MRC Global recently announced fourth-quarter and full-year 2013 results. The company’s sales increased 3% from $1.31 billion in the fourth quarter of 2012 to $1.34 billion in the same quarter of 2013.

Company names Franklin, Ensch and James to executive positions.

ASA member wholesaler-distributors reported median sales growth of 1.8% for the month ending Feb. 28.

The company plans for expansion.

While the PHCP segment saw 3.4% growth, the industrial PVF segment declined 6.6%. 

In my report on the recent winter PVF Roundtable meeting in Houston, Supply House Times columnist and ASA Industry Analyst Morrie Beschloss used the signature sign-on line from World War II-era radio commentator Gabriel Heatter to describe the outlook for the industrial PVF industry.

Although hydraulic fracturing (fracking) has engendered the possibility of shale-produced oil and natural gas, vaulting the United States into the world’s No. 1 spot in fossil-fuel production (oil, coal, natural gas), prestigious financial weekly Barron’s now estimates up to $1 trillion in capital-goods spending will be generated to make this happen by 2025.

Herschel Seder died March 1, 2014, at age 95.

The popular industrial pipe, valves and fittings quarterly gathering established yet another attendance record in its debut in late February at the Westin Galleria in Houston.