During his career with MAHLE, Dan Moody has served as project leader of several acquisition projects, including the Dana Engine Parts business and most recently, RTI Technologies. Moody began his career at Sealed Power Corporation (now SPX Corporation). He later served as president for the Dana Sealed Power/Perfect Circle group, and became group vice president of the Dana Engine Products Group before joining the MAHLE Group in 2006. Moody’s extensive experience strengthens MAHLE Clevite Inc. as the premier supplier of engine system components in North America and a leading supplier of filters to the import aftermarket.

MAHLE Clevite recently ­announced the acquisition of RTI Technologies, which specializes in automotive maintenance equipment including air conditioning service, fluid ­exchange and nitrogen tire ­inflation systems. What prompted this acquisition?

MAHLE has a long history of identifying growth markets and opportunities that align with our long-term corporate direction.  RTI fit this criteria in every facet. It serves the same customer base across all channels in both the OE Service and ­Aftermarket worldwide — and it coincides with the MAHLE global aftermarket initiative to expand into the workshop equipment sector. Combine this with the stake MAHLE owns in Behr; and RTI is a very logical addition to the growing MAHLE product offering.

How will this benefit the MAHLE Clevite product ­offering?
MAHLE Clevite is most recognized for offering a complete program of engine components and systems, as well as for the legendary brands we supply to the Aftermarket: MAHLE ­Original, Clevite, and Victor Reinz. These brands have given us strong market coverage as they are continuously maintained and expanded; however, now the time has come when MAHLE needs to be known for more than that. The acquisition of RTI ­allows us to expand our business into the repair shop equipment sector of the Aftermarket and broaden our product and service range, ultimately diversifying our offering to include more traditional ­products.

MAHLE Clevite Inc. prides ­itself on providing a well-rounded product ­offering and quality customer service. How will products from MAHLE ­Clevite Inc., RTI Division be available to shop owners?

RTI primarily serves the do-it-for-me service outlets like OE Dealerships, national and regional service chains, and independent repair garages. In most cases, relationships with key customers exceed 10 years due in large part because of their strong brand recognition and reputation for quality products, exceptional support, and superior after-sales service. ­Combine this with RTI’s superior technical know-how and high quality reputation best illustrated by the ability to fulfill the exacting requirements of their channel partners is a strategic fit for the MAHLE Clevite business model. The end result is that RTI ­products will go to market the same way they always have.

RTI has a very strong management team led by Jeff Murphy. Jeff and his staff will continue to lead RTI with a virtually seamless transition into the MAHLE Clevite family. They have worked hard to bring this organization to a leadership position in a competitive market, and we will rely on them to leverage the resources of MAHLE Clevite to help take RTI to an even higher level.

What other news can you share that is product focused?

Not only are we venturing into new territory with the acquisition of RTI, but we’re also growing our MAHLE Original® filtration product offering. Our full line of filters — oil, fuel, air and cabin air — deliver the same ­uncompromised quality, excellence and innovation and superior technology that has made MAHLE a leading supplier of filters to the major ­European automotive manufacturers.

Extensive research has proved that European import vehicles are one of the fastest-growing segments of the automotive Aftermarket. As recently as 1999, there were only a little more than eight million European import cars on the road in the United States. Today, European imports account for ten to eleven percent of cars on the road — almost 14 million vehicles.

How does this benefit the shop owner?

This presents a great opportunity for the shop owner. General repair shops need to be able to cater to this growing category and source OE quality filters from their traditional chains of supply, and oil change specialists need a line of filters that meet the quality demands of the car owner. This is where MAHLE Original filters come into play.

MAHLE filters delivered to OE ­manufacturers are examined very closely to ensure that they meet the very highest levels of quality and function. These OE filters are the same filters that we sell to the Aftermarket under the MAHLE Original brand. An extremely active role is taken in the ­design and function of our filtration products.

Our strength lies in our heritage, in our legendary brands and in our reputation as being one of the top 30 ­automotive suppliers and globally leading manufacturer of components for the internal combustion engine. We’ll never abandon our roots, and will continue to expand the product line that has given us notoriety in the automotive Aftermarket. But at the same time, we will expand into additional business ventures to provide the most comprehensive product offering.