The company has various sales offices in over 160 countries.

The Company has under its name various valuable patents, which are primarily in arc welding area. It has lead to increase in process application both in the United States and international jurisdictions.

Common shares of the company are traded on The NASDAQ under the ticker “LECO.” The net sales of the company for 2006 had an increased 23.2% to $1.97 billion from $1.60 billion in 2005. The net sale increased by $248,048 due to volume and $54,496 due to acquisitions.
In October, 2006, Lincoln Electric Holdings acquired all stock of Metrode Products Limited. It is a manufacturer of quality welding equipment and has headquartered in London, England. The Company acquired SPAWMET Sp. z.o.o. in March 2007. It is a producer of stick electrode products. In July 2007, the company acquired all stocks of Nanjing Kuang Tai Welding Material Co., Ltd. It is a Naniing, China based company and produced stick electrode products
Lincoln Electric’s providing cost-effective, most innovative, quality cutting and welding solutions to the various companies from more than 100 years. Lincoln make its highly advanced tools through comprehensive and aggressive product development and research program. These types of programs are done in David C. Lincoln Technology Center. The company has highly qualified work force and incentive management and various compensation systems.

The products of the company are sold and distributed in domestic as well as international markets. The products, In North America, are sold primarily through retailers, industrial distributors, and directly to users. The Company has an organization for international sales, in outside North America, that include employees and various agents that sell products to agents, distributors, product users and dealers.
Following are the company’s end user market.

• General metal fabrication
• Infrastructure industry
• Defense and Transportation industries
• Heavy equipment industries
• Retail resellers
• Rental market

The primary raw materials, which are required in operation of the company, are various electronics, steel, chemicals, brass, engines, aluminum and copper alloys. These are all available in open market.

The Company has acquired ISO 9001 certification in nearly all facilities across the world. The Company also has acquired ISO 14001 certification for its manufacturing facilities in the United States and is in process of acquiring the same in other manufacturing facilities worldwide.

The Company has understanding that it is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of equipment and consumables in the field with only three or four major companies in competition. However there exist many numerous small players. The company is planning for strategies to align supply chain and reduce cost by having low cost manufacturing locations.

Official Website : http://www.lincolnelectric.com

Kennametal is a global company that provides engineered components, tooling, and materials. These products are used in various production processes. The company offers several advanced tools, technical services and tooling systems to its customers. Kennametal’s engineers and scientists use various complex materials science and engineering technologies in high-speed steels, tungsten carbides, industrial diamonds, ceramics and other materials to produce various products that have optimum resistance to heat, corrosion, impact and pressure and used in particular application. MSSG (Metalworking Solutions and Services Group) and AMSG (Advanced Materials Solutions Group) are core businesses of the company. Manufacturing process and customers all around the world uses its services and products. The company’s end users include manufacturers, suppliers and metalworking in various industries such as automotive, aerospace, machine tool, heavy and light machinery industries, highway construction, oil and gas, coal mining industries. The company also markets and manufactures various toolholding systems, toolholders and cutting tools by fabricating and machining steel bars and various other valuable metal alloys.

The company was founded in 1938 and has headquartered in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, USA. The company has more than 14,000 employees all over the world. The company operates in over 60 countries. An annual sale of the company is approximately $2.4 billion.

The company has listed on New York Stock Exchange. The Gross profit of the company is increased in 2007, $9.4 million to $841.6 million from $832.2 million in 2006. In 2007 sales of the company’s products increased 2.4 percent to $2,385.5 million versus $2,329.6 million in 2006.

Recent Acquisitions

In May 2007, the Company acquired the remaining stocks for ownership Spanish affiliate, KENCI, S.A. Also In May 2007, Kennametal acquired Purity Metal Holdings, Inc. and International Specialty Alloys, which is a subsidiary of Purity Metal Holdings. In January 2007, Kennametal acquired Federal Signal’s cutting tool businesses that consist of ClappDiCO Corporation, Manchester Tool Company and On Time Machine, Inc. In 2006 company divested the Disston Company (South Deerfield Industrial, Inc) to Cal SDI. In 2006 company acquired Camco Cutting Tools. In 2006 company also acquired the Sintec Group.

BUSINESS SEGMENT
Previously company had four business units such as MSSG (Metalworking Solutions & Services Group), AMSG (Advanced Materials Solutions Group), J & L (J&L Industrial Supply ) and FSS ( Full Service Supply). In 2006 and 2005, company divested FSS and J&L segments, respectively.

