Executive Interview with Gary Halpern, Vice President of Product Development Neutronics
Join us as Gary Halpern, vice president of product development for Neutronics, provides an insider’s perspective on the current R-134a issues and shares with us the message he’s been trying to get out to repair shops for a decade.
Analysis: Top 100 Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers
For the third year in a row, global tiremakers such as Bridgestone and Michelin have come out on top of the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association’s 2005 Top 100 Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers list. In fact, the first five companies ranked are all tiremakers.
CARQUEST Announces 2004 Vendor of the Year and Technology Award Winners
CARQUEST recently named East Penn Manufacturing, supplier of CARQUEST Batteries and Battery Accessories, as its 2004 Vendor of the Year. The company also presented Technology Awards to four vendors: Gates Corp., which supplies CARQUEST Belts & Hose; the Affinia Group, supplier of CARQUEST Filters and Brakes; CARDONE, supplier of CARQUEST Remanufactured Products; and Airtex Products, supplier of CARQUEST Fuel Pumps. The awards were presented during CARQUEST’s annual Executive Briefing on April 13.
Big Three Automakers Renew Approval of BASF Refinish Coatings
DaimlerChrysler, Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. have renewed their approvals of BASF’s refinish systems for warrantied repairs. The approvals were granted following a series of rigorous and comprehensive technical evaluations at BASF’s Southfield, Mich., site, according to BASF.
DENSO Develops Smaller, Lighter Components for Large Hybrid Vehicles
DENSO Corp. has developed four new components for hybrid vehicles — a hybrid control computer; a battery- monitoring unit; a DC-DC converter and an electric compressor for air conditioning systems — all designed to be smaller and lighter than conventional components, while still being able to meet the needs of today’s larger hybrid vehicles.
Federal-Mogul Appoints Second Former Fiat Exec to Management Team
Jean Brunol has been appointed senior vice president, business and operations strategy and a member of the strategy board for Federal-Mogul Corp. His appointments are effective May 2. In this new role, Brunol will be responsible for corporate development of business and global growth strategies. Most recently Brunol was senior vice president, product and business strategy, international operations at Iveco – the commercial vehicle company of the Fiat Group. He is the second executive from Fiat Group to join Federal-Mogul in recent weeks. Last week, the company announced the appointment of Mario Leone, Fiat Group’s former chief information officer, to the position of senior vice president and chief information officer for Federal-Mogul.
ArvinMeritor to Develop Specialty Vehicle Drivetrain with Unicell Ltd.
ArvinMeritor has entered into program to develop a new alternative-power vehicle with an electric drivetrain. ArvinMeritor will work on the project with Unicell Ltd., a medium-duty body builder with operations in Toronto, Ontario, and Buffalo, N.Y. The new electric drive vehicle will be equipped with a fully-electric drivetrain and will be demonstrated to the public in 2006.
Frost & Sullivan Picks EaglePicher Horizon Batteries for 2004 Product Differentiation Innovation Award
EaglePicher Horizon Batteries, LLC, a joint venture between EaglePicher Inc. and Horizon Batteries, Inc., has been presented with the prestigious 2004 Frost & Sullivan Product Differentiation Innovation Award in the world motive lead acid (MLA) battery market. The award was presented to the company for its sealed value regulated lead acid (VRLA) battery (12D2000).
Alan Johnson Named President, CEO of Advanced Accessory Systems
Advanced Accessory Systems, a manufacturer of automotive roof racks and towing systems in North America and Europe, has announced the appointment of Alan Johnson as its new president and CEO. Johnson succeeds Terence Seikel, who announced plans to resign last summer, in order to pursue other interests. Johnson has been president and COO of Plastech Engineered Products in Dearborn, Mich., since early last year when Plastech acquired LDM Technologies of Auburn Hills, Mich.
Vector Manufacturing Adds Black & Decker Brand to Product Lineup
Vector Manufacturing, Ltd. has signed a licensing deal with The Black & Decker Corp., granting Vector an exclusive trademark license for a number of portable power products. Vector will launch a new premium line of Black & Decker branded products in 2005. The licensing agreement grants Vector exclusive rights to manufacture, market and sell battery chargers, jump-starters, power inverters, portable spotlights, flashlights and lanterns under the Black & Decker brand in the United States and Canada.