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S-mark legislation limiting the sound levels emitted by tyres won’t not take effect until March 2010. According to an NTDA e-zine published this afternoon, the revised deadline comes after the Department of Transport reported that there has been “a delay in putting into place the statutory instrument which is required for the new s-marking regulations to become law.” In short, there won’t be any means of enforcing the new law in the UK until March 2010.
A major marketing campaign is underway to promote the next staging of Brityrex International, which will take place at Manchester Central 5 -7 October 2010. Show organisers ECI International report that early July saw the distribution of 10,000 information packs for the UK’s only dedicated tyre, accessory and workshop equipment trade exhibition. This activity will be supplemented by extensive UK and international tyre trade advertising, marketing, information and online campaigns over the next 12 months.
In addition to covering all sectors of the tyre industry, Brityrex 2010 will also place increased emphasis on workshop equipment, tools and services. Research suggests that tyre retailers and distributors have delayed or postponed making capital purchases during the recession, which is expected to create increased demand for new equipment as market conditions improve later next year.
Musculoskeletal disorders, which often arise from poor manual handling practice, are the most common cause of occupational ill health in Britain and currently affect a million people a year – and they are said to cost the nation some £5.7 billion. The need to increase awareness of such risks amongst tyre industry employees has prompted the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) to team up with the National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA) and the British Tyre Manufacturers Association (BTMA). It is hoped this three-way cooperation can inform workers of potential dangers and reduce the number of injuries caused each year.
If you are not sure whether your stock is s-marked or not, you need to read this. With just a couple of months left before s-marking comes into force, there could be as many as 2.5 million non-compliant tyres left in the supply chain.
2009 has seen the tyre business rush to interpret and apply tyre various different legislation affecting manufacturers, wholesalers, importers and distributors alike. Arguably this year has seen more new focus on this subject than in any of the five years preceding it put together. However, conflicting opinions in the market place, announcements of formal “first readings” and the general legal complexity of the texts have led to more than a little confusion in the marketplace.
Brityrex 2010 has been endorsed by leading industry names as the UK’s only dedicated tyre, workshop equipment and accessories exhibition as the trade show’s organisers gear up to return to Manchester on 5, 6 and 7 October 2010.
Kings Road Tyres, Beissbarth, Apaseal, Hofmann Megaplan and Techking Tires are just some of the companies who have already committed themselves to the show, following news of its postponement for 2009. “It’s very encouraging that the vast majority of businesses who were due to exhibit this year have already said ‘yes’ to 2010,” said Paul Farrant, managing director of exhibition organiser ECI International.
As many as 3.6 million UK motorists could be driving on illegal tyres, according to the latest research. Figures from the National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA) show that of nearly 60,000 cars checked in January 2009 by retail members, 7,000 were being driven on at least one illegal tyre. Extrapolated across the population, this could amount to 3.6 million cars in the UK whose owners are at risk of causing serious road accidents. The disturbing findings are reflected by another recent survey conducted by TyreSafe, revealing that nearly one in ten motorists expects to spend less on tyres in 2009 compared with last year.
“When you consider that there are over 30 million cars on the UK’s roads, learning that one in ten motorists admits they plan to spend less on tyres shows an alarming lack of awareness among drivers towards their own road safety and the safety of the others,” TyreSafe chairman Rob Beddis commented. “Many tyre dealers have indeed reported that more drivers are letting their tyres run below the legal tread depth before they replace them as they feel the financial pinch. This is a worrying trend which sadly may result in more accidents and road deaths as a result of the loss of grip and longer stopping distances associated with illegal tyres.”
The TyreSafe research reveals that motorists in London are most likely to decrease their spending on tyres in 2009 with one in ten drivers expecting to spend less, while drivers in the East Midlands have the most responsible attitude towards replacing tyres, with less than 3 per cent expecting to spend less on tyres over the coming year.
Chinese tyre manufacturers and wholesalers are targeting the UK market for increased export sales, with a growing number of exhibitors taking advantage of the opportunities presented by September’s Brityrex exhibition in Manchester. In the past month, a large number of Chinese suppliers have confirmed their involvement with the show as producers seek expanded international business to offset reduced domestic demand. Among companies now signed-up are Koryo Tyres industrial, Long March, Qingdao Odyking Tyre Company, Shandong Wanda Boto Tyre, Star Tyre Group of Shanghai and Techking Tires.
“We are taking more enquiries and bookings from China than any other country apart from the UK at the present time,” explains Paul Farrant of show organiser ECI International. “China has such massive production capacity that it needs to sell more product overseas to compensate for lower demand at home. Brityrex is seen as a gateway to the UK market which is why exhibitors are so keen to get involved in the show.”
Further details of September’s Brityrex exhibition in Manchester have been announced by ECI International. These include a series of new exhibitors who have signed-up for the UK industry’s only dedicated tyre trade event in 2009 and a workshop programme organised by show sponsor the NTDA. Brityrex09 will take place from the 22-24 September 2009 at Manchester Central, formerly known as G-Mex. The show is sponsored by the NTDA, who will stage its highly popular Annual Dinner and TAFF Awards presentation as part of the event, on the evening of 23 September.
Brityrex continues to attract exhibitors eager to buck the downturn by promoting their businesses to UK and international buyers. Among recent signings are Chinese tyre manufacturer Techking; leading electronics and diagnostics supplier Robert Bosch, who will share a 133 square metre stand space with workshop equipment specialist Beissbarth; Majorlift Hydraulics Equipment; Autogem Motor Concepts and Profil SP.J. Daly Tyres, the Irish tyre and alloy wheel wholesaler is another new exhibitor; the company is the exclusive distributor of the Kenda, Firenza and Infinity tyre brands in Ireland.
