ESP – Providing Online Expertise
E-Solution Professionals has been supplying e-commerce platforms for the tyre industry since 2001 when the company signed up its first TireWeb user. Today TireWeb is the most widely used business to business e-commerce program in the US, and E-Solution Professionals project that in their home US market more than 7 million tyres will be sold on TireWeb sites during 2007, with some business receiving upwards of 70 per cent of their wholesale orders via TireWeb. According to E-Solution Professionals USA sales manager Brian Erickson, the company’s specialised experience in the area of e-commerce solutions, such as the ability to connect with every type of accounting software in use, has enabled them to deliver a product that exceeds customer expectations. “Many companies have designed their own software, invested a lot of money into it and are at first reluctant to stop using it,” he explains. “But when they see what ours can do for them they have a change of direction.”
Continue ReadingBrityrex 2007 Hugely Successful – Hofmann Megaplan
Wheel & tyre equipment specialists Hofmann Megaplan enjoyed another successful show at this years Brityrex exhibition. The company believes this year’s event to be every bit as good as the 2005 exhibition, which Managing Director James Boon labelled at the time as the best show he had ever attended. “Brityrex 2005 was a hard act to follow for us, but the move to Manchester this year and all the improvements that went with it means that without doubt 2007 will prove to be even better both in terms of immediate sales and long term projects,” commented Mr. Boon. “I think it’s a huge disappointment that this show doesn’t get more support from the tyre manufacturers, and the effort put in by everybody else really and truthfully puts them to shame for not supporting such an event. That said, the quality of visitor and atmosphere of the new venue ensured we had another great exhibition, and I think the organisers deserve some real praise for putting on a fantastic, well organised and high profile exhibition despite two years of negativity from many within the industry”.
Continue ReadingTechking Launches New Company Website
OTR radial manufacturer Techking Tires Limited launched a brand new company website – www.techkingtires.com - at the start of May. The new site provides a much broader range of information than the site it replaces and includes news and product database sections, with Techking’s R&D department uploading new product information to the site on a regular bases. The site also provides customers with an easier way of contacting Techking online. Tony Jiang, Techking R&D manager, is in charge of the website. “We will update the website from time to time and we welcome the inputs from all our industry friends, including company employees, company business partners and even our counterparts,” he said. “We have membership for the website. The members can have access to the classified information of the company.” Techking is placing great confidence in the new website, and company president Tech Wang has stated: “We are dedicated to radial OTR tyres only, aiming to be the most professional OTR solution provider. We hope the new website can become a platform for sharing information with our industry friends. We registered the domain name in China. We are going to do the same overseas. We [have] put a lot of effort in[to] building and maintaining this new website. We will treat it like our baby.”
Continue ReadingKumho Chosen for Green LCV
Coventry based manufacturer of zero emission commercial vehicles, Modec Limited, have chosen to fit Kumho tyres as OE on their range of environmentally friendly vehicles. Kumho will supply freight truck tyres to Modec, who officially opened their Binley factory on March 8. The Modec range of electric light commercial vehicles, which are powered by nickel chloride batteries, reportedly generate 102bhp and can reach a top speed of 50mph with a range of 100mph. The Modec is able to carry a load of up to 2 tons. Kumho has participated in the development of the Modec from the earliest stages. “I am very honoured to work with Kumho Tires, who have supported this project and process from the beginning,” said Graham Mclntosh, product developer at Modec Limited. “Kumho Tires’ product fits the quality and price of Modec which is in high demand in urban cities.”
Continue ReadingBridgestone Workers to Vote on Remuneration Scheme
At present Bridgestone and union officials are negotiating a proposed contract that could potentially see the pay of workers at a US Bridgestone plant become tied to their productivity. The new contract at the Bridgestone Firestone facility in La Vergne, Tennessee needs to be agreed upon by mid-August, and while Bridgestone officials claim that paying individual workers bonuses based on the number of tyres they produce will increase pay while making the company more profitable, the USW Local 1155, who represents the plant, has reservations about switching to this type of incentive system. If plant workers vote in favour of the contract, the La Vergne facility will become the last remaining unionised Bridgestone tyre and inner tube plant in the US to switch to this system of remuneration. Workers and management were given 120 days to work out and vote upon an incentive plan, and while Bridgestone has made no concrete statements regarding job cuts if they do not vote in favour, company spokesman Dan McDonald said “if they dont accept, it opens up the possibility of layoffs.”