METALWORKING SOLUTIONS & SERVICES GROUP
MSSG segment provides tooling systems and metalcutting tools to various manufacturing companies in all over the world. The metalcutting operations consists, boring, , turning, threading , milling, grooving and drilling. MSSG’s tooling systems includes cutting tool and steel toolholder like drill and an insert machine, that made from high-speed steel, cemented tungsten carbides, or any hard materials. The company also provide solutions for metalcutting needs of customers through special engineering services that improving competitiveness. MSSG’s engineering services consist of various engineers for field sales that identifying products to fulfill customer needs.

The toolholder provides turning power and normally placed in a machine while working on metal. The toolholder is rapidly rotating during metalworking, and the inserted cutting tool contacts the toolholder, it shapes or cuts the workpiece.

The company has various customers from industries that shape and cut metal parts and also serves various industries like automobiles manufacturers, aerospace components, trucks, farm equipment, , railroad, marine and power generation equipment, oil and gas processing and drilling equipment , light and heavy machinery, factory equipment, metal components, and maintenance operations. The company delivers products through sales force on direct field, integrated supply programs, distribution and e-business.

ADVANCED MATERIALS SOLUTIONS GROUP
AMSG segment provides sale and production of various products made by cemented tungsten carbide that used in highway construction mining, and various engineered applications that requirs corrosion and wear resistance. Apart from this company also market and manufacture engineered components that have cladding technology. These engineered products includes, extruder barrels that are used by various plastics manufacturers and radial bearings that used for drilling applications for gas and oil. The company also provides metallurgical powders and component design services that are application-specific and on-site application support services. The company also provides process technology, engineered component and materials that help in component deburring, producing and polishing radii. AMSG’s construction and mining tools are made from steel parts and then tipped with cemented carbide.

J&L INDUSTRIAL SUPPLY
In 2006, company divested J&L. It provided metalworking related products and technical and supply chain-related services to manufacturers in the U.S. and UK. J&L services and markets products through catalogs for annual mail-order, monthly sales flyers, the Internet, telemarketing and field sales. J&L marketed various metalcutting tools, drills, abrasives, accessories for machine tool, measuring tools for precision, hand tools, gages and other products that used in metalcutting.

FULL SERVICE SUPPLY
In 2005, Company divested FSS. Full Service Supply provided metalworking and related products to manufacturers in Canada and the U.S. FSS also offered integrated programs for supply that offered inventory management systems and timely availability and programs for cost savings.

Official Website : http://www.idexcorp.com

IDEX Corporation (”IDEX”) is a leading provider of applied solutions. It provide specialized solutions in various segments such as fluid and metering technologies, dispensing equipment and fire and safety product, health and science technologies. The Company produces variety of engineered products used in various industries. These products are sold to various customers, all over the world. In 2006, the company under goes through structural and organizational changes and adds one more reportable segment. Through these changes company became more focused in market strategy and in better position to fulfill the customer’s needs.

Now the company has four business segments. Fluid & Metering Technologies segment has several business units such as Banjo, Pulsafeeder, Liquid Controls, Versa-Matic, Warren Rupp and Viking (Viking Pump). The Health & Science Technologies segment has several business units such as Eastern Plastics, Micropump, Gast Manufacturing (”Gast”), Scivex and Rheodyne. The Dispensing Equipment segment includes Fluid and Fast Management. The Fire & Safety or Diversified
Products segment contains Hale Products fire suppression and various rescue tools and clamping business for BAND-IT engineered products.

The company is listed in NYSE (New York Stock Exchange) and the Chicago Stock Exchange. The company registered sale of $1.15 billion in year 2006 which is 14% higher than previous year. Net income also increased by 34% to $146.7 million in 2006.

The IDEX has approximately 4,863 employees worldwide.

In 2007, IDEX acquired Isolation Technologies. It is a producer of column hardware and accessories for HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) market. The Company also acquired Quadro Engineering, In June 2007. It is a distributor of control solutions for bio-pharmaceutical and the pharmaceutical markets. Quadro’s key capabilities are in the area of emulsification, fine milling and handling of solid and liquid components for pilot phase, laboratory and processing of production scale within bio-pharmaceutical and pharmaceutical markets. This company is operated under the Fluid & Metering Technologies segment, as a standalone unit.

The Company acquired Faure Herman SA In 2007; it provides helical and ultrasonic turbine flow meters that used in control and transfer of gases and fluids. In July 2006, IDEX sold its business segment that is lubricant dispensing, to Graco Inc. IDEX acquired Eastern Plastics, Inc., in May 2006. In October 2006, IDEX acquired all stocks of Banjo Corporation that produces various duty pumps, fittings, valves, and systems, which is used in OEM (original equipment manufacturing) and various applications in agricultural market and industrial liquid handling. In February 2006, IDEX acquired all stocks of JUN-AIR (JUN-AIR International A/S). In January, 2006, IDEX acquired all assets of Airshore (Airshore International). IDEX acquired Toptech Systems, Inc., in December 2006. It provides terminal automation systems, which is used in control and transfer of valuable gases and fluids. The products of Toptech include terminal automation of software and hardware that is used in gas, oil and markets of refined fuels to manage and control inventories, invoicing and data transaction.

