Sept. 4, 2006 – Aftermarket Digest

Polaris, MTM extend relationship with Mercury Castings
Mercury Castings, a division of Mercury Marine, has reached a long-term agreement with Polaris Industries and Manitowoc Tool & Machine for die-cast production of components attached to Polaris ATVs.
The agreement encompasses existing products, as well as newly integrated technologies used in Polaris ATVs and Ranger products. Mercury Castings die casts the parts using exclusive Mercury processes and materials, and then ships them from Fond du Lac to nearby Manitowoc, where they are machined by MTM prior to being sent to the Polaris assembly plant in the western Wisconsin town of Osceola.
Mercury Castings specializes in die-casting and semi-solid molding. Mercury has supplied Polaris crankcases since 2000, and the new agreement will extend that relationship at least through 2012.
“Along with extending our ATV crankcase supply arrangement with Mercury Castings, Polaris will utilize exclusive Mercury Castings technologies for future engine projects,” a Polaris representative told Powersports Business.
“We’re proud to be in partnership with world-class companies such as MTM and Polaris,” said Mercury Castings General Manager David Olson. “This agreement adds long-term stability to the relationship and allows us to take the partnership to the next level.”
PKC buys BRP supplier Electro Canada
Finnish cabling group PKC plans to spend nearly Euro 9.5 million to buy wiring harness producer Electro Canada Ltd. and the shares of Electro Canada SA de CV and Electro USA, Inc.
PKC says the deal makes it the main global supplier of wiring harnesses to Bombardier Recreational Products. The company already delivers wiring harnesses to BRP’s operations in Europe.
The acquisition, financed by internal funding and debt financing, includes Electro Canada’s head office in Toronto, a wiring harness factory in Nogales, Mexico, and a sales office in Tucson, Ariz. PKC said it plans to incorporate a new subsidiary that will continue Electro Canada’s operations in Canada. PKC officials said the North American operations and especially the factory in Mexico will enable the PKC Group to participate in competitive bids requiring worldwide services and to make deliveries to North American markets with short delivery times.
Electro Canada ended 2005 with an operating profit of Euro 1.5 million on sales of about Euro 22 million.
VP Racing Fuels restructures senior management
Steve Burns, founder, principal owner and Director of Research and Development for VP Racing Fuels, Inc., has reassumed the position of president and CEO, replacing Fred Morrison. Morrison, president of the company since 1985, recently left VP.
“We truly appreciate Fred Morrison’s contribution to VP’s growth and development through the years and wish him well,” Burns said. “Prior to Fred’s tenure, I served as VP’s president and CEO before relinquishing those responsibilities to focus on R&D. I’m excited about becoming involved in the day-to-day operation of the business again, but having said that, I still intend to continue to actively lead VP’s R&D efforts.” psb