Honeywell signs UK distribution agreement for BENDIX brand
In a quest to constantly improve levels of service and as part of their overall reinforcement of the BENDIX and JURID brands in Europe for 2005, Honeywell Aftermarket UK has formed a partnership with G.P. Automotive, starting the beginning of August 2005, G.P. Automotive will become a warehouse distributor for all BENDIX products (friction materials, hydraulics, brake discs and drums, brake fluid…) with a capacity to serve all BENDIX customers on a next-day delivery basis. Bendix products are shipped to the UK directly from the two European Honeywell platforms located in France and Germany. G.P. Automotive will carry a very wide range of stock at their Kidderminster warehouse, which will accept stock orders up until 4.00pm and emergency orders until 5.00pm. The aim is to increase the penetration of the Bendix brand in a controlled and targeted manner through G.P. Automotives vast knowledge of the U.K. aftermarket which is covered by their widely experienced sales team.
Continue ReadingIndian Manufacturers Race for Falcon Tyres
Indian news sources are reporting that the race for Falcon Tyres is hotting up, with the Hero Group and Metro Tyres entering the fray to acquire the two-wheeler tyre maker. Sources say Apollo Tyres and JK Tyres, who were earlier in the race, have dropped out because of various reasons. The Bangalore-based Falcon Tyres is part of late Manu Chhabrias Jumbo group. The company markets its tyre under the Dunlop brand. If successful, Falcon’s acquisition will give the Hero Group an entry into the tyre business, while Metro will leapfrog to number two position in the Indian ‘two-wheeler tyre market,’ from a distant fifth at the moment. Asked to comment, Sunil Kant Munjal, CEO and managing director, Hero Corporate Services, refused to confirm or deny the move. “I just dont want to discuss whether we are interested in Falcon or not,” said Mr Munjal.
Continue ReadingNine-Year Tyre Life
Colchester-based Hamblion Transport is still using the original Michelin 295/80 XDE drive axle tyres on its five and six year old 18 tonne 4x2 rigids, despite each vehicle having covered over 500,000 km since being purchased new. According to a Transport News Network story, the tyres are still in their ‘second life’ phase, having just been regrooved, and have yet to be sent back to Michelin to be RemiXed for a third life, let alone regrooved a second time for a fourth life. “In effect, this means that simply by adopting a professional tyre management policy and following Michelin’s four lives tyre package, the tyres should be good for over 1,000,000 km,” explains Barry Hamblion, managing director.
Continue ReadingCooper Opening New DC in Texas
(Akron/Tire Review) Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. is set to open a new 400,000-square-foot distribution center in Grand Prairie, Texas. The new facility, said Cooper, will improve its service to customers in the Southwest, South and Midwest regions of the US.
Continue ReadingAmerityre and Ace Products Agree Licensing Deal
Amerityre Corporation. Richard Steinke, president and CEO of Amerityre Corporation, today announced that Amerityre has entered into a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Ace Products, LLC, for a proposed transaction involving the licensing of certain technology and the sale of certain manufacturing equipment and inventory.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Set to Raise Prices
(Akron/Tire Review) Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. has informed its North American dealers that it will be increasing tyre prices between 5 and 8 per cent across the board as of 1 September. The increase impacts its Goodyear, Kelly Springfield and Dunlop brands, as well as all associate and private brands. Goodyear said consumer tyre prices will jump between 5 and 8 per cent, commercial tyre prices will increase up to 5 per cent, and OTR tyre prices will go up between 5 and 8 per cent. Rising raw material and “transportation” costs were cited as the reason for this round of increases.
Continue ReadingCarlisle Continues 29 Years of Dividend Increases
The board of directors of Carlisle Companies Incorporated has declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share, payable on 1 September 2005 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 19 August 2005. This marks the 29th consecutive year of dividend increases for Carlisle shareholders. Richmond McKinnish, Carlisle’s president and CEO commented, “We are pleased to be able to continue Carlisle’s long history of rewarding our shareholders by increasing Carlisle’s quarterly dividend.”
Continue ReadingThe Aftermarket Show Launches Website
The Aftermarket Show has launched a new website to provide visitors and exhibitors with further details about the industry event. The website, www.theaftermarketshow.com offers information about the show’s exhibitors, conferences and seminars, and facilities at the event. The site will also allow visitors to pre-register in the forthcoming months leading up to the event.
