Johnson Controls to Open New Plant in Alabama; Will Supply Automotive Interior Products for Hyundai
Johnson Controls has announced it will open a new manufacturing plant in Montgomery, Ala., in order to build and supply vehicle interior products to Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama beginning in early 2005. The company has leased a 120,000-square-foot building, which will be redeveloped and refurbished this fall.
Universal Technical Institute Begins Automotive Training in Two New Locations
Universal Technical Institute (UTI), a nationwide provider of technical education training, has begun automotive training at its new Exton, Pa., and Orlando, Fla. campuses.
MEMA’s Information Services Council Publishes RFID White Paper
The Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) Information Services Council (MIS Council) has written and published a white paper on Radio Frequency Identification (RFID).
NACE Increases Number of Jobber Sessions
The 2004 International Autobody Congress & Exposition (NACE) will offer an expanded PBE jobber program that will include five educational sessions on important topics challenging today’s jobber professionals. NACE takes place Nov. 3-6, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, Las Vegas.
AutoPartSource Unveils New Logo
As part of its strategy to position the company for growth in the undercar parts market, AutoPartSource has unveiled a new company logo.
Bill France, Sr. to Be Inducted Into Hall of Fame
Bill France, Sr., the man who founded NASCAR in 1947 and established the family dynasty that still rules the sport, will be one of eight inductees into the Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn, Mich., on Oct. 5.
Action & Reaction: The Effect of Smaller Sales Forces
Remember manufacturer sales people? There might be a connection between their reduction and a renewed strength of the OE brand. I was never a whiz at math, and I guess that’s why I ended up in journalism. Words and sentences just seem to make much more sense to me than numbers and algebraic variables. But at least like most people, I do understand Newton’s Third Law of physics: Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.
Tower Automotive Creates New Position: Global Human Resources and Communications Leader
Tower Automotive has appointed Sharon Wenzl to the newly created position of global human resource and communications leader, effective immediately. As a member of Tower Automotive’s enterprise leadership team, Wenzl will be responsible for aligning human resource and corporate communications strategies with the company’s focus on operational excellence. Wenzl also will assist the company’s financial organization with investor relations. She will report to Kathleen Ligocki, Tower Automotive’s president and CEO.
Standards Testing Labs Names New Account Manager
Standards Testing Laboratories (STL), the world’s largest independent testing facility for tires, wheels and related automotive components, recently named Roger Zingg account manager, test machinery sales. In this position, Zingg will be responsible for managing commercial test machinery sales, which includes client development, estimates, needs assessment surveys and customer service. Zingg will also handle day-to-day client management activities.
Standards Testing Labs Names New Account Manager
Standards Testing Laboratories (STL), the world’s largest independent testing facility for tires, wheels and related automotive components, recently named Roger Zingg account manager, test machinery sales. In this position, Zingg will be responsible for managing commercial test machinery sales, which includes client development, estimates, needs assessment surveys and customer service. Zingg will also handle day-to-day client management activities.
Activant’s Ross to Offer New Perspectives on Supply Chain Technology
What do mountain climbing and supply chain technology have in common? More than you’d imagine, according to Terry Ross, vice president of product development for Activant Solutions. Automotive parts distributors striving for operational excellence through supply chain technology can learn a trick or two from adventurers who have conquered the world’s most treacherous mountains, says Ross, who will present the opening address at next week’s Aftermarket eForum. The Aftermarket eForum takes place Aug. 2-5 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Chicago.
Ewing to Buy Key Auto Stakes from Carlyle Group
As part of the unwinding of their relationship, Ewing Management Group has agreed to buy Carlyle Group’s stake in Key Automotive Group, as well as a stake held by Lightyear Capital. Key Automotive was formed by putting Key Plastics LLC, acquired for about $175 million in 2001, under the same roof with Breed Technologies, Inc., which Ewing had bought out of bankruptcy in 2001 for a reported $315 million. Breed was later renamed Key Safety Systems, Inc. and moved its headquarters to Michigan, where Key Plastics is based.