Navistar’s South American Engine Subsidiary to Acquire Another Diesel Engine Company
Navistar International’s South American engine subsidiary, International Engines South America, has agreed to acquire MWM Motores Diesel Ltda (MWM), a major Brazilian diesel engine producer. Owned by the Thiele family, MWM began operations in Brazil in 1953. The company is headquartered and has manufacturing operations in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Dr. Shoichiro Toyoda to Receive SAE Foundation’s 2005 Manufacturing Leadership Award
Dr. Shoichiro Toyoda, honorary chairman of the Toyota Motor Corp., has been selected as the recipient of the 2005 Manufacturing Leadership Award issued by the SAE Foundation. Dr. Toyoda will travel from Japan to receive the award at the Annual SAE Foundation Banquet on Tuesday, May 24, at the Renaissance Center Wintergarden in Detroit.
Alcoa Employees Selected as Earthwatch Fellows
Fifteen employees of Pittsburgh based steelmaker Alcoa have been selected as Earthwatch Institute fellows and will participate in scientific research expeditions around the world as part of the company’s overall conservation and sustainability efforts
Alcoa Employees Selected as Earthwatch Fellows
Fifteen employees of Pittsburgh based steelmaker Alcoa have been selected as Earthwatch Institute fellows and will participate in scientific research expeditions around the world as part of the company’s overall conservation and sustainability efforts.
Toyo Group Announces Executive Appointments
Toyo North America has appointed Shozo (Carlos) Kibata president, and Toyo Tire (USA) Corp. has appointed Masaharu Yoshimoto executive vice president.
The Steel Scene
Traditionally suffering from a poor image, the steel industry has become increasingly under the spotlight during the last 12 months as the strong demand for steel has led to short-term shortages in some industries, especially automotive. The steep increases in the cost of raw materials, including steel, is being cited as one of the principal reasons why carmakers may be forced to increase the price of their vehicles for the first time in years. Nissan, for example, which had to cease production at three of its plants in Japan for several days because of a steel shortage, has already said that it is considering a price rise and is watching with interest what its rivals are doing. Options it was said to be considering are reducing incentives, reducing the standard specification, or a simple price rise, the last being the least favorable due to the competitive nature of the retail market.
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.
Imperial Celebrates 100 Years
Stride Tool’s Imperial brand of HVAC and specialty tools, celebrated its 100th anniversary in January. The company started in January 1905 as the Imperial Brass Manufacturing Co. Stride Tool purchased Imperial when it bought the tools and accessories division of the Imperial Eastman Co. in 1996. Since that time, Imperial’s customer base has expanded in such international markets as the United Kingdom, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Australia and Brazil.
Venture’s Bankruptcy Plan Out; Auction Likely
The murky future of troubled auto supplier Venture Industries got murkier as a bankruptcy judge denied the company’s plan to exit bankruptcy after nearly two years. Most likely the Fraser, Mich.-based company — which makes plastic parts such as bumpers and instrument panels for the auto industry — is headed for the auction block with it being sold off all at once, or piece by piece. Venture is one of the world’s largest auto-plastics suppliers and at its peak employed about 13,000 worldwide, including about 2,000 in metro Detroit.
Toyo Group Celebrates 60th Anniversary
The Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd. of Osaka, Japan, parent company of Toyo Tire (U.S.A.) Corp., is celebrating its 60th anniversary. Founded on Aug. 1, 1945, the Toyo Group, including Nitto Tire North America and Toyo Automotive Parts (USA) Inc., operates sales subsidiaries in the U.S., Canada, Australia, China, United Kingdom, and Germany.