-
Welcome to Auto Parts Forum
Whether you are a veteran automotive parts guru or just someone looking for some quick auto parts advice, register today and start a new topic in our forum. Registration is free and you can even sign up with social network platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Google, and LinkedIn.
ADVICS Brand Launches New Packaging Design
-
Similar Topics
-
By Counterman
FCS Automotive recently announced the release of 73 new part numbers.
In the new-product release are 19 complete strut assemblies; 11 shock absorber and coil spring assemblies; 11 shock absorber assembly kits; eight fleet gas shocks; and 24 bare struts and shocks.
All units are in stock and ready to ship.
The new numbers cover some of the most popular applications on the road today, including the BMW 3 Series, Chevrolet Express, Ford F-250 Super Duty, Ford Transit, Hyundai Santa Fe, Jeep Cherokee, Kenworth, Lexus ES 350, Mack, Peterbilt, Volvo XC-60 and Winnebago.
link hidden, please login to view, a global supplier in more than 40 countries, emphasizes that its parts are produced to meet strict OE quality processes backed by extensive in-house testing and IATF 16949 and ISO 14001 certifications. The post
link hidden, please login to view appeared first on link hidden, please login to view.
link hidden, please login to view -
By Counterman
Litens Aftermarket recently introduced its “Reset to OE” campaign messaging, as the market share for OAD pulleys continues to grow, and the need to educate technicians about this component increases.
With virtually one-third of registered vehicles now equipped with
link hidden, please login to view, and as those vehicles enter the aftermarket “sweet spot” for replacement, bringing awareness about how an OAD impacts a belt-drive system is imperative. Advancements to improve the performance and efficiency of alternators have lead Litens to the development of innovative technologies such as the OAD pulley. An OAD helps synchronize the belt-drive system via two design elements that mechanically separate it from a traditional solid pulley:
An internal torsion spring that provides rotational flexibility, absorbing engine vibrations prior to reaching the alternator rotor, which could damage or negatively impact the performance of the accessory drive. A one-way clutch mechanism that allows the pulley to rotate freely in one direction (overrunning), while preventing reverse rotation when the engine decelerates or shuts down. When replacing an OE alternator that came equipped with a OAD, it’s critical to replace with an OAD equipped alternator in order to reduce stress on the alternator and other components, according to Litens.
“As more vehicles come equipped with a Litens OAD on the alternator, rather than a traditional pulley, it becomes increasingly more important for technicans to understand what an OAD does, and how critical it is to the longevity of a vehicle’s belt drive system components,” said Scott Howat, national sales manager, Litens. “As our campaign says, OEMs use a Litens OAD for a reason, and substitution could cause damage to other drive components.”
Technicians never should substitute an OAD with a solid pulley or a one-way clutch on vehicles that were built with an OAD, because OE belt-drive systems are specifically engineered to accommodate the functionality of an OAD.
The OAD provides additional functionality from a simple one-way clutch pulley, and they‘re not interchangeable. An OAD contributes to the optimal performance of the alternator system by providing vibration damping, stable belt tension and protection against reverse rotation. Substituting an OAD with any other pulley compromises these critical functions and can lead to several adverse effects including increased friction, potential belt slippage and an elevated risk of component failure, ultimately compromising the entire belt-drive system’s reliability and performance, according to Litens.
Litens’ OAD coverage for 2023 OE-equipped vehicles includes but is not limited to the Chrysler Pacifica; Ford F-250, F-650 and F-750; Toyota Tacoma, 4 Runner and Highlander; and Lexus.
The post
link hidden, please login to view appeared first on link hidden, please login to view.
link hidden, please login to view -
By Counterman
ZF Aftermarket expanded its parts offerings in August for vehicles in the United States and Canada, adding 74 new listings to its TRW and SACHS branded portfolios.
The latest additions expand coverage to more than 18.7 million vehicles in operation, according to the company.
New braking products include 22 different part numbers for TRW brake-pad sets for 9.7 million vehicles in operation, including the Cadillac Escalade, Mazda CX-30, Jeep Gladiator, Hyundai Sonata, Ford Bronco and Ford Ranger, among others.
ZF Aftermarket also vastly expanded its offerings for TRW X-Tend powered lift supports, adding 49 new part numbers for more than 9 million more vehicles in operation
This includes a range of vehicle brands, such as BMW, Honda, Hyundai, Land Rover, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Volvo and others.
Additional products launched in August include SACHS clutch replacement parts for the Audi A4 Ultra Sport 2.0L and a clutch kit for the Smart Fortwo 2016-2017 Turbocharged.
“ZF Aftermarket is picking up the pace of new-product introductions, making it easier for distributors, technicians and vehicle owners to get a broader variety of high-quality OE parts,” said Mark Cali, head of independent aftermarket, USC for ZF Aftermarket. “These products offer best-in-class value with guaranteed performance and durability that comes from a foundation in ZF’s OE product development and validation processes.”
The post
link hidden, please login to view appeared first on link hidden, please login to view.
link hidden, please login to view -
By Counterman
Litens Aftermarket recently introduced its latest OE improvement, the 999420A belt tensioner.
This new tensioner boasts improvements to the OE design, enabling an efficient belt-tensioner replacement process by a single technician, according to Litens.
