Dana Holding Co. announced the opening of a new distribution center in Gyor, Hungary, marking the first step in the company’s plans to establish a global aftermarket distribution network. The 65,000-square-foot facility, which shipped its first order this month, is expected to be fully operational on Feb. 1.

The facility will ship and receive replacement parts for Dana’s automotive, commercial-vehicle and off-highway markets using an enterprise resource planning system. Parts will arrive primarily from six Dana production facilities in Belgium, Hungary, Italy and Spain, and then be shipped to service and distribution centers throughout Europe.

“We are focused on building our distribution capabilities to best service our customers globally,” says Roger Wood, Dana president and chief executive officer. “In addition to the Gyor facility, we also plan to open regional distribution centers in Mexico and China in 2012. This expanded network will enable us to more efficiently meet the growing demand for our aftermarket products and will offer our customers access to Dana’s entire inventory.”

Along with Dana’s existing distribution center in Crossville, Tenn., the new facilities will be connected by a new Dana ERP system for the aftermarket that includes an improved online ordering system at DanaMATE.com. This upgraded system is designed to offer customers the ability to place and track the real-time status of their orders, and deliver better service by improving delivery speeds and allowing customers more visibility into and control of the ordering process.

“The demand for our service products has increased, creating the need to improve our distribution network to match this growth,” Wood says. “By expanding our online services, opening these new distribution centers and managing the entire process with Dana facilities and people, we are advancing Dana’s goal to increase our aftermarket business to 20 percent of our annual sales.”

Michael McIver, vice president of manufacturing for Pressure Systems International (PSI) has been appointed chair of the San Antonio Manufacturers Association (SAMA) for 2012.

SAMA has been supporting San Antonio’s growing business base since 1914. More than 400 manufacturing and service companies belong to the association today, and PSI has been a member since 2007.

“As chair of SAMA this year my focus will be on workforce development as a way for member companies to fulfill their needs for skilled employees,” says McIver. “San Antonio offers lots of job opportunities so businesses face increasing challenges to find good people.  SAMA programs this year will spotlight areas to help our members recruit and keep the people they need to succeed.”

The San Antonio Manufacturer’s Association advocates for the needs of the diverse manufacturing companies that populate the San Antonio area, PSI says.

“We have a wide range of responsibilities to our members, but one of the most important is to ensure that their interests and needs are taken care of,” says Rey Chavez, SAMA president and CEO. “If they have an issue that hampers their ability to be successful, we coordinate efforts to remove whatever obstacles they are facing. Mike McIver’s focus on workforce development in 2012 fits exactly with SAMA’s mission.”

American Trucking Associations’ President and CEO Bill Graves has announced a pair of personnel moves: the promotion of Prasad Sharma to senior vice president and general counsel, and the hiring of Richard Pianka as the association’s new vice president and deputy chief counsel.

“I’m extremely pleased to be able to promote Prasad and have a great deal of confidence he will continue to provide the first-rate legal guidance and service that our members have come to expect from ATA,” says Graves. “ATA is also fortunate to be able to add an attorney of Rich’s stature and ability to our team and we expect great things from him in the years to come.”

Sharma has been with ATA since 2000, most recently as vice president and deputy chief counsel.

“I appreciate the trust Governor Graves has placed in me,” says Sharma. “I look forward to continuing my work with ATA members and the ATA professional staff in this new role as we advocate the trucking industry’s interests.”

Pianka comes to ATA from the firm of Mayer Brown LLP, where he specialized in general and appellate litigation, the ATA says.

“After my time in private practice, I was looking for an opportunity to put my skills as a litigator to work in a proactive way and to be an advocate for policy,” Pianka says. “The challenge of representing the trucking industry appealed to me because ATA is well thought of in Washington and the association has a long history of doing important work for its members. I look forward to adding to that impressive legacy and being a forceful advocate for the ATA and the industry it represents.”

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.’s G619 RST for spread axle trailer applications is engineered to resist scrubbing and curb impact. Features include a deep 18/32-inch tread depth to help promote long tread life, a high scrub compound that helps resist curb damage, a four-belt casing to help provide toughness and a robust rib design to help minimize tread tear.

The tire currently is available in size 295/75R22.5 in load range G, with three additional sizes – 11R22.5, 11R24.5 and 285/75R24.5, all load range G – set for release later this year.

