News Briefs
NAPA promotes car maintenance
In its inaugural year, NAPA's "Honest Information Campaign" has had more than 2,000 articles published that offered tips on how to find an honest repair shop and basic maintenance information to consumers. NAPA estimates that more than 107 million consumers read, saw or heard NAPA's messages in newspapers and on television and radio stations around the country.
Snap-on acquires Brewco
Snap-on Inc. announced that it has acquired Brewco Collision Repair Systems, a Central City, Kentucky-based developer of mechanical collision repair equipment. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
"The addition of Brewco represents our entry into the collision repair equipment industry," said Branko Beronja, Snap-on senior vice president. "It brings us an important capability on which to build as we continue toward becoming the complete solutions provider to the vehicle service industry."
Established in 1989, Brewco is a regional manufacturer and supplier of frame straightening equipment, vehicle measuring systems, paint booths and other collision repair equipment.
JENDHAM holds new OBD II training
JENDHAM Inc. will introduce its new updated seminar on OBD II in 1998. This seminar will cover On Board Diagnostic II systems for domestic cars, vans and trucks from 1994-1998.
The OBD II Technical Training Seminar is scheduled in different areas around the United States beginning in January 1998, and will run through the end of the year.
For more information call JENDHAM Inc. at (800) 233-3182.
Virtual CCAR-GreenLink shop now online
The Virtual CCAR-GreenLink shop is now available on the CCAR-GreenLink Web Site located at http://www.ccar-greenlink.org. Visitors to the shop will see a graphic representation of an automotive service and repair facility giving them an "at a glance" method of pinpointing the areas that require environmental compliance information. After an image or topic is selected, the Green Shop will provide a guided "tour" of all federal environmental compliance assistance information contained in the CCAR-GreenLink database pertaining to the selected topic.
Florida program best in United States
The American Automobile Manufacturer's Association and the American Vocational Association have selected Seminole Community College (SCC) in Sanford, Fla., for its 1997 Industry Planning Council Award for Excellence. The award is presented annually to the best automotive technician education program in the United States.
SCC's automotive center provides students with the tools necessary to learn the automotive business. Fifty-two autos, all donated by manufacturers, are the centerpieces of a laboratory full of computerized work stations, cutaway engines and automotive parts and equipment.
ADP, Mitchell International announce agreement
ADP's Claims Solutions Group and Mitchell International announced an agreement through which Mitchell will market ADP's Autosource, a total loss valuation product, to Mitchell's existing and future clients. This agreement is a first for these two providers of collision estimating services to the property and casualty industry, and represents the commitment of both companies to deliver open systems solutions to the industry.
ARA responds to FTC settlement
The Automotive Recyclers Association (ARA) published its response on the proposed settlement agreement between the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Automatic Data Processing Inc. (ADP) regarding its 1995 acquisition of the automotive recycling related assets of AutoInfo Inc.
ARA states that given the limitations and the scope of the FTC's powers, the proposed settlement between the FTC and ADP is the best outcome that the industry could realistically expect. Although by no means a perfect settlement, together with the FTC, ARA is generally pleased with the significant outcome that has been achieved. The direct and professional relationship with the FTC staff gave ARA members a decided advantage in providing the FTC with knowledgeable and reasonable input to the process.
Last summer, ADP agreed to divest the computer systems it acquired from AutoInfo. The settlement re-establishes competition by requiring a quick divestiture: ADP would have to divest the AutoInfo assets as an ongoing business, so new competitors could immediately service AutoInfo's former customers and compete to gain new customers for its automotive recycling information services.
Halftime for the 105th Congress || Top 10 Automotive Repair Web Sites || Assessing the Quality of Aftermarket Collision Repair Parts || Proper Timing Tips to Get Under Your Belt || Women Want Positive, Receptive Customer Service || Review of NACE-97 || Guest Editorial: Aftermarket parts: Here to stay || 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, January 1998