NEWS BRIEFS FOR THE WEEK OF
MARCH 15, 2007Honeywell Brands Offers
All-New Rewards Program
MARCH 15, 2007Honeywell Brands Offers
All-New Rewards Program
DANBURY, CT (Feb. 16, 2007) - Honeywell's FRAM, Prestone and Bendix brands are teaming up to offer their technician customers the best in ultimate rewards with their newly enhanced box top program. Technicians who collect and send in proofs of purchase from eligible FRAM, Prestone and Bendix products will earn points that can be redeemed for a variety of gifts. Prizes include a Mario Andretti racing school package, a flat-screen TV, Swiss Army brand luggage, a Bose SoundDock and a
GPS navigation system. Points that have not been redeemed from last year's FRAM and Prestone online rewards program (www.framprestonerewards.com) or the Bendix Incentives box top program (www.bendixincentives.com) will be transferred over to the newly combined "Ultimate Rewards Program." Participating technicians will receive tally sheets and mailing labels for redemption, and new registrants will be given 100 bonus points just for signing up. All program details and rewards are available online at
www.ultimaterewardsprogram.com or by contacting Karen Heiligman at (877) 272-1988. (Source: Honeywell Consumer Products
Group)Federated, ACDelco Announce Strategic Pact STAUNTON, VA (March 8, 2007) - Federated Auto Parts has announced that the program group has formed a strategic relationship with the ACDelco division of General Motors. "This relationship will be a benefit to our many members who support ACDelco products, and will allow Federated and ACDelco to work closer together in a number of areas," says Rusty Bishop, Federated CEO. ACDelco joins the Federated Original Equipment Supplier Group within the program group, which recognizes OE suppliers that provide unique or significant benefits that complement Federated's premium aftermarket brands. "This category allows for Federated to work closely with OEM manufacturers or brands that bring unique value to either a segment of the market or membership," adds Bishop. In the future, Federated and ACDelco will work on joint marketing initiatives, expanded service professional programs, new market/member initiatives and improved communications and forecasting between the two organizations. "It does not mean that any current supplier relationships will change, but rather we will work closer on behalf of the current members who support the ACDelco program and look for mutual opportunities for growth going forward," says Bishop.(Source: Federated Auto
Parts)Senate Begins
McCarran-Ferguson Act Debate WASHINGTON (March 7, 2007) - The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the McCarran-Ferguson Act titled "The McCarran-Ferguson Act and Antitrust Immunity: Good for Consumers?" Present to testify at the hearing were U.S. Sen. Trent Lott, R-MS; U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-LA; Michael Homan, a New Orleans homeowner; Robert Hunter, insurance director for Consumer Federation of America; Marc Racicot, president of the American Insurance Association; and Susan Voss, Iowa insurance commissioner with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Originally, the McCarran-Ferguson Act was enacted in 1945 to permit the states to continue regulating the insurance business. Under the act, the business of insurance is exempt from some federal antitrust statutes to the extent that it is regulated by the states. During the hearing, Lott outlined a brief legislative history of McCarran-Ferguson. This included a timeline for the congressional debate. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-VT, Senate Judiciary Committee chairman, told the hearing attendees, "The bottom line is, right now we do not know what anti-competitive acts insurers may be engaging in because the antitrust immunity insurers enjoy acts as a curtain that hides their activity from federal antitrust authorities." Lott stated, "For more than six decades, the insurance industry has operated largely beyond the reach of federal competition laws. I truly believe that the McCarran-Ferguson Act's antitrust exemption has allowed insurers to engage in anticompetitive conduct, and I can find no justification to exempt the insurance industry from federal government oversight. Such oversight could help make certain that the industry is not engaging in anticompetitive conduct such as price fixing, agreements not to pay, and market allocations." "Sen. Lott's statement was unique in that it established a more detailed legislative history for McCarran-Ferguson than discussed by congressional committees in the last Congress," notes Bob Redding, the Washington-based representative for the Automotive Service Association (ASA). "This history raises very real questions about the original intent of Congress for the McCarran-Ferguson Act."