Motion Industries buys Drago Supply Co.

Industrial Distribution staff -- Industrial Distribution, 9/3/2008 6:35:00 AM

Motion Industries Inc. acquired Drago Supply Co. for an undisclosed amount.
Port Arthur, Texas-based Drago, which distributes safety, construction, welding, janitorial and industrial supply products, has eight locations in Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana. The company, founded in 1931 as a hardware retailer, serves the refinery, petrochemical, construction, marine, manufacturing, machine shop, municipality, forest products, railroad, aviation, paper, and power generating markets. President Joe Drago and executive vice president-marketing Philip Drago and Sam Drago, executive vice president-business development, will continue to lead the company under the Drago Supply Co. banner.

Birmingham, Ala.-based Motion Industries, a division of Genuine Parts Co., said it expects the deal to bring in annualized revenues of about $75 million.

“The acquisition of Drago allows Motion Industries to continue its expansion in the industrial supplies market, an area where we see significant growth opportunities. Drago is a well-established company with an excellent reputation among their industrial and commercial customer base throughout the South Central United States. Together, Motion Industries and Drago are positioned to become a leading provider of industrial supplies across the United States,” GPC chairman, president and CEO Thomas Gallagher said.

“We are very pleased to have a well-established, successful company like Drago Supply join our organization,” added Bill Stevens, Motion Industries president and CEO.

Motion Industries ranked seventh on INDUSTRIAL DISTRIBUTION’s 2008 Big 50 list of distributors, with 2007 sales of $3.35 billion.