plus 2, Now iPhone can help fix your car - News - What Car?

Now iPhone can help fix your car - News - What Car?
Brady Corporation Acquires Custom-Label and Nameplate Manufacturer in ... - Yahoo Finance
Walton considers Rally New York - Daily Star

Now iPhone can help fix your car - News - What Car?

Posted: 24 Dec 2009 04:45 AM PST

A new iPhone application (app) has been launched to help motorists locate their nearest Automotive Technician Accreditation (ATA)-registered mechanic.

Available free of charge from the Apps Store – search for 'ATA Find A Mechanic' – or from the www.okwithata.com website, the app asks you to input your postcode in return for a list of nearby technicians approved by ATA.

Scheme tests ability
The ATA is a national scheme run by the Institute of the Motor Industry and is designed to test the skills of technicians across the country, both in franchised dealers and independent garages.

There are currently more than 18,000 technicians registered, all of whom have proved they have the right skills, undergo re-assessment every five years and sign a code of conduct.

For motorists without an iPhone, all the information is also available on the ATA website, where you can search for specialists in a variety of areas, from car maintenance to roadside assistance and even motorcycles.

The ATA website is at www.automotivetechnician.org.uk

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Brady Corporation Acquires Custom-Label and Nameplate Manufacturer in ... - Yahoo Finance

Posted: 23 Dec 2009 01:29 PM PST

MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Brady Corporation (NYSE:BRC - News), a world leader in identification solutions and specialty materials, today announced that it has acquired Stickolor Industria e Comercio de Auto Adesivos Ltda., Saõ Paulo, Brazil. Details of the transaction are not being disclosed.

Founded in 1978, Stickolor manufactures screen-printed custom labels, overlays and nameplates for automobiles, tractors, motorcycles, electronics, white goods and general industrial markets. With sales of approximately $9 million (US), the company currently employs about 90 people.

Brady expects this acquisition to further strengthen its position in the industrial identification market in Brazil and enhance its screen printing capabilities, as well as facilitate its growth into complimentary markets in the region including automotive, agricultural equipment and major appliances.

"Stickolor is known for its superior screen-printing capabilities and exceptional quality, and we are excited to be able to offer their products and services to our customers as well as bring new Brady products to their customer base. Their markets and capabilities are complimentary to Brady's and their focus on teamwork and customer service is a strong cultural fit to Brady's philosophy of value creation," said Matt Williamson, president, Brady Americas. "We look forward to working with the Stickolor team, and are optimistic about the opportunities to further grow our business in Brazil where the economy remains relatively strong."

Brady opened W.H.B. do Brasil, Ltda. as a sales and marketing office in 1996, and established manufacturing in the region in 1998 with the acquisition of VEB Sistemas de Etiquetas Ltda. in Saõ Paulo. In 2002, it expanded its operations in Latin America with a second manufacturing facility in Manaus, Brazil; and acquired Etiquetas Asterisco in Saõ Paulo in 2006.

Brady Corporation is an international manufacturer and marketer of complete solutions that identify and protect premises, products and people. Its products help customers increase safety, security, productivity and performance and include high-performance labels and signs, safety devices, printing systems and software, and precision die-cut materials. Founded in 1914, the company has more than 500,000 customers in electronics, telecommunications, manufacturing, electrical, construction, education, medical and a variety of other industries. Brady is headquartered in Milwaukee and employs approximately 7,000 people at operations in the Americas, Europe and Asia/Pacific. Brady's fiscal 2009 sales were approximately $1.2 billion. Brady stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BRC.

More information is available on the Internet at www.bradycorp.com and www.stickolor.com.br.

