News: Mac Tools Celebrates 70 Years of Heritage at the 2008 Tool Fair – UnderhoodService

News: Mac Tools Celebrates 70 Years of Heritage at the 2008 Tool Fair

Orlando, FL — From its conception in 1938 to today, Mac Tools has remained unchanged in its philosophy of providing excellent quality and service, at a fair value. This year, Mac Tools is celebrating 70 years of heritage in quality tool manufacturing and distribution, kicking off the celebration with its annual Tool Fair event. Held January 17-20 at the Disney Coronado Springs Resort in Orlando, FL, this year’s Tool Fair honored the company’s past while keeping a sharp eye on the potential of, and plans for, the future. Mike Murray, who joined Mac Tools in February 2007 as vice president of operations and merchandising, and most recently held the position of chief operating officer, was appointed president effective January 1, 2008. He stated “with this great opportunity, comes great responsibility.” He came to Mac Tools with 17 years of experience at General Electric in sales, marketing and operational positions.

When asked “how are we doing?” Dan Picolo, newly appointed vice president of global sales and field services, says the company is doing great and has experienced positive sales growth. In his presentation, Picolo spoke of his appreciation for the distributors and the strategic partners of Mac Tools, such as John Force Racing. Picolo acknowledged that the JFR team had a tough 2007 season, including losses and injuries. Several members of the JFR team were in attendance and when introduced, received a standing ovation from the crowd.

Picolo reported that there were record-breaking new-start distributors in 2007. He also noted that through Macstravaganzas, Mac Tools touched more than 30,000 technicians. These customer-appreciation events are hosted by Mac Tools distributors to solidify their relationships with technicians. These events highlight new tools, specials on tools, equipment and showcase shop supplies that distributors cannot carry on their tool trucks.

“Macstravaganzas are also great opportunities to sell shop equipment,” said Lee Carman, SBU leader of Shop Equipment. He announced that Mac Tools has formed a new partnership with Challenger Lifts, which will allow professional lifts to be delivered directly to the shop, through the Mac Tools distributor. Pro-Cut On-Car Brake Lathes is another new partner in the shop equipment category.

Tool boxes and utility carts were hot items on the Tool Fair floor. According to the SBU Leader of Toolboxes, Tom Jech, utility carts are the fastest-growing category in tool storage.

Seminars held throughout the event included Business Wellness, The Tool Box Challenge, Cash Flow & Completed Business, and more. All seminars were well-attended by Mac Tools distributors and featured techniques that help the distributor to be a better tool provider to the professional technician. The Tool Fair closed with the Macademy Awards, the Mac Tools version of the Academy Awards. The Macademy Awards featured a red carpet walkway for the Distributors, lined with “paparazzi” shooting their photos and asking for autographs. Once inside the ballroom, the distributors were shown on movie screens as they entered. Many awards were handed out throughout the evening. The most exciting was when the Serediak Award for Sales Achievement was awarded to the “Million Dollar Man” Rodney Serediak, recognized as the #1 Mac Tools Distributor in the world, for the second year in a row. Serediak’s drive to succeed earned him the title of the “Million Dollar Man” in 2004 when he became the first Mac Tools distributor to reach $1 million in purchases.

As an ultimate thank-you gift, on the last night of Tool Fair, Mac Tools hosted an evening at Disney’s Hollywood Studios including a private viewing of Fantasmic! for attendees and their families.

— TechShop staff

Chicago Pneumatic Challenges Technicians To Try Tool Online
Charlotte, NC — Chicago Pneumatic is inviting technicians to take the CP7740 Challenge, a 60-day money-back guarantee trial of the 1/2” impact wrench with the best power-to-weight ratio in the market. To promote the CP7740 Challenge, Chicago Pneumatic has launched CP7740Challenge.com, a website that plays on the combative sport of boxing to tout the product specifications of this “Lightweight Heavyweight” — a 2.7-lb., 1/2” impact wrench featuring 500 ft.-lbs. of torque.

The site also challenges visitors to step in the ring with fictional boxer Rusty Bolts in a video boxing match, giving technicians the chance to conquer every auto professional’s arch nemesis first in the virtual ring and then in the garage with their own CP7740.

Mayhew Tools To Acquire Oldforge & Carica Product Lines
Turners Falls, MA — Mayhew Steel Products and Ken-Tool have announced that Mayhew will soon acquire Ken-Tool’s OldForge and Carica product lines. The transaction includes Ken-Tool’s manufacturing facility in New Wilmington, PA, plus trademark rights to the Oldforge and Carica brands and all products currently being manufactured and marketed by Ken-Tool under those brands. The Oldforge product line consists of pneumatic accessories and specialty tools and the Carica product line consists of telescoping and unique specialty tools.

