Bandag Marks 60th Anniversary with “Built for Better” campaign
Bandag is marking its 60th anniversary with the launch of a new global campaign that aims to “reinvigorate the retread category.” The retreading specialist, which has been a business of Bridgestone Americas and part of Bridgestone Corporation since 2007, is introducing its “Built for Better” platform to unite the Bandag brand globally and to position retreads as an “innovative, sustainable business solution for fleet customers of any size.”
Heuver Tyrewholesale expanding warehouse space by 60%
Work is under way on a significant enlargement of Heuver Tyrewholesale’s warehouse capacity. Warehouse space will be increased by 16,000 square metres by the construction of an additional building behind the current premises; this represents growth of 60 per cent. It will be available for use by the start of September.
Exol receives CBOA ‘award of excellence’ for use of waterways
Exol Lubricants has won the award of excellence from the Commercial Boat Operators Association (CBOA) for its economic commitment to the waterways. The award was presented to Exol sales director and IAAF CV Committee chairman Steve Dunn at the FTA Multimodal awards, held at the Vox, Resorts World, in front of more than 600 guests.
The Independent Garage Association (IGA) said it was “delighted, but not surprised,” to see that independent garages topped consumer satisfaction comparisons in the National Franchised Dealers Association’s (NFDA) Consumer Attitude Survey Spring 2017.
German oil and additive specialist Liqui Moly reported the highest monthly sales in its company history in March: 49.2m euros. “We have achieved an outstanding start to 2017,” says Ernst Prost, managing partner of Liqui Moly.
Ron Haslam Race School picks Dunlop as tyre partner
The Ron Haslam Race School has launched the season with a new tyre partner; Dunlop Tyres. Dunlop’s RoadSmart III tyres will now be fitted to the fleet of Hondas used by the race school to provide an ultimate level of grip and performance at their track days running at the famous Donington Park circuit in Leicestershire.
Prometeon Tyre Group – the new name for Pirelli’s recentlly separated Truck, Bus, Agro and OTR tyres business – has signed a commercial agreement with Iveco Defence Vehicles, which calls for a partnership for the development and supply of tyres for new generation defence vehicles. The news is a big step forward for Prometoen as it shows the business’s willingness and ability to work at an international OE level.
It is with sadness we report that Mike Edwards, final chairman of Bulldog Remoulds Ltd prior to it joining Bridgestone, died on 8 April, aged 78, after a determined battle against cancer.
5*StarS consortium, led MIRA, to focus on cyber security
Greg Clark MP, Secretary of State for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy, has given the green light to 5*StarS as part of the national strategy to establish the UK as a global centre for the development, testing and commercialisation of Connected Autonomous Vehicles.
With the Stelvio, Alfa Romeo has taken its initial step into the growing SUV market. This important new addition to the Italian manufacturer’s portfolio is expected to arrive in the UK this October, and Goodyear is the first tyre maker to announce that its products have been selected as an original equipment fitment.
Bartec’s TPMS desktop software upgraded, but still free
Bartec Auto ID Limited (Bartec) has upgraded its PC software program, TPMS Desktop, but it remains free-of-charge to its 11,000 tyre and repair shop users. Bartec’s update includes referencing processes and technical information data, as well as new coverage of 2017 make-model-years of cars, TPMS sensors and vehicle relearn processes.
A new research and development laboratory will facilitate Momentive Performance Materials’ testing and development of advanced compounds for the tyre industry. The 1,860-square metre (20,000-square foot) centre is located in Charlotte, North Carolina and has been set up with an investment of US$3.5 million. Momentive says it is “staffed by some of the industry’s foremost tyre researchers.” The silicones and advanced materials specialist intends for the facility to serve as a global hub for the discovery and development of new silane materials that can help tyre makers deliver products with lower rolling resistance, better wet traction and advanced performance.
Following Nokian Tyre’s Annual General Meeting, on 10 April 2017, the company’s board of directors held an organisational meeting in which Petteri Walldén was elected chairman of the Board and Tapio Kuula was elected deputy chairman of the board.
Goodyear benefitting from tyre industry trends, says Kramer
During the company’s annual shareholder meeting yesterday, Richard Kramer stated that trends within the global tyre industry are playing to Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company’s strengths and its strategy to drive profitable growth. This growth, he added, is best represented within the consumer tyre business by the rising demand for tyres with 17-inch and larger rim diameters – the market for this segment has doubled since 2010 and is expected to double again by 2020.
Although the legal tread depth limit is 1.6mm, only 16 per cent of the UK’s ‘blue-light’ services allow the tread on their emergency vehicles’ tyres to go below 2.5mm of tread before being changed. In fact, Kwik Fit claims that on average the emergency services change their vehicle tyres at a tread depth of 2.74mm.
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