(Source: ASA)Identifix Celebrates 150,000 Milestone ST. PAUL (March 5, 2007) - Identifix announced that it has added the 150,000th Hotline Archive to its subscription-based Direct-Hit online diagnostic product. Each month, Identifix selects the most interesting diagnostic problems for its Hotline Archives from the calls received by its staff to Repair Hotline. According to the company, Master Technician staff members document the vehicle problem/symptoms and likely cause(s), then provide useful tests and helpful hints - all on a one-page document that can be printed and taken to the vehicle. Direct-Hit customers using Hotline Archives are asked to add their own comments on the Hotline Archive they have viewed. (Source: Identifix)Annual Expo to Showcase Hydrogen SAN ANTONIO (March 3, 2007) - Organizers have announced that the National Hydrogen Association's Annual Hydrogen Conference and Hydrogen Expo US will showcase the world's first hydrogen-drive luxury performance car, the first fuel-cell-powered fire response vehicle and new fueling capabilities. The conference will be held March 19 through 22 in San Antonio. The conference will feature keynote addresses from members of Congress, foreign government ministers and high-level industry executives. In addition, visitors will be able to ride and drive in a number of vehicles supplied by BMW, DaimlerChrysler, General Motors, Honda, Toyota and Volkswagen. Two vehicles of note in the Ride and Drive include the new BMW Hydrogen 7, the world's first hydrogen-drive luxury performance car, and a Mercedes-Benz F-Cell, outfitted to be the first fuel-cell powered fire response vehicle. The Mercedes-Benz F-Cell is an emissions-free, electric drive vehicle that has already been put into operation with California's Sacramento Metropolitan Fire Department. Visitors also will be able to see fuel cells that are replacing batteries in professional video cameras, surveillance equipment, security inspection robots and both batteries and engines in today's forklifts.(Source: National Hydrogen Association)Toyota to Build Highlanders in MS TUPELO, MS (March 4, 2007) - Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour has announced that Toyota Motors has chosen a 1,700-acre site in Blue Springs, MS, to build its eighth North American vehicle assembly plant. The plant is slated to produce Highlander SUVs. The new plant, to be located just outside Tupelo, will require a $1.3 billion investment by Toyota and is expected to create approximately 2,000 new jobs for the region. It will have the capacity to build 150,000 vehicles annually. Production is scheduled to begin by 2010. (Source: Toyota)Green Synthetic Oil Set to Launch SEAFORD, DE (March 2, 2007) - Nano Chemical Systems Holdings Inc. is about to introduce a new two-cycle engine oil, NanOil, into the $4.7 billion automotive aftermarket. Marketiquette Inc. will market the oil once testing, process and specification approval are met. The company uses its patent applied for process to immerse nano-sized molybdenum metal ball bearings to produce organic, synthetic oils and lubricants from the byproducts of palm-biodiesel production. The smokeless, environmentally friendly product performs as a moly-type oil, and can be made from byproducts of one type of green palm biodiesel, says the company. The nano-sized ball bearings provide increased surface area in the oil substrate, which allows the use of only trace amounts of "moly" to achieve or exceed performance specifications. This formula is designed to bring lubrication features previously available only to automobile racers into the hands of consumers, such as: * Longer machine life from reduced wear under high temperature. * A highly biodegradable oil that can enjoy non-hazardous waste disposal. * Reduced crankcase and other lubricant emissions to improve air quality. (Source: Nano Chemical Systems Holdings Inc.)YRC Produces an Eco-Friendly Tire FULLERTON, CA (Feb. 13, 2007) - Citrus instead of petroleum: That's one way Japan-based Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. (YRC) is using technology to make better tires for consumers and the environment.
