ISS Expands Distribution Network by Acquiring Texas-Based Autocraft

PORTLAND, OREGON — Instrument Sales and Service, Inc (ISS), with headquarters in Portland, Oregon, has acquired a major automotive electronics service center and distribution facility in Dallas, Texas, from ATC Logistics and Electronics, Inc., part of GENCO Product Lifecycle Logistics, a supply chain and logistics management company with headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  The Dallas operation, formerly conducting business under the Autocraft brand name, provides factory-authorized remanufacturing, repair and component exchange services for vehicle radio, instrumentation, GPS, and telematics systems to the dealer networks of automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEM’s).

Dave Lisle, Chief Executive Officer of ISS, made the announcement today, stating that, “We see the Autocraft acquisition as a significant geographic extension of the value-added original equipment services we already provide to automotive dealership customers throughout the western states.  The addition of a Dallas location to our existing strategic network of electronic service and distribution centers in Seattle, Portland, Denver, and Phoenix allows us to further enhance our ability to provide fast, reliable, efficient and high-quality component supply and same-day exchange services to our automotive dealership customers.”

Mike Simpson, Sr. Vice President of GENCO remarked that, “Being in the business as long as Autocraft has, this was a difficult decision for us, but we feel it is in the best interest of our customers and our stakeholders to sell the business to ISS.  The Autocraft business provides critical original equipment services to automotive dealerships throughout the southern United States.  ISS was the logical suitor due to its existing strengths in audio and instrumentation remanufacturing, manufacturing and distribution.  We are confident that ISS will ensure there will be no disruption in service to ATC’s customers, and the transition will be seamless and efficient.”

Mr. Lisle further stated that, “ISS is pursuing a number of focused growth strategies in our core business segments of electromechanical original equipment remanufacturing, and past-model service product line transfers.  Our original equipment service business is growing as we expand our existing business lines, along with strategic acquisitions like Autocraft. Our value proposition to Original Equipment Manufacturers is resonating well.  It is often much more cost-effective to remanufacture or refurbish sophisticated electromechanical products than to pitch them. Furthermore, factory-authorized remanufacturing is economical, and is better for the environment because it’s less energy intensive and we aren’t discarding perfectly good sub-components into landfills. We deliver fast, accurate, factory-authorized solutions just as fast, if not faster than competing alternatives. Perhaps most importantly, our product quality often exceeds original specifications.”

“The Autocraft facility and personnel located in Carrollton, Texas, will join ISS’ extended manufacturing, distribution and sales centers in Portland, Seattle, Phoenix, Denver, and Detroit. The expansion is focused on building ISS’ already strong reputation for rapid response due to its extensive geographic network,” ISS President Scott Haugen said. “Our customers value our flexibility in handling both low- and high-volume programs in a cost-effective manner. By adding these resources, we can aggressively expand our remanufacturing and distribution capabilities in new geographic markets.”

About ISS:

Instrument Sales & Service, Inc. is a diversified manufacturing, remanufacturing and distribution company offering past-model product and service solutions for electromechanical components supplied to customers in the automotive, transportation, industrial equipment, and electronic industries. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, with manufacturing, distribution and sales centers in Seattle, Phoenix, Denver, Dallas, and Detroit, ISS provides prompt, efficient and accurate original equipment parts and service solutions to more than 7,000 customers both in the United States and internationally.  Customers include original equipment manufacturers (OEM’s), Tier-1 suppliers, dealerships, distributors, resellers, and aftermarket service companies. Founded in 1949 as an automotive parts supplier, ISS is an industry leader in providing OEM service and aftermarket parts solutions, and is the premier Electronic Service Center of choice for automotive dealerships nationwide. ISS meets the strictest quality standards in the automotive industry (ISO/TS 16949:2009) as well as ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001 Environmental Management Standards.

