EPWI also named Dick Niemi, Federal-Mogul, as its 2006 Rep-resentative of the Year.
A surprised Dick Niemi, district sales manager in the greater San Francisco Bay area, accepted his award during the awards ceremony. Niemi provides sales, product and marketing support for Sealed Power, Speed-Pro, FP Diesel, Fel-Pro, Carter and Champion product lines to EPWI’s Oakland branch warehouse.

The Representative of the Year is selected annually on a rotating basis by region, using combined votes based on scores in three categories: sales support, distribution philosophies, and timely and accurate follow-through.

For more information about Engine & Performance Warehouse visit www.epwi.net.

Lock-N-Stitch Makes First-Ever List Of The 5,000 Fastest-Growing Businesses

Inc. magazine has ranked Lock-N-Stitch Inc. of Turlock, CA, number 2,141 on its first-ever Inc. 5,000 list of the fastest-growing private companies in the country. The “Inc. 5,000,” an extension of Inc.’s annual “Inc. 500” list, catches many businesses that are too big to grow at the pace required to make the Inc. 500, as well as a host of smaller firms. Taken as a whole, these companies represent the backbone of the U.S. economy.

“The Inc. 5,000 provides the most comprehensive look ever at the most important part of the economy – the entrepreneurial part,” said Inc. 5,000 Project Manager Jim Melloan. “The expansion of the list has allowed us to tell the stories of larger companies, older companies and a wealth of companies in industries like manufacturing and construction that are underreported in the business media.”

Lock-N-Stitch Inc. specializes in products used to repair cracks and damaged bolt holes in castings made of cast iron and aluminum. With 16 U.S. patents and over 40 international patents, LNS has proven its commitment to new innovations to solve difficult problems. LNS has a modern manufacturing facility in Turlock, CA, and employs 33 people.

The 2007 Inc. 5,000, as revealed at www.inc.com, reported median revenue of $9.4 million and median three-year growth of 140 percent.

For information about Lock-N-Stitch, visit www.locknstitch.com.

Size of Aftermarket Likely to Grow in 2007, Says New AASA Research Report

The light vehicle automotive aftermarket industry is expected to grow over the next several years, with the largest increase predicted for 2007, according to new research from the Automotive Aftermarket Suppliers Association (AASA). 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 labor) will break the $200 billon mark within the next few years. The light vehicle aftermarket reached $185.2 billion in 2006, a 2.9 percent increase over 2005. AASA estimates the light vehicle aftermarket will finish 2007 at nearly $193 billion, an increase of 4.0 percent.

Vehicles more than 10 years old continued to comprise the largest share of dollars spent, reaching approximately $80.8 billion in 2006. This category, along with the six- to 10-year old vehicle group, is expected to continue to expand at a stable pace, while new to five-year-old vehicles are projected to reach a peak in 2007 before declining to just short of $45 billion in 2010.

This year’s Status Report edition features sections on emerging markets in China and India, the latest figures on unperformed maintenance, global vehicle summary, North American aftermarket and an analysis of the do-it-yourself market. Copies are $125 for AASA members, with volume discounts available. The AASA Status Report is $500 for non-members. The Status Report also is available on CD-ROM. To purchase the report, e-mail [email protected].

Register Now, Defer Payment Until ’08 For Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week

Online registration is now open for the third annual Heavy Duty Aftermarket Week (HDAW) to be held Monday, Jan. 21, through Thursday, Jan. 24, 2008 at The Mirage, Las Vegas, NV. As an added convenience to distributor attendees to the premier education and business conference is the opportunity to register now and defer payment until Wednesday, Jan. 2, 2008.

HDAW 2008 will build on its successful program elements such as the Heavy Duty Aftermarket Forum, hosted by Stu MacKay and a number of educational and professional development opportunities focused on the heavy-duty distributor. More than 1,000 prescheduled one-on-one meetings between suppliers and distributor executives are being planned in conjunction with a supplier exhibition showcasing the latest innovations and products.

Conference enhancements for 2008 include more valuable networking time with the Monday night Welcome Reception, Opening Day Breakfast and luncheons and breaks on Tuesday and Wednesday. The last hour of the Product Expo on Tuesday and Wednesday will feature a happy hour on the exhibition floor. Additionally, private lounge areas have been added to the Product Expo for meetings.

All distributor members of the HDAW sponsoring organizations; ACOFAS, etc are entitled to the $400 member discount fee and may participate in the One-on-One Business Meetings at no extra charge. HDAW is the largest North American gathering of heavy-duty suppliers and distributors.

For more information, or online registration and housing arrangements, visit www.hdaw.org or contact W.T. Glasgow, conference management, at: 708-226-1300.

18th Annual AETC To Focus On ‘The Power Of Fuels’ As Key Topic

“The Power of Fuels; Winning Today with Tomorrow’s Fuel Technology” will be the focus for speakers at the upcoming Advanced Engineering Technology Conference to be staged Dec. 3-5 at the Orange County Convention Center. The AETC pre-PRI Show event brings together industry leaders, engineers and icons of the automotive aftermarket looking to learn and share the latest engine technology. Along with the ability to hear and speak with cutting-edge engine development specialists, the discussions that occur between speakers have proven to be enlightening for conference attendees.

For more information about the upcoming 18th Annual AETC including the list of scheduled presenters, visit www.aetconline.com.