As part of its nationwide expansion campaign, W.W. Grainger Inc., Lake Forest, Ill., said the overall square footage of its branches in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area would increase nearly 25 percent. The company is adding two new facilities in Greensburg and Cranberry Township, Pa., and more than doubling the size of its three Pittsburgh branches.
Grainger has already completed changes in Atlanta, Houston, Cincinnati, Denver, Seattle, Southern California, St. Louis and Tampa, and is now enhancing its presence in markets such as Baltimore, Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago, Philadelphia, New York, Minneapolis-St. Paul and Phoenix. According to a company statement, Grainger planned to invest up to $80 million on its expansion initiative across the nation in 2007.
The company recently expanded its product offering as well. Its enhanced product catalog now features more than 138,000 facilities maintenance products, an increase of more than 23,000 items over last year’s record offering. The newly added items include more than 7,000 plumbing products; 4,000 material-handling supplies such as conveyors, hoists and casters; 5,000 fasteners such as nuts, bolts and screws; and 1,600 security products such as locks and hinges.
Grainger has been a part of the Pittsburgh business community for 65 years. In addition to the investments Grainger made in its Pittsburgh area locations, the company recently donated $10,000 to the Community College of Allegheny County to support wireless computer technology equipment for the heating, ventilation and air conditioning program (HVAC) and scholarships for students.