Product News
Vredestein making headway in competitive agri segment
The launch of a flagship product is a tough act to follow, but Apollo Vredestein has managed to keep things interesting this past year. The ranks of its top-flight Traxion Optimall line have swelled since the tyre’s launch at Agritechnica 2017, and the Vredestein brand is also experiencing growth further down the size scale. By doing so, doors are opening to markets where Vredestein isn’t yet well known in agricultural circles.
Bridgestone Europe’s FleetBridge system integrates e-jobsheet in UK
The integration of CAM’s e-jobsheet into Bridgestone Europe’s FleetBridge system has gone live this week. The systems provider states that the integration will enable the open-access, digital tablet-based service work exchange platform for truck, bus, van, and now also car, to deliver greater shared accuracy between e-jobsheet dealer subscribers and Bridgestone Europe.
Bridgestone strengthens motocross grip with Crescent Yamaha
Crescent Yamaha has opted to fit Bridgestone’s Battlecross tyres as it strives for success in the ACU British Championship and MX Nationals series. The official Yamaha UK-supported team will compete for podiums with the latest GYTR-equipped 2019 YZF bikes. Northern Ireland’s Martin Barr will compete in MX2 on the all-new 2019 Yamaha YZ250F in MX2, while Bournemouth’s Jake Shipton will continue in the premier MX1 class with the 2019 Yamaha YZ450F.
Alliance Tire Group introduces 10 year warranty on certain agricultural tyres
Alliance Tire Group (ATG) has doubled its warranty on specific agricultural radial steel belted tyres, introducing a new ten-year workmanship and materials warranty as of 1 January 2019. This makes the guarantee one of the longest warranty periods offered in the sector to date. For all other ATG agricultural tyres, the warranty is now extended to seven years.
Maxxis tyres ready for turf, trench or rough terrain applications
Maxxis describes itself as one of the top three manufacturers of quality tyres for the amenity market, including agricultural applications, such as specialist turf tyres, 4x4, ATV and high-speed trailer products.
Alcar MD Norbert Frohner departs
Alcar managing director has left the company in order to “continue his career in another industry”. According to a joint letter signed by Frohner and Alcar CEO Dr Alexander Riklin, the company “sincerely regret his decision and would like to thank him for his commitment and loyalty during his 25 years long work for Alcar.”
Continental considering delivery robots to accompany autonomous pods
During the CES 2019 technology show in Las Vegas, Continental is exhibiting how a driverless vehicle could be paired with a robotic delivery hound. No it’s not 1 April, but do think “deliverwoof”.
ATG showcases high performance flotation, high flexion tyres at LAMMA 2019
Alliance Tire Group (ATG) is showcasing the brand’s agricultural expertise at LAMMA, the UK’s largest agricultural and machinery show (8-9 January 2019, Birmingham NEC). It is displaying its row crop Agriflex 363 IF and the Agriflex 372 VF for tractors, the Alliance 389VF, Alliance 885 and Alliance 882 Agri-Transport radial flotation tyres for implements, and the versatile Multiuse 550. The Alliance agricultural tyre range is exclusively distributed in the UK and Ireland by Kirkby Tyres.
Xingda tyre cord opens European office
Chinese tyre cord manufacturer Xingda has opened a European office in Luxembourg. The new European operation has been registered as Xingda Europe Limited and is a subsidiary of Xingda International Holding Company.
Yokohama Advan original equipment on new BMW X5 M Performance model
Yokohama Rubber is supplying its Advan Sport V105 to the BMW X5 M Performance version as original equipment. The X5 M Performance runs on 275/40R21 107Y size front and 315/35R21 111Y rear tyres. The model was launched in markets around the world in November 2018.
Trico looks forward to ‘significant growth’ in 2019
Trico has predicted “significant growth” in aftermarket wiper sales over the coming months. The company, which claims to be the world’s leading windscreen wiper blade developer and supplier, added that its 2019 marketing programme would give enhanced support for trade and consumer campaigns.
Extra seven million vehicles covered by existing SMPE parts
Standard Motor Products Europe (SMPE), one of the UK's largest independently owned automotive parts manufacturers and suppliers, has announced that a combined seven million additional vehicles are now covered by two of its existing ranges, for its Air Mass Meters and Oxygen (O2) sensors.
Garage equipment apprentices win first prize in apprenticeship challenge
Autoparts Garage Equipment apprentices Louis Kane and Darren McCaig have won the Glasgow Apprenticeship Challenge, fighting off stiff competition from companies across the city.
Michelin TPMS light fleet system offers peace of mind for towing solutions
Cheshire-based Towing Solutions has praised the Michelin Tyre Pressure Management System Light Fleet a year after it was fitted as offering “ultimate peace of mind” during its trailer towing training courses. The system, developed by Wheely-Safe, is currently fitted to two different specification trailers towed by the firm’s Hyundai Tucson, with the aim to introduce the system across the remaining two trailers and two caravans in the fleet.
Practical emergence of RFID unlocks data opportunities
The industrialisation of big data has been progressing quickly in recent years within the automotive segment. TPMS sensor technology and the networks they feed data into have enabled increasingly sophisticated software systems to be created to use the massive amount of data we are now able to collect more effectively. Such systems are also able to increase the business applications of another technology, radio-frequency identification, or RFID, helping commercial tyre distribution chains to increase cost, time, and safety efficiency as well as accuracy in their collection of data. Steve Daly, commercial director of CAM, the provider of e-jobsheet, TiDaeX, and the Online Tyre Catalogue, told Tyres & Accessories about the opportunities RFID is now unlocking, and how future, more affordable reading technology could increase the reach of these gains.