Over the Counter July 2007

Heavy Duty Technician Scholarship Announced

A new Canada-wide scholarship program has been introduced to attract technical program students to careers as heavy-duty technicians.

Produced as a partnership between Shell Canada and the Heavy Duty Distributors Council (HDDC), the Heavy Duty Technician Scholarship recognizes the dramatic shortage facing the heavy truck industry.

“It has become increasingly hard to hire qualified technicians,” says HDDC president Robert Sidall. “So it was welcomed when Shell approached the HDDC with the idea of partnering with the HDDC on a scholarship.”

Owen McNammon, manager alliance sales, commercial sales and marketing for Shell Canada, says the shortage of skilled labour in Canada could have a significant economic impact if not addressed.

“We recognize the impact that a shortage of skilled technical workers is having on the industry today and the future of road transport in Canada,” says McNammon. “With the number of technicians currently employed by fleet companies ready to retire in record numbers in the upcoming decades, we need to act now.

“On an international scale, Canada has one of the most serious cases of skilled labour shortages. Two-thirds of employers in Canada report having difficulty filling positions due to a lack of suitable talent, well above the 40% of employers globally. We are now competing with other countries and other sectors to develop, attract and retain skilled technical workers in the transport sector.”

The scholarship will provide $1,000 in assistance to six students annually from across Canada. Beginning this September, students enrolled in their second year of a transport-related program in a Canadian Association of Motive Power Educators institution are eligible to apply for the Heavy Duty Technician Scholarship. The recipients will be chosen based on their academic merit, financial need and desire to contribute positively to the future of the trucking industry.

“We’re hoping that the scholarship and communication will increase awareness about the issue and encourage participation from other companies in the transport sector.

“We need to convey that good opportunities and support exist in the industry, and having both Shell and the HDDC step up to the plate is a good thing. We should be proud that as Canadians, we are taking the initiative to start leading this change,” says McNammon.

Aftermarket Contribution Gives Hope, and Help

The $150,000 raised this year by the Shad’s R&R aftermarket event for the Muscular Dystrophy Association of Canada gives parents of stricken children two things: hope and help, says a leading researcher.

Dr. Doug Biggar focuses his efforts on Duchenne muscular dystrophy at the Bloorview Kids Rehab hospital in Toronto. Baker told the 300 attendees at the annual Shad’s R&R fundraiser that children would be better off with a diagnosis of cancer than this particular strain of muscular dystrophy.

“Most of the kids with cancer get cured. No one with Duchenne gets cured. They all die before they’re 25.”

He said that research continues however–with particular emphasis on stem cell research–and thanked everybody present for their generous contributions.

The 2007 contributions by Shad’s R&R bring the 34-year total raised by the charity to more than $3 million.

Canadians Among GAAS Scholarship Winners

The Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS) Scholarship Committee has announced the awarding of scholarships to 154 students in 2007.

The $1,000 scholarships represent 142 students in the U.S. and 12 in Canada.

The announcement was made during the 2007 symposium at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Chicago.

IMCO Purchases Tubex

IMCO (International Muffler Company) has purchased Tubex Manufacturing Limited of Brampton, Ont.

Tubex is a manufacturer and supplier of pre-bent exhaust pipes to the U.S. and Canada. The company has 13 employees and is housed in a 77,000-square-foot facility.

Joanne Smith, Tubex co-owner and vice-president, states, “The sale provides Tubex with the opportunity to grow with IMCO, a company which has the focus to achieve even greater market leadership in the exhaust business.”

Graphical E-Catalogue Reaches Milestone

Activant Solutions Inc., a provider of business management solutions for the automotive aftermarket, has announced that its Cover-to-Cover graphical e-catalogue module for replacement parts distributors, jobbers, and installers surpassed one million monthly page views in May. The Activant Cover-to-Cover module provides one-click access to an extensive library of enhanced product information, parts photos and illustrations, installation instructions, warranty information, and technical service bulletins.

ArvinMeritor Completes Emissions Technology Sale

ArvinMeritor, Inc. has announced that it has completed the sale of its Emissions Technologies business group to One Equity Partners (OEP), an equity investment firm based in New York, for approximately US$310 million, consisting of cash and other considerations including specified assumed liabilities.

First Quebec Ethanol Plant Opens

GreenField Ethanol has officially opened its Varennes plant–the first ethanol plant in the province of Quebec.

GreenField’s Varennes plant will produce 120 million litres of ethanol each year from 12 million bushels of Quebec-grown corn. GreenField also has plants operating in Chatham and Tiverton, Ontario, and two more are under construction in Johnstown and Hensall, Ont. that are scheduled to begin operating in 2008.

GreenField Ethanol will be one of the top producers in North America with five operating plants, producing more than 700 million litres of ethanol per year by 2008.

Appointments

Louis Mottet, eastern regional manager for Grant Brothers, has announced that Shawn Whiffen has joined the Grant Brothers automotive sales team as district manager for the Newfoundland territory. Whiffen has most recently been working as a business manager at an automotive dealership.