Bridgestone Plant in Japan Catches Fire
Fire broke out at Fukuoka Prefecture, Bridgestone Corp.’s tire plant in Amagi, Japan, according to local firefighters. Thirteen people were injured in the fire.
NACE Exhibitor List Up 23 Percent for 2004
The number of companies scheduled to exhibit in the 2004 International Autobody Congress & Exposition (NACE) is up 23 percent over 2003, according to show organizers. With this increased participation, the size of the expo has also exceeded last year’s event by 11,600-square-feet.
Nearly 30 Percent of SEMA Member Companies Diversify During Slow Times
The automotive aftermarket is an industry that experiences large fluctuations in sales depending on the time of the year. Seasonal factors play a big part in business cycles on top of the fact that the aftermarket closely follows the behavior of the automobile market itself. While it is no surprise that 63.3 percent of total companies surveyed reported summer as their peak sales season, retailers actually rate summer and spring equally in terms of when peak sales occur. A SEMA study surveyed 98 companies last month, and some interesting findings about business cycles were revealed.
Stoneridge to Form Partnership with India Firm
Stoneridge, Inc., a Howland, Ohio-based maker of wiring components and other vehicle parts, said it expects to grab a larger share of the growing auto parts market in India by forming a joint venture with a large Indian parts maker.
GM’s Hogan Defects to Magna
Mark Hogan, the head of advanced vehicle development at General Motors Corp., is leaving at the end of the month to become president of Canadian auto parts giant Magna International Inc., according to people familiar with the matter.
Intermet Names John Rutherford Vice President of Sales and Marketing
Intermet Corp., a manufacturer of cast-metal automotive components, has promoted John Rutherford to the position of vice president of sales and marketing. He will also become a member of the company’s corporate operating committee.
Ford, Magna Face Multi-Million-Dollar Class-Action Suit Over Door Latches
Up to 400,000 Canadians might be driving Ford vehicles with faulty door latches that could lead to serious injury or death, according to a class-action lawsuit commenced Tuesday against Ford Motor Co., Magna International and several of its subsidiaries.
SKF/Chicago Rawhide Donates $1,000 to Local Fire Department
SKF/CR recently donated $1,000 to the Hebron, Ky., Fire Department in support of its ongoing commitment and dedication to the safety of the community. The donation is a result of Chicago Rawhide’s North American Finance Conference, where 13 CR employees participated in activities focused on creating and maintaining the profits of a company or organization.
Remy International Sells Williams Technologies to Caterpillar
Remy International (formerly known as Delco Remy International) has signed definitive agreement to sell its U.S. transmission remanufacturing operation, Williams Technologies, Inc. (WTI) to Caterpillar, Inc. This is the second remanufacturing acquisition by Caterpillar announced this week. On Tuesday it was announced that Caterpillar is in the process of buying Wealdstone Engineering Ltd., one of Europe’s leading remanufacturers of gasoline and diesel engines.
AFCO Invests $20 Million in South Carolina Facility to Produce Next-Generation DENSO Fuel Pump
Associated Fuel Pump Systems Corp. (AFCO) is investing an additional $20 million in its Anderson, S.C., manufacturing plant in order to support U.S. production of DENSO’s newly designed Grand Half (GH) automotive fuel pump. AFCO is a joint venture between Robert Bosch GmbH of Germany and DENSO International America, Inc. that was established in 1989.
Equipment and Tool Institute Launches Underhood Technologies and Scan Tool Statistical Report
The Equipment and Tool Institute (ETI) announced this week that it has created a new reporting program focusing on the under the hood segment of the vehicle service equipment industry. The Underhood Technologies Statistical Reporting Program, which will focus on tools and equipment that service the area under the hood, includes the growing arena of scan tools.
Motormite/Dorman Releases Three Aftermarket Catalogs and Revamped Web Site
Motormite/Dorman has released three new aftermarket catalogs and a renovated web site to support these new publications. The new catalogs and web site feature hundreds of new-to-the-Automotive-Aftermarket parts that were previously only available at the OE Dealer. All catalogs feature the “Driving ReveNEW” theme, which identifies new parts.