News Briefs
DuPont presents Top Gun Contest
The annual DuPont "Top Gun" contest for North America recognizes the best use of DuPont finishes on a motorized passenger vehicle. Entries for the 1998 contest must be received by March 31.
Twelve winners will be featured in the 1999 DuPont Top Gun calendar. In addition, each of the 12 Grand Prize winners will receive $1,000 worth of DuPont Refinish products, an award certificate, and complimentary copies of the calendar. Winners will also be featured in a 1998 issue of DuPont Refinisher News. An additional 24 entries will be chosen as First Prize winners and will receive $500 worth of products.
Official entry forms are available from DuPont Refinish sales representatives or service centers. Entries must be accompanied by a photograph of the vehicle.
Enterprise receives award
The CIECA Board of Trustees announced that Enterprise Rent-A-Car was awarded "Electronic Commerce Company of the Year."
This honor singles out Enterprise as 1997's leader in the Collision Repair Industry's effort to adopt electronic commerce.
AAA backs air bag switch ruling
AAA recently announced that it supports the decision by the U. S. government to allow the installation of switches to temporarily deactivate air bags.
"This ruling enhances the safety of all drivers and their passengers," said Mark Edwards, managing director of AAA Traffic Safety. "The on-off switch preserves the safety of air bags while offering protection for the few people at the risk from air-bag deployment."
AAA is launching a campaign to educate its 40 million members and all motorists on the proper use of air-bag switches. Brochures and other educational material are available from AAA clubs nationwide.
AAIW '97 establishes new records
Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week '97 (AAIW) set records this past November for total attendance, buyer attendance, number of booth spaces sold, and number of exhibitors.
According to final reports, AAIW '97 drew 72,011 attendees, breaking the show's record for total attendance, which was set in 1996 when more than 64,000 attended AAIW in Las Vegas.
Mitchell, United Recyclers Group form alliance
In a move toward helping automotive recyclers take their businesses to newer, more profitable levels, Mitchell International has announced its strategic alliance with the United Recyclers Group LLC (URG), a 200-plus member organization of progressive automotive recyclers.
As part of this alliance, Mitchell's Parts, Labor, Prices&Graphics Electronic Book (PLPG) will be integrated into URG's recyclers information management system.
As the electronic equivalent of the industry-standard Mitchell Collision Estimating Guides, this Window-based CD-ROM product will allow automotive recyclers to look up parts, labor and pricing information fast, without having to thumb through pages of information.
Marc Brungger, vice president and general manager of Mitchell's Publications Division, said, "The electronic information provided by PLPG will also allow URG members to communicate more effectively with all their trading partners, using the Mitchell Collision Estimating Guides as a common language."
GOJO research uses new laser
GOJO Industries has incorporated advanced laser Doppler imaging technology into its research and development of products for hand irritation among service technicians.
"GOJO is the first company in our industry to employ the highly sophisticated laser Doppler imaging system in the development of products for automotive technicians," said W. H. "Chip" Houghton, GOJO vice president and general manager, Automotive Division.
Technicians' hands are subjected to more than the normal amount of abuse by exposure to harsh chemicals, extremes in temperature, and frequent hand washing that robs the skin of its natural protective oils. Studies indicate that automotive service technicians' hands are among the roughest, dirtiest and most painful looking of any industry.
In the evaluation of skin condition, the Doppler imager scans the skin's surface with a laser beam and generates a color-coded image that reflects the skin surface block flow and response to irritants. Accurate assessment of skin condition and the effects of products designed to protect and restore the skin are necessary to successfully determine a skin care regimen that's capable of addressing the needs of various occupations.
U.S. Congress Set to Debate Kyoto Agreement || Paint Manufacturer and Body Shop: An Evolving Relationship || Scoring a Hat Trick with Alternative Fuels || Attracting Students to the Automotive Service Industry || Guest Editorial: Getting back in the game || Tech to Tech || Tech Tips || News Briefs || Taking the Hill || Around ASA || Shop Profile || Net Worth || Stat Corner || Chairman's Message
AutoInc. Magazine ®, Vol. XLVI, February 1998