Beck/Arnley Enhances its Product Packaging
Beck/Arnley has enhanced the product packaging for its line of remanufactured starters and alternators, according to Scott Howat, director of brand marketing. The Beck/Arnley packaging for remanufactured starters and alternators has a new look which highlights product features and benefits in English, Spanish and French. The package inside has also been significantly enhanced to include a unique cradle configuration and extra banding. This adds stability in shipping to reduce damage that could occur and result in product failure.
Amerigon Names New Chief Financial Officer
Amerigon Inc. has hired automotive industry financial executive Barry Steele to be its vice president of finance and CFO. Amerigon designs, develops and markets its proprietary Climate Control Seat products for sale to automotive and truck original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Steele will report directly to president and CEO Daniel Coker and be responsible for managing the company’s finance, accounting and administrative functions. He replaces William Wills, who has resigned to pursue other business opportunities.
RMA Appoints New Chairmen of the Board; Hires New General Counsel
The Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) has elected new chairmen for fiscal years 2005 and 2006. Thomas Dattilo, chairman, president and CEO of Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., has been elected chairman of the board of directors of the RMA for 2005. Mark Emkes, chairman and CEO of Bridgestone Americas Holding Inc. and Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire (BFNAT), will serve as chairman in 2006. In other news from the RMA, Laurie Baulig has been hired as general counsel and senior vice president of regulatory affairs for the association.
NHTSA to Discuss Federal Standards, Non-Compliant Products at AAPEX
Representatives of the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) will discuss non-compliant automotive products and the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) in a free seminar scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 3, during the Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX) in Las Vegas.
AAIA Announces Panelists for AAPEX Technology Update
“Product Information Management in a Global Aftermarket” will be the subject of the AAIA Technology Update at AAPEX taking place on Monday, Nov. 1 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Sands Expo Center, Room 203.
Today is the Deadline to Reserve Hotel Rooms for NACE
If you plan to attend NACE, or any of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week shows, and have not yet made your hotel reservation, show organizers are recommending that you do so immediately. Today (Friday, October 8) is the deadline for most hotels within the NACE 2004 room block. NACE hotels include the Mandalay Bay, Excalibur, Luxor, Hawthorn Suites, Monte Carlo and Motel 6. To make your hotel arrangements online, go to www.NACEexpo.com, and click on the Hotel & Travel section.
Brake Parts Inc. Receives Data Audit Certification (DAC)
Brake Parts Inc. announced this week that it is the first aftermarket company to pass all four groups of the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association’s (AAIA) Data Audit Certification (DAC). DAC is part of AAIA’s Product Information Exchange Standards (PIES) program.
AutoPartSource to Unveil New Cabin Air Filter Line at AAPEX
AutoPartSource is launching a new cabin air filter line called AirQualitee filters. The company will officially unveil the new line at the AAPEX show in Booth 9516. The line covers more than 860 vehicle model years including high-volume late year models like Ford Taurus, Honda Accord and Toyota Camry. It consists of 80 different filters that cover more than 98 percent of the 40 million vehicles that require annual cabin air filter replacement. The line directly matches OE filters, according to the company.
East Penn Receives Government Gold Award for Quality Performance
East Penn Manufacturing was recently honored by Defense Supply Center in Richmond, Va., as one of the government’s best suppliers. East Penn supplies lead-acid batteries to the Department of Defense and other government agencies.
Motor Vehicle Lighting Council Launches Redesigned Web Site Focusing on Public Safety
As part of its commitment to improve driver and pedestrian safety, the Motor Vehicle Lighting Council (MVLC) recently redesigned its Web site to better inform the motoring public about the benefits and proper use of advanced lighting technologies.
Tenneco Automotive Elects Jane L. Warner as New Director
Jane Warner has been elected to Tenneco Automotive’s board of directors. Since June 2004, Warner has been president of Plexus Systems, a leading provider of web-based manufacturing software. Prior to this, Warner served as president of Electronic Data Systems Corp.’s global manufacturing industry solutions group. She joined the company in 2000 as managing director of its global automotive industry group.
Honeywell to Pay $2.15M to Settle Age-discrimination Suit
Honeywell International Inc. will pay $2.15 million to settle a federal age-discrimination lawsuit filed on behalf of former workers at the company’s car-care unit. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) brought the class-action suit against the Morris Township, NJ-based industrial giant two years ago after sales managers and representatives in their 40s and 50s claimed they were called “dinosaurs” and illegally fired or demoted by the company’s automotive products unit.