Vitora tyre brand “growing fast”
Distributed in the UK by Traxx Tyres, Vitora is a relatively new tyre brand. At The Tire Cologne we caught up with Luke Bedford, who is in charge of international sales for Vitora, and he filled us in on what’s been happening since the brand was established two years ago.
Continue ReadingApollo Vredestein is FTA’s ‘Van Excellence’ newest partner
Tyre manufacturer Apollo Vredestein has been announced as a partner to the Freight Transport Association’s (FTA) Van Excellence scheme, an innovative initiative designed to recognise excellence within the commercial vehicle sector and improve operational standards.
Continue ReadingNexen Tire a GCSI winner – again
The Global Management Association, a research evaluation institution operated by South Korea’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, has voted Nexen Tire the tyre segment winner of its Global Customer Satisfaction Competency Index (GCSI) for the ninth consecutive year. The tyre maker’s victory is based upon feedback received by the approximately 102,000 respondents to an online survey performed in April 2018. The survey rated companies in categories such as customer satisfaction, customer value, global competency and loyalty.
Continue ReadingZC Rubber to benefit from tariffs
Although present with its Goodride, Golden Crown and Westlake brands at The Tire Cologne, Richard Li stressed that the main focus for the Zhongce Rubber Group (ZC Rubber) during the show was upon the last of the trio. Westlake is, explained the assistant general manager and marketing director, the tyre maker’s “flagship brand in Europe.”
Continue ReadingStability & margins: Deldo positive about 2018
When we spoke to Deldo’s Tom van Dyck a year ago, the tyre industry was wrestling steeply rising raw material costs. Having passed these increases on to their customers, budget tyre manufacturers were cutting production to compensate for a sharp drop in orders. Within this market environment, Deldo was manoeuvring to minimise impact upon its […]
Continue ReadingAbsolute Alignment offers Bluetooth alignment for all vehicle sizes
Absolute Alignment, supplier of OEM-approved 3D and Bluetooth wheel alignment equipment, provides installations for use on a wide range of vehicles, from a standard recovery truck to a Mini. Garages and workshops can offer these extensive four wheel alignment services – for commercial vehicles and passenger cars – with a Bluetooth Pro Wheel Aligner, currently one of Absolute Alignment’s top selling products.
Continue ReadingTechMan helps Manor Motor Company ‘fill MOT bay every day’
Manor Motor Company is reporting a significant spike in business since implementing the TechMan garage management system. The Birmingham-based independent, which was established in 2013, adopted TechMan at the end of January, after making the decision to upgrade from a paper diary booking system.
Continue ReadingSigmavision to launch cloud-based proactive tyre sales management service
Sigmavision has announced its plans to launch TreadManager, a new cloud-based tyre sales management service developed for the tyre aftermarket. The company states that TreadManager will help tyre providers to increase sales revenue and boost turnover from tyre-related services. Registered users will be provided with tyre measurement data and management information for all vehicles scanned using TreadReader tyre measurement devices. The full range of TreadReader products, including the Hand Held scanner and all specifications of the Drive Over ramp, whether flush-fit or surface-mounted, will be compatible with TreadManager.
Continue ReadingMichelin Man turns 120
He’s looking sprightly for a Supercentenarian who’s reached his 13th decade. Bibendum, the Michelin Man, has turned 120, and will spend much of the year celebrating. A major exhibition covering 120 years of Bibendum will open on 27 July at L’Aventure Michelin, the tyre maker’s museum in Clermont-Ferrand, France. Visitors can revel in the Bibendum story until 31 December 2018.
Continue ReadingThree VW Group compact SUVs to run on GitiPremium SUV PX1
Volkswagen Group’s VW T-Roc, Seat Ateca and Škoda Karoq will run on Giti Tire’s GitiPremium SUVPX1 tyre. The three MQB-A1 platform models will fit the tyre in size 215/60R16 95V. All three models will be available across Europe, with the VW T-Roc made in Portugal, and the Seat Ateca and Karoq produced in the Czech Republic.
Continue ReadingUniversity award for Continental’s Taraxagum project
The Taraxagum research project into the use of rubber from Russian dandelions in tyres has led to Continental and Professor Dirk Prüfer from the Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology being awarded the University of Münster’s Transfer Prize. Continental shares that the €10,000 prize was awarded for the successful transfer of expertise from biotechnology research to commercial application.
Continue ReadingUK’s ballooning UHP tyre market a huge opportunity for Inter-Sprint
A giant amongst tyre distributors on the other side of the Channel, Inter-Sprint’s business in the UK is currently low-key. Yet the company sees good growth potential here and is well-positioned to capitalise on this. We recently spoke with Inter-Sprint’s Jon Oram to find out more.
Continue ReadingCamso to open new track manufacturing plant
A new track manufacturing plant is being set up in the USA to meet growing demand from agricultural and construction segment customers for Camso’s tracks and track systems. The 139,000 square foot (12,900 square metre) facility, located in Junction City, Kansas, is expected to open in January 2020. The increase in production capacity that will accompany the plant’s opening will enable Camso to shorten its delivery lead times.
Continue ReadingMicheldever/Protyre moves up to fourth, Lodge Tyres jumps in retail rankings
In last year’s ranking of the top tyre retailers in the UK, Tyres & Accessories predicted that the pace of change in the top 20 chains by branch count would result in some jostling for position. This has proved entirely accurate, as two major acquisitions have brought two of 2017’s top 20 into the fold of higher ranked companies, leading to both Micheldever/Protyre, leapfrogging HiQ into fourth place as predicted last year, and Lodge Tyre, into the top 10 from joint-14th last year, making significant jumps in this year’s table. Most other retailers have held relatively stable positions in terms of the number of stores, while our most recent additions to the table, Eden Tyres (15 stores) and Elite Garages (13) were identified as narrowly missing out on places last year.
Continue ReadingFintyre acquisition shows fast-growing firm is ‘doing OK’
European finTyre Distribution (EFD) has been growing rapidly since its private equity owners Bain Capital backed the acquisition of Italian tyre wholesaler Fintyre back in March 2017. Since then the company has been on the acquisition trail, buying Pneusmarket and Franco Gomma in Italy as well as Reiff and most recently Reifen Krieg in Germany – all in order to build a “European tyre distribution group”. Tyres & Accessories recently spoke with Fintyre managing director Mauro Pessi and asked who’s next and what’s the exit plan?
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