Product News
Continental sponsors Tour de France 2019
Continental has agreed to sponsor the Tour de France as one of the Tour’s five Main Partners – alongside LCL, E.Leclerc, Krys and Skoda. As a result of the deal, the Continental logo will appear on the arch above the finish line as well as on the “flamme rouge” arch, one kilometre from the finish. As a further benefit of the enhanced visibility, a representative of Continental will present the trophy to the stage winner on the podium.
Transense takes order for 50 iTrack II systems
Transense Technologies Plc, which provides sensors systems to the industrial, mining and transportation markets, is pleased to announce that “a customer” has placed an order for 50 iTrack II units for installation in mines in North America.
Bridgestone radials certified for Boeing 737 MAX 9
Bridgestone radial aircraft tyres have gained certification by Boeing for use as main tyres on the 737 MAX 9. This approval builds upon Bridgestone Corporation’s production of radial tyres for the 737 MAX 8.
Hankook tyres OE on Ford Focus Active
Ford’s new Focus Active is available from the factory with Hankook tyres, reports the tyre maker. As of December 2018, the crossover wears Hankook’s Ventus Prime 3 in sizes 215/50R18V and 215/55R17V.
Wills Brothers trials Wheely-Safe Michelin TPMS Light Fleet
Cornwall-based Wills Brothers has become one of the first farms in the UK to fit a patented new safety system designed to protect machinery and trailers from the risk of tyre under-inflation. Arable Manager Tom Wills specified the Michelin Tyre Pressure Management System (TPMS) Light Fleet – pioneered by UK technology firm Wheely-Safe, an official licensee of Michelin – after seeing the product on show at Lamma.
Cooper Tire launches Roadmaster RM351 HD mixed service drive tyre
Cooper Tire has launched the Roadmaster RM351 HD mixed service drive tyre to its North American commercial range. Engineered for mixed service applications such as construction, logging and mining operations, the tyre is designed for both on- and off-road driving, and comes in two sizes: 11R22.5 and 11R24.5, in load range H.
MOL and Total extend their fuel cards acceptance network in Europe
MOL and Total have signed an agreement in Budapest to provide for acceptance of MOL Group Cards by Total in its network of stations in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, The Netherlands and Germany. Total fuel cards will also be accepted in MOL’s and Slovnaft’s network of stations in Hungary, Romania, Slovenia and Slovakia.
Goodyear to expand Slovenia manufacturing facility
Goodyear announced that it will expand its manufacturing facility in Slovenia to meet the growing demand for premium tyres in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The plant, in Kranj, will be expanded to house new tyre building machinery intended to increase its capacity by a quarter, creating more than 150 new jobs, and reaching full capacity by 2021.
Spanish tyre management system integrates e-jobsheet
A major supplier of tyre management systems into Spain is integrating e-jobsheet, the open-access, digital tablet-based service work platform for truck, bus and van, into its software. NETIXCloud’s partnership with CAM will enable its Spanish dealer customers to update stock efficiently in their dealer systems while simultaneously updating data in Fleetbridge if they are carrying out work for Bridgestone.
Bridgestone launches Blizzak LM005 winter tyre with A-grade wet grip
Bridgestone has launched its newest winter tyre, the Blizzak LM005. Continuing from the LM001 which heralded a new generation of the manufacturer’s cold weather rubber, the Blizzak LM005 features a new tread pattern and the tyre-maker’s new Nano Pro-tech compound. These developments have helped Bridgestone produce a tyre to compare favourably with existing market competitors in snow and ice braking and wet grip, according to tests conducted by independent testing institute TÜV SÜD.
Middleton Manufacturing goes big on Britishness with car mats range
Middleton Manufacturing has begun a campaign to promote its UK manufacturing heritage. The UK’s largest supplier of mats manufactured in the UK is urging retailers to “seize on the demand for British products that promote green and ethical benefits.” It states that CO2 emissions produced as a result of the logistics and production processes involved are significantly less when compared against an overseas alternative.
Mahle: digital boost in aftermarket to ‘maximise customer benefits’
The automotive industry is in the midst of a digitalisation process. Connectivity and autonomous driving developments offer wholesalers and workshops additional sales potential. However, anyone whose job it is to efficiently and reliably diagnose, calibrate, and maintain a large number of different vehicles requires a competent service partner. This is where digital solutions provider Mahle Aftermarket comes in, the company states, offering up-to-date interconnected service and diagnostic tools.
Goodyear to debut Omnitrac mixed service OTR tyres at Bauma
Goodyear will feature its flagship products and solutions for construction fleets at the 2019 Bauma exhibition in Munich (8-14 April 2019). These will include the recently-announced Goodyear Omnitrac mixed service tyre range, which makes its exhibition debut at the show. The manufacturer will also showcase its Goodyear Proactive Solutions TPMS Heavy Duty, EMTrack tyre management system and the TL-4A OTR tyre. The manufacturer will be on Stand 224 in Hall A6 at the Messe München.
Grouptyre exclusive brands offer car tyre market coverage at competitive prices
Grouptyre’s extensive range of exclusive “margin brand” products include car tyres by Goodride, Constancy, and Rapid, in addition to Landsail and Evergreen. These competitively priced products come with dealer support packages, access to exclusive dealer promotions, point of sale material, and merchandise as part of their customer support.
Data increasingly important to future prospects in tyre and mobility sectors
It is not unusual for the start of the year to be replete with corporate acquisitions. Some even happen while much of the western world is enjoying Christmas and new year holidays. While European FinTyre Distribution (EfTD) did indeed enact the latest move in its ongoing strategic purchasing programme during the 2018 holiday break, it seems that this year February was the month of choice for getting the chequebooks out, with Bridgestone, Michelin and – in the UK at least – Goodyear all announcing strategic spending. For different but connected reasons all three challenge us to consider the impact of changing mobility trends.
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