New president for the Trade Group
In what the organisation describes as "a coup", the Trade Garage Equipment Limited has appointed Terry Bullworthy, a guru of the garage equipment world, as their new Trade Group President. Chairman Keith Fairlie said, "We are extremely pleased to announce that Terry Bullworthy has agreed to be our new President, he has an absolute wealth of technical, automotive and garage equipment knowledge and experience and we are looking forward to him helping guide our successful and ever expanding garage equipment business to even greater heights."
Continue ReadingATS-E pledges winter tyre stock for customer support
ATS Euromaster has released a statement saying that it will continue to have winter tyre stock, in contrast with reports elsewhere that the UK’s supplies have run dry. ATS-E has committed to “ring-fencing supplies to support existing fleets using the high-grip seasonal fitment”, according to a statement made today. “We will not sell every cold weather tyre on our shelves by the end of March – and that’s deliberately so,” says Peter Fairlie, group sales director at ATS-E.
Continue ReadingHankook, Goodyear, Yokohama winners at Tire Technology awards
The products and activities of three tyre makers have been acknowledged at the Tire Technology International Awards for Innovation and Excellence 2011. This year’s awards were presented at a ceremony in Cologne, Germany on February 16 and saw Hankook Tire take the Tire Manufacturer of the Year award and Goodyear the award for Tire Technology of the Year. Last but not least was the Yokohama Rubber Company, whose award was for Environmental Achievement of the Year. Also acknowledged were Oerlikon Saurer and CureSense, who respectively received the Tire Industry Supplier of the Year and Tire Manufacturing Innovation of the Year awards.
Continue ReadingHaweka to exhibit at April’s CV show
Haweka UK, a leading independent manufacturer of wheel balancing accessories and commercial vehicle alignment equipment, is to show its range at the Commercial Vehicle Show at the NEC in Birmingham this April.
Continue ReadingOTR Tyres aims to reduce waste with hire option
In order to controlling the costs of waste management OTR has introduced a Tyre Hire programme designed to “remove the complexity of tyre management.” As OTR’s waste industry manager Steve Clipperton said “Our Tyre Hire service is both affordable and convenient. Budgeting is precise, giving the customer fixed monthly costs”.
Continue ReadingDesser moving to regional aircraft retreading, reports overseas expansion plans
Desser Tire & Rubber Co. affiliate, Aero WBS has achieved the qualification for retreading Canadair 200, 700, 900 series and Embraer 135 and 145 series aircraft tyres, as well as forming an investigative committee for opening a FAA/EASA approved factory outside of the United States.
Continue ReadingEuropean launch for Bandag mixed service treads
Two new mixed service treads have been added to the European Bandag range, and Bridgestone Europe says both products deliver up to 15 per cent higher mileage, along with a lower cost per kilometre, than their predecessor treads, the BDY3 and BZY2. The treads are the Bandag Drive Mixed Service (BDM1) and the Bandag Rib Mixed Service (BRM1), an all-position tyre for on/off road use.
Continue ReadingTrelleborg buys Hebei plant, expands into Chinese specialty tyre market
Trelleborg has acquired an operation in Xingtai, Hebei Province, eastern China, in a move designed to facilitate the group’s expansion in the Chinese market for specialty, primarily agricultural tyres. Trelleborg has acquired an existing facility from a Chinese company, part of the US Group Maine Industrial Tire LLC, and will also transfer approximately 180 employees. The acquisition and investments total approximately 100 million Swedish krona (£9.641 million; 11.45 million euros; US$15.54 million) over a three-year period. Production under the Trelleborg name is expected to commence during the second quarter of 2011.
Continue ReadingStarco begins online store rollout
Details of the comprehensive Starco range of tyres and related products have long been available in catalogue form, and the company has now taken the first step in transferring this information online. Customers in Germany are the first to experience the company’s new “STARCOshop” and Starco intends to roll out online catalogues for its aftermarket customers throughout the whole of Europe within two years.
Continue ReadingDunlop Aircraft Tyres lands Korean helicopter deal
Dunlop Aircraft Tyres has announced the signing of a major deal with Korea Aerospace Industries. The Birmingham-based manufacturer will be the exclusive supplier of tyres for its new Korean utility helicopter, the Surion. The aircraft is being developed to replace South Korea’s aging fleet of 500MD and UH-1H aircraft. The Surion made its first flight early in 2010 and more than 245 are on order.
Continue ReadingJames Nuttall switches truck fleet to Michelin Energy tyres for fuel efficiency
National haulier James Nuttall (Transport) is moving its truck fleet on to Michelin’s Energy tyres following outstanding results from a year-long trial. The company is seeking ways to reduce costs, and with the increases in fuel prices, the company has devoted some attention to ways in which consumption can be lowered. The transport operator reports that it recorded a 5.08 per cent improvement in fuel efficiency when using Michelin’s XZA 2 Energy and XDA 2 Energy tyres compared to the fleet’s existing XZE 2+ and XDE 2+ fitments, which are principally designed for regional haulage. Performance was measured using two identical Scania R 420 6x2 tractor units.
Continue ReadingYokohama Rubber announces senior management promotions
On 14 February 2011, the board of directors of Yokohama Rubber decided the following management changes in board membership and corporate officers, which take effective on 1 April 2011. The changes include the promotion of Hikomitsu Noji to director and senior managing corporate officer, president of Tire Group. He is currently director and managing corporate officer, president of the Tire Group, general manager of Tire Global Production Division.
Continue ReadingAuto Windscreens enters administration
Despite it being Valentine’s day, there was no love lost between Auto Windscreens and the HMRC on 14 February 2011. That’s the day the UK's second largest windscreen repair company went into administration, threatening 1,100 jobs, apparently owing money to the good old Inland Revenue.
Continue ReadingTata Motors to build Nano car factory in Indonesia in 2013
Tata Motors is considering building a manufacturing unit in Indonesia which will be used to manufacture the famous Tata Nano model. According to Indian motoring sources, the plan is under “constant vigilance” by the various study teams. The report cited a Tata spokesperson as saying “Yes, we will be establishing a manufacturing unit in Jakarta. We will be announcing this piece of news shortly, but till then it is all under wraps.”
Continue ReadingContinental gains Audi R8, RS3 and A1 OE
Continental has gained new OE approvals from Audi for both quattro models R8 and RS3, the luxury A8 saloon and the compact A1. The sporty models come equipped with Continental's high-tech ContiSportContact 5 P as well as the economical ContiPremiumContact 2, whilst the A1 is being fitted with the ContiSportContact 3 and the ContiPremiumContact 2. 19-inch diameter tyres have been approved on R8, with tyres up to 21 inches destined for the A8. The RS3 is being fitted with 19-inch tyres, while for the A1 has a choice of 15, 16 and 18-inch sizes.
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