Fluid & Metering Technologies Segment

This Segment produces, distributes, and designs various displacement flow and pumps meters, injectors, compressors, and various pump systems and modules for fluid handling. These products are widely used in various end markets such as infrastructure of industries (gas and oil, refined fuels, fossil fuels, waste water, and water), paper and pulp, electrical and electronics, food and beverage, transportation, mining, construction and several other markets. In 2006, this segment accounted sales of 38% and operating income of 36% and more than 41% sales outside the US.

The company acquired Banjo in September 2006, a Crawfordsville; Indiana based company whose products are widely used in industrial and agricultural applications.

Pulsafeeder produces meter pumps, rotary pumps, electronic controls, dispensing equipment and peristaltic pumps. These products were used in water quality management and maintain chemical composition of water.
Viking produces external and internal gear pumps, reducers and strainers, and several other controls, used in metering and transferring viscous and thin liquids. Versa-Matic produces and distributes double-diaphragm pumps which are air-operated and various replacement parts.

Health & Science Technologies Segment

This Segment produces, distributes and designs various fluidics solutions and pumping solutions, which is very useful in clinical diagnostics, drug discovery, and analytical instrumentation. This segment has contributed to 26% of sales in 2006 and customers outside from the United States have contributed to 39% of sales. This segment has Valco Instruments and Thomas Industries as competitors.

Dispensing Equipment Segment

This segment produces equipment for metering, dispensing and mixing paints, colorants and products related to personal care. This segment contributed 14% to sales in 2006. The 65% of sales is from clients out of the United States. Main competitor of the Company is Corob S.p.A.

Fire & Safety/Diversified Products Segment

This segment manufactures firefighting controls and pumps, lifting bags, rescue tools and components and systems related to rescue and fire industry. It also manufactures stainless steel banding and devices for clamping used in various commercial and industrial applications. This segment contributed 22% to sales in 2006. The 46% of sales was from customers outside of the United States. Main competitors of the Company in this segment are Waterous Company, A.J. Gerrard & Company, and Holmatro, Inc.

Official Website : http://www.idexcorp.com

Carlisle Companies is a diversified company into manufacturing comprising of nine operating unit / companies. These all companies work under one umbrella and manufacture & distribute broad range of products. The Company currently has approximately 11,000 employees.

Carlisle i.e. Carlisle Companies Incorporated was formed in 1986 in Delaware. It was formed as a holding company of Carlisle and its fully owned subsidiaries. Its operation started in 1917 as Carlisle Corporation, whose operations began in 1917.

The company is listed in New York Stock Exchange. The net sales of the company were $2.57 billion for the fiscal year ended on December 31, 2006. This was an increase of 17% or $365.5 million from net sales of $2.21 billion in fiscal year 2005. In year 2006, the net income was $106.4 million, which is 34% higher than that of $79.6 million net income in year 2004. The Company incurred $15.1 million expense due to research and development from continuing operations in fiscal year 2006 which is lesser as compared to $15.4 million in 2005.

The company acquired the brake shoe and heavy-duty brake lining assets of Zhejiang Kete (“Kete”) for approximately $34.2 million in year 2005 – 06. In October’05, the Company went for acquiring assets related to off-highway of ArvinMeritor, Inc. for value of approximately $39.0 million.

The company sold all of its business operation which was part of Carlisle Systems & Equipment in year 2006. The business consisted of Walker Stainless Equipment, Carlisle Process Systems, Walker Transportation and CPS Pharma.

From effective end of September 2006, the company has formed following five financial segments for reporting purpose.

Construction Materials

The Construction Materials segment is one of the prominent business segment of company. It includes the construction materials operation which manufactures & sells FleeceBACK®, EPDM Rubber and TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin) system for roofing non-residential low-slope roofs. Also the segments markets and sells PVC (Poly Vinyl Chloride) membrane and it purchases accessories form 3rd party.