For additional company information, Contact:
Ted Miller, Marketing Communications

208-345-5307

ISS Selects New CEO with Strong Record of Strategic Growth

PORTLAND, OREGON – Instrument Sales and Service, Inc. (ISS) with headquarters in Portland,Oregon, is pleased to announce the appointment of David A. Lisle as Chief Executive Officer. Gary Jacobs, Chairman of the ISS Board of Directors, stated, “We are pleased to welcome Dave Lisle to ISS. Mr. Lisle will be responsible for growth initiatives and strategy to achieve additional sales and new product and service offerings for our customers and core markets. Dave’s leadership will serve to further enhance the company’s leading position in Product Line Transfer management and Remanufacturing Solutions for Fortune 500 OEM’s.”

Sean Kelly, the prior CEO, will continue to be a major shareholder and board member of ISS.  Mr. Kelly added, “ISS is thrilled to have Dave on board. I believe he will provide continuity in sales and service to our established customer base, as well as leadership of our organization’s emerging growth initiatives.”

Prior to joining ISS, Mr. Lisle was President/CEO of Wausaukee Composites in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where he oversaw business expansion from 120 employees at two plant locations in 2002 to more than 550 employees at four US plant locations and sales growth in excess of 400%.  During that time period Wausaukee Composites became broadly recognized as a leading manufacturer of highly-engineered structural plastic components and assemblies for Fortune 500 OEM customers in the Transportation, Construction, Agricultural Equipment, Medical, Energy, and Corrosion industries, worldwide.

Previously, Mr. Lisle held executive management positions in business development, strategic planning and financial analysis, including roles as Director of Strategic Planning at Unocal Corporation, Director of Product Strategy at Hyster/Yale Materials Handling, and Manager of Planning and Analysis at Amoco Production Company.  Mr. Lisle also serves on a number of corporate and not-for-profit boards. Mr. Lisle received his BS degree fromMichiganStateUniversity, an MS degree from LouisianaStateUniversity, and an MBA from The Darden School at The University of Virginia.

About ISS:

Instrument Sales & Service, Inc. is a diversified manufacturing, remanufacturing and distribution company offering past-model product and service solutions for electromechanical components supplied to customers in the automotive, transportation, industrial equipment, and electronic industries. Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, with manufacturing, distribution and sales centers in Seattle, Phoenix, Denver, and Detroit, ISS provides prompt, efficient and accurate original equipment parts and service solutions to more than 7,000 customers both in the United Statesand internationally.  Customers include original equipment manufacturers (OEM’s), Tier-1 suppliers, dealerships, distributors, resellers, and aftermarket service companies. Founded in 1949 as an automotive parts supplier, ISS is an industry leader in providing OEM service and aftermarket parts solutions, and is the premier ElectronicServiceCenter of choice for automotive dealerships nationwide. ISS meets the strictest quality standards in the automotive industry (ISO/TS 16949:2009) as well as ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001 Environmental Management Standards.

Contact: Ted Miller, Marketing Communications 208-345-5307

VDO RoadLog – Electronic On Board Recorder

VDO RoadLog™ Electronic On Board Recorder (EOBR)

Be ready with the simple, affordable, all-in-one solution:

VDO RoadLog was designed to make it as easy as possible to get automated, electronic reporting of daily log book data. In addition, RoadLog records data for Vehicle Maintenance and Inspection reports (DVIR), Fuel Tax reports and International Registration Plan reports (IFTA), International Registration Plan (IRP) and a range of other data that help make trucking operations safer and more efficient.

If you’re looking for cost-effective HOS monitoring, you can have RoadLog installed, up and running in a matter of minutes.

If your interest in purchasing the VDO Roadlog, please click here to visit Partdeal.com our online marketplace or contact us at 800-333-7976.

Providing service parts is critical for vehicle manufacturers

End-of-life-cycle solutions

Manufacturers are legally obligated to do so for years after the model production run has ended. More than that, our customers care about the end user. They want them to be able to fix a broken fuel gauge or faulty switch on a ten-year-old vehicle, because total cost of ownership is a critical part of a car company’s reputation.