They join other big names from the aftermarket who have already committed to the show, including tyre manufacturers Toyo and Uniroyal Truck Tyres; major wholesalers in KRT and BITS; workshop equipment specialists Beissbarth, Haweka and Hofmann Megaplan; repair materials, tools and accessories supplier Apaseal; plus IT and software companies MAM and Team Systems.
According to ECI managing director Paul Farrant, aftermarket suppliers are taking a very positive view of the exhibition, refusing to let the economic downturn deter them: “There is certainly a feeling that the aftermarket is better equipped to ride out the recession than those automotive businesses involved in OE supply or new car sales,” he said. “The fact that many private motorists and businesses will be keeping their vehicles longer than normal means there will be extra replacement sales and servicing work which can insulate the sector from direct exposure to the worst effects of the slowdown. Brityrex will be a great place to do business for those companies who approach it with that sense of optimism,” added Mr Farrant.
With many tyre and fast-fit retailers involved in mechanical and MOT work the announcement of a joint workshop majoring on the business of MOT testing by the NTDA and the Garage Equipment Association (GEA) will be of significant interest to show visitors.
The NTDA has also linked up with the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) to run a working session on the subject of manual handling of tyres, which is regarded as a critical subject in terms of injury prevention and awareness among tyre retailers and wholesalers.
Paul Farrant explained further: “Brityrex is all about improving your business by meeting new customers and suppliers and picking up knowledge and information that can help in the workplace. That’s why these workshops will be so valuable to trade visitors; they will provide the latest information on important subjects in a short and snappy fashion at no cost to delegates.”
When the NTDA’s increasingly Influential Tyre Wholesalers’ Group (TWG) met for its annual lunch in November, the event brought with it news of import quality checks, an update on the current market situation and a polite request for not manufacturers to take advantage of the UK’s detached geographical position when it comes to pricing.
However, in his role as chairman, Ashley Croft began by giving the audience representing the majority of leading manufacturers and wholesalers an overview of how the economic climate is affecting tyre wholesale markets:
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE), working with the National Tyre Distributors Association (NTDA) and the British Tyre Manufacturers Association (BTMA), is running a series of workshops designed to draw attention to the dangers of handling tyres. The nationwide series of workshops are being held at venues across the country from January and March 2009.
NTDA director Richard Edy said: “NTDA research shows that back injuries caused by lifting tyres incorrectly are responsible for a huge number of lost man-hours in our sector and we are delighted to be working with the HSE to highlight the dangers to the trade.”
Reifen China 2008 opened its doors in Shanghai today, with over 3000 visitors entering the city’s New International Expo Center for the show. The show’s organisers – Messe Essen, China United Rubber (Group) Company and concept partner Bundesverband Reifenhandel und Vulkanisieur-Handwerk (the German equivalent of the NTDA) – were all reportedly pleased with the 25 per cent increase in visitor numbers compared with the 2007 show. Over 110 companies from 16 countries are exhibiting their products and services at Reifen China covering 3500 square metres of floor space (31 per cent more than the 2007 show).
Tyre safety body TyreSafe has come a long way since its birth as the Tyre Industry Council in 1992. Chairman, Rob Beddis, explains the evolution of the organisation, what it stands for, its achievements to date and its plans for the future.
TyreSafe as an organisation officially took shape in January 2007, with the aim of evolving into the UK’s leading tyre safety industry body. The Tyre Industry Council was originally formed by tyre industry associations with the intention of raising consumer awareness of the dangers of illegal or defective tyres. The original membership comprised the British Rubber Manufacturers Association (BRMA), now the British Tyre Manufacturers Association (BTMA), and the Imported Tyre Manufacturers Association along with support from major tyre retailers.
Next September’s Brityrex exhibition in Manchester has got off to a flying start with some of the best-known names in tyres, workshop equipment and accessories committing to exhibit at the UK’s only dedicated tyre trade event. Among those making an early decision to support the show are tyre manufacturers Toyo Tires and Uniroyal truck tyres, together with two of the UK’s leading tyre wholesalers, BITS and Kings Road Tyres.
Brityrex09 will take place from the 22-24 September 2009 at Manchester Central, formerly known as G-Mex. The show is sponsored by the NTDA, who will stage its highly popular Annual Dinner and TAFF Awards presentation as part of the event, on the evening of 23 September.
Grouptyre has appointed Karl Naylor as Managing Director following the departure of Peter Harries, who has left to take up a key opportunity elsewhere within the tyre industry. During 14 months with Grouptyre, Harries has worked on processes designed to build upon the company’s leading role in the tyre wholesaling industry. In this period Grouptyre has enjoyed sales growth of over 15 per cent.
This year’s Tyre Safety Month (October 2008) will focus on the importance of tyre pressure in vehicle safety, with the campaign being designed to help motorists understand the dangers of under and over-inflated tyres, as well as raising awareness of how, where and when to check tyre pressure. And according to the organisers, there are plenty of opportunities for the trade to get involved:
Promotional materials
TyreSafe has developed a number of promotional support materials, available for free from its website. Posters advertising free tyre checks can be downloaded, along with leaflets for consumers explaining the importance of tyre pressure and tread in vehicle safety, and press release templates that you can use to send your local press. All you have to do is fill in your company’s details and send the article to your paper. A limited amount of printed material is also available by calling 020 7457 5040.
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