North America
IHS Acquires USA Information Systems
Information Handing Services Inc. (IHS), a provider of content integration and decision support tools, technical standards, codes and product specifications, parts management and logistics solutions, has acquired USA Information Systems Inc. (USAInfo). The move augments the published collection of engineering standards, military specs and parts logistics solutions from IHS, which has served worldwide engineering communities and customers for nearly 45 years.
Under the agreement, the former USAInfo operations will continue in Virginia Beach, Va., and become part of the IHS brand, delivering essential technical documents and specifications, procurement, parts and vendor information to buyers, suppliers, designers, librarians and engineers worldwide. All IHS documents, catalogs and integrated content are available to customers in online, electronic or print format by subscription, custom collection or single-document delivery methods.
Cosma International Awarded Ford Frame Business
Cosma International has been awarded a contract to provide the complete frame assemblies for the next generation Ford F250/350 light truck program. This is the second such contract awarded to Cosma by Ford, the first was the Explorer frame. Cosma currently produces frames for a number of SUV/truck customers.
Europe
DaimlerChrysler Creates an Additional 800 New Jobs at the Rastatt Plant
DaimlerChrysler AG is going ahead with yet another significant increase in the number of jobs at the Rastatt plant in the coming months. In addition to the already announced creation of 1,000 new jobs in connection with the launch of the new A-Class, 800 new jobs are going to be created by spring 2005. The reason for the additional increase is the excellent market outlook for Mercedes-Benz models coming out of Rastatt.
The 1,800 new jobs created since the beginning of 2004 will bring the headcount of the plant, which is based in the southwest German region of Baden, up to 6,500 employees. For Rastatt, this signifies a personnel increase of nearly 40 percent within an 18-month period.
The Baden location is mainly looking to hire production staff for the assembly, body construction and logistics areas. Automotive electricians, mechatronics specialists and painting technicians are just a few of the available positions now advertised by the automaker. However, the plant is also hiring workers for non-production related positions.
Asia
BorgWarner Launches Chain Timing System for World Engine
BorgWarner has begun production of the engine chain timing system and will also supply the electronic throttle control for the “world engine,” a family of four-cylinder gasoline engines produced by the Global Engine Alliance LLC. The Alliance, a joint venture between Hyundai Motor Company, DaimlerChrysler AG and Mitsubishi Motors Corporation, was announced in May 2002.
Total annual world engine production is estimated at more than 1.6 million units, which would make Alliance’s global output the highest-volume engine family in the world. The world engine will be manufactured in production facilities located in the United States, South Korea and Japan. Shared development costs between five operations in these three markets mean that the three OEMs anticipate significant economies of scale.
BorgWarner will supply the chain timing system in all three markets. Drivers of vehicles equipped with these systems will benefit from reduced engine noise, increased performance and durability. The system also aids emissions reduction. Production is currently being launched for the Korean market. In North America and Japan, production is expected to begin in mid-2005.
Plante & Moran