McCarran-Ferguson Act Debate WASHINGTON (March 7, 2007) - The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on the McCarran-Ferguson Act titled "The McCarran-Ferguson Act and Antitrust Immunity: Good for Consumers?" Present to testify at the hearing were U.S. Sen. Trent Lott, R-MS; U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-LA; Michael Homan, a New Orleans homeowner; Robert Hunter, insurance director for Consumer Federation of America; Marc Racicot, president of the American Insurance Association; and Susan Voss, Iowa insurance commissioner with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Originally, the McCarran-Ferguson Act was enacted in 1945 to permit the states to continue regulating the insurance business. Under the act, the business of insurance is exempt from some federal antitrust statutes to the extent that it is regulated by the states. During the hearing, Lott outlined a brief legislative history of McCarran-Ferguson. This included a timeline for the congressional debate. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-VT, Senate Judiciary Committee chairman, told the hearing attendees, "The bottom line is, right now we do not know what anti-competitive acts insurers may be engaging in because the antitrust immunity insurers enjoy acts as a curtain that hides their activity from federal antitrust authorities." Lott stated, "For more than six decades, the insurance industry has operated largely beyond the reach of federal competition laws. I truly believe that the McCarran-Ferguson Act's antitrust exemption has allowed insurers to engage in anticompetitive conduct, and I can find no justification to exempt the insurance industry from federal government oversight. Such oversight could help make certain that the industry is not engaging in anticompetitive conduct such as price fixing, agreements not to pay, and market allocations." "Sen. Lott's statement was unique in that it established a more detailed legislative history for McCarran-Ferguson than discussed by congressional committees in the last Congress," notes Bob Redding, the Washington-based representative for the Automotive Service Association (ASA). "This history raises very real questions about the original intent of Congress for the McCarran-Ferguson Act."(Source: ASA)Identifix Celebrates 150,000 Milestone ST. PAUL (March 5, 2007) - Identifix announced that it has added the 150,000th Hotline Archive to its subscription-based Direct-Hit online diagnostic product. Each month, Identifix selects the most interesting diagnostic problems for its Hotline Archives from the calls received by its staff to Repair Hotline. According to the company, Master Technician staff members document the vehicle problem/symptoms and likely cause(s), then provide useful tests and helpful hints - all on a one-page document that can be printed and taken to the vehicle. Direct-Hit customers using Hotline Archives are asked to add their own comments on the Hotline Archive they have viewed. (Source: Identifix)Annual Expo to Showcase Hydrogen SAN ANTONIO (March 3, 2007) - Organizers have announced that the National Hydrogen Association's Annual Hydrogen Conference and Hydrogen Expo US will showcase the world's first hydrogen-drive luxury performance car, the first fuel-cell-powered fire response vehicle and new fueling capabilities. The conference will be held March 19 through 22 in San Antonio. The conference will feature keynote addresses from members of Congress, foreign government ministers and high-level industry executives. In addition, visitors will be able to ride and drive in a number of vehicles supplied by BMW, DaimlerChrysler, General Motors, Honda, Toyota and Volkswagen. Two vehicles of note in the Ride and Drive include the new BMW Hydrogen 7, the world's first hydrogen-drive luxury performance car, and a Mercedes-Benz F-Cell, outfitted to be the first fuel-cell powered fire response vehicle. The Mercedes-Benz F-Cell is an emissions-free, electric drive vehicle that has already been put into operation with California's Sacramento Metropolitan Fire Department. Visitors also will be able to see fuel cells that are replacing batteries in professional video cameras, surveillance equipment, security inspection robots and both batteries and engines in today's forklifts.(Source: National Hydrogen Association)Toyota to Build Highlanders in MS TUPELO, MS (March 4, 2007) - Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour has announced that Toyota Motors has chosen a 1,700-acre site in Blue Springs, MS, to build its eighth North American vehicle assembly plant. The plant is slated to produce Highlander SUVs. The new plant, to be located just outside Tupelo, will require a $1.3 billion investment by Toyota and is expected to create approximately 2,000 new jobs for the region. It will have the capacity to build 150,000 vehicles annually. Production is scheduled to begin by 2010. (Source: Toyota)Green Synthetic Oil Set to Launch SEAFORD, DE (March 2, 2007) - Nano Chemical Systems Holdings Inc. is about to introduce a new two-cycle engine oil, NanOil, into the $4.7 billion automotive aftermarket. Marketiquette Inc. will market the oil once testing, process and specification approval are met. The company uses its patent applied for process to immerse nano-sized molybdenum metal ball bearings to produce organic, synthetic oils and lubricants from the byproducts of palm-biodiesel production. The smokeless, environmentally friendly product performs as a moly-type oil, and can be made from byproducts of one type of green palm biodiesel, says the company. The nano-sized ball bearings provide increased surface area in the oil substrate, which allows the use of only trace amounts of "moly" to achieve or exceed performance specifications. This formula is designed to bring lubrication features previously available only to automobile racers into the hands of consumers, such as: * Longer machine life from reduced wear under high temperature. * A highly biodegradable oil that can enjoy non-hazardous waste disposal. * Reduced crankcase and other lubricant emissions to improve air quality. (Source: Nano Chemical Systems Holdings Inc.)YRC Produces an Eco-Friendly Tire FULLERTON, CA (Feb. 13, 2007) - Citrus instead of petroleum: That's one way Japan-based Yokohama Rubber Co. Ltd. (YRC) is using technology to make better tires for consumers and the environment.
