Al Stecklein of Gates Elected 2006-2007 MEMA Chairman
Alfred “Al” Stecklein, group president, Worldwide Aftermarket Division of Gates Corp. in Denver, CO, has been elected 2006-2007 chairman of the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA) Board of Directors. Stecklein was named to his current position at Gates in September 2000. As group president of Stecklein is responsible for directing the sales, marketing and logistics/distribution of all the automotive aftermarket products manufactured by Gates worldwide, as well as other Tomkins automotive companies.
Coast to Coast Automotive Buys Precision Automotive
Avon, OH-based Coast to Coast Automotive Products has purchased the assets of Precision Automotive Industries (PAI). PAI will no longer be associated with the aftermarket business of Corteco, Inc. Coast to Coast was previously a brand name of The Timken Company, acquired by Coast to Coast Automotive Products, Inc. (C2C) in 2003. C2C was founded in 2003 by John Gross and William Hagy, owner of North Coast Bearings, Inc., a supplier of light- and heavy-duty differential and transmission rebuild kits under the brand name DT Components.
Last Chance to Register for the University of the Aftermarket’s Pre-Global Symposium Seminar
Register now for the University of the Aftermarket’s Pre-Global Symposium seminar. The three-and-a-half-hour seminar takes place on May 16 at the Hyatt Regency Dearborn, just prior to the kickoff of the 2006 Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium. This seminar will help attendees manage through change and get unstuck from the old ways of thinking. Attendees will participate in activities that will build upon analytical and creative skills.
Lonnie Mayne to Join Affinia Group
Heavy-duty and retail sales specialist Lonnie Mayne has accepted a position with Affinia Group Inc. as vice president of special markets, effective April 24. Mayne comes to Affinia from No. 1 International (Hi-Tech), where he held the position of president of the Factory Engineering Group. Formerly, Mayne served as national sales manager for Timken Corp. and as western regional sales manager for Federal-Mogul. In his past experience, he has successfully developed sales, marketing and organizational strategies designed to build relationships with customers, create an operational structure for high performing sales teams and increase overall sales.
Register Now for University of the Aftermarket Pre-Symposium Seminar
Northwood University’s University of the Aftermarket will host a seminar just prior to the start of this year’s Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium, from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. on May 16. The theme of the seminar, which takes place at the Hyatt Regency in Dearborn, MI, is “Accelerating Change Through Innovation (Are You Equipped to Handle the Coming Changes?)” This seminar will be an interactive discussion about the nature of our current business climate and why it is important to embrace change to allow innovation to happen on a personal and organizational level. In a hands-on, participative activity, attendees will build their own conceptual “vehicle for change” using analytical and creative thinking.
Gates Acquires Equity Stake in Colinx
Gates Corp., the global leader in power transmission and fluid power systems, has announced that it has acquired an equity stake in CoLinx LLC which provides e-business and logistics services. Gates will use CoLinx logistics services in all CoLinx locations in the U.S. and Canada. The Gates on-line store for industrial power transmission products is planned for launch in the second half of 2006.
University of the Aftermarket to Hold Pre-GAAS Seminar
Northwood University’s University of the Aftermarket will host a seminar just prior to the start of this year’s Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium, from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. on May 16. The theme of the seminar, which takes place at the Hyatt Regency in Dearborn, MI, is “Accelerating Change Through Innovation (Are You Equipped to Handle the Coming Changes?)”
Ken-Tool Appoints New Director of Marketing and Sales
Automotive specialty tool manufacturer Ken-Tool has appointed Gerald Hill to the position of director of marketing and sales. Hill is a seasoned sales and marketing executive, having spent more than 20 years with the Timken Co. in various sales and marketing positions.
University of the Aftermarket to Present ‘Advanced Selling Strategies for the Heavy Duty Aftermarket’ in March
Northwood University’s University of the Aftermarket will present “Advanced Selling Strategies for the Heavy Duty Aftermarket” March 6-8 at Northwood’s Cedar Hill, TX, campus. The seminar will be presented by two veteran aftermarket sales professionals, Robert Gracey MAAP, senior vice president, sales for Affinia Under Vehicle Group; and Mark Iasiello MAAP, heavy-duty national sales manager, Dayco LLC.
R. L. Polk & Co.’s Ask the Industry Asks Manufacturers How They’re Handling Rising Raw Materials Costs
By the end of 2005, oil prices had risen 45 percent higher than they were at the beginning of the year. Gas prices took a similar route, rising about 23 percent in 2005 leveling out to a national average of about $2.30 a gallon. As an industry that relies on oil and natural gas for a variety of critical processes — from fuel for parts deliveries to oil derivative products used in manufacturing – the rising costs of raw materials are certainly having an impact on U.S. auto parts manufacturers. For this week’s Ask the Industry, we asked manufacturers: How does your company handle the rising costs of doing business today, given increasing raw materials costs?