JIA to Exhibit at the ATS/CV Show
Following the success of the company’s appearance at last year’s ATS show, JIA Sources International Ltd has decided to increase its stand floor-space to almost five times the area it occupied last year. On the stand will be the Nitro-Ride - Nitrogen Inflation System. Worldwide sales for this product are said to have exceeded all expectations.
Continue ReadingUnipart to Supply Exhausts to Kwik-Fit
Unipart Automotive has won a multi million pound deal to supply exhausts to Kwik-Fit. Unipart Automotive has consolidated its position as Kwik-Fits preferred supplier of automotive parts following its success in winning the exhaust distribution business from competitor UKPA. Under the new expanded agreement the Unipart Automotive network of branches will supply and distribute Arvin exhausts on a same day basis, Aftermarket News has reported. The announcement sees the extension of Unipart Automotive’s current distribution contract, which already includes a full range of parts from brakes to workshop consumables.
Continue ReadingSJR Hankook Rally Team Gears up for Rally Action
A successful tyre and chassis test has given the SJR Hankook rally team a major boost ahead of a hectic fortnight for the team. Drivers Gwyndaf Evans and Stuart Jones put the team’s Mitsubishi Evos through their paces in Wales as final preparations get underway for a series of events. On Sunday 19 March the team will be at Mallory Park in Leicestershire for BRC Live - the official launch of the Tesco 99 Octane MSA British Rally Championship. As soon as the event closes the team heads directly to Spain where young hot shot Stuart Jones and co-driver Craig Parry, will be competing in the Rallye Catalunya - the Spanish round of the World Rally Championship.
Continue ReadingMichelin May Not Leave F1 After All
SpeedTV.com has reported that McLaren boss, Ron Dennis, has hinted that Michelin’s announced withdrawal from F1 might not be definitive. Dennis said that the French company might change its position and continue into 2007 for what is supposed to be the last season of tyre competition. Bridgestone has opened discussions with the teams and us as well. But I think there’s also some indication that it may change. We are not at this stage focusing on next year’s tyre supply. At the moment we’re very comfortable that Michelin have done a very good job. “Of course we’re looking at two Ferraris on the front row on Bridgestone, and it’s a little confusing to see the pace of the other teams on Bridgestone, so we don’t know where we are. But I think Michelin has done a very good job, and we’d love them to continue, and I don’t think that is beyond the realms of possibility,” Dennis is reported to have said.
Continue ReadingEuropean Motorcycle Champions Test New Dunlop Race Tyres
Dunlop Motorsport will welcome more than 70 of the top motorcycle riders from 14 countries to test their new 2006 race tyres on the Spanish circuits of Albacete and Valencia, over five days in March. This is the third year that Dunlop has organised such a pre-season test: “We are strongly committed to winning the national championships in all major markets. In 2005 we supplied the winning tyres for the national champions in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK and USA“, said Steve Male, Dunlop’s European Motorcycle Motorsport Manager.
Continue ReadingBrian Kidd Joins Farmer Autocare
Former Budget Tyres and Exhausts managing director, Brian Kidd is to take over the running of Sir Tom Farmer’s Farmer Autocare chain. As the new managing director, he is expected to draw up a strategy to raise Farmer Autocare’s growth rate. Currently Farmer Autocare has 13 outlets despite predicting that it would have 20 by spring 2004. Rather than working as Farmer employees, managers are encouraged to invest alongside the tycoon in up to three local branches with a total capital of £100,000 each.
Continue ReadingMore Women Choosing Cars Over Kids
A generation of women are choosing cars before kids as material possessions overwhelm maternal instincts. Sales of cars to women are booming with the biggest increase reported among those aged 29 to 44 with disposable income – and without children. According to evecars.com, the British car trade will see almost 5 million car purchases by women this year – half the UKs forecast total sales. The RAC Foundation has stated that women buy almost 50 per cent of new or used cars, but have a deciding influence on 80 per cent of purchases.
Continue ReadingCTNA Plans to End Charlotte Production
Continental Tire North America (CTNA) says it will suspend production at its Charlotte, North Carolina tyre plant in mid-September. CTNA has already threatened to cut production in half at the plant, laying off some 513 workers in total over two separate reductions, the first scheduled to take place 15 March and the other in June. “Due to skyrocketing costs for energy, raw materials and health care, CTNA cannot continue to operate the Charlotte plant with our current manufacturing cost structure,” said Alan Hippe, CTNA’s president and CEO. “Because we have so far been unsuccessful in restructuring our labour agreement with the union to significantly reduce manufacturing costs, CTNA must take immediate steps to reduce its costs.”
Continue ReadingBridgestone Tyres Praised in Which? Test
Bridgestone’s premium high-performance and touring tyres have received praise from Which?, the UK’s leading consumer watchdog magazine. Which? magazine tested 30 tyres in varying sizes from mainstream manufacturers, with Bridgestone’s Turanza ER300 rated the top tyre in the 14-inch class, and its high-performance Potenza RE050A tyre named as ‘Best buy’ in the 17-inch category.
Continue ReadingCold Weather Tyres Promoted in The Times
Vaughan Freeman, a motoring writer for leading national newspaper The Times, has published an article promoting the use of cold weather tyres. Under the title “Tests Show Winter Tyres Can Cut Braking Distances”, the article explained all the important features about the introduction of cold weather tyres in the UK.
Continue ReadingAntifreeze and Windscreen Pump from Tecalemit
Tecalemit Garage Equipment Co Ltd is launching a new Antifreeze and Windscreen Pump to further boost its comprehensive range of lubrication equipment. Ideal for mixing antifreeze and windscreen fluids in workshops, this pump is designed to move a broad spectrum of fluids, such as coolants, anti freeze, inks, glue and other chemicals which are compatible with AISI 316, Viton and PTFE seals.
Continue ReadingMotaquip Wins RAC Parts Supply Contract
Aftermarket parts supplier Motaquip has reached an agreement with the RAC motoring organisation to become a National approved parts supplier to the companys network of breakdown patrols. The partnership will deliver strong support and improved access to parts for the 1,500 RAC patrols operating nationwide and the RAC based its decision to appoint Motaquip on the strength of the companys national factor network, the extensive product range available and Motaquips ability to provide centralised administration.
Continue ReadingCentralised Logistics Improves Goodyear Dunlop Service
Goodyear and Dunlop truck tyre customers across Europe will shortly benefit from a major improvement in service through the direct delivery of products from the company’s plants in Germany and Luxembourg. Customers will benefit from reliable on-time deliveries, a vital element of successful tyre management planning.
Continue ReadingBridgestone to Launch New Steer Tyre and Retread Range
Bridgestone UK will use the Commercial Vehicle show in April to launch a new, long-distance steer tyre, the R249, and a new range of Truck Point retread tyres. The R249, for trucks of 16 tonnes and heavier, has been designed following a study of nearly 1,000 fleets operating in six major European markets. Reliability and mileage proved to be the main criteria for fleets, followed by traction/grip, fuel efficiency and comfort. Cost per kilometre is assuming ever-greater importance.
Continue ReadingManagement Changes at Yokohama Rubber
The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. has announced changes in its line-up of directors and corporate officers. The assignments will be effective on April 1, 2006.
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