NZ Tyre Shop Loses Appeal Against Overcharging
A New Zealand tyre business that overcharged a business almost NZ$1 million over a ten-year period has lost an appeal against repaying the money with interest. In March 2007 the New Zealand High Court ordered that Ivan and Suzanne Weaver, owners of Ivan Weaver Tyre Centre, should pay Gill Construction $1.8 million, including interest, to compensate for money wrongfully charged. In 1993 Gill Construction began a warehousing arrangement with Ivan Weaver Tyre Centre. Weaver would carry stock and tyres for the firm, and ensure the Gill fleet had sufficient tyres. The Court of Appeal decision lodged by the Weavers stated that invoices were not checked as rigorously as they might have been, but the goodwill and honesty between the two companies was taken for granted. However, suspicions arose when Gill Construction began comparing its tyre costs with those of other trucking companies. It was discovered that tyres accounted for more than 56 per cent of Gill Construction’s total road user costs, as opposed to the New Zealand average of 24 per cent. Logbooks kept for national transport authorities recorded the mileage Gill trucks were doing, and the companys road use did not match up with its tyre expenditure.
Continue ReadingGrouptyre Rebrands as National Operation
Group Tyre, which markets itself as the UK’s leading independent tyre wholesaler, has announced that it is rebranding itself as Grouptyre as part of its strategy to achieve more market share. Over the next two years Group Tyre plans to evolve from a successful multi-regional buying group with a national accounts sales force into Grouptyre, a national brand that is recognised as the major player in tyre distribution. One of the first things to change has been Grouptyres website - www.grouptyre.co.uk. According to the company, the new website provides retailers with real time stockholding of the entire Grouptyre wholesaler members. There’s also a locator for retailers wishing to make contact with their nearest tyre distributor member. “We are committed to increasing market penetration and part of our strategy is to reinvigorate the brand by giving it a national face. As Grouptyre, with a fresh, new corporate identity, we aim to project ourselves as a modern, professional and progressive company that fully understands its market and delivers the best opportunities to customers, suppliers and employees,” managing director Peter Harries commented.
Continue ReadingNew Finish For Pro-Lite Wheel
The Wolfrace Pro-Lite wheel is now available in a new finish – Satin Black with a red rim. The new finish makes the twelve-spoke wheel stand out even further from the crowd, combining class and individuality. It is available in 6.5x15 and 7x17 sizes and, in addition to the Satin Black/Red Rim finish, the Pro-Lite comes in a range of colours/finishes, including Black/polished, Shadow Chrome, Silver, Matt Black, Gloss Titanium, Urban Titanium and White.
Continue ReadingPCL Inflating Its Market Presence in 2008
Sheffield based PCL Air Technology brought a wide range of its products to Reifen 2008, including its latest nitrogen inflation unit, the Accura Mobile. “It was introduced into the US last year,” commented company director and divisional general manager Simon Shorter. “Nitrogen inflation has become a big market there and the Accura Mobile is proving successful. Now it is also available in the UK.” The Accura Mobile is a compact and robustly designed nitrogen inflation cart that can be operated either with a standard bottle or direct from a nitrogen generator. It permits operators to present the pressure for a standard inflation top up, or an N2 function for a purge and fill cycle. The unit can inflate up to six tyres simultaneously, and four hoses are supplied as standard. Power for the Accura Mobile comes via a rechargeable NiMH battery, and the unit can also operate directly from mains power.
Continue ReadingAbu Dhabi Looking for Tyre Recycling Contractor
Majid Al Mansouri, the secretary-general of the Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi (EAD) and chairman of the Higher Committee for Waste Management in the emirate, has announced that Abu Dhabi is looking for a suitable contractor to “recycle used tyres and create useful products such as mats to be used as flooring at playgrounds.” Speaking to Gulf News, Majid Al Mansouri said companies have been dumping tyres in the desert or illegal landfills because of the absence of an organised waste disposal system. According to local news sources there are over 25 million used tyres in Abu Dhabi.
Continue ReadingJIA Offer N2 Purity Gauge
Midlands Company JIA Sources International Ltd, the name behind the NitroRide brand of nitrogen tyre inflation systems, was in Essen again after “phenomenal success” at Reifen 2006. JIA Sources displayed its entire range equipment, in-addition the company took the opportunity to unveil a number of new innovative products. At the centre of on the stand was the prestigious NitroRide systems for bikes, cars and trucks – a simple on-site Nitrogen generator. In addition and with the ever increasing need for accountability, JIA Sources launched the HandyPure, a small portable N2 purity gauge. Designed to test the purity of the N2 where it counts most (inside the tyre), JIA Sources say it is a must for any conscientious garage offing/supplying nitrogen.
Continue ReadingSmithers Rapra Hosts REACH Seminar
With pre-registration underway for companies using chemicals under the European Union’s REACH legislation, Smithers Rapra in Shropshire are holding a one-day seminar responding to “the increasing concern amongst companies now faced with managing registration, technical dossiers, joint submission of data and the obligations of supply chain communication.” The seminar promises to be useful to small or medium-sized enterprises using chemicals in the tyre industry.
