R. L. Polk & Co.’s Ask the Industry Looks at Lessons Learned from Past Technology Experiences
Inspired by the 2006 Aftermarket eForum that took place this month in Chicago, we asked some of the aftermarket’s technology experts to tell us what their companies do differently today in terms of technology, compared to 10 years ago, before the dot-com craze blew over. We wanted to know what lessons they might have taken away from that experience.
Tomorrow’s Technician Editor Serves as Team Judge to Winning Team in National Student Auto Skills Competition
Earlier this week, 50 two-person student teams from across the country competed against each other, and against the clock, to accurately diagnose and fix vehicles in the 2006 Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills National Finals. The competition took place June 27 in Dearborn, MI. Two aspiring techs Bradley Bolton and Aaron Clay, seniors at Paris High School in Paris, TX, only needed 29 minutes and 34 seconds to accurately diagnose and fix their Ford Mustang Convertible and win the 2006 Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills national finals on Tuesday. Ed Sunkin, editor of Tomorrow’s Technician, a B-to-B automotive tech magazine that is distributed to 1,200 NATEF-certified schools, reaching more than 50,000 automotive technician students, served as a Team Judge for the Paris, TX, duo.
R. L. Polk & Co’s Ask the Industry: Synching Up Customer and Provider Expectations When it Comes to Pricing
As an industry, what can we do to get all service providers on the same page, in terms of getting a fair price for service and repair expertise, and being able to charge accordingly, without consumers feeling like they are being gouged?
Snap-on Announces 2006 First-quarter Results
Snap-on’s net earnings for the first quarter of 2006 increased 23.5 percent to $22.1 million from $17.9 million a year ago. Diluted earnings per share were 37 cents this year compared with 31 cents a year ago. Operating earnings increased 14.9 percent to $39.4 million from $34.3 million in the prior year. The operating margin on total revenues improved to 6.5 percent from 5.6 percent a year ago. Net sales were $593.5 million in the first quarter of 2006 compared to $598.7 million in the prior year. Sales increased by $9.8 million, or 1.6 percent, due to higher volume and pricing, which was more than offset by $15 million of currency translation.
Activant Sold to Two Private Equity Firms
Activant Solutions has signed a definitive agreement to be acquired by two private equity investment firms, Hellman & Friedman and Thoma Cressey Equity Partners. The firms will acquire Activant Solutions Holdings Inc. and all its subsidiaries from HM Capital Partners LLC. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Activant declined to comment on the sale. Those involved in the deal are prohibited from commenting, according to the 8-K filing. However, one recent news report indicated that 100 percent of the company, as well as the management team, were included in the deal.
LKQ Acquires Wheel Business
LKQ Corp. announced this week it has acquired Transwheel Corp., an aluminum alloy wheel refurbishing and distribution business. Transwheel markets its products electronically to the insurance and collision repair industries via the three primary estimating systems, Mitchell, ADP and CCC. Through these systems, shops and insurance carriers gain immediate access to Transwheel’s extensive inventory of new and refurbished aluminum, chrome and steel wheels as well as a large selection of refinished wheel covers.
Corcentric Provides Supplier and Order Management Tools to Pronto
E-commerce solutions provider Corcentric announced this week that it has expanded its relationship with National Pronto Association. Corcentric will now provide Pronto with supplier management and order management tools. These electronic tools will enable Pronto to strengthen supplier relationships by providing order information that was previously unavailable.
Butch Smith Joins Precision Automotive Industries, Inc.
Arthur “Butch” Smith has joined Precision Automotive Industries, Inc. as vice president sales and marketing. In this new role, Smith has global sales responsibility for Precision Automotive Industries’ product line. Precision Automotive Industries, Inc. is an ISO 9001 and QS 9000 certified global supplier of new condensers, evaporators, expansion valves, receiver driers/accumulators, refrigerant R12 and R134A, and new and quality remanufactured alternators, starters, a/c compressors and fork lifts.
AMN’s Top Ten Week: Top Ten News Stories
If nothing else has been made clear by the events taking place in the automotive industry over the past 12 months, this much is true: The automotive aftermarket is changing — in dramatic ways. Here, the editorial staffs of Counterman and aftermarketNews takes a month-by-month look at the key events that have shaped this industry’s destiny over the past year.
South Dakota Business Owner Wins New Ford Mustang at AAPEX
Terry Regynski of Telstar Motors from Mitchell, SD, was the winner of the Motorcraft-sponsored raffle for a 2006 Ford Mustang during the 2005 Automotive Aftermarket Products Expo (AAPEX), held Nov. 1-4, in Las Vegas. Regynski, a long-time AAPEX attendee, was on the show floor when Jim Stewart, Motorcraft national marketing manager/Ford customer service division, drew the winning ticket on Nov. 3.