StarterGenerator.com announced the placement of a blanket purchase order with Unison Industries for starter generators. The equipments are applicable to various turboprop, turbojet, and turbine helicopter platforms. Additional inventory will strengthen starter generator support stock to address increasing demand for Unison exchange and upgrade programs. The releases for starter generators are scheduled to begin at the first quarter of 2008.

“We believe our value as a supply chain partner is directly proportional to the breadth and depth of our shippable inventory on any given day. Customers have a multitude of options and choices when sourcing parts and without owning or possessing a comprehensive inventory, it is very difficult to participate in the sale, especially given the urgent nature typical of starter generator requirements. Market indicators suggest a robust introduction of Unison starter generators into the market via new aircraft and helicopter deliveries presently, and over the past few years. This new order not only reaffirms our commitment to Unison factory programs and tireless support of the aftermarket, but it strategically positions us to embrace anticipated demand and to realize solid growth in the future. With OEM quality, off the shelf delivery, and value pricing - the customer wins, and we are glad to be a part of that equation,” stated Garrett W. Schwarz, president of StarterGenerator.com.

Unison Industries, LLC, formerly known as Aircraft Parts Corp. is a wholly owned subsidiary within GE’s Aviation business unit. It is a leader in the design, manufacture and integration of electrical and mechanical components and systems for aircraft engines and airframes. The Unison Industries supplies for both original equipment manufacturers and aftermarket customers in the general, commercial and military aviation markets. The head office is located in Jacksonville, Florida. Unison employs more than 2,000 people in nine manufacturing facilities and logistics centers worldwide.

StarterGenerator.com was created to represent, develop further, and expand the core business behind Aeroval, Inc., which is buying and selling of starter generator-related material. It is a leading independent global distributor specializing in ‘off the shelf’ factory of new and revamped starter generator support solutions for small to medium size turbine powered fixed wing aircraft and helicopters. StarterGenerator.com is a Unison Industries authorized distributor.

The StarterGenerator.com website is not only a useful buyer resource with helpful links. It also offers different opportunities such as banner advertisements, AOG Exchange partnerships, online parts listing, and e-commerce relationships. The company’s goal is to be the leading global online solution for outright purchase and exchange of starter generators, and associated power generation components.

The SEMA (Speciality Equipment Manufacturers Association) is a big aftermarket show in Las Vegas. It is the biggest automotive specialty products trade event in the world and is open between 30 October and 2 November this year.

Heico Sportiv, a German tuning and motor sport expert developed a spectacular high-performance version of the Volvo S80. The S80 High Performance Concept of having a high-tech aluminium-look exterior and a 350 hp bioethanol engine is intended to catch people’s attention in the SEMA show. The turbocharged T6 engine has been modified to run on E85.

“We wanted to explore how far we could take a special high-performance version of the S80. Heico Sportiv’s impressive track record in motor sports and Volvo tuning made them the perfect partner for the job. Personally, I think the result is absolutely stunning. Both when it comes to the exterior and interior design as well as the impressive muscle under the bonnet,” says Lex Kerssemakers, Senior Vice President Brand, Business and Product Strategy at Volvo Cars.

The T6 engine in the HEICO S80 High Performance Concept boasts around 350 horsepower at 5500 rpm and a massive 550 Nm of torque between 1500 and 4000 rpm. The acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h will take around 5.8 seconds. According to HEICO SPORTIV’s president Holger Hedtke, the engine development is not yet finalized, hence they hope to reach an even higher horsepower figure when the car is ready for SEMA.

The features of the HEICO S80 High Performance Concept include Volvo’s electronically controlled All Wheel Drive system with Instant Traction. A specially developed sport suspension is added to S80 with new shocks and springs that lower the chassis by 40 millimeters. The 6-pot sport brake system has blue callipers featuring the Heico Sportiv logo, sports brake pads and 355×32 mm disc.

The specially developed 20-inch VOLUTION®X. forged alloy wheels are shod with 255/30R20 tyres from Continental. Holger Hedtke said, “When it comes to the driving experience, we aimed at tuning all the components so we get a dynamic yet harmonious result. In other words, a true sports car experience without losing the luxurious and comfortable touch that is the hallmark of the S80″.

The exclusive aluminium metal-effect color of the HEICO S80 High Performance Concept radiates a distinctive technical look. “To bring out the shiny, “real metal” effect was a major challenge. This type of paint is normally not used to cover a whole car. All told, the bodywork features seven coats of paint. The coat that gives the aluminium effect doesn’t allow any touch-ups afterwards, so you have to get it right from the beginning. The whole process takes two weeks,” Holger Hedtke added.

