A distributor of fasteners bolts together an acquisition

Motor City Industrial LLC is the new name for the combination of Motor City Fastener and Emco, two industrial parts distributors. Motor City Fastener announced last week it bought Emco, a Charlotte, N.C.-based distribution and services company that provides electrical, mechanical, hydraulic power, and automation products to industries in the Southeast. Motor City did not disclose what it paid for Emco.

Detroit-based Motor City Industrial distributes fasteners, such as nuts, bolts and washers, along with fittings, tools, automotive fasteners and safety gear to manufacturers in the region. The company had two distribution facilities in Michigan before adding the Emco facility.

The deal supplements Emco’s wider range of industrial products with Motor City’s expertise in the specialty fastener industry and its supply chain management systems, including its “smart” inventory management system, Crib Boss, Motor City says.

Through the use of electronic scales and internet-connected vending machines, Crib Boss helps automate customers’ supply chain management. The systems are designed to create a more efficient inventory flow with enhanced visibility for buyers of parts used in manufacturing and maintenance, repair and operations products companies use to maintain their facilities, Motor City says.

Crib Boss parts bins are housed in racks that serve as electronic scales and are connected to the web. When bin weights reach a minimum weight threshold, clients receive re-stock and re-order alerts sent directly into a client’s enterprise resource management system, according to Motor City’s website.

The Crib Boss bins are made by Apex Industrial Technologies LLC.

Vending machines contain MRO supplies and electronically track their use by user and department.

“Adding our technology and systems to the knowledge and experience of companies like Emco creates a strategic advantage in the market that will benefit both our customers and employees,” says Bryan Tolles, co-founder of Motor City Industrial.

Motor City Industrial is backed by Kian Capital Partners, an investment firm with offices in Atlanta and Charlotte, N.C., and Oakland Standard Co., a Michigan private equity firm.

Motor City Industrial did not respond to a request for details on the two companies’ online sales.

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