ConocoPhillips Upgrades Selected Conventional Motor Oils to Synthetic Blends
ConocoPhillips announced that the company will upgrade selected conventional motor oils to synthetic blends with ILSAC GF-4, beginning immediately with its 5W-20 and 5W-30 mainline conventional oils. The new 5W-20 and 5W-30 synthetic blend oils will become available August 16. The product upgrade will be supported by an integrated marketing campaign that includes trade media advertising, direct mail and collateral. The trade media campaign will start in September.
Spectra Premium Concludes the Acquisition of Trimag
Spectra Premium Industries Inc. (SPI), a North American manufacturer of automobile, light-truck and heavy-duty truck aftermarket parts, has completed its acquisition of a 90 percent of interest in Trimag, L.P. Investissement Quebec will own the other 10 percent of interest in Trimag.
Cooper Appoints Keller to Head Motorsports Program
Cooper Tire & Rubber Company has named James Keller to vice president, competition and enthusiast products, effective August 15.
Goodyear Receives Military Aircraft Tire Development Grant
The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company will receive $2.25 million under the defense appropriations bill, passed last week by the U.S. Congress. The grant will fund research and development on the next generation of aircraft tires to be used on the nation’s new Navy and Air Force joint strike fighter jets.
AAIA Announces Opening of IPO Web Portal; ARI Sponsors Testing Facility
The Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) announced the opening of a new collaborative Web portal. This new service is available to test compliance with the AAIA Internet Parts Ordering (IPO) standard.
Management Changes at Sika in North America
The Board of Directors of Sika AG, Baar, Switzerland, has appointed William Loven to head North America as regional manager and Sika Corporation USA as president and CEO effective January 1, 2005. In this position he will also serve as a member of Group Management of Sika AG, Switzerland.
University Forum Touts Preparation Through Education
What is it about our aftermarket world that makes it so susceptible to change? There are many answers to this question, but there is only one way to deal effectively with these inevitable changes – preparation.
Report Shows 80 Percent of Scrap Tires Put to Good Use
Expanding markets now consume four out of five scrap tires, according to a report by the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA). In addition, stockpiled scrap tires have been reduced by nearly 75 percent since 1990.
Federal-Mogul Expands Industry-Leading Abex Heavy Duty Brake Offering with High-Temperature Applications
Three new, highly effective, high-temperature heavy-duty brake linings for trucks and trailers have been introduced by Abex, the commercial-vehicle industry’s premier brand of linings, lined shoes, stop box kits and severe duty disc pads. Abex brake products are manufactured and marketed by Federal-Mogul Corporation.
Two Keystone Automotive Industries Board Members Retire
Keystone Automotive Industries announced that board members Al Ronco and Ron Brown have informed the company of their decision not to stand for re-election at Keystone’s annual meeting to be held this month. The company said it has nominated James Robert Gerrity and newly appointed CEO Richard Keister to fill two of three board vacancies.
Delphi Opens New Facilities in Korea and Tokyo
Delphi Corp. officially opened its second technical center in Korea this week.
Companies Develop World’s First Mercury-Free High-Intensity Discharge Headlamp System
Together, KOITO Manufacturing Co., DENSO Corp., Toyota Motor Corp. and Royal Philips Electronics have developed the world’s first mercury-free high-intensity discharge (HID) headlamp system. This system completely eliminates mercury from discharge lamps (bulbs). The HID headlamp system is installed on the Toyota Porte, launched this month in Japan.