Kayaba Strengthens UK Logistics
Kayaba UK has improved its logistics support to the aftermarket with an additional warehouse facility and a new warehouse manager. Located in Warrington, next to the companys HQ, the new warehouse provides an additional 5,000 square metres, with a stockholding capacity of 42,000 components and space for 500 pallets. Running the new operation is newly-appointed warehouse manager Chris Flood (32), who joins Kayaba UK from logistics company Exel, where he worked his way up to management level.
Continue ReadingBeissbarth Aligner Upgrade
Beissbarth is marking its 25-year working relationship with BMW through the introduction of the upgraded Beissbarth Kinematic Diagnostic (KDSII) wheel aligner, used by BMW world-wide. Existing Beissbarth KDSIs are being networked to meet BMW’s information systems and upgraded to KDSII facilities. BMW was the first manufacturer to request Beissbarth to develop a wheel alignment system for them, based on the popular Microline principle. All leading vehicle manufacturers now recommend the Microline, making Beissbarth a world leader in wheel alignment technology.
Continue ReadingRMA Introduces Training Courses
The Retread Manufacturers Association is to introduce a series of specialist training courses as part of a development programme aimed at increasing the range of value-added benefits to members. As a first step, the Association is re-introducing its City and Guilds Part 1 – Workshop Practice courses for the 2005/2006 study year. These correspondence courses, aimed at operatives in retreading plants, are being administered in conjunction with Newlaw Associates and cover a full range of processes in retread plants including inspection, drying, buffing, repairing, cementing, hot cure tread preparation, sidewall veneer application, hot cure building and precured retreading as well as other relevant topics such as matrices, basic materials, legislation and health and safety issues.
Continue ReadingTest lanes – The Way Forward
Test lanes are working well in Ireland and are becoming increasingly popular, so why are we so slow to catch on in the UK? asks Beissbarth UK’s managing director, Philip Hodges. He said: There is no doubt that test lanes are the future. They make absolute sense on every level from efficiency through to profitability. A lot of companies which haven’t invested will lose out because they won’t be able to offer the best service, and consumers always demand the best. Garages are reluctant to look at what they can earn from investing in new equipment and are stuck on how much the initial outlay costs.
Continue ReadingATD Supplies GM Dealers
(Akron/Tire Review) According to its most recent Securities and Exchange Commission 10-K filings, American Tire Distributors (ATD) has entered into a contract to supply tyres directly to some 3,700 General Motors brand auto dealers in the US.
Continue ReadingWin with UK Equipment
John Bean is offering visitors to the ATS/CV show the chance to win a GPS satellite navigation system. In association with UK Equipment Group John Bean will be running a ‘3D Alignment Time Trial’ where, the person who aligns the car in the shortest time wins the system. Competitors will be using the Visualiner 3D Arago, which the company says is one of the fastest alignment systems on the market. The system uses 3D digital imaging technology, and does not require run-out compensation or levelling of the measuring targets. It’s Windows XP software guides the operator through the measuring procedure and provides full alignment readings within four minutes says UK Equipment Group.
Continue ReadingRingtread Extends to 70 Series
Marangoni Tread has added five 70 series tread designs to its range of Ringtread precured tread rings. The launch reflects “continuing and rapid growth in the importance of 70 series fitments across Western Europe,” says Marangoni, adding that the segment now accounts for 5.9 per cent of 22.5 inch tyre sales across the region.
Continue ReadingCelebrity Wheels
Well known celeb Sean ‘P. Diddy’ Combs has put his name to a new line of aluminium wheels. His partnership with American company, Weld Wheels, will produce a line of Sean John-branded custom one- and three-piece precision-forged aluminium wheels for the sport truck, luxury SUV and high-end American and German luxury car markets. The custom designed wheels made their world debut at the Greater New York Auto Show last week.
Continue ReadingNTDA Spring Conference Takes Shape
Plans are already well advanced for the NTDA’s spring conference, which is being staged alongside Brityrex in May. It will be the first time that the NTDA has organised an interim event between its major conferences and the occasion will serve as an opportunity to update its members. John Tarbox, chairman of the organising committee, commented: “We felt very strongly that so much came out of our Marbella event we should provide an opportunity to update the industry on the different projects which came to the fore at that conference and also give those members, who did not attend in Spain, an opportunity to add their voices to the ideas already put down – and also add a few more.”
Continue Reading2006 Jeep Commands Goodyears
The 2006 Jeep Commander will be rolling out on Goodyear Fortera tyres when it hits North American dealer showrooms later this year, reports the tyre manufacturer. The first Jeep with three rows of seats, the vehicle is positioned as a seven-passenger 4x4 that is “Jeep Trail-Rated.” Off-road capability and on-road refinement were requirements of the new vehicle, explains the tyre manufacturer adding, “the tyres had to match the package.” Goodyear Fortera tyres are designed to offer a high-performance tread compound that delivers improved traction in wet and dry conditions. The computer-optimised tread pattern also promotes a quiet ride. The tyre size selected for the Jeep Commander is P245/65R17.
Continue ReadingWheels With Teeth
Overfinch, the company that brought us the performance Range Rover 30 years ago, has now released a 22 inch alloy, which it simple calls “Tiger.” The alloy wheel, is claimed to be “the largest made in the UK to date,” according to the companies involved. The 22 x 9 inch product has a 12 spoke design, uses a stainless steel rim and features the correct steering offset for the Range Rover. As a result, Overfinch says that this means there is no increase in turning circle or fouling on suspension or bodywork. The new wheel was engineered specifically for third generation Range Rovers and employs OE ‘shoulder’ nuts as “the only safe method of anchoring wheels to a 2700 kilogram vehicle.” The design has been tested in Europe by the respected TUV centre and was produced and developed in conjunction with Rimstock plc, a company that supplies Aston Martin, MG Rover, Lotus, Morgan, VAG and Mitsubishi.
Continue ReadingTRA Rejects Calls to Delay Landfill Ban
The Tyre Recovery Association has expressed disappointment at possible delays to the July 2006 deadline for taking shredded tyres to landfill, a recycling website has reported.
Continue ReadingMichelin Dispute Resolved
Workers at Michelin’s Stoke-on-Trent remix factory have voted to end industrial action. Members of the Transport and General Workers Union (TGWU) had been refusing to work overtime for the past two weeks. Workers voted to accept the manufacturers revised deal “under protest,” T&G convenor Robert Taylor is reported as saying. There will now be a £650 unconsolidated pay rise for 2005 with potentially £350 in performance-related pay and a minimum of a two per cent increase next year, he said. Managers at Michelin are said to be “pleased the pay situation has been resolved.”
Continue ReadingBBS Sales Up, Earnings Down
Despite tough conditions overall, in 2004 BBS Kraftfahrzeugtechnik AG increased consolidated sales by 1.2 per cent to 190.4 million euros. This rise was exclusively driven by business outside Germany, which expanded 4.3 per cent from 94.6 million euros to 98.6 million euros. Consolidated EBIT fell from 10.5 million euros to 7.2 million, while consolidated net income for the year decreased from 4.4 million to 1.0 million euros.
Continue ReadingWin The 15,000th Hofmann Wheel Balancer
Quality comes at a price, or so they say. However, Hofmann is offering visitors to the Brityrex show a once in a lifetime opportunity to win quality for free! Visitors to the Hofmann stand (M7) can enter a free competition to win a Geodyna 4801 computerised wheel balancer worth over £3,000.
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