The following is the agenda for the meeting:
Friday, April 29
7:00 – 10:00 a.m. – Registration.
7:00 – 8:00 a.m. – PERA Continental Breakfast.
8:00 a.m. – Opening Remarks & Introductions.
8:15 a.m. – “Performance Market,” Scooter Brothers of Comp Cams.
9:00 a.m. – “Performance Market,” Ed Keibler.
9:45 a.m. – Refreshment Break.
10:00 a.m. – “Engine Data Source Presentation,” Roy Berndt and Mark Kothe.
10:30 a.m. – “Profit Making and Cost Saving” Idea Session. The best idea will win $250.
Noon – Closing Remarks for the day’s session.
5:30 – 7:00 p.m. – PERA “Welcome to Las Vegas” Reception.
Saturday, April 30
7:00 – 8:00 a.m. – PERA Continental Breakfast.
8:00 a.m. – “Profits Through Balancing,” Three speakers from Sunnen.
9:15 a.m. – “Newer Engines and Their Commonalities – 4.8L/5.3L/6.0L, etc.,” Doug Anderson, Grooms Engines.
10:00 a.m. – Refreshment Break.
10:15 a.m. – “To E-Bay or Not to E-Bay,” Drew Lieberman, E-Bay Motors.
11:00 a.m. – “Piston Presentation.”
12:30 p.m. – PERA Board Meeting and lunch.
To download a registration form for the PERA Spring Meeting, please go to www.pera.org and click on the “PERA Registration” link to download a registration form. Fax the completed form to PERA at (703) 968-2878.
To request an EXPO 2005 Convention Brochure, please call AERA at (888) 326-2372. You can register for the EXPO then, or visit www.aera.org/expoReg.aspx to fill out an online registration form.
NOTE: Hotel reservations at the Las Vegas Hilton for both PERA’s Spring Technical/Marketing Conference and the AERA EXPO 2005 are being booked through AERA. At press time, over half of AERA’s room block was gone, so don’t delay making your reservations. The easiest way to make reservations is online at www.aera.org and go to “Register for Convention,” or you can contact AERA directly at (888) 326-2372.
Ford/EPA Clean Diesel Project Enters Phase II
The collaboration between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Ford Motor Company to develop Clean Diesel Combustion (CDC) has entered Phase II, a spokesperson for Ford has announced. The concept, an emission control technology, reportedly shows promise of improving fuel economy over gasoline- powered engines and meeting the EPA’s stringent Tier 2 emissions standards for nitrous oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM).
In Phase I of the test, Ford used a European Galaxy minivan to demonstrate how the advanced diesel technology improved the minivan’s fuel economy by 30 to 40 percent over a similar gasoline powered vehicle and still was able to meet the EPA Tier 2 standards. Phase II will seek to further “refine the CDC technology and examine its commercial viability,” Ford said.
Price Not a Big Factor in Repair Shop Selection
Quality and trust were the top two criteria for consumers when selecting a service provider for their vehicle, according to a recent study on the DIY and DIFM aftermarket by the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA). Cost of service ranked seventh in factors that influence consumers’ selection decision.
“Repair shops who currently advertise and market on price alone should rethink their strategy to meet the expectations and motivations of today’s more savvy motorist customer,” said Kathleen Schmatz, AAIA president and CEO. “Convenience, speed of service and their past experience with a service provider are more important than cost of service to consumers.”
“The Aftermarket Consumer: DIY or DIFM” reveals that quality also ranked number one in importance among DIYers in selecting an outlet to purchase the parts and supplies used to perform vehicle service themselves. About 68 percent of DIYers purchased their parts and supplies during the past 12 months from an auto parts store.
The report analyzes consumer responses to numerous topics covered in the survey, including:
Consumer maintenance and repair behavior
Light, medium and heavy DIY/DIFM work
Frequency and type of DIY/DIFM work
Where DIYers purchase products and why
Factors in selecting service provider for DIFMers
DIY and DIFM demographics
Tool and accessory purchasing
“The Aftermarket Consumer: DIY or DIFM” is available to AAIA members for $295 and to non-members for $795. For more information or to order a copy, contact AAIA at 301-654-6664 or visit www.aftermarket.org.
Nominations Still Open For Machinist Of The Year
To further improve upon the success of its Machinist of the Year (MOY) Program, Clevite Engine Parts will provide a cash prize of $250 to the person who nominates the winner of this year’s award – all in an effort to encourage bosses, colleagues, family and friends to nominate a broader selection of deserving machinists.
