R. L. Polk & Co’s Ask the Industry Looks at Predictions for Raw Materials in 2007 (Part II)
In this week’s edition of Ask the Industry, MEMA Senior Market Research Analyst Richard Anderson provides his predictions for some of the industry’s most important raw materials. In our interview with Anderson , he indicated that petroleum, steel, aluminum, copper and nickel will be the top five raw materials for the aftermarket to keep an eye on in 2007. Below, are his thoughts on two of the most talked about raw materials for this industry — petroleum and steel.
Dale Swanson Elected Chairman of MIS Council
Dale Swanson, division information technology manager, Parker Hannifin, has been elected chairman of the MEMA Information Services Council (MIS Council) Board for 2006-2007. The MIS Council provides leadership, education, industry interaction and idea exchange regarding matters of common interest to information technology and e-commerce professionals in the automotive aftermarket and heavy duty industries. Members include executives and professionals of AASA and HDMA member companies who are responsible for information technology (IT), information services (IS) and e-commerce.
OAC Recognizes 25 Year Members
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC — The Overseas Automotive Council (OAC) recently inducted four new members into its Quarter Century Club, which honors members on the 25th anniversary of their enrollment. The inductees for 2006 are: • Fred Lewicki, president, Wilson Auto Electric Ltd., Winnipeg, Canada; • Jose Manuel Pascal B., general manager, Pascal Y Cia.
R. L. Polk & Co.’s Ask the Industry Looks at Predictions for Raw Materials in 2007
The U.S. automotive industry is one of the top consumers of a number of raw materials – steel, petroleum, aluminum, plastic resins, to name a few. The fluctuating cost of raw materials over the past few years has caused major problems for the automotive aftermarket, impacting nearly every sector of the industry.
ArvinMeritor’s Kline Elected Chairman of HDMA
RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK – Dennis Kline, vice president, worldwide truck sales and marketing for Arvin Meritor Commercial Vehicle Systems in Troy, MI, was elected 2007 chairman of the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association (HDMA) on the group’s Nov. 8 meeting. Kline has been a member of the HDMA board since 1998, serving as secretary in 2004,
U.S. Auto Parts Manufacturers and Metalformers Join Forces to Stop Corrosion Resistant Steel Duties
The Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) and the Precision Metalforming Association (PMA), have jointly called on the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) to revoke antidumping and countervailing duties on corrosion resistant steel imports from six countries. The groups warned that continuation of the duties will cause financial harm to U.S. manufacturers and force some MEMA and PMA member companies to move offshore or close their operations entirely.
Automotive Communicators of the Year Honored at APRC Fall Conference
The Automotive Public Relations Council (APRC) honored David Ladd and Mike Pennington as “Automotive Communicators of the Year” at the Fall 2006 Conference held Oct. 12 in Dearborn, MI. Ladd and Pennington are the first recipients of the APRC Communicator of the Year award.
R. L. Polk & Co.’s Ask the Industry Asks: How Do You Make Future Business Projections?
In an industry subject to ever changing market conditions, it’s important to have as many tools as possible to help project an accurate business forecast for the year ahead. For this week’s “Ask the Industry,” we asked a number of aftermarket firms what methods they use to make future business projections. Their responses conveyed the high-level of creativity and analysis that goes into predicting future supply and demand.
Former Fram Vice President Daniel Conneally Dies at 60
From MEMA Industry News Daniel Conneally, 60, of Providence, RI, died Tuesday. He served as vice president of marketing at Fram Corp. in East Providence for 29 years, retiring in 1995. He is survived by his wife, Alice, and mother, Madeline, one son, two daughters, one brother and four grandchildren. Funeral arrangements and memorial information
Steel Tariff Debate Escalates: Auto Future an Issue for Federal Hearing Today
A heated dispute over the future of U.S. manufacturing hits a federal trade panel today, which will hear arguments from steel companies and automakers on whether tariffs on certain types of steel widely used in cars and trucks should be removed. The debate pits six large automakers against the three largest U.S. steel companies, each using a form of economic jujitsu to make its case.