Hankook renews support for tuning safety initiative
Hankook is sponsoring the Tune It! Safe! initiative in Germany for the eighth consecutive year. For 2013 the tyre maker will again serve as main sponsor for the safe and legal car tuning campaign, an initiative that enjoys the support of the German Association of Automotive Tuners (VDAT) under the patronage of the German Federal Transport Minister. At the start of the Essen Motor Show on 30 November, Hankook showed off its 2013 campaign vehicle, a Brabus-tuned Mercedes A-Class sporting the initiative’s now-familiar police livery. When on patrol, the modified Mercedes will roll on Hankook’s Ventus S1 evo2 tyres in size 235/35 ZR 19 XL.
Continue ReadingPirelli names F1 Experience winner
Pirelli UK has announced the winner of its Formula One Experience. The top prize of tickets to the 2013 Formula One British Grand Prix and a trip for two to the Red Bull Racing factory has been won by Ben Flynn from Warrington.
Continue ReadingOliver Rubber celebrates centenary
Retreading materials supplier Oliver Rubber is commemorating its 100 anniversary. The US firm was founded in Oakland, California in 1912 by engineer Marion F. Oliver, and believes it may well be the first company to retread tyres using pre-cure rubber; it accomplished this feat in 1916. In that same year Oliver Rubber became one of the first in the industry to work with organic accelerators and use carbon black as a reinforcing pigment.
Continue ReadingSouth African tyre waste plan finally implemented
More news about the tyre recycling world’s equivalent of a yo-yo: after being approved (November 2011), withdrawn (January 2012), declared “back on track” (April 2012), approved again (July 2012), declared “stolen” (August 2012), challenged in court (August-September 2012), and then once again put on hold (November 2012), South Africa’s REDISA plan has now been re-gazetted and come into force.
Continue ReadingBBC examines the safety of part-worns
The perils of entrusting your safety to part-worn tyres will receive the Beeb’s attention today, at least in part of the country. At 7.30pm this evening (3 December), BBC Inside Out West Midlands will present a motoring-themed show, with one of three articles asking the question many in our industry already know the answer to: How safe are part-worn tyres?
Continue ReadingThe beginning of the end?
While some say the Mayan’s predicted the apocalypse would take place this year, the good news is that Armageddon doesn’t appear to have taken place either literally or figuratively. Instead, as we look back on 2012 it is probably fair to say that the year has been dominated by labelling, tough tyre retail sell-out conditions and a resurgence in car sales and production…in the UK at least. Some might gloomily reflect on the fact that our economy as a whole encountered a double dip recession, but there are also signs that the bad times are slowing and in fact things may even pick up a bit in the year to come. (All these themes are followed up in this month’s Review of 2012 feature, which begins on page 40 in our forthcoming December issue)
Continue ReadingNorgesdekk buys P. Holth
Norgesdekk AS has bought P. Holth AS in a move that sees the company expand to five locations. The business already has operations in Bergen, Jaeren Kristiansand and Tonsberg, Norway. According to the company, the expansion takes effect on 1 January 2013.
Continue ReadingHunter and Pro-Align – getting the right balance
A key piece of equipment demonstrated at Pro-Align’s recent ‘Service Vision’ events held across the country was the newly-introduced Hunter Road Force ‘Touch’ balancer. This new unit includes unique features that allow it to measure road force variation and load force measurement, and Pro-Align believes it is set to transform wheel balancing. This potential was well demonstrated in September; despite being launched only a matter of weeks ago, the new system has already claimed its first international accolade – it was awarded the prestigious Innovation award at the Automechanika show in Germany.
Continue ReadingLatest Pirelli Key Point conference a success, says tyre maker
Pirelli UK Tyres shares that the Pirelli Key Point conference it held earlier this month was well received, with more than 25 customers attending a two-day event that culminated in a visit to the Bentley Motors factory in Crewe. Pirelli Key Point is an industry accreditation scheme that puts independent tyre dealerships through a stringent auditing process in order to gain accreditation and take advantage of a number of business benefits. Pirelli UK renamed its former Driver retail scheme to Pirelli Key Point in January in order to bring it in line with Pirelli European retail strategy.
Continue ReadingTGI appoints international program sales VP
US wholesaler Tire Group International has expanded its international sales team with the appointment of Luis Torres as the company’s new vice-president of international program sales. Torres, who has more than 25 years of experience within the tyre industry, joins TGI from the Alliance Tire Group, where he served as export sales manager. Prior to this he was director of export sales at Hercules Tires International. According to TGI, Torres boasts a vast amount of experience in all tyre segments, with particular emphasis on agricultural, industrial and OTR.
Continue ReadingGfK: UK tyre market down, but improving
However depressed the market feels to suppliers and despite the legitimate complaints of tough times from the retail sector, the overall UK tyre replacement sales situation in terms of unit sales is actually getting marginally better. According to the latest passenger car tyre sell-out sales data for the first nine months of 2012, compiled by leading international market research firm GfK, things are far from rosy, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Continue ReadingDunlop OE on North American Mazda6
Last week Bridgestone reported its Turanza T001 would be fitted to the new Mazda6 in markets outside of North America. Dunlop Tires in the US has also announced the original equipment supply of its tyres to the Mazda6. The new ‘2014’ model (which despite its name will go on sale early next year) will come equipped with the Dunlop SP Sport 5000 in size P225/45R19. Dunlop is claiming exclusive fitment with this size, which indicates the supply deal covers the North American market only.
Continue ReadingBandvulc witnesses ‘software revolution’ over the past 12 years
In the 12 years since Bandvulc Tyre Contracts (BTC) was formed in 2000, the company has established a 24/7/365 Tyre Support Unit (TSU), Galahad job sheet web software, a fully functional disaster recovery suite, new generation phone hardware/software and web-based reporting. Today the business manages over 100 key transport fleets including many well-known blue-chip names with the UK’s largest supermarket retailers all using Bandvulc tyres managed by BTC. At the centre of all this is what the company refers to as a technology and specifically a software revolution.
Continue ReadingKumho outlines ‘Pink Ribbon Campaign’ support
As a supporter of breast cancer awareness campaigns, Kumho Tires is participating in the 'Pink Ribbon Love Marathon'. Earlier, in June, Kumho Tires held a new product launch presentation held at an aircraft hanger at Seoul’s Incheon International Airport, where it also signed an agreement with the Korea Breast Cancer Foundation to support the Pink Ribbon Campaign, a programme designed to promote the importance of breast health, a regular breast self-exam and early detection. The campaign is run by Korea Breast Cancer Foundation, established in 2000 as Korea's first non-profit foundation dedicated to breast health.
Continue ReadingCareer app brings Conti jobs to your phone
Finding a job at Continental just became easier for people on the go – the tyre and automotive supplier has released an Apple-compatible career app, and it shares that an Android version is currently in development. Conti says the app can help potential employees “conveniently find a dream job with the international automotive supplier.”
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