RANCHO DOMINGUEZ, Calif.-General Motors Corp. has granted American Racing Equipment an exclusive license to manufacture and distribute aftermarket custom wheels sporting the emblems of the following GM divisions: Chevrolet, Buick, Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Geo, Chevy Trucks and GMC Trucks. According to Rancho Dominguez-based American Racing, the GM-licensed custom wheels offer dealers increased margins and profitability, as well as a new opportunity for brand-loyal vehicle owners who want a custom look.
Schrader, Bridge Products merge
MONROE, N.C.-Schrader Inc., a maker of tire and industrial valves and other tire-related accessories based in Monroe has merged with Bridge Products Inc. of Northbrook, Ill.
Bridge Products makes wheel care products, pneumatic accessories and components for original equipment auto and industrial fluid systems under the Camel,Amflo and Bridgeport names.
The combined company, renamed Schrader-Bridgeport International Inc., will maintain its headquarters in Northbrook, and will be majority-owned by Kohlberg & Co., a private merchant banking firm based in Mount Kisco, N.Y.
James D. Wiggins, former CEO of Bridge Products, is president and CEO of Schrader-Bridgeport; former Schrader President and CEO J. Kevin Nameth is executive vice president.
Sales, earnings fall at Brad Ragan
CHARLOTTE, N.C.-Brad Ragan Inc., a retail/commercial/retreading dealership owned by Goodyear, posted a first-quarter loss of $1.45 million, compared with the 1995 quarter, as sales slid 4.8 percent to $53.2 million.
The company attributed the lower results to the ``unseasonably prolonged winter weather,'' and said same-store sales increased 1.1 percent in its commercial segment, but dropped 8.1 percent in the retail segment.
Canadian firm debuts services
WATERLOO, Ontario-Tire Technologies Inc., a 2-year-old consulting firm located in Waterloo, is offering two new services to tire manufacturers and distributors.
The firm is offering to assist wholesalers and distributors in sourcing tires from around the world that meet their needs in terms of design, quality and price.
For manufacturers, Tire Technologies is offering a complete radial tire technology service, from plant and tire design to quality control and product testing.
``We know what types of tires are available out there,'' said President Herb Heuchert, referring to producers in regions such as Latin American and Asia, ``and we also know the manufacturers' tire design and quality producing capabilities.''
Tire Technologies uses this knowledge to match customer product sourcing requirements with foreign tire makers' production capabilities, he said.