The model’s body parts are handcrafted with redesigned wide skirts all around. All other parts, such as the tailpipe trim, window mouldings, front grill and rub strips are coated with matte finish black chrome. The front features integrated spoiler flaps, three larger air ducts, integrated LED daytime running lights and an integrated sport grille with the Volvo iron mark. A rear deck spoiler is also included. The entire exhaust system is crafted from stainless steel and the exhaust tailpipes are integrated into the wide rear spoiler.

The blue color is very evident inside the model. The modified interior has full high-quality leather in Mystic Blue with matching blue stitching and HEICO SPORTIV logo, both on the sport-contoured front seats and the two individual “bucket” seats in the rear. The safety belts and floor-mats are also blue. The sports steering wheel is trimmed in leather with a leather-trim gear lever in a silver carbon accent.

The extended floating centre stack is covered with silver carbon fiber as well as other decorative elements. The centre stack also features integrated controls for the rear seat entertainment system and a storage space with a handmade blind. The illuminated entrance trim in stainless steal and glass features the HEICO SPORTIV logo.

The Board of Directors of Wabash National Corporation declared to have a quarterly dividend of $0.045 per share. The dividend will be given to the corporation’s record holders of the common stock on September 28, 2007 and is payable on October 5, 2007.

Wabash National Corporation’s main activity is to design, manufacture and market standard and customized truck trailers, dry freight vans and related transportation equipment. Its innovative core products are sold under the DuraPlate®, ArcticLite®, and Eagle® brand names. The Group is headquartered in Lafayette, Ind. and operates in two wholly owned subsidiaries. The first segment is the Transcraft Corporation, a manufacturer of flatbed and drop deck trailers and the second is Wabash National Trailer Centers, a retail distributor of new and used trailers and aftermarket parts throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Advance Auto Parts announced the launch of its new Driver’s Education Program titled “Advance Your Knowledge.” This will be used as a tool for driver education teachers. The complete “Advance Your Knowledge” tool kit includes a compact disc loaded with many important teaching tools that contains the following topics: Tips for Teachers: easy do-it-yourself (DIY) maintenance tasks, Student Quizzes: based on Advance’s How-To Video Series, a Student Pretest, Easy Ways to Save Money at the Pump, A Fun and Interactive Learning Activity, Getting Acquainted With Your Vehicle and Suggested Parent Involvement Activities. Also in the kit are 29 detailed project brochures and a DVD with some of “Advance How-To Video Clinics.”

“This kit was made to maximize students’ learning experiences in driver education programs. We want to help instructors impart vehicle and safety information most relevant to young drivers and ensure parents that their new driver will be getting the best driver education possible that is why we developed this program,” says Bryan Gregory, Director of Consumer Education for Advance Auto Parts.

Extremely positive feedbacks from teachers and students were received by Advance Auto Parts in conducting the program for two years. Students said that the kit made learning about their vehicles a lot more enjoyable. Teachers also raved about the multimedia kit claiming that the guidelines and tools made it easier to teach and that it was great because it was both educational and interactive for the students.

At present, Virginia, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina are using the program. Other states still wait to use it. “Advance Your Knowledge” is free to all state affiliated Drivers Education programs with replenishment support available by means of the internet.

Advance Auto Parts is a leading automotive retailer of parts, batteries, accessories and maintenance items. It supports a variety of non-profit organizations at the corporate and local levels and encourages its Team Members to become actively involved in different community-based charitable organizations. Nationally, Advance Auto Parts is also a strong supporter of United Way and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Advance Auto Parts has raised more than $11 million for JDRF since 1994 and is one of the foundation’s largest corporate supporters.

The University of the Aftermarket will be offering workshops related to aftermarket industry and automotive aftermarket profession. One of the most popular workshops to be presented by University of the Aftermarket is the “Aftermarket Overview”. The workshop will return to Detroit area at Federal-Mogul Corporation’s worldwide headquarters in Southfield, Mich. It is scheduled on October 3-4, 2007 which is an ideal opportunity for professionals who are new to the industry or have recently assumed new job responsibilities that require additional insight to the structure and operation of the automotive parts supply channel. “Aftermarket Overview” is an in-depth look at the challenges and opportunities facing by present automotive parts and service industry.