Continue ReadingUnipart Top In Workshop Survey
Unipart Automotive has been voted the most recommended brand for braking in an independent aftermarket survey about brand perception that ranked Unipart brakes as the number one choice by Workshops. The survey listed six leading aftermarket brands and asked respondents what braking brand they would recommend to their customers for fitment on a vehicle; overwhelmingly 59 per cent stated the Unipart brand. GiPA, the aftermarket intelligence organisation, conducted the poll and surveyed workshops including independent garages, auto centres, national and independent fast fits. Unipart Automotive has launched an advertising campaign to raise awareness of its braking range and the fact that all service products, supplied by Unipart Automotive, have an Original Equipment matching quality guarantee and meet the requirements of Block Exemption. This allows independent garages to carry out servicing and maintenance on a car without invalidating the vehicle manufacturers warranty, provided the garage follows the vehicle assembler’s schedules.
Continue ReadingConti Tyre Prices to Increase in Asia
On June 18 Continental announced that, as of September 1, prices will increase for replacement market tyres sold in Asia by up to 10 per cent. In outlining the price rises, the company commented that “the market price for natural rubber, a key component used in tyres, continues to increase, while the price of oil and derived products, such as synthetic rubber and carbon black remain at historic high levels.” It added that this increase will only partially offset the raw material cost increases.
Continue ReadingNew Goodyear Dunlop Europe Truck Tyres Marketing Director
Boris Stevanovic has been appointed Goodyear Dunlop Tires Europe BV marketing director for truck tyres, and in this role will be responsible for the company’s operations in this sector within Europe. He takes over from Pietro Saletta, who moves to Italy and begins as the company’s European director of Consumer Tires.
Continue ReadingNew Store Planned by MNA
Michelin North America’s hometown Michelin on Main retail store has apparently been a success, so much so that MNA is planning for another outlet in South Carolina. MNA will open a new ShopMichelin retail store in the Westgate Mall in Spartanburg, South Carolina, next month. Michelin on Main, located in downtown Greenville, and ShopMichelin, offer Michelin branded consumer products, such as wearables and promotional items. The company also recently launched ShopMichelin.com, an online version of its retail store concept. (Tire Review/Akron)
Continue ReadingMichelin Raises its Hankook Stake to 8.9%
Michelin has increased its shareholding in South Korean tyre manufacturer Hankook Tire to 8.9 per cent up 2.6 points from the stake it bought in 2006. A Michelin spokesperson told Tyres & Accessories the company would not comment on whether it plans to increase the stake again, but did say the move falls within the boundaries of Michelin and Hankook’s 2003 cooperation agreement. T&A understands that this agreement would allow Michelin to own up to 10 per cent of Hankook’s total capital. Hankook shares rocketed 15 per cent in response to the news before adjusting to a daily value increase of 12.4 per cent. Michelin’s stock, on the other hand, fell 2.2 per cent following the announcement.
Continue ReadingFederal on the Road to Establishing Sports Pedigree
When meeting Federal Tire’s Jamie Ma for the first time, the enthusiasm the chairman holds for his company and the tyres it makes feels thick enough to grasp with both hands. “I am different from the CEOs of most tyre companies,” he states. “They are just trustees of their firms, you could say, elected to serve a few years. My position at Federal is not like that.” As the third generation to serve in his family’s Taiwan based business, Mr. Ma claims to be, at age 34, the world’s youngest CEO of a tyre company. And that said, he adds his comparative youthfulness will be, he believes, a factor making all the difference for Federal. “When I execute a programme, I have years in which I can do it,” he explains. “Jamie Ma plans another thirty years in the business.” Federal Tire’s main purpose for attending Reifen 2008 was to launch its latest tyre, the 595RPM. Designed for super cars and aimed, says Mr. Ma, at Pirelli’s R-Zero Rosso, the Michelin Pilot Sport 2, Bridgestone Potenza RE050A and Yokohama’s Advan Sport, the 595RPM is available in a large range of fitments for rims between 17 and 22-inches. The tyre carries a UTQG tread wear rating of 160, adds the chairman, and the asymmetric tread – the first such pattern to feature on a Federal UHP tyre, is designed with an outer shoulder that gives greater traction plus additional siping on the inner area for optimised ride qualities.
Continue ReadingNew Improved OTR Website
OTR Tyres Ltd has upgraded and improved its website in order to reflect the expanded range of products, services and global operations says the Alfreton-based company. The new look site contains 140 pages with easy, drop down navigation to guide visitors to the relevant areas of interest. The site is produced in-house by OTRs dedicated, IT team and, as well as news and information, the site allows customers secure access to their TotalTyreLogic tyre management records, factory production schedule and tyre information.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Australia Prices to Rise August 1
Price increases of up to 5 per cent have been announced by Bridgestone Australia Ltd. The new pricing will be implemented on August 1 and includes most Bridgestone tyres, tubes, retreads and services. Mac Ohashi, Bridgestone Australia chairman and CEO, commented that the company had absorbed the effect of rising raw material costs for as long as possible. We have seen very significant continued upward price pressure on raw materials such as oil, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, steel and carbon black in combination with increased energy and transportation costs.
Continue Reading
