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Movers & Shakers: Kustom Built Cars Offers Graduates Free Opportunity to Learn Auto Restoration; Doug Kaufman Appointed Editorial Director of Three Babcox Brands

Compiled by SEMA Editors

PermatexPermatex moved its headquarters to a 350,000-sq.-ft. facility in Solon, Ohio.

Kustom Built Cars Offers Graduates a Chance to Learn Auto Restoration

Kustom Built Cars is offering free restoration workshops for five individuals age 18–25 who are interested in careers in the automotive restoration industry. The company specializes in teaching a variety of techniques under the guidance of a professional car builder, providing students the chance to learn and work hands-on building a custom car from start to finish in a real working Hotrod Shop.

To qualify, participants are required to submit a 2-5 minute video clip of why they want to learn the trade and what type of job they will pursue in the industry. The company will choose the five individuals in June for the workshops that begin in August. To submit your video, complete the form at www.kustombuiltcars.com/video.

Permatex Moves Headquarters to 350,000-Sq.-Ft. Facility in Solon, Ohio

Permatex has moved its business operations recently from Hartford, Connecticut, to its Solon, Ohio, facility, where manufacturing and distribution centers are already in place. The new Permatex headquarters is located at: ITW Permatex Inc., 6875 Parkland Blvd., Solon, OH, 44139. The location currently consists of a 180,000-sq.-ft. distribution center and 170,000-sq.-ft. facility that supports the manufacturing and business operations. The campus has room for Permatex to double the size of its headquarters to 700,000 sq. ft. to accommodate new growth. The facility is home to 19 high-tech robots designed for the elimination of repetitive motion and to lighten the amount of heavy lifting done by Permatex employees.

VP Racing FuelsVP Racing Fuels new facility on Lake LBJ in Kingsland, Texas.

VP Racing Fuels Opens First-Ever VP Marina

VP Racing Fuels Inc. has announced the opening of its first-ever branded marina and c-store location on Lake LBJ in Kingsland, Texas.

Doug KaufmanDoug Kaufman

Doug Kaufman Appointed Editorial Director of Three Babcox Brands

Babcox Media Inc. announced that Doug Kaufman will assume the role of editorial director for Brake & Front End, ImportCar and Underhood Service. Kaufman is responsible for the day-to-day editorial management of the three brands and will work hand-in-hand with Andrew Markel, content director, and the skilled team of editors and journalists who serve the automotive service industry. Kaufman has spent more than 27 years at Babcox Media, most recently, serving as publisher and editor of the Engine Builder brand.

LKQ Corporation Purchases Elite Electronics

LKQ Corporation has announced that it has acquired all assets of Elite Electronics. Elite, based in Richardson, Texas, specializes in various automotive diagnostic and repair services. The acquisition launches LKQ into the vehicle-services market, converging LKQ’s parts and distribution business with Elite’s services to further facilitate customers’ needs. Transitus Capital served as the exclusive financial advisor to Elite Electronics during the acquisition by LKQ.

Universal Technical Institute Universal Technical Institute Inc. (UTI) has been named an official sponsor of NHRA.

Universal Technical Institute Named Official Technical School of the NHRA

Universal Technical Institute Inc. (UTI) has been named an official sponsor of NHRA. UTI will also be partnered with the NHRA Youth and Education Services (YES) Program, which offers the only full-time STEM-based educational program in all of motorsports. Held in conjunction with fifteen NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events, YES provides participating youth free admission to each race and makes students aware of the myriad career opportunities that drag racing offers related to science, technology, engineering and math.

As the Official Technical School of NHRA, UTI will have benefits within the Fox Sports race broadcasts, in addition to fan engagement opportunities and branding at all NHRA Mello Yello Drag Racing Series events. This includes exclusive rights to signage on top of the iconic Christmas Tree starting line system, that will be seen by millions of NHRA fans each year.

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