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Vehicle sales pickup boon for suppliers Local manufacturers’ orders accelerate as Big 3 automakers regain market share By DAN SHINGLER dshingler@crain.com
A million here, a million there — pretty soon you’re talking about a lot of automobiles, and a lot of work for local manufacturers that supply the U.S. auto industry. And those
suppliers expect carmakers to churn out a couple million more vehicles this year than they did in 2010, with the anticipated boost in business already in gear. “We can’t keep up with our Ford orders, cars and trucks alike,” said Jerry Zeitler, president of Die-Matic
Corp. in Cleveland, which stamps out precision metal parts for automakers and their suppliers. Ford not only ends up with some of Mr. Zeitler’s parts in its cars and trucks, but it also has been the most successful U.S. automaker in terms of increasing its sales and production. That performance, in turn, is creating a ripple effect that benefits local suppliers such as Die-Matic. In 2010, Ford sold 1.935 million cars and trucks in the United States,
up 19% from 1.62 million in 2009. Its ever-popular F-series pickup trucks led the way, with a sales increase of 27.7%. All told, the company sold 696,918 cars, 723,304 trucks, and 515,240 SUVs and crossovers in 2010. Those sales help suppliers in Northeast Ohio such as Die-Matic and provide job security for Ford’s local work force. The latter includes more than 600 workers at Ford’s Brook Park engine plant, where a
second shift was added last month to make more of the plant’s EcoBoost engines.
A popular pickup But many local suppliers, including Mr. Zeitler, don’t just sell to Ford, and other automakers are experiencing a pickup in sales, too. U.S. auto sales went into the ditch in 2009, when they hit a 27year low of 10.4 million units. The See AUTO Page 6
Banks mobilizing business loan troops as economy stirs By MICHELLE PARK mpark@crain.com
DROP THE DESKTOP More organizations virtualize computer stations, enabling users to access software remotely By CHUCK SODER csoder@crain.com
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ost of the employees who will populate the new University Hospitals Ahuja Medical Center will work on computers shaped like tissue boxes. They won’t be alone: A growing
number of companies and organizations in Northeast Ohio are working to “virtualize” their desktops, and even more are thinking about it. For University Hospitals, the Ahuja Medical Center is just the beginning. The hospital system plans to replace most of its personal computers with those “tissue boxes” — See DESKTOP Page 10
Westlake accountant Brian Mackert recalls a local banker telling him in 2009 about a directive the banker had received: “Go out and play golf with your existing customers and stay close to them. Don’t go out looking for new loans.” That’s not the line a number of local banks are delivering today: Several have hired people whose express “The numbers are roles are to grow loans, pretty stunning. I and some have established feel like we’re just new avenues for increasing their loan volumes to getting started.” business. – Daniel P. Walsh Jr., Lorain National Bank president, Huntington recently hired a handful of National Bank’s Greater business and commercial Cleveland region bankers, and Huntington National Bank in 2010 more than doubled its business banking staff in Northeast Ohio. It added 37 for a total of 65, said Ken Ferian, Huntington senior vice president and business banking area manager in Northeast Ohio. See BANKS Page 17
MAKE A DIFFERENCE In our May 16 issue, Crain’s will present Difference Makers, a special section in which we’ll profile 10 individuals who have made significant, long-term contributions to the betterment of Northeast Ohio. We’re asking readers to help us identify potential profilees. As part of that process, we’ve provided an online nomination form at www.CrainsCleveland.com/nominate. Nominations also can be submitted via e-mail to editor Mark Dodosh at mdodosh@crain.com; please include “Difference Makers nomination” in the subject line. In addition, they can be sent via regular mail to Mr. Dodosh at 700 W. St. Clair Ave., suite 310, Cleveland 44113. Nominations should be no longer than a single page. The deadline for nominations is the close of business on Monday, Jan. 24.
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SMALL BUSINESS Northeast Ohio’s toy companies share their latest products, inspiration ■ Page 13 PLUS: RESOLUTIONS ■ GRAND OPENINGS ■ TAX TIPS ■ & MORE
Entire contents © 2011 by Crain Communications Inc. Vol. 32, No. 2