Link to December 21 Janesville Gazette article, "Grainger sells off Highsmith".
Excerpt: Employees of library services provider Highsmith learned Monday that their work commute will soon take them to the Madison area instead of Janesville.
That’s because Chicago-based Grainger announced the sale of its Janesville-based Highsmith brand to DEMCO, a leading library supplier with facilities in Madison and Deforest.
Grainger acquired Fort Atkinson-based Highsmith in 2008 and moved the operation to Janesville.
Ralph Howard, vice president and general manager of Grainger Specialty Brands in Janesville, said Highsmith has about 50 employees. Most of them still live in Fort Atkinson, he said.
Grainger and DEMCO officials said Highsmith employees in Janesville will have the opportunity to follow the business to the Madison area. Those who don’t will have other opportunities with Grainger Specialty Brands in Janesville, Howard said.
From Daily Markets. W.W. Grainger, Inc. with 2009 sales of $6.2 billion is North America’s leading broad line supplier of maintenance, repair and operating products with an expanding presence in Asia and Latin America.
