Hunkar Laboratories Inc. in Newtown, a supplier of process and productivity enhancement equipment, has acquired TriData Technologies, a Sharonville supplier of bar-code systems.

        Financial terms weren't disclosed but Hunkar said TriData will be a wholly owned subsidiary under general manager Michael Barker.

        TriData is a 10-year-old developer, integrator and supplier of bar-code product tracking systems, time and attendance modules, scanning and label printing equipment and disposable ribbon and label materials.

        It's the second acquisition in the last year by Hunkar. In July it acquired American Metal Products Inc. in West Chester.
       

Orders down for tool & die machinery

        Orders for machines that cut and form metal were essentially flat in 2000, two industry trade groups report.

        Machine tool consumption to taled $5.9 billion last year, up 0.8 percent from the prior year, according to the AMT — Association for Manufacturing Technology and AMTDA, American Machine Tool Distributors' Association.

The two groups compile a report on monthly machine tool sales based on reports by participating manufacturers and distributors.

        In December, the report estimated sales at $514 million. That was down 4.9 percent from the estimated $541 million in the same month last year, but up 21.7 percent from the estimated $422 million in November.

        The trade groups said order activity the last two years is off about 25 percent from 1993-98.

        Export orders increased last year to $569.4 million from $483 million in the prior year, the trade groups said.
       

OPW takes over joint venture in Brazil

        West Chester's OPW Fueling Components recently acquired sole control of Eleven Ltda/OPW, a joint venture in Itatiba, Brazil.

        Financial terms weren't disclosed. OPW, a unit of Dover Resources, said it plans to expand the product offerings of Eleven Ltda, which employs 22 and produces dispensing nozzles. The Brazilian company has revenues of $2.5 million but plans to expand that to $3.5 million by adding other fuel-dispensing products. Some 28,000 gas stations in Brazil are being renovated, the company said.
       

Queen City Awning buys out competitor

        Queen City Awning, a manufacturer of commercial and residential awnings on Kemper Road, Sycamore Township, has acquired the assets and operations of R.J. Patton Co., a long-time competitor on Dunlap Street in Cincinnati.

        With the acquisition, Queen City has added four employees, increasing its staff to 35. It has also added Patton's commercial and residential accounts and expanded into industrial awnings, said Pete Weingartner, Queen City president.

        Queen City was also named Durasol Awnings' top dealer in Ohio. Durasol is a leading manufacturer of retractable awnings.
       

Chemical safety topic of meeting

        A risk-based approach to facility safety will be discussed at the 3 p.m. Wednesday meeting of the Alliance for Chemical Safety at the Avon Woods Nature Center.

        The alliance consists of businesses, agencies and citizens interested in chemical safety.

        Mike Boyer covers manufacturing for the Enquirer. Have news? Call him at 768-8494.
       

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