Manufacturing these service parts while the vehicle is being made is simple. A company making 30,000 sedans can make 30,500 instrument panels that fit in those sedans, and keep the extra 500 on the shelf for service parts.

The problem arises when 5 years have passed since the vehicle was last made. The car manufacturer or its supplier must still fill that instrument panel service parts pipeline, but manufacturing them can be a nuisance. Manufacturing 50 units per year is just not what GM or Delphi or Mitsubishi or Honda do best.

That’s where Instrument Sales & Service comes in…. We love being able to provide solutions to companies facing these End-of-Product-Life-Cycle problems. We manage both Manufacturing & Remanufacturing!

Would you like to know more & how we can fit into your business?

Send us a note Contact Us today or call us at 1-800-333-7976

Where do I buy Heavy Duty or Light Truck Parts?

Simple, Partdeal.com offers a full range of parts including: Gauges, lighting, electrical, switches, safety, performance, HVAC and more.   In fact our product line represents the leading manufacturers in the industry. Companies such as Cole Hersee, Red Dot, Murphy, ISSPRO, Stewart Warner, Datcon, Truck-lite, Alemite, Hella, Nason, Pollak, VDO, Hobbs and more… With Full line of nationally-recognized brand names Partdeal prides itself on being your One-Stop-Shop for all of your heavy duty truck part needs.

Since 1949 they have listened to you, the customer and continue to add new products, photos and useful information.  Partdeal’s facilities allow them to stock 10K+ heavy duty parts for all makes and models. The Customer Service Representatives are there to fulfill your need which involves providing the right parts, the right application as well as technical problem solving. So don’t hesitate to call and discover why buying parts is easy with Partdeal.com.

Do you need a Wholesale / Commercial account? No problem, with an easy online form you can save lots of money with a b2b wholesale account. Start shopping heavy duty parts today at www.partdeal.com

Partdeal News, Tips and Promotions visit their blog

APRA Says “Remanufacturing Means Jobs”

Although ISS has kept pace with changes in both the remanufacturing and manufacturing industries, it often seems like media (and America at large) often overlook the real environmental and economic value of the former in favor of the latter. Manufacturing gets the hype, while reman gets ignored. The truth, though, is that we feel each has a special niche in parts supply.

We fully stand behind the APRA (Automotive Parts Remanufactures Association) when they sent a letter to all 100 members of the U.S. Senate and 435 members of the U.S. House of Representatives. APRA President Bill Gager asked them to seriously look at remanufacturing as a way to create jobs.

Gager stated, “Nothing creates good permanent jobs like the remanufacturing industry. So, as you (Congress) begin to deal with job creation in today’s economy, we would encourage you to seriously look at how public policy may be used to help the remanufacturing industry expand here in the United States.”

APRA estimates that there are more than 500,000 jobs in the remanufacturing industry and they include products as diverse as automotive and truck parts, toner cartridges, electronic equipment, cell phones, office furniture, locomotive, electrical transformers, air conditioning compressor units for office buildings,off-road construction equipment, agriculture and mining equipment, hydraulic pumps for all types of applications, and the list goes on.

Gager added, “Just about anything that is manufactured can be remanufactured, adding a second or third life to capital goods.”

Gager concluded, “Trade promotion, tax credits, job creation incentives and targeted grants are some ways to help the remanufacturing industry expand. We ask all members of Congress to join us in our mission of job creation.”

ISS has seen first-hand how warranty remanufacturing can create American jobs, because we have done it. Over the past 15 years our instrument, audio, BCM, and circuit board remanufacturing and exchange facilities have tripled in volume, adding numerous great employees to our own team. Our specialty is combining warranty remanufacturing and customer-pay remanufacturing, but we have seen both sides grow for us.

