Tuesday July 07 2009

Resources

Releases Updated Special Report: “Intellectual Property: Protecting Valuable Assets in a Global Market”

Research Triangle Park, NC - The MEMA Brand Protection Council has updated its Special Report, “Intellectual Property: Protecting Valuable Assets in a Global Market.”

The Report examines intellectual property rights, one of manufacturers’ most valuable assets. Intellectual property rights (IPR) violations can come in a variety of forms including counterfeiting, trademark infringement, gray market, diversion, country of origin or non-compliant parts.

Navistar Holds First-Ever Virtual Parts Conference and Expo

WARRENVILLE, Ill. -- More than 1,600 International and ICTM Bus dealer parts employees kept their luggage stowed and their workplace staffed while attending the new online “Power Up” Navistar Parts Virtual Conference and Sales Expo, held this June.

“Virtual is the way of the future and Navistar is well-positioned to take advantage of this new technology for the benefit of our dealers, our customers and our company,” said Rommel Miranda, vice president of sales and marketing for Navistar Parts.

U.S. Manufacturing is in a Long-Distance Race, Says ArvinMeritor Chief

The story of global commerce in recent times has been about the relocation of production to places where labor costs the least, a trend that has been damaging to U.S. competitiveness. Service industries have grown while manufacturing has shrunk, a combination that limits the outlook for long-term U.S. prosperity.

But it doesn't have to be that way, says Chip McClure, Chairman, CEO and President of ArvinMeritor. The company is a major global supplier of drivetrain components for heavy-duty trucks.

NHTSA Reports Encouraging Numbers on Highway Casualties

“We are very encouraged by the significant decrease last year in large truck involved fatalities. While the downturn in the economy clearly impacted freight volumes and the overall number of miles logged by truck drivers, we believe that the sustained efforts of the industry, law enforcement, government and safety groups are paying off.” –Rose McMurray, acting deputy administrator at the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.

It’s a heck of a good glide path we’re on in terms of the yearly number of highway fatalities these days; one that I hope continues (though I sadly doubt it) when the U.S. economy recovers.

Navistar Threatens to Permanently Close Chatham Plant

Navistar Inc. closed its sole heavy-duty truck plant in North America outside Mexico when the union contract expired and said it would reopen the factory in Chatham, Ontario, only if a new agreement was reached that gave it “flexibility” over production and allowed Navistar to run a “much smaller operation.”

The plant employed about 500 people who had been producing 35 Class 8 tractors a day — mostly International ProStars and Lone-Stars in both sleeper and day cab models — Navistar spokesman Roy Wiley told Transport Topics.

Oshkosh Wins Contract for Military Truck; Shares Gain

CHICAGO -- The Pentagon on Tuesday awarded a $1.06 billion contract to Oshkosh Corp. (OSK) to build armored patrol trucks for U.S. troops in Afghanistan, sending its shares up 25 percent in late trading.

The Wisconsin-based maker of fire trucks and other specialty trucks will initially build 2,244 all-terrain trucks. Analysts say the order volume could eventually total more than 5,000 trucks, based on the money available for the vehicles.

U.S. Dept. of Labor: $405,000 Grant for Laid-Off Workers at Freightliner Portland

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor today announced a $405,000 grant to assist approximately 80 workers affected by layoffs at the Freightliner Trucks manufacturing facility in Portland, Ore. Freightliner Trucks is a division of Daimler Trucks North America, the largest manufacturer of heavy duty vehicles in North America and a leading manufacturer of medium-duty vehicles.

"Today's grant will allow affected workers to access the employment-related services necessary to obtain employment," said Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis. "These workers have indicated a desire to take part in training in order to upgrade their existing skills or embark on new career paths in promising regional industries."

Eaton Combines Automotive, Truck Groups

Eaton Corp. announced Monday, July 6, that its Automotive and Truck Groups are being consolidated into one operating unit. The combined organization will be known as the Vehicle Group and will be led by Joseph P. Palchak, current president of the Automotive Group. The new Vehicle Group will continue to report into the Industrial Sector, along with Eaton’s Aerospace and Hydraulics businesses.

States Unveiling Clean-Vehicle Federal Grant Programs

States are continuing to rollout their own grant programs funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (AARA) of 2009, which allocated states $1.73 million each for Clean Diesel State Program Recovery Grants. According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s most recent National Idling Reduction Network News, Wisconsin and South Carolina are among those states with grant monies currently available for application.

Alcoa Taps Tim Myers as President of Wheel Business

Tim Myers has been tapped as president of Alcoa Wheel and Transportation Products, covering forged wheels and aluminum structures.

Myers, 43, replaces Kevin Kramer, who has been named president of Growth Initiatives. Most recently, Myers was serving as vice president and general manager for Commercial Vehicle Wheels, responsible for Alcoa truck wheel plants worldwide and sub-assembly and logistics sites in North America.

PACCAR Renews Bank Credit Facility

BELLEVUE, Wash. -- PACCAR has successfully renewed its $2 billion syndicated one-year credit facility through June 2010. An additional existing $1 billion credit facility matures in June 2012. These bank credit facilities provide back-up liquidity for PACCAR’s commercial paper and medium-term notes.

“PACCAR is pleased to renew its credit facility with more than 20 of the leading banks and financial institutions worldwide,” said Ron Armstrong, senior vice president. “PACCAR’s strong balance sheet continues to provide the company with a significant competitive advantage in meeting the capital requirements of our finance companies and manufacturing operations.”

Heavy-Duty Truck Fleet Ages as Carriers Seek Cost Savings

The U.S. heavy-duty fleet truck fleet is aging as carrier executives scrimp to cut costs wherever they can amid the continuing national freight drought.

The nation’s truck makers are trying to look on the bright side of this new statistic, saying the increasing age should help prime the pump for better sales down the road when freight levels rise.

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