Starco kicks off anniversary year celebrations
On the evening of 10 December, the management and employees of Denmark’s Starco celebrated half a century in the business. The 50 year anniversary was commemorated at a function at the home of company CEO Peer Ejlersgaard and at regional Starco premises worldwide.
Continue ReadingFulda unveils EcoControl HP
Fulda has announced the upcoming launch of its new high performance summer tyre, the EcoControl HP. The range will be introduced in time for the 2012 season and be available in 22 dimensions for 15 and 16-inch rim diameters. The tyre maker says the EcoControl HP is designed to take “meet both dry and wet conditions in its stride”; in September-October 2011 the new tyre was extensively tested against three competitor tyres by the independent testing and certification organisation TÜV SÜD Automotive, and was found to be a “well balanced performance tyre.”
Continue ReadingPirelli names PPC of the Year shortlist
Pirelli has announced that it has shortlisted eight of its 83 Performance Centres (PPCs) across the UK for the PPC of the year accolade. In order to earn the coveted PPC accreditation, each of the dealerships undergoes a thorough auditing process, repeated twice a year to maintain the high standards, and are graded according to their score, from silver through to platinum.
Continue ReadingPirelli launches gravel truck tyre
Pirelli has announced the launch of the G:01 gravel tyre, designed for mixed use on roads and in construction sites. The tyre is an addition to its highly successful Series 01 truck tyre range. The FG:01 for steer axles and TG:01 for drive axles have a dual layer tread compound, which the manufacturer says offers both cost efficiency and safety. The FG:01 and TG:01 tyres are available now in sizes 315/80R22.5 and 295/80R22.5.
Continue ReadingStarting motor supplier Wood Auto offers diverse consumable range
The purchase of consumables has tended to mean that the general service and repair workshop had to deal with multiple suppliers with the extra administration costs that were inevitable with each supplier. However the trend of diversification has made a single supplier a more realistic option, certainly for specialist businesses like the fast fitter or the auto-electrician. As one of the country’s major starter motor and alternator suppliers, Wood Auto says it is now growing its range of consumable products and increasing its reputation for quality and availability. It says workshops can find a host of products to allow them to complete their work and finish the job professionally.
Continue ReadingSIP sees increased interest in heater range
Leicestershire-based industrial product specialist, SIP Limited is reporting a growing demand for its range of trade and professional propane, diesel and infrared heaters, as garages react to the dropping temperatures. The company singles out its professional diesel/kerosene stainless steel space heaters as a product that has generated the warmest interest.
Continue ReadingTitan to announce 2012 sales guidance
Although Titan International intends to announce full details of its 2012 sales predictions in a conference call tomorrow, the company has already indicated its expects sales of up to US$1.9 billion next year – and the potential for even higher sales exists.
Continue ReadingAl Dobowi holds inaugural Westlake Partners’ Day
The Westlake tyre brand is named after one of China’s most popular domestic tourist destinations and a 2011 addition to UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites – the freshwater West Lake in the centre of Hangzhou, the home town of its manufacturer Hangzhou Zhongce, located around 180km south-west of Shanghao. Shen Jin-Rong, Hangzhou Zhongce president and chairman, reflects with pride on the link between what is seen as a premier Chinese location and the tyre brand named after it: “Westlake is our tyre brand and also the best place in our city.” The Al Dobowi Group distributes the brand in several European territories through its Eskay Tyres subsidiary; the newly exclusive distributor of the brand in the UK was announced as Axle Group Holdings at the end of September – owner of the Viking International wholesale arm and the National Tyres & Autocare retail chain (see T&A October’s Wholesale feature and the Related News link below). Tyres & Accessories travelled to the town from Shanghai with representatives from the Al Dobowi Group to see the development of Hangzhou Zhongce’s manufacturing facilities, and to witness the growth in interaction between the manufacturer and European dealers of its Westlake brand.
Continue ReadingRichbrook aims to stylise valve caps
Richbrook designers have attempted to give one of the dullest of all motoring accessories a stylish look, while simultaneously solving what it terms “one of the great perennial motoring problems”. With the firm’s new ‘Never Lose’ valve caps, it aims to prevent the persistent annoyance of the conscientious motorist each time they check their tyre pressures.
Continue ReadingKirkby Tyres to exhibit at LAMMA 2012
Kirkby Tyres has announced that it will have a “major presence” at LAMMA 2012 and will be featuring “many new tyre products and sizes for the tractor, row crop and trailer markets” Kirkby Tyres is the sole UK and Ireland agents for the extensive Alliance range of agricultural and earthmover tyres. The company is also the UK agent for BKT tyres and as such the string of launches and the products on display will be largely drawn from these two manufacturers. Alliance is set to introduce the Farm PRO 85 and 70 series R-1w tractor radial tyres. With 20 per cent more tread than conventional R-1 tyres and a large foot-print the Farm PRO Traction tyre has an advanced multi–angle lug design with a steep central angle for a smooth ride, long wear and mud clearing properties and a shallow angle at the shoulder for exceptional traction and hillside stability.
Continue ReadingRema Tip Top Minicombi set reflects austere times
Rema Tip Top’s UK branch landed the Innovation TAFF Award this year for the Ram-rod Tire Safe safety cage. In addition to the business that product attracted, Rema Tip Top says another product has been of particular interest this year. Making the argument that today’s economic climate calls for “favourably-priced solutions”, Rema Tip Top says its Minicombi plug/patch repair system is a “great alternative” to new tyre purchases, given that most tyre injuries can be repaired. “A genuine contribution to the sustainability of the environment can also be immensely satisfying to the responsible motorist,” the company maintains. The Minicombi is available for radial and cross-ply tyres and designed to be used to repair both the inside surface and puncture-canal, efficiently and durably in one step. The system can repair tread punctures of up to 10mm in diameter.
Continue ReadingParts Alliance “double digit growth” in 2011 market share
Steve Fulford, chairman of The Parts Alliance says the last year has been a successful one for the parts distributor, with a new, expanded head office opening and continued growth in market share. While 2011 hasn’t exactly provided the sustained growth that one could have hoped for, Fulford says the aftermarket’s continued buoyancy, particularly in the first half of the year, and the trend he reports of more motorists turning to the services of independent garages for cost savings, the prospects for next year are good.
Continue ReadingIceways – Lassa’s latest for severe conditions
Lassa has introduced a new studdable winter tyre designed for heavy winter conditions. The new product, Iceways, is said to feature a combination of optimised winter compound and deeply-siped tread pattern that facilitates handling characteristics in severe conditions; Lassa reports that Iceways offers up to 12 per cent better handling than its main competitors in ice, snow and wet conditions and up to eight per cent better traction. The tyre maker adds that Iceways’ braking distance on ice is up to 17 per cent shorter than for these competitor tyres.
Continue ReadingNew addition to Kama N range
The Nizhnekamsk SSC Tire Factory has began production of a new size rear axle fitment for its Kama N 202 series range; the new addition is a 295/80 R 22.5 fitment. In a statement announcing the new tyre’s release, the Russian tyre maker shares that its Kama ‘N’ series tyres with a 202 index are “designed to run on asphalt, rough terrain or dirt roads at any time of the year at temperatures from -45°C to +55°C.”
Continue ReadingTyresure launches absolute pressure tool
Tyresure has released a new tool for tyrebays, dealerships and workshops; a precisely calibrated tyre pressure gauge that measures absolute, not atmospheric pressure.
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