John Lawless, president and owner of Mayhew Steel Products, said, “Mayhew needs the added capacity to support our expansion and growth in our automotive aftermarket product lines.”

Ken-Tool’s owner and president, Alec Pendleton, said, “This move assures that Ken-Tool can focus its future on improving the manufacturing and development of our core tire service equipment and hand tool product lines. Every effort will be made to ensure that this transfer to Mayhew will not disrupt the supply of Oldforge and Carica products to our customers.”

Snap-on Elects Pinchuk CEO
Kenosha, WI — Snap-on Incorporated announced, consistent with its succession plans, that Nicholas T. Pinchuk, currently president and chief operating officer, has been elected president and chief executive officer. Pinchuk succeeds Jack D. Michaels who will remain chairman of Snap-on’s board of directors.

“I’m delighted by the opportunity to carry on the achievements accomplished by our dedicated Snap-on organization,” said Pinchuk. “I look forward to working with the board, our loyal franchisees, and our committed associates around the world to build and expand on Snap-on’s considerable strengths.”

Pinchuk joined Snap-on in 2002 as senior vice president and president of Snap-on’s Worldwide Commercial and Industrial Group. He was named president and chief operating officer in April 2007, when he was also appointed to Snap-on’s board of directors. Prior to joining Snap-on, Pinchuk served in several executive operational and financial management positions at United Technologies Corporation. Before United Technologies, he held various financial and engineering positions at the Ford Motor Company. He also served as an officer in the United States Army.

Steck Manufacturing Announces Reorganization Changes
Dayton, OH — Larry Steck, vice president of operations of Steck Manufacturing, has announced that effective Jan. 1, his brother Ray will be stepping down as president to begin his transition to retirement. Ray started working with his father George while in high school, and in 1982 assumed the role of president. Ray has been instrumental in helping the company automate its processes and keeping financially responsible. He will continue to work part-time as accounting director.

John Brill will assume the role as president as Ray starts his retirement. Brill joined the company in 2004 as marketing director and has helped us push sales to record levels. He has more than 28 years of automotive experience from Reynolds and Reynolds in marketing, product management and customer service, bringing many other talents to the organization. He will also continue his current marketing and sales responsibilities as well as overall management of the company.

Central Tools Celebrates 100 Years
Cranston, RI — Central Tools Inc. announces a celebration of the company’s 100th anniversary. Central’s first patent was for a micrometer and was issued in 1912. Since that time Central has continued to innovate and has become entrenched as a respected and reliable supplier to the professional automotive tool and equipment industry.

“Central Tools prides itself on the quality of its products and its service. We are one of the few manufacturers that still has a live person answer the phone during business hours and every product we offer is done so with the professional in mind. You can even talk to our V.P. of Engineering if you need help using one of our products,” said Bob Pond, Central’s president.”

“Central has been around a long time and survived numerous ownership changes and with the current ownership of the Dawson family, in place since 1992, Central has seen its market position grow through acquisition as well as a commitment to quality and customer service,” said Pond.

ETI’s Japan Tech Week Receives High Praise
Rochester, MI — Almost 60 Equipment and Tool Institute (ETI) members attended its Japan Tech Week, held Dec. 4-6, 2007, in Redondo Beach, CA. For the past 20 years, ETI and the major Japanese automakers, represented by JAMA, have presented Japan Tech Week — a forum to communicate new information and tool requirements for servicing new and future vehicles.

More than 40 OEMs from Hino, Honda, Isuzu, Mazda, Mitsubishi Fuso Truck, Mitsubishi Motors, Nissan, Subaru, Suzuki and Toyota were in attendance and delivered presentations on service and repair of new model launches and new technology.

Yoshifumi Uneme of Mazda Motor Corporation was presented with ETI’s 15th Founder’s Award. Uneme-san is the chairman of the ETI JAMA working group. This JAMA committee interfaces with ETI and helps plan Japan Tech Weeks. He has always gone out of his way to help his OEM colleagues understand what information ETI members are asking for. He has also been instrumental in explaining to ETI some of the nuances of the Japanese culture and why some things are the way they are.

Next year’s Japan Tech Week will be held in Japan.

Xtreme Charge Accepts Excellence Award
Southlake, TX — Battery Power Products & Technology Magazine has awarded an Innova Award for Product Development Excellence to PulseTech Products Corporation in recognition of the company’s new Xtreme Charge 12-volt battery charger and maintenance system.

Webcom Communications developed the award, given to the product showing the most innovation and cutting-edge technology.

Xtreme Charge, according to Smokey White, PulseTech vice president, sales & marketing, provides users with the industry’s most advanced charging and maintenance system to date. White said the idea was to make a charger so simple to use — that it actually does get used regularly.

For more information, go to www.pulsetech.net.

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