ISS does not pick favorites in deciding between build-new manufacturing and remanufacturing. Every client we speak with has unique needs in its supply chain. (Sometimes, we find that a mix of both can be the most cost-effective solution, where we both manufacture components and use those components for remanufacture.)  But we are happy to see the attention shift a little toward an industry that is by nature both green and focused on American job creation.

How can we help you find a solution for your company? Contact Us today!

Lockout Technology Secures Replacement Parts, and Profits, for Vehicle Manufacturers and Tier-One Parts Suppliers

Over the past decade, we have seen a major trend in vehicle manufacturers to include Lock-Out Technology in high-value components. These computer chip-based systems require parts to have factory-issued security codes to correspond to vehicle parts, or they will not function.  Increasingly, high-value replacement parts must be Vehicle Manufacturer (VM) approved, or they are useless.

The relative cost to implement this technology into existing chips is fairly small relative to the gain in market share it may realize. Thus, business is booming in this area.  In one high-end manufacturer that we are aware of, the security technology appears in all the following parts:

• Key/Lock Alarm System
• Steering Lock
• Shifter Lock
• Pushbutton Start System
• Engine PCM
• Instrument Cluster
• Transmission Shift Actuator
• Transmission TCU

Typical Vehicle Network

How this Impacts the Auto Industry

In many cases this prevents that part from being remanufactured or even re-used in the aftermarket. This drives parts business away from independent aftermarket suppliers and toward the vehicle OEM-authorized distribution network, where both the OEM and the Tier-One suppliers can capture more market.

Obviously, many in the aftermarket see this as a major threat. Salvage shops and parts repair shops, that make their livelihoods off high-value parts like transmissions seem the most threatened at the moment. But even major parts distributors must wonder how long before starter motors, alternators and other parts need a specially coded computer chip to function properly. However worrying it may be to them, though, the practice is perfectly legal. And for profit-motivated OEM’s looking to both horizontally and vertically integrate, it’s inevitable.

This of course does not mean that the OEM can simply charge whatever it wants for replacement parts. The aftermarket is adaptable so some levels of reverse engineering are going to be inevitable. More importantly, though, in today’s competitive auto industry Total Cost of Ownership is more than a buzzword. Consumers want vehicles that are affordable to maintain, and no Vehicle Manufacturer can afford to be known for outrageous repair prices. These codes are a path to replacement parts market share, not a license to print money without regard to the vehicle brand. Driving down costs for the OEM and the consumer is a major focus at ISS. As is the drive to improve quality.

Scott Haugen, President at ISS, puts it best: “ISS sees the rise of this technology as an opportunity. We operate as both a Tier-One/service parts supplier, and as a Factory Authorized Remanufacturing Center. On the Tier-One side, it opens us up to a larger customer base, as we are the ones working with the Manufacturer to supply specially coded replacement parts. On the remanufacturing side, we work with the OEM to ensure parts are properly coded during the remanufacturing and exchange process.

“For both, we offer the highest quality of parts manufacturing and remanufacturing processes available anywhere, ensuring TS-level quality for both the Vehicle Manufacturer and the end consumer.”

For more than 60 years, our clients have often found us to be the shortest, easiest, most high-quality path for the VM and our Tier-One colleagues to capture aftermarket parts market share. We view this lockout technology to be an excellent means to that end.

For more information on how we can help you in the future contact us today!
Source: APRA

Fuel Efficiency Hot Topic for Manufacturers & Fleets at Work Truck Show

The NTEA Work Truck Show kicked off last week in Indianapolis with the Green Truck Summit. Discussions were based around factors affecting the commercial truck industry such as rising fuel prices, alternative fuel sources, and the role government is playing in the changing landscape. It was evident that the industry is focused on increased fuel efficiency and innovation.