The U.S. average diesel price increased just two-tenths of a cent to $3.85 a gallon for the week ended Monday, Jan. 30, according to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration. The latest price is 41.2 cents higher than the same week last year.

Regions tracked by DOE were split with half reporting increases and half decreases, although all were small. The largest increase was 1.1 cents in New England. The largest decrease was eight-tenths of a cent in the West Coast (excluding California). The highest average price was $4.12 in California. The lowest average price was $3.734 in the Midwest.

Complete diesel price information is available on EIA’s Website.

The Automotive Parts Remanufacturers Association (APRA) has awarded TransAxle LLC its Mike Hill ‘Heavy-Duty Remanufacturer of the Year’ award.

The award is given to a company or individual who has demonstrated innovative ways to create and grow a successful business model and in the process, supported industry efforts to advance the science of remanufacturing, the APRA says.

According to Bill Gager, APRA/HDRG president, the panel’s decision to award TransAxle LLC of Cinnaminson, N.J. this year’s award was because it is a leading remanufacturer in the aftermarket.

“TransAxle has consistently demonstrated a strong effort to focus on their customers while using ‘best in class’ techniques to improve the performance of remanufactured products,” he says. “Transaxle has stepped up the sharing of these best practices to advance the performance of the industry as a whole. Combined, this two pronged approach has earned them this year’s ‘Heavy-Duty Remanufacturer of the Year’ award from APRA’s Heavy-Duty Remanufacturing Group (HDRG).”

“On behalf of the TransAxle team, we are excited to be recognized by our peers in the industry and are very thankful for this prestigious honor,” says Dave Olsen, TransAxle CEO. “At TransAxle, we define remanufacturing as a comprehensive, sustainable industrial process in which worn components are returned to same as new or better condition.

“The process must include defined technical specifications, robust testing standards and a warranty reflective of the quality of the components. This is contrasted to traditional rebuilding in which only the failed part within a component would be replaced potentially leading to an earlier future failure as the remainder of the original components are left intact.”

Yancey Bros. Co. announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the operating assets of Mays International Trucks in Augusta, Ga. Under the terms of the agreement, terms of which were not announced, Yancey Truck Centers will assume all International Truck sales, service and parts support responsibilities for eastern Georgia and neighboring counties in South Carolina.

The location will be an IdeaLease location for renting and leasing trucks, as well as an International authorized PartSmart dealer. International Fleet Charge also will be accepted at the Augusta store. It also is a fully authorized Caterpillar, Cummins and MaxxForce engine dealer.

Located at 1357 Gordon Highway in Augusta, this will become the sixth Yancey Truck Centers facility in the state, joining locations in Albany, Blackshear, Macon, Tifton and Valdosta.

“We’re extremely pleased to announce the continued expansion of the Yancey Truck Centers network in Georgia,” says Jim Stephenson, president and chief executive officer of Yancey Bros. Co. “We’ll continue to build upon the relationships and customer support that Mr. Mays and the Mays International Trucks team have developed over the past two decades.”

Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems LLC has promoted Mark McCollough to vice president and general manager for the company’s Charging business.

In his new role, McCollough will provide leadership, drive product business and technology innovations and develop pricing strategies, Bendix says.

“(McCollough) has been instrumental in building the teams that help drive customer solutions and product advancements in our expanding air treatment business. His appointment to the Bendix Leadership Committee will further enhance our ability to meet the strategic needs of the overall business and ensure our continued operational effectiveness,” says Joe McAleese, Bendix president and CEO. “(McCollough) not only has an outstanding knowledge of the evolving regulatory environment and keen insight concerning the commercial vehicle industry, he has strong relationships and a solid foundation of our global business. I am confident that our charging business will thrive under his leadership.”

McCollough joined Bendix in 2004 as the engineering manager for compressors, and was promoted to director of Air Treatment in 2008.

Hunter’s TCX575 tire changers now include the PowerOut side-shovel bead loosener system designed to provide fingertip bead-loosening controls outside of the wheel on the shovel handle.

The ergonomic design helps eliminate the foot-pedal control that often forces technicians into awkward positions when loosening beads.

Kiene’s tire lifter is designed to allow a technician to safely lift 22.5- and 24.5-inch single tire and wheel assemblies as well as 300-pound super-single tire and wheel assemblies.

The lightweight portable tool weighs 13 pounds and can be stored conveniently when not in use by hanging it on a wall.