Johnson Level Awarded 2009 Partner in Performance by Grainger

W.W. Grainger recognized Johnson Level & Tool as a top performing supplier in 2009 with its Partners in Performance Award.  Less than 1 percent of over 3,000 suppliers are given this award each year by Grainger.  Suppliers who win the award exhibit leadership in shipping, customer service and product quality among others.

Grainger's press release announcing the winners follows:

CHICAGO (Feb. 26, 2010) - Grainger (NYSE: GWW) recognized its 25 top-performing suppliers with its Partners in Performance Award last week during the company's annual supplier conference held in Schaumburg, Ill. Less than 1 percent of Grainger's 3,000 suppliers receive this award each year.

Superior Manufacturing Group, maker of NoTrax anti-fatigue floor matting, was named Grainger's Supplier of the Year for its outstanding performance and customer service. Grainger also presented its first Sustainability Supplier of the Year award to Veolia ES Technical Solutions. Veolia works closely with Grainger to provide a pre-paid recycling solution to customers looking to recycle lighting and electronic waste.

"Our customers rely on Grainger to have what they need, when they need it. Our suppliers help us do just that," said Fred Costello, Grainger's vice president for product management. "The Partners in Performance event is an opportunity to recognize suppliers who have demonstrated outstanding performance in helping us serve our mutual customers."

Grainger's Partners in Performance Award recognizes suppliers who achieve excellence in several categories, including on-time shipping, responsiveness, cost effectiveness, and product quality. Suppliers are rated throughout the year, and judged on their overall performance and improvement.

Partners in Performance award winners for 2009:
Air Conditioning Products
Akro-Mils
CRC Industries
Cotterman
E.M. Wiegmann & Company
Georgia-Pacific
General Electric Lighting
Greenheck
Johnson Level and Tool
Klein Tools Inc.
M.K. Morse Company
Master Lock
Mechanical Plastics
Phillips Lighting Electronics
Pitt Plastics
Rubbermaid Commercial Products
Rust-Oleum Corporation
Shop Vac Corporation
Wireway/Husky Corporation
Wooster Brush

Supplier of the Year
Superior Manufacturing Group

Best New Supplier
Guardian Equipment 

Special Achievement/Contribution Award
GoJo Industries

Sustainability Supplier of the Year
Veolia ES Technical Solutions

Carrier of the Year
USA Truck, Inc.

About Grainger
W.W. Grainger Inc. with 2009 sales of $6.2 billion is the leading broad line supplier of maintenance, repair and operating (MRO) products serving businesses and institutions in the United States, Canada, and Mexico with an expanding presence in Japan, India, China and Panama.