The segment also manufactures and distributes rigid energy-efficient foam panels for all roofing use. It has manufacturing facilities located across the United States which is its primary market. In 2005, the segment announced the setting-up of new insulation facilities in Smithfield, PA and Tooele, UT. These new facilities are in addition to existing insulation operations in Franklin Park, IL, Kingston, NY, Terrell, TX and Lake City, FL. EPDM operations are situated in Greenville, IL and Carlisle, PA. The raw material include carbon black, EPDM polymer, processing oils, TPO polymer, asphalt, solvents, polyol, MDI, black facer, polyester fabric, OSB clay and cardboard with other metal cans & boxes for packaging.
The construction materials segment caters to diverse and large customer base, however no single customer represents more than 10% of revenue in this segment in 2006.

Industrial Components

This segment of business comprises of businesses like wheel, tire and power transmission belt. The wheel and tire business manufactures & sells non-automotive rubber tires, bias-ply and stamped & roll-formed steel wheels. The channel of sales of these products are direct sales people which cater to OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers), distributors and mass merchandisers with focus on the U.S. and Canada market. The business serves industries which include garden and lawn, outdoor power units’ dealer, all-terrain vehicles, trailer, agriculture, golf cart and other related after-markets. The segment also sells styled wheels to automotive aftermarket.

The part of segment which is into power transmission belt supplies industrial belts and components to OEMs, wholesalers, distributors with prime focus on US and Canada market. The segment caters to businesses like garden and lawn, home appliances, fitness, agriculture, power sports, recreational vehicles and related after sales market.

For both businesses, the manufacturing facilities are located in the United States and in Shenzhen, China.

Both businesses have several significant OEM customers however no customer contributes to more than 10% of segment sales in 2006.

Transportation Products

This segment comprises business of specialty trailer. In this truck trailers catering to variety of markets is manufactured and sold. The sales can be categorized as:

• Construction— It includes equipments used by contractors like open-deck trailers or by rental companies.
• Material hauling— It includes variety of dump trailer like side-dumps, steel bottom-dumps, live-bottoms, end-dumps, aluminum material end dump and pneumatically controlled bulk-tank trailers
• Specialized— It includes large-capacity customized trailers for specific type of hauling and multi-unit trailers.
• Commercial— It includes trailers used by truckers for general freight and over-the-road hauling.

Major customers are dealers, end-users like rental companies, heavy-haulers, waste haulers and national accounts. Business has several diverse customers however no customer contributes to more than 10% of segment sales in 2006.

Specialty Products

This includes off-highway and on-highway system for motion control. On-highway items include brake shoes and disc linings, heavy-duty friction blocks, relining and brake shoe remanufacturing for trucks of class 6, 7 & 8. Off-highway items include friction products, braking systems, and system related to brake actuation for on-highway vehicles used for towing. This business has manufacturing units in the United States
No customer accounts for higher than 10% of sales in this segment for year 2006.

General Industry

This segment includes food service business, wire and cable business and refrigerated truck business. The company distributes its product through four distribution centers, which are located in Oklahoma City, OK, Charlotte, NC, OK, Zevenaar, The Netherlands and Reno NV to channel partners like distributors, dealers and wholesalers. The segment has manufacturing facilities in Mexico and the United States and Mexico with sales in Europe and North America. Every business in the segment has various customers in 2006; however no customer contributes more than 11% of sales in this segment for year 2006.

Official Website : http://www.carlisle.com/

Acuity Brands, Incorporate a company that controls and manages two business i.e. specialty products and lighting equipment. These separate businesses serve distinct market. The company through its lighting equipment business manages designing, production and distribution of various varieties of outdoor and indoor lighting fixtures, which have application in institutional, commercial, infrastructure, industrial and residential sectors. The target market for this segment is all of North America and some selected regions internationally. On the other hand the specialty segment helps in formulation, production and distribution of specialty chemicals which are used in deodorizers, cleaners, sanitizers, pesticides etc. The application of these products is primarily into institutional, industrial, commercial and residential market with focus on various places in Europe and North America.

The lighting segment of Acuity Brands is a leading provider of fixtures and it includes brands like Holophane®, Gotham®, Lithonia Lighting®, SpecLight®, Hydrel®, Peerless®, American Electric Lighting®, MetalOptics®, Carandini® and Antique Street Lamps™. In case of Specialty Products segment the leading brands are Zep Commercial®, Enforcer®, Zep®, and Selig™.

The company has its head quarter at Atlanta in Georgia. It has employee strength of approximately 10,600 people. Out of total, approximately 6,600 have employment in the United States location, 3,100 people are in Mexico, in Canada there are approximately 350 employees and balance 550 are in international locations i.e. Asia Pacific region and Europe. It has operations across North America and in Asia and Europe. The company with its two businesses, functions with help of 22 manufacturing units. Amongst these 10 of them are in the United States, six of them are in Mexico, 5 are in Europe and balance one is in Canada.

