Broken Arrow, Oklahoma — BlackHawk Industrial, a market-leading independent distributor of metalworking, industrial, MROP, fasteners and packaging supplies, today announced the acquisition of Pioneer Tool Supply, Pioneer Precision Grinding, and Cataleap.

Founded in 1948, Pioneer Tool Supply is headquartered in Agawam, Massachusetts. The business is led by third-generation owners Derek Upson and Chris Bignell, both of whom will remain in senior leadership roles with BlackHawk Industrial. As one of the select premier metalworking distributors in the New England marketplace, Pioneer is a leading provider of cutting tools to a loyal and long-standing customer base in the Eastern Region. With locations in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Maine, the Pioneer Tool Supply team focuses on technical metalworking products that help end user customers with leading edge “at the spindle” solutions. This is new geographical penetration by BlackHawk into New England.

Pioneer Tool Supply is the 12th acquisition of 23 different companies by BlackHawk Industrial since the fall of 2010. With the addition of Pioneer Tool Supply, Pioneer Precision Grinding, and Cataleap, BlackHawk will deepen their technical solutions sales focus across an exciting group of end user customers in new end markets. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Pioneer’s commercial management team will continue to lead the business in new and exciting senior leadership roles within BlackHawk Industrial. Derek Upson will be the VP of Eastern Regional Sales leading an expanded regional sales effort in the Eastern Region. In addition, Chris Bignell will be the VP of Customer Experience for BlackHawk. Chris’ role inside BlackHawk Industrial will be a newly created senior leadership position leading and improving the “Customer Experience” across ALL of BlackHawk Industrial.

The entire organization within Pioneer continues to build on our tag line of Big Enough to Serve and Small Enough to Care.

Bill Scheller, CEO of BlackHawk Industrial, said: “We continue to attract and acquire the best local distributors in a given marketplace to become part of the business we are building in North America. We believe that the entire Team from Pioneer and their technical sales approach, deep local sales talent, and strong leadership is a perfect addition to the BlackHawk Culture. We also believe that the entire organization within Pioneer continues to build on our tag line of Big Enough to Serve and Small Enough to Care.”

Mr. Scheller also added: “With this acquisition, we also add both Pioneer Precision Grinding and Cataleap to the service offerings within BlackHawk. Pioneer Precision Grinding is a great operation that specializes in sharpening and reconditioning customers’ tooling. In addition to regrinds, Pioneer Precision Grinding can alter standard tooling to a customer’s blueprint or manufacture blueprint specials carbide tooling from blanks. We now have 6 such operations within BlackHawk that offer these value-added services to our customers.

In addition, Cataleap provides a cost-effective way to get the latest product catalogs and information to our sales team and end user customers as soon as they are uploaded versus the traditional months needed to print, ship, and distribute. We believe that by having all catalogs in one place makes it even easier for sales team and end users to find the information they need quickly.”

Scheller said: “We are truly excited to add both Derek Upson and Chris Bignell to our senior management team. Both Derek and Chris are exciting young leaders that deepen our leadership team. We look for Derek to lead our expanded sales penetration efforts in the Eastern Region. In addition, we recognize that the marketplace and customer interaction with distributors is changing. Chris will be keenly focused in transforming the way our customers experience the service offerings from BlackHawk.”

About BlackHawk Industrial

BlackHawk Industrial is a market-leading industrial distributor with “BaseCamp” in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. BlackHawk is focused in metalworking such as carbide cutting tools, abrasives, saw blades, fabrication, and machining equipment. They also provide a full-line MROP, packaging, and specialized fastener product offerings. BlackHawk has a deep ability to provide custom industrial dispensing solutions and creative design, build, and supply chain solutions. By going above and beyond expectation, the knowledgeable and experienced FAMILY strives to deliver world-class service while providing AMAZEMENT for its customers, vendors, partners, and coworkers.

Sales locations in: Agawam MA, Broken Arrow OK, Chicago IL, Cleveland OH, Del Rio TX, Denver CO, Des Moines IA, Duncan OK, Fort Smith AR, Hartford CT, Hawthorne NJ, Kaukauna WI, Menomonie WI, Mexico, Milwaukee WI (2), Minneapolis MN, Nashua NH, Oklahoma City OK, Omaha NE, Otisfield ME, Peoria IL, Portland OR, Rockford IL, Salt Lake City UT, Seattle WA, St. Cloud MN, Tulsa OK...

Contact
Bill Scheller
President / CEO
BlackHawk Industrial Distribution, Inc.
1501 SW Expressway Drive
Broken Arrow, Oklahoma 74012
Cell: 918-360-1810
Work: 918-610-4710
Fax: 918-994-5483