Brady believes that certain statements in this news release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements related to future, not past, events included in this news release, including, without limitation, statements regarding Brady's future financial position, business strategy, targets, projected sales, costs, earnings, capital expenditures, debt levels and cash flows, and plans and objectives of management for future operations are forward-looking statements. When used in this news release, words such as "may," "will," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "anticipate," "believe," "should," "project" or "plan" or similar terminology are generally intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain and are subject to risks, assumptions and other factors, some of which are beyond Brady's control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. For Brady, uncertainties arise from the length or severity of the current worldwide economic downturn or timing or strength of a subsequent recovery; future financial performance of major markets Brady serves, which include, without limitation, telecommunications, manufacturing, electrical, construction, laboratory, education, governmental, public utility, computer, transportation; difficulties in making and integrating acquisitions; risks associated with newly acquired businesses; Brady's ability to develop and successfully market new products; changes in the supply of, or price for, parts and components; increased price pressure from suppliers and customers; fluctuations in currency rates versus the US dollar; unforeseen tax consequences; potential write-offs of Brady's substantial intangible assets; Brady's ability to retain significant contracts and customers; risks associated with international operations; Brady's ability to attract and retain key talent; Brady's ability to maintain compliance with its debt covenants; technology changes; business interruptions due to implementing business systems; environmental, health and safety compliance costs and liabilities; future competition; interruptions to sources of supply; Brady's ability to realize cost savings from operating initiatives; difficulties associated with exports; risks associated with restructuring plans; risks associated with obtaining governmental approvals and maintaining regulatory compliance for new and existing products; and numerous other matters of national, regional and global scale, including those of a political, economic, business, competitive and regulatory nature contained from time to time in Brady's U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings, including, but not limited to, those factors listed in the "Risk Factors" section located in Item 1A of Part I of Brady's Form 10-K for the year ended July 31, 2009. These uncertainties may cause Brady's actual future results to be materially different than those expressed in its forward-looking statements. Brady does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements.

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Walton considers Rally New York - Daily Star

Posted: 23 Dec 2009 01:04 AM PST

WALTON _ Rally New York wants to stage its automotive road rally again in Walton next spring, and organizers are promising to center the entire event in Delaware County April 15 to 18.

The Walton Town Board listened to a presentation from Rally New York promoter Rich Otis Tuesday and then heard comments from seven Walton residents who are opposed to the rally returning to Walton.

Otis said the rally Saturday, April 17, would be limited to Dunk Hill Road, Dunk Hill Spur Road and Freer Hollow. However, he requested that the board consider expanding the racing to include Friday April 16, which would involve another road. That would mean racers would arrive Thursday and stay though Sunday.

Otis said he appeared before the Walton Town Board on Dec. 1 to hear comments from board about previous rallies and to propose changes for this year.

The rally, which uses road-registered vehicles that drive through a variety of checkpoints along the course, was last held locally this past April and in October of 2008. It was also held in fall 2007.

Otis said the board indicated that economic benefits last year were disappointing but said if the event is approved for this year, all rally participants will stay in the Walton area and a banquet for approximately 200 people would be held in Walton.

Last year, the racing stages were held in Walton but lodging and the banquet were in Sullivan County, where other racing stages were located.

Otis said lodging in Walton is limited, but there is enough in surrounding Delaware County communities to accommodate the rally participants.

Rally New York promoters Otis and Ivan Orisek are seeking special road-use permits from the town, under the state Vehicle and Traffic Law, to allow them use of the roads for the rally and to suspend traffic laws.

During previous rallies, roads were closed for alternating periods of up to an hour and a half to allow participants to drive the course.

Supervisor Bruce Dolph said the town board would not make a decision immediately, but promised to keep everyone informed when a decision is pending.

Dolph questioned whether there was a venue large enough to accommodate the banquet.

Otis said he had been in the Walton fire hall and it would handle the event.

Dolph questioned staging the race Friday when school buses would be running, but Otis said the rally had been able to schedule races around school bus runs in other areas.

Al Grust of Beers Brook questioned how the town could afford to spend tax money to provide police protection and support from the fire department and emergency squad.

Grust said that last year the people running the rally "weren't nice."

He said, "They were arrogant and tried to knock protest signs down."

Grust said a utility pole was struck by a rally car, knocking out electricity from 2 to 6:30 a.m.

"Have you ever had that 'ah-ha moment' when you know your life is in danger," Grust said. "That is what happened when the lights went out and when they came back on people were left with post-traumatic stress disorder," he said.

Arthur Swenson of Treadwell said he owns a camp on Freer Hollow. He said one of the cars caused damage to his property, but the rally organizers paid his son $100 to repair the damage.

Jim Taggart of Dunk Hill, questioned why the roads could not be closed for snowmobiles, ATVs, motorcycles and stock cars if they could be closed for rally cars. He said the town board was "opening a can of worms" by allowing the rally.

Councilwoman Cheryl Boyd pointed out that the town does not spend any money to support the rally.

Councilman Kevin Armstrong said the board does not control the Walton Fire Department and pointed out the Walton Fire Commissioners approved assisting the rally last year before the town board gave the rally permission to use the roads.

Walton Highway Superintendent Walt Geidel said the rally did not damage any roads.

___

Patricia Breakey can be reached at 746-2894 or at stardelhi@stny.rr.com

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