The stock of the company i.e. Acuity Brands is listed on NYSE under the ticker of “AYI.” Acuity Brands registered net sales of $2.4 billion in fiscal year 2006 compared to $2.17 billion in year 2005 which is approximately increase of 10.1%. The lighting equipment business division contributed to 77% while specialty products business division had remaining contribution of 23%. The net income of the company was $106.6 million compared to that of $52.2 million in 2005. In 2006, diluted earning per share was $2.34 in comparison to $1.17 in 2005, which is an upward of 100%.

Following are brief description of business segment of company:

Lighting Equipment

This business segment of Acuity Brand is under operation by name of ABL i.e. Acuity Brands Lighting. ABL is a prominent and one of the leaders in lighting fixtures used in new constructions, maintenance and renovation applications. The product of ABL covers wide range of outdoor & indoor lighting for C&I i.e. commercial & institutional segments. Other applications are in industrial, residential and infrastructure. The company has manufacturing and procurement office in Mexico, Europe, the United States and China. Prominent brand names under the umbrella are Holophane®, LithoniaLighting®, Hydrel®, Gotham®, Peerless®, Carandini®, SpecLight®, American Electric Lighting®, Antique Street Lamps™ and Metal Optics®. The products of ABL are manufactured in 16 plants which are spread as 13 in North America and 3 in Europe.

The main customers in this segment include retail home renovation / maintenance centers, distributors in electrical equipment, national accounts, municipalities, electric utilities and lighting show rooms which are located in select international marketplace and in North America. ABL has independent agents, sales representatives etc who are responsible for sale and catering to specific geographic locations and market segments in North America. The channel of distribution is through distribution centers, warehouses using external carriers and company owned fleet of trucks.

The products in this segment are used in following applications:-

• C&I – Commercial & Institutional – They are primarily hotels, stores, offices, hospitals, schools, public buildings and government structures. Products include fluorescent lighting, recessed downlighting, track lighting and special lighting. Outdoor products include flood lighting, landscape lighting and decorative lighting.
• Industrial – It is used in warehouses and various manufacturing units. Products are acrylic and glass fluorescent lighting etc
• Infrastructure – It is used in highways, tunnels, railway yard, airports and ports. Products are street lighting, high-mast, off-set roadway & sign lighting.
• Residential – Products are fluorescent lighting, downlighting and utilitarian products.
• Other Applications – It includes emergency lighting with application in non-residential buildings and systems related to lighting control & flexible wiring.

Specialty Products

This business segment is operational under name ASP i.e. Acuity specialty products. This segment provides specialty products in chemical industry with application in retail, institutional and industrial markets. Products include sanitizers, cleaners, polishes, cleaners, disinfectants, floor finishes, deodorizers, degreasers, pesticides, herbicides and insecticides. Six manufacturing units are location across with four in North America and two in Europe.

Company has market in Western Europe and North America. The company services various business segment including transportation, education, food industry, government, automotive, hospitality etc. Retail channels are small & large home centers for improvement, mass merchandisers, hardware stores etc. Prominent brands are Enforcer®, Zep Commercial®, Zep® and Selig™.

The products in this segment are used in following applications:-

• Food Processing – Used in dispensing systems and for anti microbial system.
• Food Preparation – Used as cleaning product in food industry.
• Transportation – Used in maintenance and cleaning in aircraft, automobiles, trucks, trains, public transport etc
• Industrial – Used in cleaning and maintenance of products
• Hospitality – Used in dispensing solutions and for maintenance, housekeeping, laundry etc
• Government – Used in maintenance of cities, schools, military, districts, fire stations, police etc
• Contractors & Home – Used in cleaning, sanitization etc.

Official Website : http://www.acuitybrands.com

Rockwell Automation provides industrial automation power, information and control products and services. The Company was established in 1996 in Delaware as a part of tax-free re-organization of the former Rockwell International Corporation, pursuant to which the Company divested its aerospace and defense businesses to The Boeing Company. Rockwell International Corporation was established in 1928. Subsequently, in June 2001, the Company divested its Rockwell Collins avionics and communications business into a separately traded, publicly held Rockwell Collins, Inc. In September 2004, The Company also sold its FirstPoint Contact business. Further, the Company also announced entering agreement with Baldor Electric Company to sell Dodge mechanical and Reliance Electric motors and motor repair services businesses in November 2006. In September 2006, the Company sold its stake in Rockwell Scientific Company.

Rockwell Automation’s primarily geographic market includes the United States as well as Canada, Mexico, Brazil, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, China, Korea and Australia. United States accounts for approximately 62% of the Company’s total net sales. The Company serves clients in a broad range of industries including transportation, consumer products, basic materials, and oil & gas.

