aftermarket Archives - Page 62 of 73 - Tyrepress

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GP to Supply SKF Wheel Bearings to GAU

GP Automotive, the logistics supplier to SKF, has been appointed as the approved SKF wheel bearing supplier to Group Auto Union (GAU) buying group. According to the company, The SKF range of OE-quality wheel bearings totals 850 references and offers a minimum 96 per cent coverage of the UK vehicle parc. “We’re delighted to add this GAU supply approval to our list of responsibilities and commitments to the aftermarket because it’s another illustration of a respected industry group recognising the quality and performance that we can bring to its members through our logistics agreements,” GP’s business unit manager, Karyn Hunt, said.

14th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Morgan Sets Retirement Plans, Alliance Begins Search

(Tire Review/Akron) Richard Morgan has announced his retirement as president and CEO of the Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance.

No exact date for his retirement was announced. The Alliance’s board of directors has launched a search for Morgan’s successor, and the group and Morgan indicated that the search window may be two years.

11th December 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Proliance Chief Picked to Head MEMA Board

(Tire Review) Other MEMA board officers include Vice chairman – Terry R. McCormack, president and director, Affinia Group; Vice chairman – James S. McElya, CEO, president and director, Cooper Standard Automotive; and Treasurer – Eugene E. Ezzell, chairman and CEO, Mikronite Automotive Technologies. Al Stecklein, group president, worldwide aftermarket division, Gates Corp., will remain on the board as immediate past chairman.

New members of the board are Terry Keating, CEO and chairman, Accuride Corp.; Gordon Ulsh, president, CEO and director, Exide Technologies; and Dennis Welvaert, president, global automotive aftermarket, Dayco Products.

30th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Holt Lloyd to Show Tyreweld at Aftermarket Exhibition

Holt Lloyd has confirmed it will use The Aftermarket Show as a means of strongly promoting its Simoniz, Holts and Redex brands to trade and consumer visitors. The focus of the Holt Lloyd stand at the UK’s premier aftermarket trade show will be on its Simoniz Valeting range which includes popular products like ‘Back- to-Black’, ‘Alloy Wheel Cleaner’ and a range of ‘Car Care Wipes’. Also taking centre stage will be its Tyreweld and Redex products.

According to the company, Tyreweld is the UK’s number one emergency tyre repair solution, while Redex commands 35 per cent of the fuel additive market in the UK and has recorded consistent yearly growth in the aftermarket, thanks a dedicated advertising campaign.

28th November 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Racing, Aftermarket Pioneer Wally Parks Dies

(Akron/Tire Review) NHRA founder Wally Parks died last week at the age of 94. “Today is a sad day in the world of NHRA and the sport of drag racing,” said Tom Compton, NHRA president. “Words simply can’t describe the immeasurable impact Wally has had on the sport he created and the millions of people’s lives he touched along the way. The name Wally Parks is synonymous with drag racing, and his vision and direction will guide NHRA for years to come. Everyone in drag racing, and the industries formed to service the sport, will forever be indebted to Wally, his vision, his focus and his desire to create, build and grow NHRA.”

Parks founded NHRA in 1951, and played a pivotal role in the establishment of an entire industry devoted to the automotive aftermarket parts and accessories.

1st October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Growth For MAM Software in First Half

MAM Software has announced that business remained buoyant in the first half of 2007 as the company sustained its solid growth rate of recent years. Despite increasing market saturation, product enhancements and innovations created additional interest that has helped MAM to win new business, says the company.

Key factors aiding the growth of MAM’s business include technological advances in electronic cataloguing, the introduction of online sales applications and the development of new products for vertical markets. Current applications have also been enhanced with new features and functionality, which has motivated users to update their existing technology.

“The UK aftermarket is nearing saturation as most factors and retailers now use some form of I.T. to manage their business” explained Mike Jamieson, MAM’s Managing Director. “Despite this, we’ve been able to achieve solid growth by winning business from our competitors and increasing revenue through innovation and diversification.

1st October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Beru Makes Full-Year Target Adjustment

German automotive supplier Beru reports that, as a result of what it refers to as the current “difficult” situation in the motor industry, the company now assumes it will achieve operating profit (EBIT) of between 44 million and 47 million euros in full-year 2007. This represents a slight downward correction of the company’s most recently published earnings guidance. The reduction is attributed to the ongoing decrease in unit sales in the high-margin aftermarket business. Furthermore, in response to demands from vehicle manufacturers, Beru has been forced to grant price reductions it says exceed the effects of its own internal cost-cutting activities.

Beru’s executive board maintains its goal of increasing sales revenues by a low single-digit percentage this year.

28th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Tire Review Names New Managing Editor

(Akron/Tire Review) Veteran reporter Denise Koeth has joined the staff of Tire Review as its new managing editor.