To be eligible, a machinist must be a full-time employee of a machine shop specializing in automotive or heavy-duty engine work and be ASE certified in any one of the three specialists classifications: cylinder head specialist, cylinder block specialist or engine assembly specialist.
The following criteria is used to select the MOY: special machining skills, special training, community involvement, good business practices, range of shop services offered and the ability to represent the industry in a positive manner.
All applications must be submitted to Dana/Clevite MOY Nominations headquarters by April 1, 2005.
The award consists of an all-expense paid trip to the AERA Expo, $500 in spending money, a custom Victor Reinz jacket and a commemorative plaque. The Victor Reinz Machinist of the Year Award will be presented at the AERA Expo in Las Vegas, NV, on April 28, 2005. Application forms and additional information about the MOY Award can be found at www.engineparts.com.
2004-2005 World Vehicle Market Report Available
There’s a world of opportunity in the global automotive industry and it’s available through the “2004-2005 World Automotive Market Report.” Produced annually by the Overseas Automotive Council (OAC), the “World Automotive Market Report is one of the industry’s oldest and most respected global statistical analyses. Now in its 74th edition, the 2004-2005 “Report” includes: Vehicle production and assembly, Vehicle census summary, U.S. automotive parts trade, World trade in new vehicles, World motor vehicle markets.
Hi-Tech Forms Venture to Supply Reman Engines
Hi-Tech Engine Components has formed a venture with manufacturers that produce new and refurbished factory quality engines, cylinder heads and crankshafts. Under the terms of the venture, Hi-Tech has exclusive marketing and distribution rights in the automotive, truck and marine aftermarket.
The new venture, known as the Factory Engineering Group, will produce products at seven U.S. facilities and will distribute from 10 DCs located strategically across the U.S. The venture will operate administrative offices within Hi-Tech’s Salt Lake City facility.
According to Lonnie Mayne, Factory Engineering Group president, “The Hi-Tech Factory Engineering Group was formed with multiple suppliers of both new and factory refurbished engines and heads. Each supplier is QS-9000, ISO-9002 and ISO-14000 certified. Our group believes that the greatest strength comes from branding and identifying the effort as ‘Hi-Tech,’ thus leveraging the strength of our well-accepted brand. Each member of the group has agreed that the only identification associated with the program will be the Hi-Tech name. All Hi-Tech engines and heads will be made in the USA.”
Hi-Tech’s “no-risk” engine program includes a 42 month/100,000 mile nationwide warranty, free delivery and core pickup, no-risk core credit and optional no-fault warranty which includes rental car and towing coverage.
Parts & People Names Joe Polich Regional Editor
Joe Polich, former executive vice president of the Production Engine Remanufacturers Association (PERA), brings 30 years experience in the automotive aftermarket to his new position as editor of the River Valley edition of Parts & People.
Polich will be responsible for copy, content and ad sales throughout eastern Missouri, southern Illinois and southern Indiana. He will also cover national issues on the remanufacturing industry.
Federal-Mogul Awarded 2004 Manufacturer Application Award of the Year by NAPA’s Under Hood Sales Group
NAPA’s Under Hood Sales Group (UHG) awarded its 2004 Manufacturer Appreciation Award of the Year to Federal-Mogul Corporation, reports Business Editors/Automotive Writers.
The award, UHG’s only manufacturer recognition honor, was given to Federal-Mogul based on field sales support, manufacturing excellence, consistently high order fill, superior marketing support and overall communications.
Bob Reilly, general manager, Under Hood Sales, NAPA, presented the award to Federal-Mogul on Jan. 29 at NAPA’s National Sales Meeting in Nashville, TN. Reilly praised Federal-Mogul’s field sales team members for their diligence, product knowledge and enthusiasm in supporting the UHG with their sales leadership, training and product seminars at all levels of distribution.
NAPA’s 6,400 stores across the country carry six Federal-Mogul product lines. Three of these product lines – NAPA Fuel Pumps, NAPA Belden and Champion spark plugs – fall under NAPA’s Under Hood Sales Group.
Metaldyne Execs Stole Trade Secrets, Prosecutors Claim
Two former employees of Metaldyne Corp. – one of them a vice president – were charged recently with stealing the company’s trade secrets to sell to a Chinese competitor, reports Detroit Free Press.