The Company’s common stock is registered and listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker “ROK”. The Company de-listed its common stock from the London Stock Exchange and the Pacific Exchange in 2006.

The Company is strongly focusing on its globalization efforts and increasing the cost productivity level in 2007 and beyond. The Company plans to achieve its cost productivity targets through facility rationalization and workforce eliminations.

The Company has organized itself into two operating businesses:

Power Systems and Control Systems.

Financial Performance. The Company’s worldwide net sales increased 11% to $5,561 million in 2006 from $5,003 million in 2005 with double digit growth at both Power Systems and Control Systems. Net sales in the North America increased 11% in 2006 as compared to 2005, benefiting primarily from the growth in power-centric businesses, partly offset by weakness in the automotive market of North America. Net sales in the Asia-Pacific sector increased 11% in 2006 led by strong growth in India and China. Net sales in Latin America grew 19% primarily owing to strong demand from the mining and oil and gas sectors. European sales grew 7% in 2006 over 2005. Control Systems’ sales contributed $4,551 million to the Company’s total net sales, up 10.3% from $4,123 million in 2005. Power Systems’ accounted for $1,010 million of net sales, up 15% from $880 million in 2005.

Rockwell Automation’s operating earnings increased 19.4% to $1,035 million in 2006 from $867.2 million in 2005 primarily owing to higher volumes, productivity gains and favorable environment for pricing, partly offset by higher spending on growth initiatives and higher inflation. The Company’s operating margin improved to 18.6% in 2006 from 17.3% in 2005. The Company’s net income increased 12.4% to $607 million in 2006 from $540 million in 2005.

Management of the Company anticipates a tough operating environment in the near term owing to continued competitive pressures and increasing energy and raw material costs and slowing US and Canadian economies. The Company, however, expects sustained growth momentum in the market other than North America.

The Company expects 7-8% increase in its net sales in 2007 over 2006 and diluted earnings per share in $3.70 - $3.90 range.

Control Systems. The segment is the Company’s largest operating business segment and generated net sales of $4.6 billion in 2006. This represented 82% of the Company’s total net sales. The segment employed nearly 19,000 people as of September, 2006. The segment offers industrial automation systems, software, systems and services. Control Systems includes two business units: the Automation Control and Information Group (ACIG) and the Components and Packaged Applications Group (CPAG).

CPAG provides motor starters, push buttons, contactors, signaling devices, termination and protection devices, timers and relays, condition sensors, motor control centers, adjustable speed drives, drive systems, and engineered and packaged systems and products. CPAG’s net sales accounted for nearly 39% of the segment’s net sales. The Company’s major competitors in this business include ABB, Schneider Electric and Siemens.

ACIG’s major products monitor and control industrial processes and plants. These include controllers, control platform, sensors, industrial computers, machine safety components, processor, input/output devices and software. ACIG’s net sales accounted for nearly 45% of the segment’s net sales. The Company’s major competitors in this business include Emerson Electric Co., Mitsubishi Corp., Omron Corp., Schneider Electric SA and Siemens AG.

Headquarters of the segment is located in Milwaukee and it has presence in North America; Asia-Pacific; Europe, Middle East and Africa; and Latin America. The segment’s operation in US generated 57% of the total segment’s net sales in 2006.

Power Systems. The segment generated net sales of $1.0 billion in 2006. This represented 18% of the Company’s total net sales. The segment employed nearly 4,000 employees as of September, 2006. The segment operates through two separate business units: Mechanical (Dodge mechanical) and Electrical (Reliance electrical).

Major product of Mechanical business unit includes Gear reducers, Mounted bearings, Mechanical drives, Couplings, Conveyor pulleys, Clutches, Motor brakes and Bushings. The Company’s major competitors in this business include Altra Industrial Motion, Inc., Emerson Electric Co., Martin Sprocket and Gear, Inc., Regal-Beloit Corporation and Rexnord Corporation.

Major products in Electrical business unit include engineered and industrial motors, repair services and consulting services. The Company’s major competitors in this business include A.O. Smith Corporation, Baldor Electric Company, Emerson Electric Co., General Electric Co. and Regal-Beloit Corporation.

Official Website : http://www.rockwellautomation.com

Regal Beloit is a leading manufacturer and marketer mechanical and electrical products. The Company’s electrical products offerings include Heating, ventilating and air-conditioning (HVAC) electric motors, a complete line of DC and AC industrial and commercial electric motors, electrical connecting devices and connectors, and electric controls and generators. Regal Beloit’s mechanical products offerings include gearboxes and gears, marine and automotive transmissions systems, and actuators such as ring and pinions and manual valves.

