TAFF Awards 2010: Tyre & Aftermarket Equipment Supplier of the Year

This category reminds us that it is not all about round, black, rubbery objects; tyre shops need the consumables, tools and machinery to demount, repair, balance and align wheels and tyres. Three of last year's nominees have made it again – Apaseal, Auto4 and Rema Tip Top – and are joined by Harvie Tyres and Pro-Align, who won last year's Innovation Award.

Apaseal: Apaseal are again proud to be nominated for the aftermarket supplier award, having experience in the industry for over 65 years. The organisation remains driven to meet the demands of its customers, through partnership working in order to ensure the highest level of service and customer satisfaction.

Apaseal continue to invest in technology and company representatives report that the firm has this year developed the industry’s most advanced service and maintenance system. Launched in June, this cutting edge system shows the company’s commitment to servicing customers today and into the future. 
Said a spokesman: “We remotely manage our mobile workforce, helping to reducing phone costs, downtime and head office visits. We also allocate jobs via TomTom WORK, which shows vehicle locations in real time and efficiently navigates engineers to site.

“At each visit, our engineers complete a worksheet with an easy to use Destiny Digital Pen, and an electronic copy of paperwork is completed on-site so records are updated with no extra input needed. All calibration certificates and estimates are completed in the same way and are emailed instantly from site to our customers.”

Apaseal strives to develop tailored solutions for its customers and helps to build the tyre distributor’s business. The organisation remains committed to its long-established philosophy, of providing its valued customers with a complete service and solution at competitive pricing, to meet ever-changing demands.

Auto4: Auto4 would like to thank NTDA members for its nomination in the TAFF Awards. Jonathan Formon, managing director, commented: “We are proud to be nominated for a second year running and very much hope that by continuing to make sure our customers remain our number one priority and at the heart of our business, we will also win for the second year running!

“At Auto4 we focus on getting the basics right and keeping them that way. For us it is about consistency of service, quality and availability of products and competitiveness of pricing. It is about being honest and open with our customers and always doing what we say we will do.”

Since winning the award last year Auto4 has launched a number of new initiatives for customers. The Auto REWARD scheme has been in place since November 2009 and since this time all account customers have been building up points which they can use to save money on other Auto4 products.

Auto4 realises that market conditions are still challenging and has launched a ‘have now, pay later’ scheme for capital equipment, helping to reduce the financial pressure of investing in new equipment by providing credit without fees or hidden costs.

The latest initiative, the purchase of used equipment, has been introduced in response to customer demand. Auto4 will buy your used equipment (regardless of whether you want to replace it with new), or will part exchange it against a new machine. Auto4 will shortly be adding second hand and refurbished equipment to its already comprehensive range.

Since winning a TAFF Award in 2009, the profile of Auto4 has dramatically increased. What hasn’t changed however is the desire to constantly improve our business and market proposition and create lasting value for customers.

Harvie Tyres: Harvie is a well recognised and respected name in the UK tyre industry and in October 2004, in a strategiv move, Harvie joined forces with Prema. Prema is a US brand concept and has already been launched in more than 30 countries around the world including Japan, Turkey, Canada, South Africa and the US and has been very positively received indeed.

Harvie Prema is becoming increasingly well established on the UK market and the company says it is delighted at how well this exceptional new brand has been received. The Harvie Team report they have a very good working relationship with their customers and are committed to providing quality service and products.

Prema products are tested under extreme conditions in laboratories and field tests to assure consistent quality at the highest possible levels. Prema products are produced in modern facilities according to Prema Products, Inc. formulations and specifications.

90 per cent of Harvie products are sold directly off the Harvie vans. The company also offers next day delivery on any product and, if you have an account or if payment is received via credit card, orders before 4pm will be delivered next day.

Pro-Align: Pro-Align is delighted at being nominated for this year’s NTDA TAFF Awards in the Tyre & Aftermarket Equipment Supplier of the year category. “It is truly fantastic to be recognised by the nation’s tyre and fast-fit business for the specialist equipment and service that we provide,” confirms Pro-Align’s Kathryn Beaurain

“We believe this recognition and our success is due to a combination of factors:
•    Specialisation in four wheel alignment and alignment bay related equipment. 
•    Quality of the Hunter equipment range and its leading edge technology, – providing our customers with improved productivity and revenue generation not just for today but the future.
•    High standards of training and the ‘Pro-Align added value factor’ offers, full  guidance to ensure customers are given the best opportunity to reap the rewards from providing professional four wheel alignment servicing.
•    Exceptional level of service support. By specialising, we can ensure our customers are fully supported, whether it is via the technical helpline or our fully-equipped national dedicated aftersales team, as downtime is lost business & revenue.
•    We are passionate about four wheel alignment, not just in the supply of equipment, but in improving alignment standards for everyone nationwide.

Whichever way the voting goes, we are pleased to have reached the nomination stage; a true achievement against some strong competition and proof that Pro-Align are obviously making their mark on the industry.”

Rema Tip Top Automotive UK: is once again proud to be nominated for the Tyre and Aftermarket Equipment Supplier of the Year award. As always the company is looking forward to this event with great anticipation as it coincides with Brityrex 2010. 

The company welcomes new and existing customers to come and see the latest additions to the range.  These include the stunning new Probalance 7320 and 7415 Sonar wheel balancers, high performance Nitrogen technology from PCL and the exemplary Promaxx tyre changer and Protec in operation.

As far as the company’s wheel balancers are concerned, the Probalance 7320 is the starter model. It is a compact wheel balancer with digital display for passenger car wheels. It can also be adapted to suit light truck and motorcycle tyres, with the appropriate accessories.

The new Probalance 7415 Sonar wheel balancer uses a laser for the fully automated and accurate handling of alloy rims. The machine is space-saving, and with its automated programmes provides fast and easy handling. It is also equipped with a width sonar system to accurately determine the wheel width.

The there is the nitrogen range. Combining the latest in high performance nitrogen generation with leading inflation technology, the PCL N2 Generator is the ideal piece of equipment for anyone in the tyre service industry looking for a reliable cost effective unit capable of providing excellent revenue.

The PCL N2 removes the need to buy, store and handle bottles – but the overriding benefit is that using nitrogen as an alternative to air provides enhanced handling, improved fuel efficiency, extended tyre life, and most importantly, increased safety for all car users.

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