Polco Named New UK Distributor of Turtle Wax Retail Products

Polco, a major distributor of car accessories in the automotive aftermarket, has signed a retail distribution agreement with Turtle Wax Ltd. The agreement covers the complete range of retail car care products marketed under the Turtle Wax brand and includes auto waxes and washes as well as a wide range of speciality products.

The contract will be managed form Polco’s distribution centre and headquarters in Andover, Hampshire. Operationally, the contract will take effect immediately with Polco building stocks in the coming weeks in preparation for a major sales programme for next season, which starts in January 2000. (1/00)

Pictured left to right: Elisabeth Tasker, Polco’s Managing Director with Matt Broderick, Corporate Vice President of Marketing at Turtle Wax and Mike Tarry, Polco’s Sales and Marketing Director

New Branch Opens for Barum

Automotive factors Barum Autoparts of Barnstaple and Tiverton, is extending its coverage of the South West of England with the opening of a third branch at Heathfield, Newton Abbot.

Barum, who have invested £450,000 in the branch, commenced its first factoring operations in Barnstaple nine years ago to supply the garage and fast-fit retail trade in Somerset, North Devon and North Cornwall.(1/00)

ENX® Brings E-Commerce to the Motor Industry

The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders is developing a new electronic communications network which they say will revolutionize the way information passes between companies.

The European Network Exchange (ENX®) is a development of the public Internet and provides a single network on which all types of transactions can be made - from initial drawings through to quotes, orders and invoices. The SMMT state that the key to its success is that it will generate one industry standard understood by all suppliers, as currently many companies in the supply chain have to create individual network links for every company they do business with. According to the SMMT once the connection is made the network is easy to access and, at the same time, highly secure.

The Society has brought together a core group of companies to work with Internet Service Providers to develop the structure for the exchange. It is expected that the first tests will be conducted in January 2000.(1/00)

Ferodo Award Trophy to Irvine

Formula 1 racing driver, Eddie Irvine was presented with the Ferodo Gold Trophy by fellow Ferrari driver, Gerhard Berger at the annual Autosport Awards Dinner in London this month.

The Ferodo Trophy is given in recognition of outstanding achievement by a British driver competing at any level in international motorsport.(1/00)

Tenneco Automotive Announce New Appointment for Europe

Richard Sloan has been named Executive Vice President and Managing Director for Tenneco Automotive Europe.Sloan, who has previously worked for United Technologies Automotive and the Chrysler Corporation, will report to president and chief executive officer, Mark Frissora and be based at the company’s European headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. He will have full profit and loss responsibility and operational control of the engineering, manufacturing, sales, marketing and distribution divisions of the business for both original equipment and aftermarket operations. (1/00)

Honda Partners Palmer PromoSport

Honda (UK) is the new motor manufacturer partner for Jonathan Palmer’s corporate driving event company, Palmer PromoSport. The car company will supply a fleet of Type-R performance vehicles for circuit driving activities at Palmer PromoSport venues next year.

Accord Type-Rs will be used at the established Bruntingthorpe site (near Leicester), while Integra Type-Rs will feature at Bedford Autodrome. Honda will also supply various other vehicles for a range of duties such as Autotest, circuit management and guest shuttling at the two venues. Pictured is Jonathan Palmer with one of the performance vehicles. (1/00)