With increasing convergence of electrical and mechanical products in the motion control and other similar industrial applications, the Company focuses on enhancing its market share cross selling and combining its electrical and mechanical product lines.

The Company serves a diverse set of customers through over 20 established brands and using a multiple channel distribution model. Regal Beloit’s target clients include distributors, original equipment manufacturers and end users in various sectors. The Company’s sales organizations comprise internal direct sales force, and distributors. Regal Beloit’s has an international presence through its manufacturing, engineering, distribution and sales facilities across US, Canada, Mexico, China, India and Europe.

Regal Beloit primarily focuses on:

• Grabbing new opportunities for its products;
• Leveraging its Asian manufacturing base;
• Achieving improvement in operating margins by leveraging global manufacturing and sourcing
• Deploying lean six sigma to improve efficiency;
• Developing new products;
• Building excellence in processes and people resources; and
• Acquiring selectively to grow

As of December 30, 2006, Regal Beloit employed nearly 13,600 people across the world.
The Company’s common stock is registered and listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker “RBC”.

Financial Performance. The Company’s worldwide net sales increased 13.4% to $1.62 billion in 2006 from $1.429 billion in 2005. Sinya Motor which the Company acquired in 2006, contributed $36.5 million to the net sales. Divestiture of the Illinois Gear division in May 2005 and assets of cutting tools division in May 2006 reduced the net sales by sales of the Company by $14.0 million in 2006. Electrical segment contributed $1.419 billion to the Company’s net sales, up 15.6% from $1.228 billion in 2005. Mechanical segment accounted for $201.0 million of net sales, same as in 2005.

Regal Beloit’s gross profit margin increased to 24.0% in 2006 versus 21.8% in 2005 primarily resulting from productivity gains and Lean Six Sigma initiatives, partly offset by increases in material costs. The Company’s net income and EPS increased to $109.8 million in 2006 and $3.28 per share, respectively from $69.6 million and $2.25 per share in 2005.

As of December 30, 2006, the Company order backlog was $174.6 million, versus $140.4 million as on December 31, 2005.

Management of the Company anticipates a tough operating environment in the near term owing to continued competitive pressures and increasing energy and raw material costs.

The Company has organized itself in to two primary operating business segments: Mechanical and Electrical.

Electrical Segment. Regal Beloit’s electrical segment offers a comprehensive range of DC and AC industrial and commercial electric motors, electric controls and generators, HVAC motors, electrical connecting devices and capacitors. The segment was formed in mid 1990’s to manufacture electric motors in order to complement product offering of Mechanical segment and to generate cross selling opportunities. The Company strengthened its industrial electric motor offering through several acquisition including Marathon Electric Manufacturing Corporation in 1997, the Motors business of Lincoln Electric Holdings in 1999 and LEESON Electric Corporation in 2000. Further, the Company also acquired two electric motor businesses from General Electric Company including commercial AC motors business as well as HVAC motors and capacitors business.

Following are the brief description of these businesses:

LEESON Electric: Manufactures AC motors of up to 800 horsepower (hp) and DC motors of up to 5 hp; gear reducers; and gear motors and drives. Its products are primarily used in power transmission, food processing, pump, industrial machinery, and fitness equipment markets.

Lincoln Motors. The business manufactures AC motors ranging from 1/4 to 800 hp. These motors are used in commercial and industrial pumps, compressors, machine tools and elevators.

Marathon Electric. The division manufactures AC motors up to 800 hp which are primarily used in HVAC, pumps, fans and blowers, power transmissions, compressors, processing and industrial manufacturing and agriculture equipments.

Marathon Generators. Manufactures AC generators ranging from 5 KW to 4 MW, which are primarily used in the standby and prime power, refrigeration, industrial and irrigation sectors.

Marathon Special Products. The division manufactures terminal and power blocks, and fuse holders primarily used in the HVAC, electric control panel, telecommunications, transportation and utilities markets.

Thomson Technology. The business produces automatic transfer switches and paralleling switchgear and controls primarily used in the electric power generation sector.

Mechanical Segment. The segment provides a wide range of motion control systems and products such as custom and standard worm gear, helical and bevel gear; marine transmissions; automotive transmissions; ring and pinions; gear motors; and valve actuators. The segment sold most of the assets of its cutting tool business in May 2006.

Official Website : http://www.regal-beloit.com

Parker Hannifin is a leading diversified producer of precision engineered products for a broad range of mobile, commercial, aerospace and industrial markets. The Company was established in 1938 in Ohio. Parker Hannifin’s headquarters are based in Cleveland, Ohio. The Company’s offering include motion control systems and products such as electromechanical controls, fluid power systems and related components.

