Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Quake damaged paint plant comes back online in Japan]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/10/quake-damaged-paint-plant-comes-back-online-in-japan/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/10/quake-damaged-paint-plant-comes-back-online-in-japan/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/05/10/quake-damaged-paint-plant-comes-back-online-in-japan/#commentsFiled under: , ,

red paint lincoln mks

The March 11 earthquake and resultant tsunami in Japan rocked the country's automotive supply chain, leaving many suppliers with damaged factories and unreliable power. One nearly immediate impact was that automakers like Ford, Toyota and Chrysler could no longer offer colors like red or black.

That's because Merck's Onahama factory, which makes the Xirallic pigment used to add luster to colors, was damaged by the natural disaster. But while repairs were scheduled to take longer, The Detroit News reports that the facility was fixed ahead of schedule and production has resumed.

Peter Halas, who heads Pigments and Cosmetics at Merck, said in a statement that the timely repair of the factory was a major achievement, adding "I would like to thank our employees in Japan for their tremendous efforts."

Merck says that the Onahama facility, which is 36 miles south of the badly damaged Fukushima nuclear plant, is outside of the evacuation area, and the company will adhere to public directives to ensure the safety of employees. The company is also testing products from the plant to comply with safety standards.

To help prevent future shortages of Xirallic, Merck says it plans to establish another production site in Germany for the popular pigment.

Quake damaged paint plant comes back online in Japan originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 May 2011 14:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>automotive paintfukushimafukushima nuclear plantjapan earthquakemerckonahamapeter halasxirallicxirallic pigmentTue, 10 May 2011 14:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/19936480/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/05/10/quake-damaged-paint-plant-comes-back-online-in-japan/19936480/article-detail.xml 19936480 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/red-paint-lincoln-mks_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/05/red-paint-lincoln-mks.jpg <![CDATA[Ford loses $1b due to counterfeit parts]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/23/ford-loses-1b-due-to-counterfeit-parts/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/23/ford-loses-1b-due-to-counterfeit-parts/http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/23/ford-loses-1b-due-to-counterfeit-parts/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

In a study by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy, Ford Motor Company is said to be losing about $1 billion per year due to counterfeit parts sales. Ford states that the real cost could be much higher, as it's impossible to determine the potential costs in terms of reduced safety related to these parts.

Ford has a full-time staff that is tasked to pursue the manufacturers and resellers of these parts, but admits that legal action is very difficult to enforce outside of the US and Mexico. Other companies included in the survey included Merck & Co., New Balance, Xerox Corp, and Bendix, all of who experience similar issues with counterfeiting.

Next time you buy those knock-off parts for your ride, take into consideration that you are not only putting your life on the line, but also the countless other drivers on the road around you. Spend a few more bucks and get the right parts, right from the source or else a legitimate substitute.

[Source: MSNBC]

Ford loses $1b due to counterfeit parts originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Jan 2007 14:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>$1 billion$1BillionBendixcouterfeit partsCouterfeitPartsFord Motor CompanyFordMotorCompanyMerckNew BalanceNewBalanceTue, 23 Jan 2007 14:56:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/740795/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2007/01/23/ford-loses-1b-due-to-counterfeit-parts/740795/article-detail.xml 740795 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/01/auto_parts-%28450-x-420%29_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2007/01/auto_parts-%28450-x-420%29.jpg -1 2