News Briefs
General Motors, Spies Hecker Form Partnership
The General Motors Service Technology Group (STG) has selected Spies Hecker to be their partner throughout 1999 at GM's World Technical Center in Warren, Mich.
A Spies Hecker team has installed their products and equipment at GM's tech center as part of an on-site training program in which Spies Hecker will train GM STG technicians to use Spies Hecker's products most effectively. This will be mutually beneficial to both companies in comparing technologies, philosophies and methodologies used in returning a vehicle to its original quality finish.
Keystone Automotive Sells Remainder of Mechanical Parts Operations Keystone Automotive Industries Inc. has entered into an agreement to sell the Denver, Colo., facility of its automotive aftermarket mechanical parts operations. At closing, Keystone will have completed the divestiture of the mechanical hard parts operations purchased in its acquisition of Republic Automotive Parts earlier this year.
Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Industry Week '98 Sets Records
More than 70,000 attended Automotive Aftermarket Industry Week '98 (AAIW) and new records were set for booth spaces sold and number of exhibitors, according to William D. Grote III, chairman of the 1998 AAIW show committee.
The number of booth spaces sold climbed to over 10,000 and the number of exhibitors exceeded 3,000, breaking records set at AAIW '97.
$8 Million in Scholarships to be Awarded in Auto Skills Contest
More than 6,000 of the nation's top high school auto technicians will be competing for $8 million in scholarships and prizes in the 1999 Ford/AAA Student Auto Skills Contest.
The contest begins with written qualifying exams for state-level competitions in February and March.
The top teams from the written exam in each state will qualify for state hands-on competitions in April and May. They will compete side-by-side to quickly and accurately repair identically disabled vehicles.
The top team in each state will compete in the national finals in Washington, D.C., on June 21, 1999.
"Teams from both the state and national contests can take advantage of scholarships to some of the top automotive training institutions, and their cur- rent schools will receive vehicles and equipment to help with future training," said James Dunst, national manager of the Student Auto Skills contest.
The demand for skilled automotive technicians is increasing dramatically, according to AAA and Ford.
"There is a need for more than 100,000 new automotive technicians each year," said Dunst. "Plus, more than half of the existing technicians will be retiring in the next 15 years."
The contest is open to high school seniors who are in a high school or vocational school automotive technician program.
ALLDATA Releases New Version of Software
ALLDATA Corp., a provider of electronic automotive diagnostic and repair information, has released ALLDATA for Windows version 3.0. The new version includes diagnostic and repair articles, technical diagrams, illustrations and technical service bulletins (TSBs).
One new feature is how each screen displays hierarchical information. Version 3.0 provides new menus and icons that flow left to right. More information about the contents of each menu icon will automatically be displayed, allowing technicians to more easily and quickly navigate through the system.
The new version also responds to customers' requests to print magnified screen images. ALLDATA technicians can now print "zoomed" images in a magnified format, showing more detail in wiring diagrams and technical illustrations. For more information about ALLDATA's version 3.0 product, automotive professionals can visit ALLDATA at www.alldata.com or call (800) 697-2533. ASA members are eligible for discounts on ALLDATA products.
ASA Recognizes Top Scoring ASE Master Certified Technicians The Automotive Service Association (ASA), in conjunction with the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), has recognized Marvin D. Murphy of Murphy Performance Shop in Clinton, Ill., as ASA/ASE Master Automobile Technician of the Year, and Jerry L. Franz of Lewis Collision Center in Topeka, Kan., as ASA/ASE Master Collision Repair/Refinish Technician of the Year. The two were honored at the ASE annual awards Ceremony, held Nov. 12-14 in Las Vegas.
ASA annually honors individuals who earn the highest test scores in specified certification areas. This year marked the second time ASA has sponsored such an award. ASA presented Murphy and Franz with plaques to recognize their achievements. The plaques were presented by Robert D. Anderson, AAM, a member and immediate past chairman of the ASA board of directors.
Top 10 Automotive Repair Web Sites || State Farm Case Reveals Consumer Crash Parts Views || What to Expect When Buying Tools on Credit || Aftermarket Crash Parts || Managing Your Most Precious Commodity - Time || Guest Editorial || Tech to Tech || Tech Tips || News Briefs || Taking the Hill || Around ASA || Net Worth || Stat Corner || Chairman's Message
AutoInc. Magazine ® Vol.XIVII, January 1999 (http://www.asashop.org)