Continue ReadingViking Rewards Dealers for Tyre Sales
Viking Tyres recently introduced a new dealer-based reward programme, and to mark the occasion has embarked on a number of promotions giving all Viking dealers the opportunity to win prizes as a bonus for their tyre sales. The winner of the recent iPod dealer promotion, launched in January this year, was Nigel Hennessey of the Buckingham Tyre and Exhaust Centre. The dealership is a family run business and has been a Viking customer for many years. Nigel and a further three members of staff were awarded with the popular 30GB Apple iPods as a reward for their Viking sales in the first quarter of the year. They were presented with their prizes by Kevin Peck, Sales Director, for Viking International. “The iPods are great and it’s a fantastic extra to receive from Viking as a reward for our business,” commented Nigel upon receiving his prize. Viking Tyres, exclusive to Viking International, has recently launched another promotion that sees an additional bundle of prizes up for grabs.
Continue ReadingBroadway Aiming for ‘World Class’ Wholesaling
Broadway Tyres has unveiled a new corporate identity, pointing to the future development of the business. Jonathan West, the company’s founder and Chairman, addressed staff, main suppliers and industry leaders who are invited to preview the new strategy and new look at a reception at Wycombe Wanderer’s. The new look consists of a radical new corporate livery together with a new strapline ‘High Performance Delivery’ and the introduction of the ‘Broadway B’, configured from two tyre images. Most strikingly, the company’s fleet of 40 vehicles will be covered with an all-over wrap featuring some specially commissioned photography. Broadway Tyres has invested over £150,000 into the rebranding, believing it is a natural progression for the £25 million annual turnover company, which is looking to increase its share of the South East’s tyre market to 20 per cent over the next two years, by extending its deliveries, with an enlarged fleet and improved storage facilities at its depots.
Continue ReadingChampion Spark Plugs Celebrating 100 Years
(Akron/Tire Review) Federal-Mogul Corp.’s Champion spark plug brand is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, and plans a year-long global “Always a Champion” centennial celebration. The brand was established in 1907, and, according to Federal-Mogul, Champion is “celebrating its performance-driven heritage by looking forward to the next generation of innovative products.” Part of that will be an extensive marketing campaign, the company said. “Champion has a rich heritage of innovation, quality and race-winning performance, yet it has always maintained a clear focus on developing breakthrough technology and powering the next racing championship,” said Garth Cole, Federal-Mogul’s director of aftermarket marketing. “That’s why we’re celebrating the Champion brand’s 100th anniversary by setting the stage for a new century of innovation on behalf of racing teams, professional technicians, and do-it-yourselfers.”
Continue ReadingThe Magic Touch(less)
In recent times the name Beissbarth has become all but synonymous with their new Touchless wheel alignment system, and if the company’s presence at Brityrex was anything to go by, they don’t mind this at all. The aligner, often referred to using the words ‘revolutionary’ and ‘breakthrough’, took centre stage at the Beissbarth stand. “This is the biggest advance in wheel aligner technology that I have ever witnessed in more than 30 years in the industry,” said Beissbarth UK managing director Philip Hodges. “Aside from pinpoint accuracy, there are enormous time savings per vehicle on the current process, which will build both capacity and turnover in all busy workshops.” The Touchless system, previously reported by Tyres & Accessories on several occasions, is touted by Beissbarth to offer the fastest wheel alignment ever. The non-contact aligner will, they say, save up to 20 minutes on preparation time per vehicle. “There’s no wheel clamps to mess about with,” a Beissbarth representative commented to Tyres & Accessories. “The vehicle is just driven into position and the results can be seen on screen in seconds.”
Continue ReadingMaxxis Raises its Profile at Brityrex
Maxxis has reported that the company enjoyed a busy three days at Brityrex International 2007, the UK’s only independent tyre trade show, with the Maxxis Centres of Excellence initiative and the new Maxxis catalogue reportedly generating major interest. “Visitors to Brityrex were the first to see our new product catalogue, which incorporates 500 tyre patterns and sizes and covers performance radials, high performance tyres and 4x4 tyres for cars and vans, plus heavy truck products and our Trailermaxx high speed trailer range,” said Derek McMartin, managing director of Maxxis International UK. “We were also impressed with the level of interest Group Tyre members showed in the Maxxis Centres of Excellence programme, which is designed to help retailers maximise profitability though a winning combination of quality products, value for money and industry-leading delivery and technical support,” he continued. According to Group Tyre (UK) commercial operations director, Karl Naylor, several dealerships have already signed up to become Maxxis Centres of Excellence (see T&A June 2007’s retail feature for more details on this).
