UK’s RMA and BTMA amalgamate to strengthen retreading representation
Considering the evolution of the retreading market in the UK to fewer and larger players, the Retread Manufacturers’ Association (RMA) has been faced with somewhat dwindling numbers of members. Consolidation has meant fewer distinct companies, which has in turn made for a reduced membership base. However, this does not necessarily equate to the reduced vitality of retreading in the UK – while certainly facing many challenges from the availability of lower-cost new tyres imported from the Far East, retreading has continued to prove relevant to a greater or lesser degree depending on prevailing macroeconomic winds.
Continue ReadingAutoelectro premieres its ‘behind the scenes’ video online
Autoelectro has released its new ‘behind the scenes’ video, filmed at its Bradford headquarters and remanufacturing facility, that illustrates the company’s journey to becoming the UK’s largest independent remanufacturer and supplier of starter motors and alternators.
Continue ReadingChange in pairs – two new headlamps ‘safer than one’, says Lumileds
Why change in pairs? An old lamp deteriorates fast, and if one bulb fails the second will probably fail shortly after. It’s a smarter, more convenient and more economic approach to maintenance, two new lamps are brighter so you see further and get a balanced view of the road.
Continue ReadingMelksham Motor Spares celebrates 50 years of service
Melksham Motor Spares, one of the South West Region’s largest independent motor factors, has celebrated its 50th anniversary with a record-breaking trade show for customers. More than 350 customers and guests attended the invitation-only event, held at Melksham Town Football Club’s new £7.3 million facility.
Continue ReadingVW diesel scandal – Audi manager under arrest
Investigators in the VW diesel scandal have taken a high-level manager into custody. Audi boss Rupert Stadler was detained on Monday due to the danger of evidence being suppressed. Stadler’s position at the top of the senior VW subsidiary and thus also on the VW Board, will be taken temporarily by the Dutchman Bram Schot, provided this is approved by the Audi board of trustees. The German press agency has discovered this through trusted informants. The 56 year old has been sales director at Audi for about nine months.
Continue ReadingCLEPA award for Acorus flexible wheel collaboration
The Acorus collaboration between Michelin and Maxion Wheels was voted a runner-up in the third annual CLEPA Innovation Awards. CLEPA, the European Association of Automotive Suppliers, named Acorus its third-placed awardee in the Cooperation category. The award was accepted on behalf of the two companies by Pieter Klinkers, chief executive officer of Maxion Wheels, at a ceremony held in The Hague on 13 June.
Continue ReadingNew polymer improves tyre abrasion resistance, durability
A world first has been claimed by Bridgestone Corporation with the development of a polymer that bonds rubber and resins at the molecular level. Bridgestone believes this High Strength Rubber (HSR) polymer will lead to tyres that require fewer raw materials to deliver the performance expected from them.
Continue ReadingBridgestone publishes 2017-18 Sustainability Report
The Bridgestone Group’s 2017-2018 Sustainability Report is now available and can be read here. The report highlights Bridgestone’s global efforts in the priority areas of Mobility, People and the Environment and provides information about the group’s corporate governance. It also outlines how Bridgestone is aligning its business strategy with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and further articulates progress towards it 2020 targets.
Continue ReadingExxonMobil opens Singapore butyl and resins plants
On 21 June 2018 ExxonMobil announced it had started production of hydrogenated hydrocarbon resin and halobutyl rubber at its integrated manufacturing complex in Singapore, the company’s largest integrated refining and petrochemical complex in the world. ExxonMobil’s new Escorez hydrogenated hydrocarbon resins plant will be the world’s largest with a capacity of 90,000 tonnes per year, and will meet long-term demand growth for hot-melt adhesives used in packaging or baby diapers. The new 140,000-tonnes-per-year butyl plant will produce premium halobutyl rubber used by manufacturers for tyres to better maintain inflation to improve fuel economy.
Continue ReadingPro-Align launches two-day aftersales commitment
Pro-Align has launched a new commitment to visit customers with a valid aftersales agreement within two days of receiving a reported issue on Hunter equipment. For customers where a visit cannot be completed within the agreed time frame, no charge will be made for the resulting repair. The garage equipment distributor said the new commitment has been made in response to a growing number of workshops’ reliance on Hunter wheel servicing equipment for profit maximisation.
Continue ReadingGoodyear CFO Laura K. Thompson to retire
Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company executive vice president and chief financial officer (CFO) Laura K. Thompson is to retire in the first quarter of 2019 after 35 years of service.
Continue ReadingAutoelectro maintains ISO quality standards
Autoelectro is proud to report that it has successfully gained recertification/transition to ISO 9001:2015, ISO 14001:2015 and OHSAS 18001:2007 accreditations following its recent annual surveillance visit.
Continue ReadingEDT Automotive signs nine garages to network during Automechanika debut
EDT Automotive, the multi-award winning engine decontamination specialist, has enjoyed a phenomenally successful debut show at this year’s Automechanika Birmingham, signing nine garages live on the stand as well as co-sponsoring the event’s Garage of the Year awards.
Continue ReadingTechMan announces partnership at Automechanika Birmingham
TechMan, the fast-growing garage management system provider, enjoyed a hugely successful Automechanika Birmingham debut at the NEC in Birmingham from June 5-7.
Continue ReadingVacu-Lug becomes Hankook Alphatread UK retread partner
Vacu-Lug has become the new retread manufacturing partner for Hankook in the UK. The company signalled its new status by including the manufacturer’s Alphatread retreading brand on its stand at the Commercial Vehicle Show (24-26 April, Birmingham NEC), coinciding with the beginning of production of the Alphatread bead-to-bead retread truck tyre range at the Vacu-Lug factory in Grantham.
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