Eleven Suppliers Win Prestigious 2005 Automotive News PACE Awards
Eleven automotive suppliers have won 2005 Automotive News PACE Awards for innovation. Two automotive manufacturers were also honored with the first-ever Automotive News PACE Innovative OEM Collaborator Awards during the program.
CAWA Elects Four Board Members
The California/ Nevada Automotive Wholesalers Association (CAWA) has elected four members to its board of directors and appointed a new member to its Manufacturers Advisory Council. CAWA is an automotive aftermarket trade association representing more than 550 jobbers, warehouse distributors, retailers and manufacturers in California and Nevada.
Giant Industrial Union Formed With Merger of USWA, PACE
The United Steelworkers of America (USWA) and the Paper, Allied Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers International Union (PACE) will merge following a unanimous vote by the two unions’ international executive boards. The new union resulting from the merger will have more than 850,000 active members in more than 8,000 bargaining units in North America and an organizing budget of more than $30 million per year. It will be known as the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union.
PPG Names Morales Director of Investor Relations
Vince Morales has been named director of investor relations for PPG Industries. Morales has 20 years of finance and financial management with the company. Morales started with PPG in 1985 as an accounting trainee in the corporate controller’s department at the company’s headquarters. He transferred in 1989 to PPG’s shared financial services center in Chillicothe, Ohio, and progressed through a series of financial assignments supporting the glass, fiber glass and coatings businesses.
American Capital Invests $33 Million in Qualitor
American Capital Strategies Ltd., a publicly-traded buyout fund, has invested $33 million in Qualitor Inc., a diversified automotive aftermarket parts manufacturer. Founded in 1999, Southfield, Mich.-based Qualitor manufactures application-specific wear products, including brake components, wiper blades, engine control devices and heavy duty truck parts. The company has eight manufacturing, distribution and storage facilities in Connecticut, Florida, Michigan and Ohio and employs nearly 800 people.
Yokohama Rubber Establishes Yokohama Design Center
The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. recently established the Yokohama Design Center (YDC) in Tokyo, Japan. Equipped with advanced information technologies, workshop functions and audiovisual equipment, the YDC will be used to focus on the improvement of passenger-tire appearance and the reduction of product development lead-time at the company.
2005 Omnibus Appropriations Bill to Help Strengthen Several Industry Initiatives
The fiscal 2005 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, recently approved by Congress on Nov. 20, will help strengthen the country’s stance against intellectual property rights (IPR) violations with the creation of a new federal post to coordinate federal anti-IPR theft efforts. Broad industry support for stronger intellectual property enforcement abroad resulted in the creation of a new Intellectual Property (IP) czar post, which will be appointed by the president. The new IP czar will serve as coordinator for international intellectual property enforcement and lead the National Intellectual Property Law Enforcement Coordination Council (NIPLECC).
Executive Interview with Greg Gyllstrom, Vice President and General Manager for Visteon’s North American and Asian Aftermarket Operations
Our latest edition of “Executive Interview” features Greg Gyllstrom, Vice President and General Manager for Visteon’s North American and Asian aftermarket operations. In this role, Gyllstrom is responsible for expanding the organization’s North American and Asian aftermarket business by coordinating and directing the company’s sales, product development and marketing activities. Gyllstrom recently talked with aftermarketNews.com about his first two years at Visteon, the company’s motor sports initiatives and its presence in Asia.
Apogee Enterprises Announces Board of Director Changes
Apogee Enterprises, which develops value-added glass products and services for the automotive, architectural and large-scale optical industries, has announced election of a new director and resignation of an existing director. Apogee’s board of directors has nine members. Mark Burke has been elected to the Apogee board of directors and will serve on its finance committee. Robert Edwards, executive vice president and CFO of Safeway Inc., has resigned from the Apogee board of directors.
Amcast President and CEO Joseph Grewe Resigns
Joseph Grewe, president and CEO of Amcast Industrial Corp., has advised the company’s board of directors that he will be resigning from his position as an officer and director of the company, effective Nov. 1. Grewe will be rejoining his former employer, Saint-Gobain, a producer, processor and distributor of materials such as glass, ceramics, plastics and cast iron. Grewe’s responsibilities will be assumed by Byron Pond, Amcast’s board chairman and former CEO.