Over the Counter June 2007

Carrus Technologies Signs as Co-Sponsor of Canadian Counterperson Award

Carrus Technologies Inc. has signed on as co-sponsor of the highly popular Jobber News Counterperson of the Year Award, which recognizes counterpeople in the Canadian automotive aftermarket.

Carrus Technologies Inc., a Canadian supplier of automotive aftermarket business computer systems, has signed onto the award alongside founding sponsor Wakefield Canada.

“In less than three years this award has become incredibly popular, and is a well-deserved recognition for those aftermarket professionals on the front line of the distribution network. It’s great to have such an enthusiastic Canadian company like Carrus on board,” says Jobber News publisher and editor Andrew Ross.

“Carrus Technologies is honoured and extremely excited about co-sponsoring the Counterperson of the Year Award with Wakefield Canada, and Carrus is looking forward to supporting this very meaningful award for many years,” says Bob Worts, director of sales for Carrus Technologies Inc.

The Counterperson of the Year Award, introduced three years ago, is formally known as the Abe Schwartz Memorial Award, after the late owner of British Auto Supply who spent half a century working the counter at the century-old Toronto jobber. In that short time it has become one of the most popular awards in the Canadian automotive aftermarket. Hundreds of counterpeople have been nominated for the award, with Rob Grabowski of Auto Parts Central in Thunder Bay, Ont., receiving the honour in 2005, and Barry Fitzgerald, Colonial Auto Parts, St. John’s, Nfld., being named to the award in 2006. The 2007 winner will be announced late this year, and will be profiled in the December issue of Jobber News.

Rol Manufacturing Acquires Corteco

Rol Manufacturing has agreed to acquire the Corteco aftermarket business from Freudenberg-NOK.

Closing was expected to take place in June, subject to the fulfillment of customary closing pre-conditions.

Specifically, the agreement includes assets in the United States, Canada, and Mexico that are related to Corteco Engine Gaskets & Seals, Omega Power Steering Hose, and MounTec Engine & Transmission Mounts.

In addition, Rol Manufacturing and Freudenberg-NOK have agreed to form a strategic alliance by means of a supply agreement to be executed at the time of the closing of the acquisition.

Following the acquisition, the Omega Power Steering Hose manufacturing plant in Solon, Ohio, and the Corteco de Mexico business in Queretaro, Mexico, will continue to operate as-is and all employees are expected to be retained. The Newport, Tenn., gasket manufacturing plant will be closed. The Newport, Tenn. facility employed approximately 37 hourly and salary employees. All manufacturing equipment and activity will be transferred to Rol Manufacturing’s new facility in Montreal.

MACS to Present at Automechanika Canada

The Mobile Air Conditioning Society (MACS) Worldwide will present its Best Service Practices and Compressor Replacement Procedures as part of the technical program featured at Automechanika Canada.

The MACS seminar will take place on Thursday, September 27, 2007 from 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. at Toronto’s International Centre. MACS manager of service training Paul DeGuiseppi will present the class. “When adhered to, the procedures described should help assure high-quality long-lasting repairs, reduction of comebacks and increased customer satisfaction,” he says.

For more information on Automechanika Canada in Toronto, visit www.AutomechanikaCanada.ca.

Xenon Warning From Hella

Hella, Inc. has issued a warning against xenon retrofitting headlamp conversion kits that are not certified for street use in the U.S. or Canada.

Every headlamp legal for use is granted its type approval together with the light source (halogen or xenon) with which it is intended to be operated. The retrofitting of xenon headlamps such as the ones available from Hella as complete sets (type-approved twin headlamps including headlamp levelling device and cleaning system) is completely legal, and comes with the well-known advantages.

“Unfortunately, there are products — xenon retrofit products in particular — available on the market that are prohibited by the U.S. (not SAE-certified) or approved by the appropriate Canadian regulatory agencies,” says a statement from Hella. While these lamps often look cosmetically like legal kits, they usually omit the safety features that make retrofitting legal, such as levelling devices and cleaning systems, the company contends. Unauthorized, illegal “conversions” of halogen headlamps to xenon are both dangerous and prohibited because the incorrect distribution of xenon light increases glare up to 100 times — putting other drivers in extreme danger, says Hella.

AutoSense Incentive Trip Winners Treated

During 2006, Auto Sense ran an incentive trip program for its Auto Logic service providers, with the recipients taking in the Quebec Winter Carnival.

Ten couples from across Canada flew to Montreal for the beginning of their five-day adventure to the Quebec Winter Carnival. The group travelled by Via Rail to Quebec City, and spent four days at the Carnival.

Web Additions for Altrom

Altrom Group has made major additions to its website.

Users are able to order parts online at www.altrom.com, which includes a number of new features, including online ordering; product images; stock check capability; retailer locator; searching by part number; and links to the help desk.

Brake Milestone for Bosch

Robert Bosch has produced and shipped the company’s 150 millionth brake control system, a milestone for a technology that began with the antilock braking system (ABS) approximately 30 years ago, followed by other Bosch system innovations such as the traction control system (TCS) and electronic stability control (ESC).

Currently, Bosch produces more than 65,000 brake control systems daily at six locations worldwide.

NAPA Sponsors Canadian Busch Race

NAPA Auto Parts 200 will be the official name of the inaugural NASCAR Busch Series race on August 3-4 at Circuit Gilles-Villeneuve in Montreal, Que.

It was also announced that David Reutimann will drive the # 99 NAPA Auto Parts Toyota Camry in the Montreal race.

“We are very happy to partner with the inaugural NASCAR Busch race in Canada, the NAPA Auto Parts 200,” says Robert Hattem, president and chief operating officer, UAP Inc.

Worldpac Expands

Import parts specialist Worldpac has announced its newest locations in Saint-Leonard, Que., and Vancouver Island, B.C.

These additional Worldpac facilities provide increased coverage and same-day delivery options for Worldpac customers.

Saint-Leonard, Que., the third Montreal metro facility, provides increased service support and expanded delivery options to the Northeastern Montreal area.

The Vancouver Island, B.C., facility services the Victoria region.

APPOINTMENTS

Dean Worley, director of sales, Collision, Automotive Refinish, PPG North America has announced that Brian Roberson has been named director, Refinish for PPG Canada, Inc. Roberson assumed the position June 1, 2007, replacing Lee Smith, who has held the position for the past five years. Smith will be moving to PPG Refinish headquarters in Strongsville, Ohio, as director of strategic growth for PPG North America.

Adam Crisp, Ontario regional sales manager, Grant Brothers Sales Limited, has announced the appointment of Samuel Benstead as district manager for Southwestern Ontario. Benstead has a vast knowledge of the automotive industry, having come from a family that foun
ded and owned a large warehouse distributor business in southern Ontario. Benstead also has a diploma in automotive from Georgian College in Barrie, Ontario. Crisp also announced the appointment of Peter Koehler as district manager for Greater Toronto and surrounding area. Koehler spent many years in the automotive and heavy-duty business. He was most recently with the Uni-Select distribution network.

Correction:

In the April issue article “Hushed Hardware,” due to an editing error the ThermoQuiet product line was attributed to the wrong manufacturer. It is a product line offered by Federal-Mogul under the Wagner name. Jobber News magazine regrets the error.