Coatings Manufacturer Valspar Acquires De Beer Lafkabrienken B.V.
Coatings manufacturer Valspar Corp. has purchased De Beer Lakfabrieken, a privately-owned, manufacturer and distributor of automotive refinish coatings based in The Netherlands. The acquisition includes De Beer’s subsidiaries in the U.K. and Australia. De Beer, which sells products in more than 65 countries, had sales of approximately $39 million ($50 million at current exchange rates) in 2003. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Allstate Insurance Co. Wins Ruling on Texas Law Prohibiting Claim Referrals
Allstate Insurance Co. has won a temporary injunction that will allow it to continue to refer claimants to Allstate-owned Sterling Autobody Centers, the company said Wednesday. Allstate Insurance Co. has won a temporary injunction that will allow it to continue to refer claimants to Allstate-owned Sterling Autobody Centers, the company said Wednesday.
ArvinMeritor to Sell Ohio Trailer Systems Business to Sypris Solutions
ArvinMeritor has announced plans to sell its Kenton, Ohio, trailer systems business to Louisville, Ky.-based Solutions. ArvinMeritor said the sale of the facility, which employs more than 200 people, will allow the company to focus strategically within trailer products on its core processes for the design and assembly of complete systems, which consist of axles, brakes, suspension and ride control. Once the transaction is complete, Sypris Solutions would become a long-term, key supplier of trailer axle beams to ArvinMeritor’s trailer assembly facility in Frankfort, Ky.
Bo Fisher to Succeed His Father as CEO and Chairman of Fisher Auto Parts
Following the death this week of his father Arthur Jay (Art) Fisher Jr., CEO of Fisher Auto Parts, Arthur Jay (Bo) Fisher III, has been unanimously elected to the position of CEO and chairman of the board. He has been president of Fisher Auto Parts since 1992 and owns a majority of the company.In addition, Gary Shifflett and Herb Godschalk have been promoted to become co-Presidents of Fisher Auto Parts.
Siemens VDO Automotive Names N.A. Williams “Sales Agency of the Year”
Automotive supplier Siemens VDO Automotive has named Atlanta, Ga.-based N.A. Williams Agency “Sales Agency of the Year” for 2003. N.A. Williams is responsible for Siemens VDO Automotive’s sales activities in the Southeast Region, including Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee. The N.A. Williams Agency, which was founded in 1934, specializes in the automotive aftermarket, serving a variety of major manufacturers. They have been a representative of Siemens VDO for the past six years.
ELR for Application Parts Manual Now Available
AAIA has just published the Enhanced Line Review (ELR) for Application Parts, a 298-page manual to help companies make better assortment decisions, increase inventory efficiency and develop long-term strategies to grow their parts businesses.
ATMC Spring Conference to Focus on “Clean Diesel”
The Automotive Training Managers Council (ATMC) will hold its 2004 Spring Conference and Business Meeting on April 18-20 at the Holiday Inn Fairlane-Dearborn in Detroit, Mich. The conference will focus on heavy-duty/diesel emissions and new technologies. Numerous automotive presentations on clean diesels, new emissions-related systems and their impact on the service technician will be on the agenda.
Learn How to Work Leaner, Faster, Better at GAAS 2004
Early registrants for the ninth annual Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) program will learn how the aftermarket will work leaner, faster and better at a substantial savings. GAAS 2004 is set for Tuesday and Wednesday, May 18-19, at the Hyatt Regency, Chicago, Ill. Dr. Jeffrey Rosensweig, economist and professor at Emory University, heads the lineup of speakers at GAAS 2004. NASCAR Driver Bill Lester is the featured lunch speaker on Tuesday, May 18. GAAS 2004 will also include two pre-conference events: the 2004 Manufacturers’ Reps Conference on Sunday and Monday, May 16-17, and the University of the Aftermarket Pre-Symposium Seminar on Monday, May 17, “How to Accelerate Your Sales Growth through Increased Customer Loyalty.”
Continental Tire North America and Exel Form Strategic Tire Distribution Partnership
Continental Tire North America (CTNA) and Exel, a global logistics company, have formed a strategic partnership in the area of tire distribution logistics in North America. As part of the agreement, Exel will assume control of the management of CTNA’s tire distribution warehouses. All details of the agreement will be finalized by April 1, 2004.
ArvinMeritor Taps Don Polk to Lead Its LVS Wheels Business
ArvinMeritor has promoted Donald Polk to the position of vice president and general manager of its Light Vehicle Systems (LVS) business group’s Wheels product line, effective immediately. Before being named to this new position, Polk was vice president and general manager of the LVS Ride Control product line. Polk began his career with the company as a Wheels sales engineer in 1989.