Aftermarket Technology Corp. Appoints Don Johnson to CEO
Aftermarket Technology Corp. (ATC) has announced that Don Johnson will succeed Mike DuBose as CEO and president. DuBose is stepping down as CEO but will remain chairman of the company.
Hella Receives Award for Technical Innovation
Global automotive lighting and electronics supplier Hella KG Hueck and Co. has received a “Trophy of Excellence” for its technical innovations in the field of electronically-controlled bend lighting.
LKQ Enters Aftermarket Through GTA Acquisition
LKQ Corp., a nationwide provider of recycled OEM automotive replacement parts, has acquired Global Trade Alliance (GTA), one of the largest suppliers of aftermarket collision automotive replacement parts in the Midwest. GTA operates primarily as Action Crash Parts and Midwest Fender. LKQ paid $30 million for the acquisition, $1.5 million of which was in LKQ common stock and the balance of which was in cash and assumed debt.
Shell Racing Solutions Announces Distribution Agreement
Shell Racing Solutions has signed an agreement with Performance Products LLC to distribute Shell Racing Fuels to the U.S. motorsports industry. Performance Products has 15 years of experience in the U.S. race fuels business. Performance Products has serviced professional race series such as Indy Racing League (IRL) and Championship Auto Racing Teams (CART) and will distribute Shell Racing Solutions race fuels to top tier, as well as grassroots and club racing circuits.
Federal-Mogul’s Champion, Wagner Lighting Brands Honored For Marketing Excellence
Federal-Mogul’s Champion spark plugs and Wagner lighting brands were honored in two recent international marketing competitions held in New York City. The Champion spark plugs “Champion Powers All” integrated marketing campaign was a finalist winner, and received a certificate of distinction in the 2004 AME (Advertising Marketing Effectiveness) Awards competition. Federal-Mogul’s Wagner lighting marketing team was also a finalist winner and recipient of a certificate of distinction in the 46th annual TV, Cinema and Radio Advertising competition of the prestigious New York Festivals.
GKN Updates Corporate Identity
Automotive driveline component supplier GKN Driveline has changed its name and logo as part of a recently adopted corporate identity program. Ted Rodewig, GKN Driveline’s marketing director, said the identity program is designed to bring new focus to the company by creating a common banner under which it will operate on a global basis.
Tenneco Automotive Names Two New VPs
Tenneco Automotive has named James Perkins as vice president and controller and John Kunz as vice president and treasurer. Perkins joins Tenneco Automotive from GE Medical Systems Information Technology, where he most recently was director, commercial operations. Kunz joins Tenneco Automotive from Great Lakes Chemical Corp., where he most recently served as vice president and treasurer.
U.S. Faces Decline in Engineers As Student Programs Grow Overseas
The United States faces a shortage of engineers in coming years, and that could diminish the nation’s status as a leader in technology development and innovation, executives and educators say. The looming shortage comes as nations, including China and India, are seeing a boom in the number of students in engineering programs. Assuming the trend continues, it could result in the U.S. continuing to lose technology jobs to overseas competition.
“DST Asks” Parts Distributors: Which Features of a Computerized Business Management System are Most Useful to Your Business?
Our youngest readers may not be able to remember that there was a time before remote control technology when changing the channel on your television actually required getting up off the couch and making the long walk over to it. “Channel surfing” only existed when you could get one of your kids to sit next to the TV and turn the dial for you. Life was brutal then.
Former Dow Engineering Plastics Executive Joins Penda Corp.
International plastics executive Ulf Buergel has been appointed president and COO of Penda Corp., a leading manufacturer of light-truck bedliners. Buergel joins Penda following a 20-year career with The Dow Chemical Co. in Midland, Mich.