While attending the Work Truck Show, I spoke with Carla Anglin, Director of Business Development for BrandFX Body Company. BrandFX has been producing lightweight composite truck bodies for decades. The BrandFX truck body line has provided fleets a highly effective means of fuel and maintenance savings since their beginning in 1984; before U.S. dependency on foreign oil was a political talking point and before government subsidies provided thousands of dollars for alternative fuel systems. BrandFX Body owner, Lee Finley said, “We were green before green was cool”.

When asked about the NTEA Work Truck Show Carla mentioned, “The NTEA is a valuable resource for BrandFX, we look to them for everything from representing the interests of our industry to congress, market information, even for training resources”. BrandFX is a MVP verified member of the NTEA, and is involved in the Green Truck Summit. The Work Truck Show is a convenient way for them to meet with distributors, announce new products and raise awareness of their product offerings.

As the focus to reduce oil consumption continues, BrandFX believes their product is “An idea whose time has come”, as today’s market is motivated to seek out lightweight solutions. This wasn’t always the case. In the early days, BrandFX composite truck bodies were valued for being rust free and allowing fleets to reduce their total GVW to avoid Frost Law restrictions. While alternative fuels and support infrastructure are being developed, lightweight composite offers immediate sustainable solutions in fuel efficiency and maintenance that business and government fleets can incorporate for profitable, sustainable fleet operations. Lighter truck bodies allow for smaller chassis, and a compounding effect in light-weighting that yields tremendous budget efficiencies over heavier trucks. This is a proven cost benefit, no matter what changes come in the form of alternative fuels.

The Department of Energy’s current efforts to help boost fuel economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions is taking shape in a number of markets and applications. Most efforts are focused on passenger vehicles, but efficiency demands are coming for heavy-duty commercial trucks and trailers. Some of these initiatives include light-weighting, aerodynamics, alternative fuels, and new power train technologies.

The landscape will be changing in the next decade. Fleet managers are concerned about large investments into new technology, when perhaps other technologies will prove to become the mainstream. In other words, you would hate to have a fleet of Betamax, only to be up-staged by VHS, then DVDs and now streaming video…

Matt Koehmstedt is the Aftermarket Business Unit Manager for ISS. For more information about manufacturing fuel gauges and sensors, visit Instrumentsales.com. Truck fuel sensors and truck gauges can be found at PartDeal.com.

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Audi Reveals Plans for Wireless Charging, New Lightweight Components, Predictive Suspension, and More

Dub box USA announces itself as an American manufacturer of retro, lightweight, customizable campers

Portland, Oregon – Owners Shane Medbery and Heather Bauccio are excited to
introduce Dub box USA campers and retail/food carts. The concept was born from American vintage
trailers, merged with retro styling and infused with modern conveniences for style and comfort.
Dub boxes will appeal to a wide range of buyers. They are simple, fun, stylish campers that can be
enjoyed traditionally at a destination camp ground or customized for a small business and corporate use.
Dub box USA will appeal to the outdoor and sports enthusiast, the vintage and custom car crowd, the
food and retail cart entrepreneur, and companies looking for a portable event hosting cart or a brand
awareness and marketing tool. The appeal is endless.

Dub boxes are lightweight enough to be towed by many vehicles, compact enough to be stored in a
garage, the exterior and interior decor is entirely customizable and the layout can be altered to suit the
needs of its intended use. Dub box USA will offer a do-it-yourself model, a completed camper with a
selection of finishes, and total customization to build a camper that is uniquely you. The beauty is that
it is limited only to the customer’s imagination.

Heather Bauccio commented, “We believe our Dub boxes offer an attractive price point so everyone
can experience the fun. We are especially optimistic that manufacturing the Dub box in the USA and
supporting our local economy really means something to the buyer.”
Shane Medbery added: “At Dub box we believe there is a niche for campers and trailers in this size.
They are larger than teardrop trailers, but not nearly the size of a typical tow behind camper. We think
their compact size coupled with the opportunity for customization makes them desirable in so many
situations.”

To learn more visit www.dub-box-usa.com.