Tenneco, Uni-Select to hold procurement seminars in Taiwan

Taipei, May 4, 2005 (CENS)--Two globally leading auto-parts groups are invited by Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) to hold procurement seminars in Taipei this week, including Tenneco Automotive of the United States and Uni-Select of Canada.

TAITRA said that Tenneco is one of the world's largest designers, manufacturers and distributors of automotive ride control and emission control products and systems for the automotive original equipment (OE) market, the repair and replacement market, or aftermarket, after it acquired Heinrich Gillet GmbH of Germany in 1994.

Currently, Tenneco's production bases are spread in 23 nations, with around 20,000 employees around the world. The company recorded total revenue of US$4.2 billion in 2004 and set up a global supply-chain management department to unify procurement affairs. The company globally sells its ride control products primarily under the well-recognized brand name of "Monroe." The firm uses the brand names of "Walker" and "Gillet" on sales of emission control systems.


TAITRA said that it invited senior officials of Tennec's supply-chain management department and China procurement office to Taiwan, as Tenneco is quite interested in finding qualified suppliers of casting, forging, and machining operations as well as engine parts, catalytic converter-parts, and rubber and plastic parts, etc.

TAITRA pointed out that Tenneco's procurement officials told the council that could hardly find "internationalized" suppliers in mainland China. TAITRA is confident of quality management, development capability and business internationalization of local suppliers of auto parts. The council added that local parts makers are also expected to enter the original equipment (OE) parts market in mainland China in the future through Tenneco's sales channels across the Taiwan Strait.

Uni-Select is Canada's second-largest distributor of automotive and heavy-duty replacement parts, equipment, tools and accessories. The Uni-Select Network includes over 800 independent jobbers in Canada and almost 2,000 in the U.S. Uni-Select, headquartered in Montreal, Canada, with a total of 1,300 employees worldwide. The company is expected to generate revenues of over US$1.2 billion in 2005.

TAITRA said that Uni-Select's procurement delegation would be led by Russ Surgeon, vice president of Uni-Select, and hopes to procure a series of auto parts from the island, including spindle hub bearings, strut mounts, steel rims, and various chassis parts.