MANUFACTURER NEWS
Volvo to end articulated hauler production in Asheville, N.C.
Volvo Construction Equipment announced last week it is consolidating production of its articulated haulers into two plants, and will be ending production of the vehicles at its Ashville, N.C., facility. The company will cut about 190 jobs as a result of the move. Stefan Nordstrom, president of Volvo Articulated Haulers, said the market for the vehicles has not developed as the company expected, creating an over-capacity Volvo must address. He said the company concluded the most cost-efficient solution would be to concentrate articulated hauler production at its plants in Braas and Pederneiras, Brazil. Production in Asheville will be gradually phased out in 2003.
Deere to develop fuel cell-powered demonstrator
John Deere said last week it is working with a fuel cell manufacturer to develop a demonstrator fuel cell-powered commercial work vehicle. The demonstrator will be a modified John Deere Pro-Gator utility vehicle. The vehicle will be a technology guide as Deere moves forward with electrification of its products, said Bruce Wood, director of the company’s ePower Technologies Group.
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE
Navistar said Wednesday Daniel Ustian, the company’s president and chief operating officer, has been elected chief executive officer, effective Feb. 19. Ustian, 52, succeeds John Horne, who will continue as chairman of the board. The role of chief operating officer will not be filled, Navistar said. Ustian joined the company in 1973 and has served in a number of manufacturing and financial positions.
Astec Industries announced Tuesday it is changing the structure of its senior executive leadership to best address the company’s current needs. Richard Bethea, Astec’s executive vice president and secretary, and E. Stephen Jett, the company’s in-house general counsel, will be leaving the company at the end of the month to return to private law practice. They will serve as Astec’s “outside” general counsel. Albert Guth, president of Astec Financial Services, will return to the senior corporate executive staff and assume a number of Bethea’s administrative duties. Steve Anderson, currently vice president of Astec Financial Services, will move to the corporate staff and handle the day-to-day administration of the company’s investor relations program. J. Don Brock, Astec’s chairman and chief executive, will assume Bethea’s remaining duties.
President Bush has named Jean Pierre Rosso, chairman of CHN Global, to serve a two-year term as a member of the Advisory Committee for Trade Policy and Negotiations. The committee provides the U.S. trade representative will overall policy advice on matters concerning objectives and bargaining positions before entering a trade agreement, the operation of any current trade agreement and other matters connected to the trade policy of the United States. The committee has 32 members.