Anne Lockwood, 52, of Rochester Hills and Fuping Liu, 41, a U.S. citizen who lives in Shanghai, China, were charged in a criminal complaint with stealing the company’s technology for making engine connecting rods from powdered metal.
FBI agent Jeffrey Edwards said in a criminal complaint that the company spent 10 years and millions of dollars to perfect the technology for making components such as connecting rods for truck engines from powdered metal. Metaldyne is one of two auto suppliers worldwide that makes powdered-metal connecting rods, Edwards said.
Edwards said in the complaint that Lockwood and Liu took the design for a new connecting rod prototype that will go in 2007 International Truck and Engine (formerly Navistar) models.
Myra Moreland, Metaldyne’s vice president of corporate affairs, commended the FBI for helping to protect the company’s trade secrets. “Our intellectual property is absolutely critical to our success as a company,” she said.
Metaldyne CEO Tim Leuliette has been outspoken about Chinese companies pirating U.S. auto technology.
PACCAR’s Plimpton to Discuss Improving the Heavy Duty Supply Chain At 2005 HDMA During MATS
Attendees can purchase individual tickets or reserve tables to hear the insights of Tom Plimpton, president of PACCAR Inc at the 15th Annual Breakfast & Briefing on Friday, April 1, at the Mid-America Trucking Show (MATS), Louisville, KY. The event is presented by the Heavy Duty Manufacturers Association (HDMA).
Plimpton will present an overview of available technologies that can improve virtually every aspect of the supply chain. He also will discuss how the truck industry can foster a greater incorporation of technology, improved quality and greater innovation by improving communication and cooperation between OEMs and suppliers.
Registration information for this event is available at the HDMA Web site: www.hdma.org. More information is available by contacting HDMA at 919-406-8808 or [email protected].
Strong Speaker Lineup for First Aftermarket Financial Symposium
Top financial and investment executives from within and outside the industry are slated to address the first-ever Aftermarket Financial Symposium: “Leveraging for Growth,” Sept. 7-8, 2005 in Chicago, IL, sponsored by the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA).
A partial list of speakers and their presentations include: Perspectives on Key Financial Issues from the Operating Side, Michael Archbold, executive vice president, CFO, AutoZone; Mergers & Acquisitions, Dan Smith, president, Capstone Financial; Strategic Planning, Sam B. Rovit, partner, Bain & Company, Inc.; Executives and partners from Lockton Companies, Massachusetts Financial Services and Grant Thornton will make presentations on risk management, perspectives from Wall Street and key financial issues from the accounting profession. Breakout sessions on PARTnerShip Network/Product Information Exchange Standard (PIES)/Catalog Enhanced Standard (ACES) will be hosted by Scott Luckett, AAIA’s vice president, technology standards and solutions.
“Interest has been extremely strong from both the financial community and the aftermarket to the symposium,” said Kathleen Schmatz, AAIA president and CEO. “We urge CFOs, financial service providers, investment analysts, CPA firms and others with interests in improving the bottom line of their business and that of the automotive aftermarket’s to register early.”
The symposium will be held at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Chicago on Wednesday, Sept. 7 and Thursday, Sept. 8. For more information, contact Susan Medick at [email protected] or Barbara Clark at [email protected] or call 301-654-6664.
Register for both the Aftermarket Financial Symposium: Leveraging for Growth and the Aftermarket eForum(tm), July 19-21 in Chicago, IL, and save $200. To register, visit www.aftermarket.org.
Clevite 77, Perfect Circle Add Fuel to NHRA Teams Through Clevite Nitro Club
For years, Clevite 77 engine bearings and Perfect Circle piston rings have powered Nitro-fueled NHRA cars to the finish line. Now, the Nitro Club from Clevite 77 and Perfect Circle has gone the extra mile to help teams save a little green while setting quarter-mile records.
There are three levels of membership – basic, standard and premier – each with a variety of requirements. Teams get better pricing on engine parts based on the level they choose.
In addition, Premier Membership teams that finish in the top 16 of the NHRA Funny Car and Top Fuel classes will be entered into a drawing to win a sponsorship for 2006.
For more information on the Nitro Club visit www.engineparts.com.
Honda to Be ‘Vehicle Manufacturer of the Show’ for 2005 SEMA Show
Honda has been selected as the vehicle manufacturer for the 2005 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) trade show in Las Vegas this November. The all-new 2006 Civic will be the Vehicle of the Show and the high-performance 2006 Civic Si Coupe will make its world debut at SEMA.