Decibel Super E-Spec Petroleum Free Tire
(Photo: Yokohama Rubber Co.) YRC has developed a process that combines citrus oil with natural rubber to form a new compound called Super Nanopower Rubber (SNR). It reduces the use of petroleum products in tires by 80 percent and is part of the company's global EcoMotion Environmental Program. The first SNR product is the Decibel Super E-Spec, an all-new consumer passenger tire. It will be available in Japan later in the year, but no date has been determined yet for release in the U.S. market. "The fuel-saving E-Spec tire features an air permeation suppression film," says Jim MacMaster, EVP of Yokohama Tire Corp., YRC's U.S. subsidiary. "This new polymer inner lining is designed to reduce air from seeping out from the tire, which help maintain appropriate inflation levels. Underinflated tires consume more power, thus using more fuel." (Source: YRC)EPA Issues Final Rule for
Gasoline Air Toxins WASHINGTON (Feb. 26, 2007) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a final rule intended to decrease the amount of benzene and other air toxics emitted from gasoline by 2030. The agency has set a target that the levels will be 80 percent below 1999 car emissions. Benzene, a known carcinogen, is a component of crude petroleum, and it currently constitutes about 1 percent of U.S. gas by volume. The final rule will require benzene to drop to an average of 0.62 percent by volume for all gasoline fuels, effective in 2011. The rule does not impact two other air toxics that improve gasoline performance: toluene and xylene. In addition, the EPA is limiting exhaust emissions of hydrocarbons from passenger vehicles operated at temperatures lower than 20
(Photo: Yokohama Rubber Co.) YRC has developed a process that combines citrus oil with natural rubber to form a new compound called Super Nanopower Rubber (SNR). It reduces the use of petroleum products in tires by 80 percent and is part of the company's global EcoMotion Environmental Program. The first SNR product is the Decibel Super E-Spec, an all-new consumer passenger tire. It will be available in Japan later in the year, but no date has been determined yet for release in the U.S. market. "The fuel-saving E-Spec tire features an air permeation suppression film," says Jim MacMaster, EVP of Yokohama Tire Corp., YRC's U.S. subsidiary. "This new polymer inner lining is designed to reduce air from seeping out from the tire, which help maintain appropriate inflation levels. Underinflated tires consume more power, thus using more fuel." (Source: YRC)EPA Issues Final Rule for
Gasoline Air Toxins WASHINGTON (Feb. 26, 2007) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a final rule intended to decrease the amount of benzene and other air toxics emitted from gasoline by 2030. The agency has set a target that the levels will be 80 percent below 1999 car emissions. Benzene, a known carcinogen, is a component of crude petroleum, and it currently constitutes about 1 percent of U.S. gas by volume. The final rule will require benzene to drop to an average of 0.62 percent by volume for all gasoline fuels, effective in 2011. The rule does not impact two other air toxics that improve gasoline performance: toluene and xylene. In addition, the EPA is limiting exhaust emissions of hydrocarbons from passenger vehicles operated at temperatures lower than 20