“This tensioner was engineered to improve upon the OE design by addressing the challenges technicians encounter during the installation of belt tensioners, particularly in the confined spaces of engine compartments,” Litens explained in a news release. “Focusing on ease of installation, Litens integrated a design advancement to simplify the installation process significantly.”
The design upgrade is the lift feature, strategically placed in an offset position between the mounting bolts that secure the tensioner – adding an extra inch under the lip for a technician, providing greater ease of access.
Typically, a tensioner is located at the side of the engine compartment where there’s very little room for working hands to get a wrench on the tensioner to loosen the belt during installation. The configuration in the Litens tensioner facilitates easy access for technicians to position their wrench when loosening the belt, streamlining the installation process even in the tightest engine compartments, according to the company.
Additionally, the lift feature is designed for a 14-millimeter hex wrench consistent with OE design, rather than using a 15-millimeter hex wrench traditionally used on aftermarket tensioners. Consequently, Litens says, the technician has one less tool to keep track of throughout the replacement process.
“As an engineering company that manufactures parts, we recognize the struggles that come with installing these parts in tight space,” said Randy Wolters, product manager, belt-tensioning products, Litens Aftermarket. “With these design improvements we’re able to give the tech an extra set of hands and save them from the bloody knuckles you get when working in such a tight space.”
link hidden, please login to view is available for all Mazda applications between the years 2006 through 2017, covering a total of 30,000 vehicles in operation. The post
link hidden, please login to view appeared first on link hidden, please login to view.
link hidden, please login to view 
-
By Counterman
Advance Auto Parts announced a shakeup of its leadership team on Aug. 23, as the company reported flat second-quarter sales and a steep drop in earnings and operating income.
Shane O’Kelly, who has served as the CEO of Home Depot subsidiary HD Supply since 2020, will take over as president and CEO effective Sept. 11.
Outgoing CEO Tom Greco, who announced his planned retirement in February, “will stay on as an advisor to ensure a seamless transition,” according to the company. Greco has served as president and CEO since April 2016.
Prior to joining Home Depot, O’Kelly was the CEO of PetroChoice, the nation’s largest distributor of lubricants and lubrication solutions. O’Kelly, 54, served as a captain in the U.S. Army in the 1990s and earned an MBA from Harvard Business School, along with a bachelor’s degree from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
link hidden, please login to viewShane O’Kelly (photo courtesy of the Home Depot) Gene Lee, interim executive chair for Advance, spoke highly of O’Kelly during the company’s second-quarter conference call.
“We talked to a lot of people, and by far Shane was the best person for this role,” Lee said. “ … I think that he is a car enthusiast. He has sold into the channel before. He loves the business, and I think his leadership style is perfect for where we are in our journey and what we need.”
Lee noted that a number of good candidates were bound by non-compete agreements.
“But even so, when it was all said and done, Shane O’ Kelly was by far our best candidate for this role in the current situation,” Lee said. “He is well-educated, [has a] strong, disciplined background, and he’s a thoughtful human being with a real focus on customers.”
Advance also named Tony Iskander as interim chief financial officer, effective Aug. 18. Iskander succeeds Jeff Shepherd, who departed from Advance, effective Aug. 18.
Iskander has more than 25 years of finance and accounting experience and served as the company’s senior vice president, finance and treasurer since 2020. Prior to joining Advance in 2017, he spent more than a decade at Hillrom, where he held various finance roles of increasing responsibility.
Advance said a search for a permanent CFO is underway, with the help of a leading executive-search firm.
“We thank Jeff for his contributions and wish him the best in his future endeavors,” Lee said in a news release. “Advance is fortunate to have a seasoned executive in Tony to assume the CFO role on an interim basis. I am very confident that Tony will lead the finance team through a seamless transition and work closely with Advance’s new CEO when Shane officially joins in September.”
Coinciding with the leadership shakeup, Advance announced that the company is launching “a comprehensive operational and strategic review.”
“We’re executing a number of operational improvements including inventory-optimization initiatives, improving asset productivity across the enterprise, investments in our front-line organization to reduce turnover and disciplined cost controls, which we expect to benefit the cost structure and working capital while strengthening Advance for the long term,” Lee said during the conference call. “However, we know there’s more work to be done, and the team is focused on building on these actions and looking for ways to drive even stronger performance and enhanced value.”
On Aug. 23, Advance reported second-quarter net sales of $2.7 billion, up 0.8% over second-quarter 2023. Comparable-store sales ticked 0.6% lower on a year-over-year basis.
Second-quarter diluted earnings per common share were $1.43, down from $2.38 in second-quarter 2022. Operating income was $134.4 million, down from $201.7 million in second-quarter 2022.
“Coming into the quarter, we knew Q2 was going to be challenging and that the investments we’re making in both inventory to help improve availability and strategic pricing to maintain competitive price targets would build through the year,” Greco said during the conference call. “ … We delivered net sales growth in the quarter. However, the balance of our Q2 financial metrics remain challenged. As [Lee] noted, while we’re executing some operational improvements, there are further actions that need to be taken to accelerate profitable growth.”
The post
link hidden, please login to view appeared first on link hidden, please login to view.
link hidden, please login to view
-
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.