As part of Pennsylvania’s ongoing effort to reduce air pollution, the Commonwealth’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has adopted new clean-air regulations requiring new painting equipment for the state’s automobile refinishers, according to DEP Secretary James M. Seif. “By complying with these regulations, automobile refinishers will be doing their fair share to reduce harmful air […]
I-CAR Education Foundation and Body Shop Expo Announce Scholarship Winnersv
The I-CAR, Education Foundation and BodyShop Expo magazine announced the seven winners of their 1999 scholarship program at NACE on Saturday, December 4, 1999. The winners were announced at a 9 a.m. press conference and 1996 Miss America, Shawntel Smith, presented the grand-prize scholarship to Brian Pelton of Alpena Community College in Alpena, MI. Pelton […]
Erie Insurance Named a Consumer Friendly Company in New York State
Erie Insurance was one of only two companies recently commended by the New York State Insurance Department for having no consumer complaints filed against it regarding private passenger automobile insurance. The insurance department released its annual ranking of consumer complaints filed against private passenger automobile insurers doing business in the state. According to a statement […]
PPG Industries and AECI Ltd. Set South African Coatings Venture
PPG Industries (NYSE: PPG) and AECI Ltd. of Johannesburg, South Africa, announced yesterday that they have agreed to join forces in an automotive refinish, auto original equipment and industrial coatings venture based on AECI’s technical coatings division at Port Elizabeth. Completion of the transaction is subject to regulatory approvals. Terms were not disclosed. Douglas C. […]
Replacement Parts Bills and Anti-Steering Legislation Introduced in PA Senate as Session Recesses
When the PA Senate reconvenes January 24, the insurance industry will be watching a competitive replacement parts legislation that has been introduced in the Senate. The National Association of Independent Insurers (NAII) is opposed to Senate Bill 1207, which prohibits the use of competitive replacement parts for the repair of vehicles that are less than […]
J.C. Whitney & Co. Seeks Injunction Against Carparts.com
J.C. Whitney & Co. has filed a six-count lawsuit against Carparts.com for unfair and deceptive trade practices. According to the J.C. Whitney suit, Carparts.com, based in Santa Monica, CA, has been driving Internet users to its web site by misappropriating the J.C. Whitney trade name, using such URLs as “jcwhitneya.car-carparts.com”, “jcwhitney.car-carparts.com”, etc. Such actions are […]
Motor Acquires Chek-Chart From IDG Books Worldwide
Motor Information Systems and IDG Books Worldwide announced yesterday that Motor has acquired the Chek-Chart brand and business from IDG Books Worldwide. The acquisition brings to Motor a publishing program targeted to the automotive trade in the professional, educational, certification and reference categories. They include specification and study guides, electronic databases, custom publications, textbooks and […]
NOF Corporation and BASF Coatings Form Coatings Joint Venture in Japan
BASF Coatings Division announces continued growth NOF Corporation and BASF Coatings AG have agreed to conduct a feasibility study for joining their entire coatings business in Japan and signed a Letter of Intent hereto. The partners intend to complete the feasibility study by March 2000. NOF and BASF are currently operating two joint ventures in […]
PA Court Throws Out Diminished Value Class Action Suit
The NAII reports that the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas recently joined state trial courts in Florida, Texas and Massachusetts in rejecting a class action suit that would require insurers to pay for both the repair and the alleged “diminished value” of cars involved in accidents. “These so-called diminished value cases have been found […]
LYNX Services From PPG Begins Operation At Kentucky Center
LYNX Services from PPG has begun operation at its insurance claims customer service center in Paducah, KY. The second national customer service center LYNX Services has opened in two years, it has capacity to support the company’s handling of insurance loss reports and automotive glass claims. Formed in 1994, LYNX Services is a subsidiary of […]