The participants in the workshop will gain real-world perspectives on the issues and challenges facing all aftermarket distribution channels. The program will be led by University of the Aftermarket Director Jimsey Keith. Others presentations are included which will be discussed by industry leaders such as Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association (AAIA) President and CEO Kathleen Schmatz; Federal-Mogul Vice President of Sales Robert Egan; Federal-Mogul Senior Vice President, Jay Burkhart of Global Aftermarket; and Bruce Gumenick of Auto-Wares.

Participants completing the workshop will earn 1.5 continuing education credits that may be applied to an automotive aftermarket professional designation available through the University of the Aftermarket. These designations include Automotive Aftermarket Professional (AAP) and Master Automotive Aftermarket Professional (MAAP).

As one of the world’s leading automotive suppliers, TRW Automotive Holdings Corp. will show intelligent safety solutions designed for a full range of light vehicles at the Internationale Automobil-Ausstellung (IAA), an International Motorshow in Frankfurt, Germany.

“TRW Automotive remains the global leader in automotive systems with the broadest portfolio of active and passive safety technologies in the industry. We have a passion for safety and continue to develop advanced systems that allow the average consumer to enjoy the full benefits of safety technology. For example, TRW helped bring advanced safety to the mid-sized, family vehicle market on such models as the VW Passat featuring integrated TRW electronic stability control, electronic park brake and adaptive cruise control. And we will soon be launching further advancements in integrated safety including camera-based technologies combined with electric steering and advanced braking functionality on another European mid-sized car next year,” John Plant, TRW Automotive president and chief executive officer, explained.

Aside from building new vehicle features, the Automotive Holdings Corp. will also develop cost-effective mid-range radar as the basis for future driver assist systems like the advanced adaptive cruise control and autonomous braking. These systems will offer the same functionality and benefits just like other long range radar and will allow greater penetration of the vehicle fleet. This is an important consideration as the benefits of such systems with regards to safety, traffic flow and ultimately fuel savings should increase as more of the vehicle fleet is fitted with such technologies.

TRW will introduce new products and systems like ESC-R, an electronic stability control system compatible with hybrid powertrains as well as technologies including Efficient Comfort Control (ECC) system that minimizes energy draw on vehicle powertrains while maintaining occupant comfort through advanced HVAC control.

“We are demonstrating to IAA visitors how we use our suite of sensors to monitor all elements of the driving situation, from obstacles in the road to the alertness of the driver, to help ensure that the most appropriate comfort, support and safety systems are used. We will also highlight a number of key technologies which deliver class leading fuel efficiency including our electric steering products and braking products which offer advanced electronic stability function and are compatible with regenerative braking systems (ESC-R) within hybrid electric vehicles,” Mr. Plant concluded.

Another report is presented by Research and Markets titled Strategic Guide to the North American Automotive Aftermarket. This research service provides an extensive overview of the entire aftermarket and identifies the key industries, products, and consumer trends on maintenance and collision repair. It also offers a detailed analysis of the market drivers, restraints, competitive structure, the key market and technology trends, challenges, and opportunities and quantitative analysis of the automotive aftermarket and its distribution structure.

An increasing number of North American automotive OE suppliers are turning to the aftermarket. They are drawn by a more stable market, with an extremely diversified customer base, and better profit margins than the original equipment (OE) side. The aftermarket industry is very different from the OE market. It demands a different business approach in terms of production runs, inventories, parts coverage, pricing, logistics, sales, marketing, distribution, and customer support. Having identified the aftermarket segments to pursue, North American automotive OE suppliers have had to build the business from the bottom up - beginning with an evaluation of product differentiation and determination of product relevance to the market, to establishing product reputation and customer product knowledge.

“Despite its highly fragmented nature, the overall North American automotive aftermarket offers good growth opportunities for participants with a strong brand image and those who target specific customer groups. Consolidations through mergers and acquisitions have always been a popular means to expand coverage, and this trend seems likely to continue,” says the analyst.

The added guide for the North American Automotive Aftermarket provides salient points on remanufacturing industry, Consumer Trends in Automotive Collision Repair, Technician’s Choices and Trends in Replacement Parts and other information about aftermarket business.

A $33.5 million equipment contract with Valero Energy Corporation has been concluded by the Dresser-Rand Group Inc. Dresser-Rand is among the largest suppliers of rotating equipment solutions to companies that operate in the worldwide oil, gas, petrochemical and process industries. It operates manufacturing facilities in the United States, France, Germany, Norway and India. Valero is among the companies which will be supplied with Dresser-Rand equipments consisting of four reciprocating compressors, two centrifugal compressors and two steam turbines.

