Decisive action by employers in 2012 -- in particular, moving more employees into consumer-directed health plans (CDHPs) and beefing up health management programs -- was rewarded with the lowest average annual cost increase since 1997, according to HR consultancy Mercer's National Survey of Employer-Sponsored Health Plans, released in November 2012. The survey is conducted annually among U.S.

Cleveland-based Sherwin-Williams Co. agreed to acquire Consorcio Comex, S.A. de C.V., a leader in the paint and coatings market in Mexico with headquarters in Mexico City. 

Comex sells architectural and industrial coatings in Mexico through 3,300 units operated by 750 concessionaires. Sherwin-Williams will pay approximately $2.34 billion, including assumed debt, in an all-cash transaction, the company announced Monday morning.

Christian Miller Snavely, Jr., the chairman emeritus of Snavely Forest Products , World War II veteran and past chairman of the North American Wholesale Lumber Association died Oct. 24. He was 88.

Snavely is remembered by friends and colleagues as a generous and well-respected business leader. He was elected chairman of the industry trade association, NAWLA, which honored him with the prestigious Mulrooney Award for outstanding contributions to the forest products industry.

Old Bethpage, N.Y.-based Mr. Bar-B-Q named Wendy Sender as national sales manager.

As Mr. Bar-B-Q’s national sales manager, Sender is responsible for adding new retailer partnerships, enhancing current relationships and overseeing overall brand positioning for the more than 40-year-old organization.

According to an article in The Leader of Traverse City, Mich., McLean’s Hardware of Kalkaska, Mich., will officially emerge from a major renovation this weekend. 

The remodeling of the 45-year-old hardware store and rental center included new floors, new counters, paint, exterior signage and a rearrangement of shelving, fixtures and merchandise.

Stanley introduced a new carbide utility blade that it says lasts more than five times longer than competing blades.

The key to the product is Carbide Blade Technology, which provides increased blade life, maintains first-cut sharpness and offers snap resistance.

IKEA officially plugged in two Blink Level 2 electric vehicle charging stations at its Portland, Ore., store as part of its partnership with ECOtality, a leader in clean electric transportation and storage technologies.

The initiative is the first such project for IKEA in the United States. Similar installations are planned at eight other IKEA stores in the western United States.

DeWalt unveiled its 15-ounce Framing Hammer with an innovative construction process that combines an all-steel head with a lightweight hammer.

During the company's new product luncheon at the Westin Times Square, Dennis Danville, leader of DeWalt's assembly demolition business unit, said the hammers employ MIG Weld Technology to lower the weight of the hammer head. 

Tech provider eCommerce Industries Inc. (ECI), a leader in industry‐specific information technology solutions, arranged for Jim Morris to deliver the keynote address at Connect Conference 2011, a national users’ meeting for their software solutions. 

The conference will be held Nov. 1 to 3, 2011, at the Renaissance Worthington Hotel in Fort Worth, Texas.

Southbridge, Mass.-based Hyde Tools said its pursuit of "right priced, quality, stainless steel products" has led it to partnerships with product development firm Proteus Design and two Chinese manufacturers.