Honda has long been a leader in the compact performance market. According to the latest figures from SEMA, Honda and Acura products account for almost 40 percent of the total vehicles in this segment.
In 2001, Honda debuted the all-new 2002 Civic Si at SEMA. The company has also selected SEMA as the venue to debut new Honda Factory Performance accessory kits for models like the Civic Coupe, the Accord Coupe and the Acura RSX.
In addition to hosting the world debut of the 2006 Civic Si production model, the 2005 SEMA show will feature a wide assortment of Honda and Acura models modified by some of the import performance market’s leading tuner companies. Models on display will include the all-new 2006 Ridgeline, Honda’s first entry in the pickup truck segment, the S2000 sports car and the Element SUV. Acura division is expected to feature modified versions of the RSX, the TSX sports sedan and the RL luxury performance sedan.
Remy to Sponsor Paul Dana in the Ethanol Hemelgarn IRL Entry
Remy International has signed a three-year associate sponsorship agreement with driver Paul Dana for the #91 Ethanol Hemelgarn Racing entry in the Indy Racing League IndyCar Series, starting with the 2005 season.
Dana will pilot the Toyota-powered Dallara for the 17-race season. Ron Hemelgarn, a founding team owner in the Indy Racing League, will operate the team in an encore return to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Hemelgarn has owned and operated many successful entries over the past 25 years, including cars piloted by 1996 winner and the 2000 Indy Car Series champion, Buddy Lazier.
“We are very impressed with the team’s track record and the alternate-energy sponsors committed to an aggressive marketing campaign which has dedicated millions of promotional dollars to feature the IRL Ethanol car as its centerpiece for trade ads, billboards and commercials,” said Remy CEO and President Thomas Snyder. “Toyota and Remy are world leaders in hybrid technologies and offer great sponsor alliances for the team. The Remy brand will get international exposure with prime-time race-fan audiences of 20 million people in 198 countries and growing – an exact marketing focus for our products,” he added.
For more info, visit: www.remyinc.com or www.pauldana.com.
Truck Dealers Sue Detroit Diesel
Ten truck dealers are suing Detroit Diesel Corp., saying the heavy-duty engine maker violated federal antitrust laws by organizing an illegal boycott and price-fixing scheme, according to a Detroit Free Press report.
The lawsuit was filed in Philadelphia on behalf of dealers for Volvo Trucks Inc. and International Truck and Engine Corp. Detroit Diesel is owned by DaimlerChrysler AG.
The suit alleges that Detroit Diesel and its distributors boycotted International and Volvo dealers who weren’t affiliated with DaimlerChrysler. The suit says Detroit Diesel refused to allow those dealers to perform major warranty repairs on Detroit Diesel engines, even if the dealers had sold the trucks originally.
Attorneys for the plaintiffs allege Detroit Diesel tried to force International and Volvo into long-term contracts to install Detroit Diesel engines in their new trucks.
The suit also contends Detroit Diesel and its distributors agreed to increase prices for parts sold to the affected dealers.
Federal-Mogul and Others Reiterate Opposition to 2005 FAIR Act
In a statement recently delivered to all U.S. Senators, Federal-Mogul Corporation and the Official Committee of Unsecured Creditors of Federal Mogul outlined a series of flaws in, and reiterated opposition to, the discussion draft of the Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution (FAIR).
The statement described the inherently flawed and unfair nature of the legislation’s payment allocations for Tier I – companies presently in bankruptcy – and other infirmities. While more than two-thirds of present and future true asbestos claims are from individuals exposed to asbestos by defendants in the building and construction trades – an industry sector that includes, among others, the top eight Tier I defendants – Tier I participants in the national fund would provide a mere six percent of payments. This bailout places the solvency of the national asbestos fund at risk. The statement explained an alternative analyzed by the financial advisor to the Creditors Committee that could provide approximately $12 billion in additional funding for the national trust if Tier I companies were permitted to complete their bankruptcy reorganization and have their liability addressed in a bankruptcy plan. This bankruptcy process would correctly transfer up to $12 billion from shareholders and other stakeholders of certain Tier I entities to the national trust and, thereby, to victims of asbestos exposure.
Federal-Mogul and the Creditors Committee, as they have done in the past, again urged the U.S. Senate to consider alternative legislation establishing standardized medical criteria as a more equitable solution to the asbestos litigation crisis.
