Hella Restructures North American Operations
Hella, a supplier of automotive electronics and lighting systems, has restructured its North America operations with the formation of three distinct business units for its lighting, electronics and aftermarket businesses.
PAACE Automechanika Mexico Sells Out
Exhibit space for the PAACE Automechanika Mexico, which runs Wednesday, July 13, through Friday, July 15, at Centro Banamex Hipodromo de las Americas in Mexico City, is sold out for the first time in its history. Show organizers report that sales for exhibit space increased 20 percent over 2004 and record attendance is expected for the 12th straight year.
Siemens VDO Automotive Celebrates 10 Years at its Allentown, Pa., Facility
Siemens VDO Automotive is marking the 10th anniversary of its aftermarket operations in Allentown, Pa. Since its inception in April 1995, the Siemens VDO Automotive Service & Special Solutions group has grown from seven employees and a 32,000-square-foot warehouse with 450 products to 77 employees, two facilities encompassing more than 64,000-square-feet and more than 4,500 different products.
MANN+HUMMEL Expands North American Product Offerings
MANN+HUMMEL, a global supplier of automotive air and fluid management systems and components, announced today plans to expand its product development, testing and manufacturing operations in North America. Claude Mathieu, president and CEO of MANN+HUMMEL USA, said the company is adding oil filter modules to its current product mix, which includes intake manifolds, air cleaner systems and coolant reservoirs.
Continental AG Posts Record Sales in 2004
Continental AG reported all-time record sales for 2004, posting revenues topping $17.19 billion, despite what the company referred to as an “overall sluggish economy in the global automotive industry.” The sales record showed a 9.2 percent increase over 2003 results.
Executive Interview with Guy Bargnes, Director of Marketing, North American Operations for BASF Corp. Refinish Group
Guy Bargnes has spent his entire life in the collision repair industry. He was born and raised in Buffalo, NY, where his father ran a family business, V. H. Bargnes Co., Inc., which distributed automotive paints, supplies and equipment to area collision shops. In 1992 Bargnes joined BASF full-time, and he is now director of marketing, North American Operations, for the Refinish Group. Bargnes recently sat down to a phone interview with aftermarketNews and shared with us some of the insights from his lifelong career in the industry. Join us as Bargnes talks about BASF’s four leading principles, trends in the refinish business and the return of paint companies to industry trade shows.
Williams Controls Opens Sales and Manufacturing Operations in China
Williams Controls said this week it has obtained the necessary government approvals to begin manufacturing and sales activities of its wholly owned subsidiary, Williams Controls Asia, in the People’s Republic of China. Williams Controls will begin producing products for the Chinese market in March 2005 out of a manufacturing facility located in the Suzhou Industrial Park.
Detroit Diesel Corporation, Freightliner LLC Invest $275 Million in Michigan Facility; Location to Produce a New Heavy-Duty Truck Engine Line
Detroit Diesel Corporation (DDC) and Freightliner LLC today announced plans to invest $275 million to upgrade to a manufacturing and office facility in Redford, Mich. Detroit Diesel Corporation (DDC) and Freightliner LLC today announced plans to invest $275 million to upgrade to a manufacturing and office facility in Redford, Mich.
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.
Herman Trend Alert: Training vs. Off-Shoring
Employees in developed countries are increasingly concerned about the number of jobs being moved overseas. Alarmists sound the cry that a huge number of jobs are vanishing from traditional workplaces, spelling the elimination of employment opportunities. Though this perspective stretches the truth, thousands of jobs that had been performed in the U.S., England, Australia, Germany and other places have been moved to countries with considerably lower wage rates. On balance, this shift is good for the economies of developed countries, since employers are able to get more accomplished for less, freeing resources for other uses-like creating more jobs, though different, that can be performed by their own workers.