Affinia Group Inc., a global leader in the on- and off-highway replacement parts and service industry, has received NAPA Canada’s 2006 Supplier of Excellence Award, recognizing the company for most outstanding vendor support and service as well as marking the company’s second major award from channel partner NAPA for 2006.

Affinia’s NAPA Filters was presented with the 2006 Canadian Supplier of Excellence Award in Montreal on Feb. 12, and they received the 2006 U.S. Spirit of NAPA Award in December. The Spirit of NAPA Award and the Supplier of Excellence Award are two of the industry’s most prestigious honors.

"It is a remarkable accomplishment to win these major supplier awards in both the U.S. and Canada in the same year," said Terry McCormack, President and CEO of Affinia Group Inc. "In 2006, NAPA Filters, made for NAPA by Wix Filtration, celebrated its 40th year of service to NAPA, and we look forward to continuing the level of service and customer devotion our people have consistently displayed to NAPA from the very beginning.”

Presented by Terry LeBlanc, executive vice president of NAPA Canada, the 2006 Supplier Excellence Award was accepted on behalf of Affinia by Gordon Curren, senior vice president CRM for Affinia’s NAPA Group.

The Supplier of Excellence Award selection process encompasses a number of criteria, including cataloging, product quality, fill rates, line leadership, sales support, marketing support, and responsiveness to channel partners’ needs.

Affinia’s other business unit, the Under Vehicle Group, also serves as a long-standing supplier of NAPA, supplying brake and chassis parts. Between the two business units, Affinia has won the Supplier of Excellence award three times since its inception in 2000.

"Receiving the Supplier of Excellence Award for the third time in six years is a testament to Affinia's dedication to customer service," Curren said "Winning this award takes everyone working for a common cause, a team effort in the truest sense."

Affinia Group Inc. is a global leader in the on- and off-highway replacement parts and service industry. In North America the Affinia family of brands includes WIX® Filters, Raybestos® brand brakes and Aimco® brake products, and McQuay-Norris® and Spicer® Chassis parts. South American and European brands include Nakata®, Urba® and Quinton Hazell®. Affinia has operations in 19 countries and more than 10,000 people dedicated to keeping the world’s wheels turning. For more information, visit www.affiniagroup.com.