Rockwell Automation, SKF, INA and Timken have joined forces to offer joint Web-based sales and logistics services for their distributors in North America and in Europe, where Sandvik is a fifth partner. The Web sites will build on Rockwell`s existing PTplace.com site in North America, and on SKF`s Endorsia.com in Europe.

In America, the four partners have formed a jointly owned company, CoLink, which has bought the assets of PTplace.com and of the logistics operation that Rockwell and SKF have run jointly for several years. In Europe, the five companies have bought Endorsia.com.

The companies plan to invite other "premium brand" manufacturers to join the ventures, which will focus on mechanical power transmission equipment, and ancillary items such as motors and variable speed drives. Gunnar Gremlin, SKF`s executive vice president says that the ventures will offer distributors and enhanced service "that will give them the opportunity to improve their competitiveness in the market".

SKF has bought the Luton-based machine tool service company, MTSR, as part of its strategy to strengthen its position in the machine tool market. MTSR, with sales of around £1.4m, specialises in spindle systems. SKF has also bought the outstanding shares in the Canadian company, Revolve Magnetic Bearings, in which it was previously a minority shareholder.