Fagan & Whalley chooses Hankook as tyre supplier
Complete road haulage specialist Fagan & Whalley has selected Hankook Tyre UK to supply tyres for its 164-strong fleet of Scania trucks and 342 trailers. The tyre maker shares that the Lancashire-based haulier chose Hankook after being offered a “complete tyre solution coupled with an unrivalled service and support package.” The Hankook SmartFlex AH31 will be fitted to all steer and lift axles in the Fagan & Whalley fleet, the SmartFlex DH31 fitment to all drive axles and the TH22 for all trailer fitments.
Continue ReadingGuizhou/Advance Tyre release further Vietnam factory plans
At the end of April Tyres & Accessories reported that Guizhou Tyre Co. Ltd. announced plans to build a truck tyre factory in Vietnam. Back then, reports suggest the company would invest RMB 1.67 billion (£189.3 million) in the project for a plant capable of manufacturing 1.2 million all-steel radials per annum. The intention was to set up the factory in the Long Jiang Industrial Park, some 30 miles from Ho Chi Minh City where a 20-hectare site had been selected. During the recent Tire+ exhibition in Shanghai, Tyres & Accessories sat down with Guizhou’s general manager of the export division, Jie You, and found out more about the company and its plans.
Continue ReadingFirst non-CAM independent software vendor signs up to TiDaeX
Bournemouth’s Asset Systems has become the first independent software vendor (ISV) to sign up to CAM’s TiDaeXTM platform. The company said the move would help its commercial service customers enjoy the benefits of integration into an emerging number of third party systems in the truck, bus and van tyre service domain.
Continue ReadingContinental HQ project – twice as expensive as first announced?
When Continental AG set out its plans for building a new headquarters in Hannover, Germany, it talked about a project that would “reach into the high double-digit million-euro range.” One German newspaper writes that the tyre and automotive systems manufacturer is now looking at a bill more than twice this amount.
Continue ReadingMichelin invests in SmartDrive Systems
Video safety and transportation intelligence firm SmartDrive Systems shares that Michelin North America has led a preferred-stock round of investment in the company. Michelins investment in SmartDrive continues the expansion of its strategy for fleet telematics and mobility services. SmartDrive says it will leverage the investment to “fuel its continued growth in video analytics and transportation intelligence, with a particular emphasis in the areas of R&D, sales and marketing, and expansion in North America and international markets.”
Continue ReadingPopular Science award for Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9
Every year for the past three decades, Popular Science has reviewed the latest innovations and recognised the pick of the bunch in its Best of What’s New awards. In 2017, the world’s largest science and technology magazine has selected the Nokian Hakkapeliitta 9 as an awardee. The studded tyre is one of 100 winners honoured in 11 categories.
Continue ReadingRema Tip Top wins fourth consecutive Tyre Industry Award
Rema Tip Top Automotive UK won its fourth consecutive Tyre Industry Award in the Aftermarket Equipment Supplier of the Year category. Sponsored by Automechanika, the award was presented to group CEO Mark Insley and managing director Cliff Jones at the 88th Annual NTDA Dinner on 12 October.
Continue ReadingTyre Industry Awards a ‘resounding endorsement’ of ETEL training programmes
Following three 2017 Tyre Industry Awards, European Tyre Enterprises Limited (ETEL) said its success in three separate personnel focused awards categories proved the quality of its staff development initiatives. The company prevailed in the Staff Training and Development Initiative Award with Kwik-Fit, while members of staff won National Apprentice Tyre Technician of the Year (Kimberley Locker, STS Tyre Pro) and REACT Roadside Technician of the Year award (Adam Grimley, Central Tyre (Commercial), who shared the award with Tomasz Woiciechowski of Tyre Maintenance).
Continue ReadingFirst Stop welcomes Harlow-based Uncle Tom’s Motorist Centre to network
The extension of First Stop’s fast fit network has continued to accelerate with the addition of Uncle Tom’s Motorist Centre. The Harlow based garage’s owner Laurence Nicholls has 45 years of experience, making Uncle Tom’s a mainstay in the community. He said the decision to become a First Stop partner would enable his business to continue improving and adding more strings to its bow.
Continue ReadingPoint S opens 500th outlet in France
Independent tyre dealer group Point S has opened its 500th point-of-sale in France, and Point S France is planning for further growth by the end of the year. The aim by the end of 2017 is to have 520 locations within the country.
Continue ReadingA step into the future – Alcar improves finish quality with paint shop investment
If you’ve bought a new car any time recently, or indeed since the start of the century, chances are it arrived with alloy rims as standard. Alloys are well established as the fitment of choice in Europe, and widespread OEM take-up has been accompanied by rising expectations regarding quality. The knock-on effect of this has also influenced the aftermarket: Amongst those meeting demand for higher quality products by investing in their facilities is the Alcar Group, which recently ploughed around 7.3 million euros into the final stages of the manufacturing process.
Continue ReadingMichelin: Net sales up 3% in Q3 2017
Reporting its performance during the third quarter of 2017 and the first nine months of the current financial year, Michelin has announced net sales of 5.34 billion euros for the three months to 30 September 2017. This result represents a 3.0 per cent year-on-year increase in net sales and includes a favourable 5.0 per cent price-mix effect and 1.0 per cent growth in volumes.
Continue ReadingUpstream acquisition: Michelin purchases Lehigh Technologies
Michelin has announced its acquisition of Lehigh Technologies, a US-based company that has developed a patented cryogenic turbo mill technology for transforming rubber from end-of-life tyres and industrial goods into materials for new tyres and other products. The acquisition was completed on 13 October.
Continue Reading![Bain Capital building ‘European tyre distribution group’](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/fintyre-17.jpg)
Bain Capital building ‘European tyre distribution group’
This year specialist private equity firm Bain Capital has been busy making strategic acquisitions in the European tyre wholesale and retail sectors. First off the company bought Italian tyre wholesaler Fintyre from previous owners Bluegem Capital back in March. Then at the end of June the firm added the German Reiff operation to its portfolio, an acquisition that was subsequently approved by the EC in August. Tyres & Accessories recently interviewed Ivano Sessa, one of Bain Capital Private Equity’s managing directors, and learnt that there are plans for further mergers and acquisitions with a view to creating a “larger tyre distribution group across Europe”.
Continue ReadingDunlop receives KTM Supplier Quality Excellence Award
Dunlop has received motorcycle manufacturer KTM’s Supplier Quality Excellence Award. The Austrian manufacturer rated Dunlop as an A+ supplier for the perfect supply of motorcycle tyres in 2016. Dunlop states that KTM is currently the fastest growing motorcycle manufacturer in the world.
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