Fluid power system utilizes gas, air or liquid to power pneumatic, vacuum and hydraulic applications. These systems improve industrial productivity by efficiently moving and positioning materials, and controlling machines, vehicles and equipment. Components of fluid power system includes pumps, valves, actuators, filters and a number of couplings, fittings, hoses and seals.

Electromechanical control systems controls motion and accurately locate and/or vary speed in aerospace and automation applications. Additionally, the Company also produces fluid purification, fuel and fluid control, refrigeration, air conditioning, process instrumentation, thermal management, and electromagnetic shielding products and systems.

Parker Hannifin’s production, service and distribution facilities are based in 43 countries including US where it has presence in 35 states. The Company sells its motion control products as original as well as replacement equipment through distribution centers located across the world. Parker Hannifin utilizes direct-sales workforce, independent distributors, builder/dealers and sales representatives to supply its products to nearly 427,000 customers across transportation, processing and manufacturing industry.

Parker Hannifin primarily focuses on:

• Leverage its broad product range to facilitate consolidation of the client’s vendor base
• Marketing systems for customer applications,
• Expand outside North America,
• Introduce new products
• Make strategic acquisitions in motion and control sector
• Expand the Company’s distribution network.

The Company has made several selective and strategic acquisitions over the years bolstering its earnings growth. Parketr Hannifin completed 11 acquisitions during the fiscal 2007. Theses 11 acquisitions have added incremental revenues of nearly $260 million.

With Institute of Supply Management (ISM) index and Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), which indicates the manufacturing activities in the commercial and industrial markets, moving up, the Company is expecting strong growth in its order backlog in coming years. Additionally, in order to counter the challenges posed by the current industrial slow down in North America, the Company has taken several strategic initiatives such as strategic procurement, lean enterprise, strategic pricing, business realignments and product innovation.

The Company has organized its business in three primary business segments: Industrial; Aerospace; and Climate & Industrial Controls.

Parker Hannifin generated total net sales of $10.7 billion during fiscal year ended June 30, 2007. Industrial Segment accounted for 74% of net sales, Aerospace Segment contributed 16%, and Climate & Industrial Controls business accounted for 10% of total net sales of the Company. No single customer accounted for over 3% of Parker Hannifin’s total net sales during FY2007. In FY2007, nearly 43% of Parker Hannifin’s net sales were generated outside of US.

Industrial Segment. The segment offers a wide range of fluid systems and motion control components. Industrial segment primarily serves original equipment manufacturers as well as the replacement markets of major processing and production industries. The segment markets its products through its field sales force and nearly 8,400 independent distributors. The segment has structured itself into groups including the Fluid Connectors Group, the Hydraulics Group, the Automation Group, the Seal Group, the Instrumentation Group and the Filtration Group.

Fluid Connectors Group offer its products to aerial lift, bulk chemical handling, agriculture, food and beverage, construction machinery, medical, mining, fuel and gas delivery, industrial machinery, mobile, transportation, and oil & gas sector.

Hydraulics Group serves aerial lift, construction machinery, agriculture, forestry, machine tool, industrial machinery, marine, oil and gas, mining, truck hydraulics, and power and energy sectors.

Automation Group offers its products to factory automation, conveyor and material handling, medical and life science, machine tool, paper machinery, packaging machinery, plastics machinery, electronic and semiconductor, primary metal, and automotive and transportation sectors.

Seal Group serves aerospace, consumer, chemical processing, oil and gas, energy, fluid power, information technology, general industrial, life science, semiconductor, telecommunication, military and transportation sectors.

Instrumentation Group serves food and beverage, chemical and refining, microelectronic, medical and dental, power generation, and oil and gas sectors.

Filtration Group offers its products to food and beverage, life science, industrial machinery, marine, oil and gas, mobile equipment, power generation and transportation sectors.

Aerospace Segment. The segment primarily serves the original equipment manufacturers market as well as to end users for repair and maintenance. The segment provides products for aircraft engine, commercial transport, business and aviation, military aircraft, helicopter, unmanned aircraft, land based weapon system, missile launch vehicle, power and energy, electronics cooling and transport sector.

Climate & Industrial Controls Segment. This segment also serves original equipment manufacturers as well as their replacement demand. Key user industry of the segment’s products include agriculture, appliance, precision cooling, air conditioning, industrial refrigeration, food and beverage, oil and gas, industrial machinery, medical and life science, transportation and supermarkets.

Official Website : http://www.parker.com