Continue ReadingKwik-Fit Uses Mobile Phone Technology
Kwik-Fit has begun using digital pens and mobile phone technology to provide an improved fleet service. The move sees Kwik-Fit Mobile’s tyre inspectors deliver report results electronically to a control centre at the end of each day. Each report, which is logged in the digital pen, is sent immediately on completion by inspectors via their mobile phone using both Bluetooth and GPRS technology to the control centre. This means the replacement of damaged or illegal tyres, can be carried out much quicker than previously. Kwik-Fit Mobile operations director Simon Lucas said: “On receipt of the information the control centre can then contact a car driver immediately to arrange the time and location of any work to be carried out. The technology also means that we can source any tyres that are required immediately, which enables any work to be undertaken within 24 hours.
Continue ReadingAvon OE on Car that Recreates Racing’s Golden Age
Avon tyres has secured its third OE contract with a British sportscar manufacturer within the space of six months. Avon parent company Cooper Tire & Rubber Company Europe Ltd has announced the signing of an agreement with Peterborough based manufacturer Vanwall – a postwar racing marque given a new lease of life in the 21st century. This latest deal comes on top of recent contracts with Connaught and Morgan. Avon’s Turbo Steel 70 has been confirmed as the official tyre for Vanwall’s V12-powered Grand Prix Racer. Starting at £50,000 per car, and built to each customer’s individual specification, the Vanwall GPR V12 is a road legal, two-seater racing car styled on the classic 1950s Formula One cars bearing the same name, made famous at the hands of motor racing legend, Sir Stirling Moss.
Continue ReadingMichelin Exclusive Tyre Partner for Kia Cee’d
Michelin has been chosen has the exclusive tyre supplier for the Kia cee’d. Two Michelin tyres have been chosen for fitment to the cee’d range: the latest-generation Michelin Energy for 15 and 16 inch wheels; and the multi-award winning Michelin Primacy HP for 17 inch wheels. Speaking at the car’s international launch near Rome, Michael Lugert, Kia’s Vehicle Evaluation Manager explained how the R&D process began: “Very early in the car’s evolution, Kia decided to fit Michelin tyres exclusively so we could fine-tune the new model’s ride and handling characteristics very precisely. In addition, this collaboration included creating tyres that improve fuel consumption and reduce CO2 emissions – without reducing grip.”
Continue ReadingBridgestone UK Names New Motorcycle Division Manager
Bridgestone UK has strengthened its sales team with the appointment of Andrew Whitehead as manager for its motorcycle division. According to an official company statement, Whitehead’s primary role will be to “secure Bridgestone’s market share of quality motorbike tyres.” This portfolio includes the new Battlax BT-021, a long-term replacement for the successful BT-020, the market-leading sport touring tyre. “It’s an exciting time to join the motorcycle division following the official launch of the BT-021,” said Whitehead. “It’s a fantastic product, and the positive feedback we’ve received about the handling and performance capabilities of the tyre leads us to believe it will make a real impact in the market. The BT-020 is an incredibly tough act to follow, but my focus is to ensure the BT-021, and the rest of the Bridgestone motorbike range, can generate equally impressive unit sales. Andrew Whitehead, 44, formerly worked in a sales capacity for Bridgestone’s truck division following a six year stint at Dunlop, where he was also responsible for truck and motorcycle tyre sales.
Continue ReadingPlimsoll Produces Tyre Prosperity League Table
A new league table from leading financial analysts Plimsoll Publishing aims to provide an answer to that age-old question in the Tyres, Exhausts & Batteries market: Why do some companies fail and others prosper? The equation is not as simple as strong sales equals survival. Nor is the success rate of a firm automatically affected by market conditions. Instead, they say, it depends on the ingredients in a finely-balanced recipe that includes good margins, low borrowing, responsible management and foresight. Plimsoll’s new analysis of the market weighs all these ingredients and turns them into a unique one-page snapshot of each company’s prospects. From that, it establishes a league table based on 1000 leading firms that looks like this: 278 companies are in a strong position, with a pre-tax margin of 10 per cent; 116 are in the good sector, on 4 per cent margins; 160 are rated as mediocre, on 3 per cent; 272 are in the “caution” category and 174 are in the “danger” range.
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