By Amy Antenora
The Week in Review offers a snapshot of the most highly read stories of the week as seen on aftermarketNews. To access the complete stories, simply click on the highlighted links. If you missed reading one of our daily news emails, click on any of the dates listed at the bottom of the page to begin catching up on the latest industry news.
After nearly six-and-a-half years, Federal-Mogul today has something to celebrate. Late yesterday, the company announced that the United States Bankruptcy Court has confirmed its Fourth Amended Joint Plan of Reorganization, paving the way for Federal-Mogul to emerge from Chapter 11. Now, the only thing standing between Federal-Mogul and the ‘fresh start’ that Chairman, President and CEO Jose Maria Alapont has envisioned, is affirmation from New Jersey U.S. District Judge Joseph Rodriguez, who has final say in the case.
There was big news on the collision side of the market this week as well, when it was announced that 3M plans to acquire Bondo Corp., a manufacturer of auto body repair products for the automotive aftermarket and other professional and consumer applications. A well-known brand in its own right, Bondo’s established brand of products will complement 3M’s own line of auto body repair products for the automotive aftermarket.
Two editorials were among the highest read articles on aftermarketNews this week. In “Why Buy Direct,” regular Counterman contributor Gary Goms ponders what value the ‘middleman’ truly brings. In the column Goms writes, “The phrase ‘buying direct’ conjures up all sort of feelings in the aftermarket, both for repair shops and distributors."
Also this week, we featured a guest commentary from Joe Mejaly, vice president and general manager of ArvinMeritor’s Commercial Vehicle Aftermarket (CVA) business. The article, titled “How to Go Beyond Customer Service and Deliver Customer Value,” features thoughts excerpted from remarks Mejaly made in October to a national meeting of warehouse distributors and independent service garage operators.
Finally, this week AMN readers were saddened to learn of the passing of Kevin Rossdeutcher. Rossdeutcher, 45, was director of National Accounts for Gold Eagle Co. In his obituary, the company credited Rossdeutcher with contributing to the successes of the Gold Eagle Company over the past 10 years, selling brands like Heet and Sta-Bil to many retail channels throughout North America. Remembered by friends and colleagues as passionate, fun-loving and enthusiastic, Rossdeutcher will be greatly missed.
To view all of the news from the past week, simply click on the link for each corresponding day:
