Hi-Q Bids Farewell to Jack Blacklock
National car care operator, Hi-Q has said farewell to its founder, Jack Blacklock, who sadly passed away recently. Jack, who was 87, founded Tyre Services in 1949, starting the company from premises in Denton Holme, Carlisle. He leaves behind a daughter, son-in-law and grand-daughter.
Continue ReadingCooper to Develop Tyres for Chinese Market
At a special Pit Stop China press conference running alongside the A1 Grand Prix in Shanghai at the weekend, Cooper Tire announced that the Cooper brand would shortly be available for the Chinese market. Cooper is the official tyre for the A1 series.
Continue ReadingAmtel-Vredestein – Top Tyre Retailer in Russia
Amtel-Vredestein N.V. has today announced that its new OJSC AV-TO tyre retail subsidiary has acquired 63 additional multi-brand tyre sales and service centres. These are in major cities across Russia – and include the Horoshie Kolesa (“Good Wheels”) and Nordshina chains in St. Petersburg.
Continue ReadingContinental Acquires Motorola’s Auto Electronics Business
Continental AG and Motorola, Inc. have jointly announced that the companies have entered into an agreement under which Continental will acquire Motorola’s automotive electronics business for approximately US$ 1 billion in cash. The transaction includes Motorolas controls, sensor, interior electronics and telematics businesses.
Continue ReadingA World of Wheels
Next month’s Tyres & Accessories features our annual coverage of the wheel market. This time the magazine will provide in-depth analysis of what is going on in the undeniably influential Chinese manufacturing base balancing this with coverage from much closer to home. Pick up April’s magazine for industry leading editorial content in this segment.
Continue ReadingAmtel-Vredestein Selects Oracle for Corporate IT System
Amtel-Vredestein NV has announced that it has selected Oracle E-Business Suite for its corporate information system at a press conference held in Moscow at Oracle’s APPS FORUM 2006. Based on Oracle’s E-Business Suite platform, the new system will help to enable centralized and effective financial and logistics management, strict cost allocation and price control at all stages of production.
Continue ReadingUnion, Titan May Seek ITC Help
(Akron/Tire Review) Various news reports say that Titan International Inc. and the United Steelworkers (USW) plan to petition the International Trade Commission next month, seeking antidumping penalties against companies importing agricultural tyres from China. Reportedly, the parties feel that agricultural tyres imported from China are not being sold in the US at fair prices, even after factoring in freight and raw material costs.
Continue ReadingCooper Taps Marks to Head Platform Launches
(Akron/Tire Review) Craig Marks was promoted by Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. to be its new platform launch manager, responsible for leading and overseeing the development, launch and production of new products. Marks joined Cooper in 1993 and has worked as a senior corporate industrial engineer and, most recently, as lead industrial engineer.
Continue ReadingA Wheel Cleaning Solution
A small Airblast modular blast room has provided D&S Factors with a self-contained blast cleaning facility for preparing tractor wheels. As well as stocking new and reconditioned standard products from leading agricultural wheel OE companies, D&S also manufactures its own range of special products such as rowcrop wheels, wide flotation wheels and grassland wheels for use on golf courses, parks etc. Due to an increasing demand for its products, D&S Factors began restructuring its manufacturing factory at Donington, near Spalding. As part of this development a great deal of thought was given to the installation of a new surface preparation facility. “We have always known that the efficient surface preparation of wheels prior to painting is vital to ensure a quality end product,” said manager, David Tasker. “We used to do our blast cleaning in a home-made room - a rubber lined shed really - using a small open nozzle blast machine.”
Continue ReadingGreat & British Head to Snetterton
All roads lead to the Snetterton race track in Norfolk for the inaugural round of the Dunlop Great & British Festival series. Spectators will see drivers of Radical, Ginetta and Mini race cars battle it out in the opening round of their respective championships. The Dunlop Great & British festival brings the respective championships together under one banner and highlights from each round will be shown on Sky Sports TV. The event gets underway on Saturday morning, the first wheels turning at 9:00 am with the day dedicated almost entirely to qualifying and the first race of the meeting, starting at 5:00 pm.
Continue ReadingFulda to Exhibit at French Car Show
Fulda has announced it will exhibit at this year’s French Car Show to be held at Bruntingthorpe Proving Grounds on Sunday 28th May 2006. The UK’s only all-French Car Show will entertain a massive variety of standard, performance and modified cars with over 45 French car clubs, 80+ traders and over 10,000 true enthusiasts expected. Fulda Tyres and Performance GTi Magazine have teamed up to provide the live skills test track. Here volunteers will be put through their paces on the track on their standard tyres before being fit with Fulda Exelero, their latest Ultra-High-Performance tyre to see the difference.
Continue ReadingNew 4×4 Tyres From BFGoodrich
BFGoodrich, seven times winner of the Dakar Rally since 1999, is poised to introduce a number of new 4x4 tyres to its range in 2006. These are the All-Terrain T/A Comp, aimed at off-road rallying competitors, the Krawler T/A® KX, scheduled for launch in Europe in May, plus four new dimensions for the Macadam T/A.
Continue ReadingMilltek Move Heralds Expansion
Performance exhaust manufacturer Milltek Sport has recently moved into a Logistics and Sales Centre at Pride Park, Derby. This move is the springboard for a new phase of expansion. Chief Executive Phil Millington commented, “This hi-tech Centre is a key factor in our further expansion programme, not only in the UK but also worldwide, since we are now exporting to some 40 countries. Our technical and manufacturing base remains at Ilkeston, where we have a highly skilled and closely-knit team and Pride Park will perfectly complement this.”
Continue ReadingAn Exhausting Business
Many consumers might not like the thought of paying-out to replace their exhaust, but when it goes it goes. And most consumers won’t begrude a job well-down. However, not all sales are functional replacements or distress purposes. The tuning, modifying, upgrading segment (whatever you call it) also provides a significant source of income for outlets which offer professional upgrade services. April’s T&A looks at the market development of this important profit opportunity and features some of the latest produce releases.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Sponsors Safety Design Award
Bridgestone Europe has announced that it will sponsor a new category – Best Safety Innovation – in the Interior Motives Design Awards in 2006. Organised by the automobile design magazine Interior Motives, the annual awards promote the importance of innovation in vehicle design by challenging design students from around the world to make their mark on future car design. Winners are rewarded with prizes and the chance to receive recognition from top figures in the international automotive design community.
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