JCB cutting 150 jobs
JCB has announced plans to cut up to 150 jobs. The job losses have been blamed on a slowdown in orders following unrest in Russia, Ukraine and Syria. According to various local news sources, most of the jobs will be lost at the firms Staffordshire factories in Rocester and Cheadle. JCB will now embark on a 45-day consultation with staff at the beginning of November. Any following job cuts are set to take place in the middle of December. The firm has not ruled out making compulsory redundancies.
Continue ReadingNext ‘Apollo Challenges’ Manchester United contest begins
The second test in the Manchester United ‘Apollo Challenges’ skill challenge has been released. This unit is called the ‘Apollo Control Challenge’ and sees Manchester United and Belgium international midfielder Marouane Fellaini demonstrate how to master perfect ball control, an invaluable skill when playing in one of the most competitive and fast-paced areas of the pitch. The challenge can be viewed at the apollochallenges.com website.
Continue ReadingPirelli Kindle incentive
In a joint promotion with Amazon.co.uk, Pirelli is offering a gift certificate to purchase an Amazon Kindle when purchasing two or more 17” or above Pirelli tyres. The promotion, designed to foreground technology, is available to customers at all of the manufacturers 95 nationwide Pirelli Performance Centres.
Continue ReadingTerraClean network reaches 300 service centres
The TerraClean network, providing the deep engine cleaning service to motorists throughout the UK, has now reached more than 300 workshops. The network, which comprises independent garages, mobile mechanics and franchised dealers, has surpassed expectations and is growing rapidly with the appointment of new TerraClean service centres daily.
Continue ReadingNAB to represent bodyshop creditors
The National Association of Bodyshops (NAB), has been nominated by some of the UK’s leading body repair specialists to represent them in a Creditors’ Committee looking into the conduct of directors of failed accident management company, Drive Assist. When Drive Assist, once one of Britain’s leading non-fault accident vehicle replacement companies, collapsed in December 2012 with debts of more than £82 million, 150 bodyshops were left with more than £7m in unpaid repair bills.
Continue ReadingEuro Car Parts opens 14 former Unipart Automotive sites
Euro Car Parts has announced that 14 of the 27 branches it acquired from KPMG, the administrators for Unipart Automotive, are already open for business. Two further branches, Braintree and Penzance, will also open by end of October and mid-November respectively.
Continue ReadingStrathclyde Tyres joins Horndean Tyres as investor in CAM UniSerV platform
Truck and car tyre retailer Strathclyde Tyres has joined Hampshire’s Horndean Tyres in introducing CAM’s UniSerV platform. The Scottish retailer is expanding its operations, and the further investment in technology platforms will enable it to offer local authority contracts paperless and streamlined job sheet processing and invoicing. Horndean will seek to improve connectivity with its truck and earthmover customers, increasing efficiency through the tablet-based electronic jobsheet, which will be used by its 12 fitters in the field.
Continue ReadingConti offering free winter tyre experiences at Mercedes-Benz World
Continental Tyres is offering motorists the chance to experience the difference in performance between summer and winter tyres, with free tests during half-term at Mercedes-Benz World, Weybridge.
Continue Reading2.2 million tyre-related MoT failures in 2013
According to information obtained by TyreSafe under a Freedom of Information request, more than 2.2 million cars in the UK failed their annual MoT test last year due to the condition of their tyres. Commenting on this data supplied by the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency, the safety organisations chairman, Stuart Jackson, said it “beggars belief” that so many cars fail because of unsafe or illegal tyres.
Continue ReadingShipping rates ‘stable’ in 2014: Maritime Cargo Services
Freight forwarding company, Maritime Cargo Services has made the point that while shipping costs have remained relatively stable in 2014, the past seven years have been marked by volatility. Freight forwarding specialist, Rob Shelley explains: “2008 saw the end of the Asia-Europe box cartel known as the Far Eastern Freight Conference. The FEFC was banned by the EU as it thought it anti-competitive. Its departure came as Asia Europe suffers historically low freight rates. It took with it stability with all the shipping lines in communication with one another.
Continue ReadingUK, European new car registrations rise in September
Registrations of new passenger cars within the European Union were up for the thirteenth month in a row in September. Information published by the ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturers Association) shows a 6.1 per cent year-on-year increase in registrations for the month across the combined EU28 and EFTA regions, and a 5.7 per cent rise for the EU15 and EFTA regions.
Continue ReadingGT Radial to make Euro Bus Expo debut
Early next month Euro Bus Expo 2014 is coming to the NEC Birmingham, and GT Radial will attend the show as an exhibitor for the first time. A range of products aimed at the passenger transport segment will be on display at the GT Radial stand, with the GSR225 Combi Road and GAU861 all-position urban city-bus tyres heading a comprehensive portfolio.
Continue ReadingWG Tanker Group celebrates 18 months with Westlake tyres
WG Tanker Group, which describes itself as a “one-stop-shop for all powder tanker requirements”, is celebrating its relationship with Westlake tyres (distributed by Vacu-Lug Traction Tyres) 18 months in, saying it would not look elsewhere for a similar product.
Continue ReadingToyo Tires partnering Leicester City
Leicester City Football Club has announced that Toyo Tires will be joining the Foxes as a Club Partner for the 2014/15 season. Toyo Tires’ club partnership will see the Japanese company enjoy a “considerable commercial presence” at King Power Stadium, while their branding will also be visible on City’s first team training wear. Keishi Inoue, managing director of Toyo Tires UK, said: “Our partnership with Leicester City starts at a great time, because it provides a fantastic opportunity to grow our brand with a genuinely aspirational club on one of the world’s biggest sporting stages – the Premier League.
Continue ReadingMahle Aftermarket UK appoints new operations manager
Mahle Aftermarket has appointed a new operations manager at its UK headquarters near Wolverhampton to oversee the expansion of its warehousing facilities and installation of a new parts handling systems.
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