Ballooning Steel Costs Bring Pain for Wisconsin’s Auto Suppliers
Skyrocketing steel prices already have pushed two automotive suppliers with plants in Wisconsin into bankruptcy, and industry observers say more companies could go under yet.
Advance Auto Parts To Host Free Monthly Car Care Clinics
Following the lead of major home improvement retailers, Advance Auto Parts has announced it will begin holding free, monthly car care clinics at its stores nationwide to teach drivers how to maintain their vehicles and perform minor repairs. The 20-minute video clinics will take place on the last Saturday of each month and are broadcast nationwide to more than 2,500 stores on the company’s in-store television network.
Modine Develops Fuel-Cell Parts
Modine Manufacturing Co. is developing fuel-cell components for an underground mining machine being built for the U.S. Department of Energy. The Racine, Wis.-based company will supply a cooling system for the machine that’s expected to run from a fuel-cell and battery-hybrid engine in tight spaces up to 1,000 feet underground.
Stoneridge to Form Partnership with India Firm
Stoneridge, Inc., a Howland, Ohio-based maker of wiring components and other vehicle parts, said it expects to grab a larger share of the growing auto parts market in India by forming a joint venture with a large Indian parts maker.
Parts Supply Affects Ford’s Hybrid Plans
Plans by Michigan’s Ford Motor Co. to start making gasoline-electric hybrid vehicles could be affected by a lack of domestically available parts. Phil Martens, Ford’s executive vice president of product development, said Ford had to turn to foreign suppliers for access to a majority of key components to build the company’s first hybrid, the Escape Hybrid, the Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday.
Grote Releases Second Volume of “Know How” Training Guides
Grote Industries, a leading manufacturer of vehicle safety systems, has introduced the second volume in its “Know How” series of programmed instruction training guides. Grote Know How II is a 104-page illustrated guide to installation and troubleshooting of lighting and wiring on heavy-duty tractors, trucks and trailers.
Much of Coastal U.S. May Follow California on Car Emissions
California’s plan for sharp cuts in automotive emissions of global warming gases could eventually lead much of the coastal United States to turn to vehicles that are substantially cleaner, and by extension more fuel efficient, than those in the rest of the nation.
Advanced Bosch Training Focuses on Solving Today’s Automotive Service Challenges
In today’s environment of ever-more-complex and sophisticated automobiles and trucks, training is all-important to the technicians who service and maintain these vehicles. Robert Bosch Corporation, a supplier of automotive systems and components, has placed itself in the forefront of those that supply the advanced technical training needed by the automotive service community.
Shortage of Technology-Oriented Mechanics May Lead to Higher Repair Costs
Motorists, already facing soaring gas prices, can expect higher repair costs in the future because of a lack of qualified mechanics. Even as today’s cars and trucks become more technologically advanced, there are fewer students who can read well enough to understand manuals that explain how to repair them, mechanics and automotive instructors say.
TI Automotive Launches New Fuel Pump Line
TI Automotive is investing millions this year to launch production of an all-new dual-channel, single-stage (DCSS) fuel pump that provides dramatic improvements in efficiency and performance.