According to Jim Heid, Vice President for Business Solutions at Dresser-Rand, they are pleased by Valero’s confidence in the Company. They are also pleased to be playing a major role in supplying rotating equipment for the company’s significant expansion projects. They look forward to adding value throughout the life cycle of the equipment for that long time valued client.

Valero has long been recognized throughout the industry as a leader in the production of premium and environmentally clean products such as reformulated gasoline, California Air Resources Board (CARB) Phase II gasoline, kerosene, sulfur, low-sulfur diesel and oxygenates. The company owns and operates 17 refineries and has approximately 5,800 retail and branded wholesale outlets throughout the United States, Canada, and the Caribbean, with a combined throughput capacity of approximately 3.1 billion barrels a day, making it the largest refiner in North America. Valero Energy Corporation’s retail and branded wholesale outlets are under various brand names including Valero, Diamond Shamrock, Shamrock, Ultramar, and Beacon. It is based in San Antonio, Texas with approximately 21,000 employees and 2006 revenues of more than $90 billion.

State Farm will start testing an enhanced automotive parts process. Parts manufacturers and suppliers will be involved with a focus on increasing service to customers without impacting repairer’s parts profits. The company says that they will continue to evaluate the position regarding the specification of aftermarket crash parts and will maintain its current policy of not specifying aftermarket crash parts during this test. State Farm says it continues to believe that policyholders benefit when repairers have access to all sources of quality collision repair parts.

“While we recognize that this will represent change for the repair industry, it is important to continuously look for ways to create efficiency in the process and provide value for our policyholders and shared customers. As this process developed, we asked for and considered input from members of the collision repair industry. We believe Select Service repairers will have an enhanced ability to obtain quality parts that allows them to provide customers with the best combination of quality, efficiency and competitive price. And as always, our customers are free to choose which repairer will fix their vehicle,” says State Farm Claim Consultant George Avery.

The electronic parts-ordering system used by repairers’ will be tested by State Farm. This system provides access to vehicle information and help increase order accuracy and efficiency in order to improve the repair and estimating process.

A new Frost & Sullivan report announced by Research and Markets is added to their offering. The research service titled “North American Cargo Management Aftermarket” provides unit shipment and revenue forecasts, manufacturer-level pricing, and market share analyses. In this study, Frost & Sullivan’s expert analysts thoroughly examine the different markets like receiver hitches, roof racks, bicycle carriers, cargo boxes, cargo trays, snow sports carriers, water sports carriers, and soft-sided carriers.

The North American cargo management aftermarket is expected to grow at an annual rate of 4.5 percent over the 2006-2013 periods. As fuel prices remain high, more people are likely to buy cars rather than light trucks, and the increasing popularity of smaller vehicles is likely to be a major driver for this growth. “Since their vehicles are smaller, owners will be looking for ways to expand the carrying capacity of their cars. Sales of cargo management accessories will increase as North American drivers discover that they can still carry the same amount of personal effects in a passenger car or crossover vehicle as they can in a large SUV.”, according to the analyst.

The North American auto industry faces major competitive challenges from automakers based in other parts of the world. There is a need to increase sales of small vehicles to stimulate growth of cargo management products. Domestic automakers, which still account for a majority of vehicles sold in the United States and Canada, have generally adopted strategies to reduce costs in their future models to lower their sticker prices and to make them more competitive against imported models. One approach to cope up is by removing certain features, such as roof-mounted side rails, crossbars, and receiver hitches and to make them optional for the vehicle buyer. Known as de-contenting, the trend is expected to grow in the future. This should increase the opportunities for aftermarket manufacturers of these accessories.

As revenue growth is anticipated to remain strong over the forecast period, manufacturers and distributors need to keep their eyes on the retiring Baby Boom generation. Americans born in the 1940s to the 1960s are active participants in outdoor recreation and travel. This would offer chances for long-term growth. When this large population of consumers stops working, they will become an important target group for manufacturers of cargo management accessories. The continuing outlook for cargo management accessories is quite strong. As waves of Baby Boomers join the ranks of retirees, they will spend more time indulging with different activities such as traveling and joining pleasurable hobbies like fishing, cycling, and camping. “These people will drive demand for products that allow them to carry bicycles, kayaks, skis, and other gear from place to place. This impact will begin near the end of the forecast period and should continue for at least two decades.” explains the analyst.

The content of North American Cargo Management Aftermarket report includes some informative topics concerning on North American aftermarket for Cargo Trays, Snowsport and Watersport Mounted Accessories, Roof Rack, Cargo Boxes and other important matters.