parts globalization/was: warm-up reg.

[Kneale Brownson]

At 06:54 AM 09/06/2000 -0700, james accordino wrote:


>Sure.  You can never tell what's up in the world of
>corporate buyouts.  Who's got cash, and what looks
>good?  Bought a Borg Warner oxy. sensor for wife's
>Dodge Shadow (POS).  Opened the box, and it's a Bosch.
>  Got Ate rotor, and it says ITT in small print on the
>box.  They've been buying rotor manufacturers in the
>past few years.  Got clutch master and slave cylinders
>for 89 200q, and they're FTE automotive
>brand.(Germany)  But it also says FAG
>Fahrzeughydraulik (vehicle hydralics).  FAG is big for
>bearings, so that's probably buyout/merger #1.  On the
>end panel of the box on a stick-on label is the Dana
>Corporation symbol.  Maybe buyout/merger #2?  They've
>got cash and have been buying worldwide.  So a small
>hyraulic component works in Ebern ends up being
>contolled by a worldwide vehicular parts giant.  I
>think alot of this is really good.  The parts were/are
>good quality, and I paid LESS than $100 for BOTH!
>Without Dana getting involved or globalization as a
>whole, what are the chances of me in Scranton, Pa.,
>getting parts from a small factory in Ebern, Germany
>for a great price?  Sorry about the rambling.
>
>Jim Accordino

It's great, Jim, until Dana decides the small factory in Ebern is less 
efficient than a large factory in Taiwan or some such and closes the source 
for reliably good parts.