California Declares Steel Wheel Weights The Best Alternative To Lead

Adding to the mounting body of evidence that steel wheel weights are the best alternative to lead weights, the California Environmental Protection Agency's Department of Toxic Substances Control has released the findings of its "wheel weight assessment," declaring steel weights the "preferred alternative."

Adding to the mounting body of evidence that steel wheel weights are the best alternative to lead weights, the California Environmental Protection Agency’s Department of Toxic Substances Control has released the findings of its “wheel weight assessment,” declaring steel weights the “preferred alternative.”

The study was conducted to measure the environmental impacts of lead alternatives in the wake of a law passed in the 2009 California legislature that bans the sale, installation and import of lead wheel weights in the state. The life-cycle study, which measured impacts associated with lead, steel and zinc wheel weights, sought to identify “regrettable substitutions or burden shifting as a result of the lead wheel weight ban.”

Kevin Keefe, director of marketing for Hennessy Industries, which produces the industry-leading BADA line of wheel weights, applauded the report’s findings.

“As an increasing number of states take a look at this issue and take action to ban lead weights, reports like this one will play an important role in helping states make wise decisions about alternatives to lead,” Keefe said. “Our position has always been that if a state bans lead, it shouldn’t replace it with an alternative like zinc that also presents environmental concerns. It is becoming increasingly clear that steel is the best alternative, and the California study presents solid evidence on why that is the case.”

The report’s conclusion makes a compelling case for steel. “The substitution of zinc for lead weights poses a burden shift as the losses during use are more harmful to the environment than lead,” the report states. “Lower environmental and human health impacts coupled with the propensity for steel wheel weights to be made from recycled material appears to position steel wheel weights to be the best overall alternative.”

The full report is available at http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/PollutionPrevention/ToxicsInProducts/upload/AAWheelWeights.pdf.

More information on the BADA line of steel wheel weights is available at www.ammcoats.com, and a comparison of steel vs. zinc weights is available at www.steelwheelweights.com.

When Your Shop Is Worth Much More Than You Thought

Although every sale of a shop in which I am involved has its own unique set of circumstances, which makes my job both very interesting and very challenging, Cowden Automotive stands out as particularly memorable because I was able to demonstrate to the long-time owner, Paul Cowden, that his business was worth about three times what he had initially thought.

Case Study: Owner of San Francisco-based Import Service Shop Delighted to Discover Just How Valuable His Business is to Qualified Buyers
I sometimes share case studies of the clients I have been able to assist in my role as an aftermarket business broker and provider of intermediary and advisory services. I do that when I think the story will provide a reader in similar circumstances with new insights or helpful information.
In the case of Cowden Automotive, Inc., I acted in a consulting capacity assisting the owner and his broker in valuing the business, creating a marketing plan, finding a qualified buyer, and arranging financing for the sale.
Although every sale of a shop in which I am involved has its own unique set of circumstances, which makes my job both very interesting and very challenging, Cowden Automotive stands out as particularly memorable because I was able to demonstrate to the long-time owner, Paul Cowden, that his business was worth about three times what he had initially thought.
Needless to say, delivering that kind of good news to a shop owner is a rewarding experience. Discovering that the sale of his business would result in his retirement nest-egg being substantially larger than he had ever thought was a fitting tribute to someone who had spent his entire working career as a busy automotive service shop owner.

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