Remy Settles Patent Infringement Suit with Taiwan’s Unipoint
Remy International has settled the patent infringement lawsuit it filed last November against Unipoint Electric Manufacturing Co. Ltd. Remy International has settled the patent infringement lawsuit it filed last November against Unipoint Electric Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
SB International Installs New Database Management System
SB International of Nashville, Tenn., recently selected 21st Century Graphic Technologies and Omnitek Information Systems Inc. to install a new database management system. S. B. International (SBI) is a full line supplier of cylinder head components to the engine parts distributor, production head rebuilder and private label market. Leone, director of Information Systems for SBI, said the company did extensive research before choosing a solution provider.
The Year in Review – A Look at the Top 10 News Stories of 2004
Whether you believe 2004 was a good or bad year for the aftermarket, no one can argue this was a big news year for our industry. The year included noteworthy shifts in leadership, mergers, acquisitions and more, most of which will significantly impact the industry for many years to come. Here’s a month-by-month look at what aftermarketNews.com considers to be biggest news events that happened in our industry in 2004.
U.S. Steel Shares Rise on News of Shortages
Shares of U.S. Steel and other steel producers rallied yesterday after Japanese car maker Nissan disclosed steel shortages are causing a five-day production halt at three plants. The news encouraged views that steelmakers will continue benefiting from sharply higher prices caused by tight supply and surging demand in China.
NSA Named Preferred Supplier of New Starters and Alternators for IAPA
NSA Corp. has been approved by the Independent Auto Parts of America (IAPA), as its preferred supplier of new starters and alternators. NSA offers coverage of more than 95 percent of late-model domestic passenger applications and 90 percent of late-model Toyota, Honda, Isuzu, Suzuki, Nissan, Mitsubishi, Mazda, Subaru and European passenger vehicles. The company also provides extensive coverage of leading commercial-truck applications.
Goodyear to Sell Stake in Indonesian Rubber Plantation to Bridgestone
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. is selling its Indonesian natural rubber plantation to Bridgestone Corp., it was announced this morning. Terms were not announced, and Goodyear said the sale would not interfere with its ability to source natural rubber for tire production.
A Suppliers’ Guide to Innovation
As automotive suppliers continue to get hammered by price cuts, material cost increases, and competitors in low-cost countries, renewed attention is being focused on product and process innovation as a way to improve competitive positioning and profitability. So here we’ll look at the systems automotive suppliers need to implement if they want to consistently deliver on the innovation imperative.
Tire Kingdom to Open Three New Stores in Houston Area
Tire Kingdom Inc. announced that it plans to expand its retail operations in the Houston area by opening three new stores during the month of December. New stores in Houston and in Humble and Kemah, Texas, will open around Dec. 20, according to a statement released by the national tire retailer.
DuPont to Build Auto Paint Lab in Japan
DuPont said it will spend $10 million to build an automotive paint laboratory in Japan to facilitate approval for sales of coatings to the domestic factories of Japanese carmakers. The laboratory, to be built in Aichi Prefecture where Toyota Motor Corp is headquartered, will open in the third quarter of 2005 and employ about 30 people, the U.S. chemical giant said.
Tower Seeks $200 Million Loan
Tower Automotive Inc., which makes body structures for car manufacturers, said it retained Rothschild LLC late last week as a financial adviser to help in arranging a $200-million loan.