Sen. Levin Aggressively Pushes MEMA Anti-Counterfeiting Initiative During Committee Hearing
On June 14, Senator Carl Levin (D-MI) questioned a panel of witnesses testifying on the Strategy Targeting Organized Piracy (STOP!) initiative in hearings before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs, Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce and the District of Columbia. Sen. Levin expressed concern over the government’s focus on intellectual property violations involving clothing and fashion items, with relatively little focus on more essential manufactured goods and products affecting public safety. He pointed out that there was not a single part on any automobile that isn’t presently being counterfeited in China.
Obituary: Former MEMA President and Chairman Jack F. Whitaker Dies
Jack F. Whitaker, former president and CEO of Whitaker Cable Corp., died May 19 in Mission, Kan. He was 90. Whitaker was president and chairman of the board of the Motor Equipment Manufacturers Association, president of the Associated Industries of Missouri, and a director of the National Association of Manufacturers.
Executive Interview with Lou Gaudette, General Sales Manager, Loctite Automotive Aftermarket Division, Henkel Corp.
After a three-year hiatus, Henkel has re-launched the Loctite brand in the automotive aftermarket with a new look and an innovative and exclusive product line. As General Sales Manager for Henkel Corp.’s Loctite Automotive Aftermarket Division, Lou Gaudette is responsible for all of Henkel’s aftermarket activities in the U.S., Caribbean and Canada. Read on as Gaudette brings us up to speed on Loctite’s re-entry into the marketplace.
Magna International Warns of Difficult Year After First Quarter Profit Declines
Auto parts giant Magna International Inc. is warning of lower operating income for 2005 after reporting its first-quarter net profit declined to $172 million (USD), from $179 million (USD) a year earlier, reflecting troubles in the North American automotive sector.
Transpro Relocates Aluminum Heater Production to Mexico
Transpro has announced plans to move all of its aluminum heater production to its state-of-the-art facility in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico. The company will close its aluminum heater manufacturing facility in Buffalo, NY. According to Transpro, the move is part of its “ongoing commitment to achieving ‘world class’ production costs.”
Integrated Supply Network to Open Fort Wayne Distribution Center
Integrated Supply Network, a national wholesale distributor of automotive and light industrial tools, equipment and supplies, has announced the opening of a new distribution center in Fort Wayne, Ind.
Tenneco Automotive Acquires Gabilan Manufacturing; Expands Presence into Motorcycle Market
Tenneco Automotive is extending its reach into the specialty vehicle market with its acquisition of nearly all assets of Gabilan Manufacturing, Inc., a privately held company that has developed and manufactured motorcycle exhaust systems exclusively for Harley-Davidson motorcycles since 1978. Gabilan, which generated $38 million in revenues in 2004, is the exclusive muffler manufacturer for all of Harley-Davidson’s motorcycle families. Based in Salinas, Calif., the company also produces aftermarket muffler kits solely for Harley-Davidson. Tenneco Automotive has reached a long-term supply agreement with Harley-Davidson to continue these relationships.
U.S. Steps Up Public Campaign Against China’s Pirated Products
U.S. Commerce Secretary Donald Evans publicly backed General Motors Corp.’s claims that a Chinese auto maker is using stolen design information to build a rival car, underscoring how increasingly sophisticated Chinese piracy is threatening foreign businesses and roiling trade relations.
NHTSA Fines Auto Firms $10.2 Million
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration collected $10.2 million in civil penalties from automakers and other companies in 2004, the bulk of which was paid by two carmakers for exceeding federal fuel-economy limits. The two car manufacturers, Porsche Cars North America and Ferrari Maserati North America, paid penalties totaling $9 million for failing to meet the government’s corporate average fuel economy, or CAFE, standards, NHTSA said Wednesday. Porsche’s share was roughly $7.9 million. Ferrari’s was $1.1 million.
Continental Advances Case for Active Safety Technology at Washington Auto Show
Continental this week continued its vocal advocacy of active safety technology with a presentation at the Washington Auto Show, showcasing the company’s roadmap for total safety integrating active and passive safety equipment. At the press conference, Continental announced two leading automakers have commissioned the company to undertake advanced design work on integrating various elements of its safety solution, the Active Passive Integration Approach concept. Joe Gaus, vice president, Continental Automotive Systems, talked about how electronics are leading the way to safer cars by allowing ongoing development of active safety systems that help drivers avoid crashes and mitigate injuries.