China unit lands hose contract
Cooper-Standard Automotive Inc.'s operation in China has gained its first export contract for Ford Motor Co.
The company this month will start exporting power-steering hose assemblies to Ford in Australia.
Until now, Cooper-Standard in China has only supplied Ford in China. It provides power steering hose assemblies for the Ford S-Max and the Mazda 3.
To expand its operations, Cooper-Standard formed a joint venture with Hubei Jingda Precision Steel Co. in November 2006.
Trelleborg combines segments
Trelleborg A.B. has combined its Trelleborg Building Systems business segment with its Trelleborg Engineered Systems operation.
The new Trelleborg Engineered Systems unit has about 7,000 employees, annual sales of $1.42 billion and is led by Lennart Johansson.
Peter Nilsson, president and CEO of Trelleborg, said the move will improve efficiency by focusing the processes the units have in common. Peter Suter, president of Trelleborg Building Systems, now is in charge of coordinating raw material supplies and corporate projects.
Racing group switches to Pirelli
The Grand American Road Racing Association is switching tire suppliers for its Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series for the 2008-2010 seasons after three seasons with Hoosier Racing Tire Corp.
The association said it now will use Pirelli-brand tires. The parties didn't disclose the value of the contract.
Hoosier Racing Tire has been the series' sole tire supplier since the 2005 season.
Air spring products draw honors
Two air springs products by Firestone Industrial Products Co. were chosen as outstanding new products at the 2006 Specialty Equipment Market Association show in Las Vegas in November.
Firestone's Air-Rite-brand Digital Air Command and Red Label air springs were picked from 1,500 new style and performance products by a panel of journalists from 22 countries.
In brief
Rio Tinto Minerals has implemented a surcharge on zinc to offset growing zinc demand and a shortage in world zinc supply...Parker Hannifin Corp.'s directors have authorized the repurchase of additional shares of common stock, bringing the total shares available for repurchase to $10 million...The Aftermarket Auto Parts Alliance presented Federal Mogul Corp. with three vendor awards for manpower, marketing promotions and global marketing support.