25th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Solideal Increases Prices 4-6 per cent

Solideal is to raise aftermarket prices in Europe by 4-6 per cent depending on the product line. The increases will take effect from 1 November 2007. According to the company, the increase is due to the continued rise in raw material, energy, and freight costs. “Of course, we continue to implement efficiency programmes in all aspects of operations in order to minimize the impact of cost increases,” said Cesar Clemente, CEO of Solideal.

19th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Bringing OEM Standards into the Workshop

Bus and Commercial vehicle maintenance facilities around the country are facing increased demand to follow the manufacturers’ recommended specifications on a wide range of bus and chassis components and sub systems. In response to a number of potentially catastrophic events, proper wheel tightening has become a critical procedure. Thanks to Chicago Pneumatic and its BlueTork range of tools – the name comes from ‘Blueprint’ and ‘Torque’ – workshops can now service vehicles back to their original, blueprint torque specification.

According to the company, the BlueTork range is the most advanced family of fastening tools in the industry and takes over where standard impacts and ratchets stop. The range offers torque-limiting (shut-off) impact tools, vibration-free, low-noise pneumatic and electric nut runners as well as wheel assembly machines. It also includes torque and angle measuring equipment, computer controlled tightening wrenches and precision measuring tools.

18th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

AASA Sees Aftermarket Growing

(Akron/Tire Review) A new report by the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA) says that the US light vehicle automotive aftermarket industry is expected to grow over the next several years, with the largest increase predicted for 2007.

A detailed analysis of the size of the aftermarket is included in the 2007-2008 AASA Automotive Aftermarket Status Report.

According to AASA, the value of the light vehicle aftermarket (parts and labour) will break the $200 billon mark within the next few years. The light vehicle aftermarket reached $185.2 billion in 2006, a 2.9 per cent increase over 2005. AASA estimates the light vehicle aftermarket will finish 2007 at nearly $193 billion, an increase of 4.0 per cent.

29th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Webb Wheel Hires New President

(Akron/Tire Review) Wolfgang Winzer has joined Webb Wheel Products as the new president of its aftermarket business unit. Most recently, Winzer was vice president and general manager of Siemens VDO Automotive’s public transport telematics unit.

Webb Wheel Products manufactures hubs, brake drums, and rotors for medium and heavy-duty trucks, trailers and buses.

22nd August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Accuride Appoints New Senior VP Sales and Marketing

On August 20 Accuride Corporation named the successor to H. Larry Taylor, who recently left the company to pursue other career opportunities. Stepping into the role of senior vice president, sales and marketing is Richard Schomer, who brings more than 20 years’ experience of OEM and aftermarket sales with him.

Schomer will be responsible for the strategic global leadership of Accuride’s sales and marketing operation and will work closely with Accuride’s strategic business units to drive product, market and global expansion initiatives.

“We are excited to have Rick join our executive leadership team, given his strong entrepreneurial background coupled with his extensive experience in market and product development,” said John Murphy, president and CEO of Accuride. “Following the successful integration of Transport Technologies Industries, Inc. and as we look beyond 2007, our strategic initiatives will continue to focus on growing Accuride’s business both organically and globally. We believe Rick’s keen strategic visioning ability and proven track record of translating value-added business propositions into sales will be a tremendous asset to Accuride and will assist us in achieving our growth objectives.”

Prior to joining Accuride Schomer served as principal of MR3 LLP, a business consulting firm specialising in market and product development.

21st August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

ArvinMeritor Sells European LVA Operations

Vehicle systems and components manufacturer ArvinMeritor reported on August 7 that its Light Vehicle Aftermarket (LVA) European exhaust operations has been sold to the UK based automotive sector investor Klarius Group. Terms of the sale were not disclosed. This sale affects includes employees at the company’s UK LVA facilities in Blackpool, Lancaster and Stoke-on-Trent, as well as those at plants in Dreux and Nanterre in France, and Finale Emilia in Italy.

“This transaction completes the divestiture of the LVA business,” said Chip McClure, ArvinMeritor chairman, CEO and president. “Our strategy is to focus resources and capital on areas within our core businesses that produce the highest returns for our shareowners.”

McClure added, “Completing the sale of LVA is another recent achievement toward strengthening the company and positioning ourselves for profitable future growth.”

9th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

New Coats Wheel Lift System Available

(Akron/Tire Review) Hennessy Industries has released the new Coats wheel lift system for its 50xx, 70xx, and APX80 rim clamp tyre changers. The system helps protect expensive aftermarket and OE wheels while helping eliminate strain on tyre technicians handling sometimes large, heavy tyre/wheel assemblies.

Hennessy said the Coats wheel lift system helps the operator get tyre/wheel assemblies up to tabletop height with minimal effort. The unit installs easily, said Hennessy, and can handle up to 150 pounds.

The unit is compatible with Coats APX80 A/E, as well as A/E and AX/EX configurations of 7050, 7060, 7065, 5050, 5060, and 5065 model tyre changers, the company said.

19th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors