HBSDaily

Deerfield, Ill.-based Fortune Brands Home & Security, a home and security products company, posted 8% sales growth in the fourth quarter.

Central Garden & Pet reported second-quarter net sales of $498.2 million, a 7% increase over the comparable fiscal 2012 period. Net income for the second quarter ended March 30 was $22.2 million, compared with net income of $21.6 million in the second quarter of 2012. 

Kendallville, Ind.-based Flint & Walling, a division of Zoeller Corp., acquired Wolf Pumps of Abernathy, Texas.

Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Maria Frank recently purchased Houston-based Cabinets & Designs from her father, Cabinets & Designs founder David Steffan Sr., who had owned the company for 40 years.

"I feel very proud that my father has the confidence in me to continue the business," said Frank. "To take care of something that he's spent his life on is incredible."

Standard & Poor's Ratings Services upgraded Whirlpool's long-term corporate credit rating one notch to "BBB" from "BBB-," the lowest investment-grade rating. S&P cited an improving economy and stronger housing market. 

The ratings agency also pointed to the appliance maker's growth in emerging markets and lower cost structure.

Bulk alloy developer Liquidmetal Technologies has signed a Manufacturers' Represenation Agreement with Technical Marketing and Sales, a sales and marketing firm that specifically deals in specialty metals.

TM&S specializes in Powder Metal and MIM (Metal Injection Molding) parts. Bruce Bromage, Liquidmetal's EVP of business development and operations, said in a statement that TM&S customers often note the cost and performance advantages of using Liquidmetal products.

Gary Converse, Osmose’s senior VP, is among the presenters at the upcoming Composite Decking & Railing Conference, Oct. 28-29 in Baltimore.

The topic for his Oct. 28 presentation is: “Color infused treated lumber technology: competitive threat to traditional composites?”