MSC and Apex Join Forces to Introduce a Revolutionary Metalworking Tool Dispensing Solution
Melville, New York, August 16, 2010 - MSC Industrial Supply and Apex Industrial Technologies today announced that they have entered into an agreement to expand MSC's metalworking point-of-use solutions.
MSC is filling a niche by adding the Access 180N to an already impressive lineup of dispensing solutions. The Access 180N is a specialized capacity dispensing system designed to control production metalworking items in the round cutting tool and indexable cutting tool categories.
"Many MSC customers have expressed a desire to manage vital production tooling in a decentralized manufacturing cell environment," said Tom Cox, MSC's Executive Vice President of Sales. "As such, we are very excited to announce the arrival of a revolutionary new dispensing system which is a perfect alternative to full-size vending machines."
The Access 180N can be mounted to a wall, pedestal or bench. Apex Connect n' Go Technology means data flows seamlessly from the Access 180N to the Edge C3iHub via the Internet. Since the Access 180N is MS Windows free, it eliminates many of the support requirements of earlier generations of automated dispensing systems.
Everything is taken care of from the C3iHub. It allows customers to see detailed information sorted and sub-totaled the way they want to view it from their browser, anytime and anywhere. In addition, when customers are leveraging multiple units in multiple cells, they have the option to request consolidated order processing, leading to a single replenishment shipment the following day.
"Apex Industrial Technologies is thrilled with the new agreement signed with MSC, North America's largest metalworking distribution organization," said Kent Savage, Apex Chief Executive Officer. "The combination of Apex's advanced dispensing design and technology together with MSC's strength and expertise in delivering customized solutions to metalworking customers makes this a natural relationship. The Access 180N will bring automated dispensing to areas never before considered feasible due to lack of space or quantity of tool usage."
About MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc.
MSC Industrial Direct Co., Inc. is one of the premier distributors of Metalworking and Maintenance, Repair and Operations ("MRO") supplies to industrial customers throughout the United States. MSC distributes approximately 600,000 industrial products from approximately 3,000 suppliers to approximately 324,000 customers. In-stock availability is approximately 99%, with next day standard delivery to the contiguous United States on qualifying orders up until 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. MSC reaches its customers through a combination of approximately 22 million direct-mail catalogs and CD-ROMs, 96 branch sales offices, 947 sales people, the Internet and associations with some of the world's most prominent B2B e-commerce portals. For more information, visit the Company's website at www.mscdirect.com.
About Apex Industrial Technologies LLC
Apex Industrial Technologies is the leading provider of next-gen Internet Vending Systems, RFID Cabinets, and Sensor-based solutions for tools, MRO supplies, parts, and critical materials. Apex offers a wide range of dispensing and asset management solutions to enable fast, easy implementations in large and small work environments which are all powered by Apex Connect n' Go Technology. This makes them easier to use, easier to implement, and much less expensive than prior generations of industrial vending systems. Apex systems are deployed in over 1,000 industrial plants in North America including more than 50 Fortune 500 companies. For more information, visit the company's website at www.apexindustrial.com.
CONTACT:
Chuck Bates, dgs
Tel: 317.813.2230