Continue ReadingNew Vans for Viking
UK wholesaler, Viking International, has invested more than £500,000 in distribution by replacing 34 of its vehicles with new Mercedes Sprinters vans for its nine warehouse distribution centres. This investment further strengthens its fleet that already consists of 100 vehicles. Mike Curry, managing director for Viking International, explained: “We need to guarantee at all times that our customers get the best possible service and that means we have to continually invest in our company. “These vans are our face to the customer and they cover considerable distances each year. It is essential that they remain in top condition to ensure that we can continue to maintain our reputation for service delivery.”
Continue ReadingGroup Tyre Puts E-commerce to Work
Group Tyre claims to have seen “huge benefits” by continually investing in IT and embracing the e-commerce route. “We are constantly innovating,” says Group Tyre chairman John Church, “because we are committed to delivering a national-strength service, with immediacy of response on a truly local basis. By making IT work positively for us, we can provide a service that is literally second-to-none.” The Group Link Virtual Warehouse is the main service offered to Group Tyre’s national wholesale network. The Windows based system confirms stock availability by providing real time stock data and expected delivery times. Together with mark-up guidelines, Group Link enables a customer enquiry to be processed with delivery and cost advised on the spot. The benefits of offering an e-commerce solution have been an improvement in customer care and sales which have had a massive impact in the independent tyre sector, says Group Tyre.
Continue ReadingSnap-on Announce Growth in Profits
Snap-on Incorporated, parent company of UK companies UK Equipment, Snap-on Tools and Sun Diagnostics, has just announced a 20 per cent rise in second quarter pre-tax profits to US$ 26.6 million. Jack Michaels, Snap-on’s CEO commented on the company’s goals: “We continue to believe that by placing urgent emphasis on improved customer responsiveness, and maintaining our strong heritage of product quality, performance and innovation, we can substantially strengthen our brands’ global appeal.” “These results demonstrate that our corporation continues to deliver profitable growth in a very competitive business environment”, said Brian O’Sullivan, general manager UK Equipment. “In recent years Snap-on has invested heavily in new product design and the rewards for this can be seen in the continuing improvement in the companies fortunes”.
Continue ReadingA Record-Breaking Motor Sales Month
General Motors, Ford and Chrysler have posted double-digit US sales gains for July. Toyota and Nissan North America also posted their best sales month in the United States. DaimlerChrysler, including Mercedes-Benz, sold 260,945 units in July, a boost of 25.1 per cent for the month. Year-to-date, the car manufacturer has sold 1,547,536 vehicles, up 6.9 per cent from the same period in 2004. GM’s July sales rose 15.2 per cent, boosted by the GM Employee Discount for Everyone incentive programme said the company. Its US sales totaled 524,218 vehicles in July compared with 454,963 in July last year. GM has sold 2,844,839 vehicles to date, a 4.3 per cent increase from the same time last year. Paul Ballew, GMs chief sales analyst, said 71 per cent of retail sales in July came from trucks, and he predicted that the company would achieve a market share of 27 per cent for the year.
Continue ReadingBridgestone to Build $100 Million Chinese Steel Cord Plant
Bridgestone Corp is to build a new $100 million steel-cord plant in southern China to feed its growing production base there, the manufacturer has reported. The plant, in Huizhou in the southern province of Guangdong, will produce steel cord for truck and bus radial tyres starting in January 2007, Bridgestone said.
Continue ReadingStrong growth at Bridgestone UK
Since John McNaught took over at Bridgestone UK there have been a number of changes including some high profile acquisitions in the commercial vehicle sector. But in general the developments of the last few years can be summed up in one word, growth. It has been a “phenomenally busy period,” John McNaught told Tyres & Accessories at the company’s Warwick, headquarters. “Bridgestone is in a very high period of growth and for all our staff it is a tremendously busy and rewarding time,” said Mr McNaught explaining that this is part of a long-term plan developed in conjunction with the company’s European management based in Brussels. John McNaught praised the efforts of all his team and highlighted the fact that the company has been awarded the prestigious Investors in People award.
Continue ReadingCordiant Brand Launched in Cyprus
Following the first indications that the company would launch a new brand earlier this year, the Sibur Corporation has now officially launched the new “Cordiant” line. The launch took place at a media event on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, where journalists had the opportunity to get some first impressions of what is supposed to be Sibur’s new flagship brand. Sibur expects Cordiant to lay the foundation stone for the future success of the new tyre holding company which is due to be founded by the end of this year. Sibur also plans to use its modified brand strategy to focus more closely on the European markets, with the first successful step having already been taken in Eastern Europe.
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