CTS Solutions Support Pronto Member’s Efforts to Eliminate Excess Inventory
XL Parts, a Houston, Texas-based distributor of automotive parts, recently announced the results of its implementation of CTS Solutions’ inventory management, forecasting and redistribution solution. Also based in Texas, Custom Technology Solutions provides information technology and data warehousing solutions to the automotive aftermarket.
Goodyear Shareholders Elect Directors, Close Proposals at Annual Meeting
At Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.’s annual shareholder meeting on April 26, new members of the board of directors were elected and several proposals were closed. Gary Forsee, Denise Morrison, Thomas Weidemeyer, John Breen and William Hudson Jr., were elected to the board of directors. Foresee, Morrison and Weidemeyer will serve until 2008, and Breen and Hudson will serve until 2006.
Two Guys Garage Takes a Tour of Satisfied Brakes
Popular SPEED Channel program, Two Guys Garage, produced by Brenton Productions, recently taped an upcoming episode at the Satisfied Brakes facility in Ontario, Canada. From the manufacturing facility to the service bay, Two Guys Garage gives viewers a comprehensive overview of the brake pad process in this episode, which originally aired on Sunday, April 17. The show will air again, this Wednesday, April 20 at 3:30pm, and Thursday, April 21 at 8 am EST.
Canadian Tire Announces New Five-Year Strategic Plan
Canadian Tire has introduced its 2005-2009 strategic plan, which includes establishing up to 285 new and replacement retail stores, to shareholders. The strategic plan, according to the company, focuses primarily on five “imperatives” for all business lines. They include: growing sales and revenues, improving earnings performance, embedding a “customers for life” culture, extending growth and performance beyond 2009 and enhancing “value creation” through “financial flexibility and maximization of real estate assets.”
Talks Continue Between Cooper, On-Strike Texarkana Workers
Workers at Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.’s tire plant in Texarkana, Ark., remained on strike today, even as talks reportedly continue between the tiremaker and United Steelworkers of America (USWA) negotiators. USWA-represented employees walked off the job Mar. 12 when their contract with Cooper, which had been extended from an earlier Mar. 6 deadline, finally expired.
SKF Introduces New Technology for Compressed Air Systems
SKF recently introduced the SFD (Separator Filter Dryer) Dryer System to its full line of specialty aftermarket products. Designed to enhance the performance of compressed air systems, the SFD Dryer System meets the demands of several industries that utilize compressed air, including automotive refinishing/collision repair, cement/construction and various “point of use” manufacturing applications, including SKF’s own plants.
Caterpillar to Offer On-Highway Automatic Transmissions
Caterpillar Inc. has developed a complete line of fully automatic, planetary transmissions designed specifically for vocational applications. Production of these transmissions is expected to begin later this year, with availability in 2006. The new vocational on-highway transmissions are based on existing transmissions that have proven themselves in Caterpillar articulated trucks, according to the company.
Federal-Mogul’s Abex Brand Develops Full Line of Advanced Disc Brake Pads and Shoes for Medium-Duty Vehicles
Abex brake products, a Federal-Mogul brand, has introduced a new line of premium replacement disc brake pads and new brake shoes for medium-duty vehicles. The new line was developed for use on fleet, school bus, emergency vehicle, utility, and other Class 2c-6 applications. Abex is the first brand to offer a complete line of new shoes and brake lining for medium-duty applications, according to the company.
Executive Interview with Jeff Berman, Managing Director, Bosal US
As managing director, Bosal U.S., Jeff Berman is responsible for all of Bosal’s aftermarket customers in the NAFTA region. He was recently appointed to this position and is now responsible for managing operations, sales and marketing for Bosal’s U.S. aftermarket and performance divisions at Bosal USA, Inc., based in Whippany, NJ, as well as the sales and marketing for Bosal Canada in Kingston, Ontario. Recently, Berman took time to talk with aftermarketNews.com about the company’s OEM heritage and its role in the aftermarket. Berman shared his insights on the future of the import segment and the keys to tapping this segment.
ArvinMeritor Awarded Contract to Supply Drum Brakes to Mack Trucks, Volvo Trucks North America
ArvinMeritor’s Commercial Vehicle Systems (CVS) business group has been awarded three-year contracts to supply its Meritor Q Plus cam brakes to Mack Trucks, Inc. and Volvo Trucks North America, Inc. Mack Trucks is a member of the Volvo Group. Meritor Q Plus brakes will continue to be standard equipment on all Mack vehicles as well as all Volvo trucks in North America. Introduced in 1991, the Q Plus air brake is standard equipment on more North American heavy- and medium-duty trucks than any other brand, according to ArvinMeritor.