SRI joins Sustainable Natural Rubber Initiative
Japan’s Sumitomo Rubber Industries (SRI) has signed up as a participant in the International Rubber Study Group’s Sustainable Natural Rubber Initiative (SNR-i). As a result, the tyre maker says it has “now committed itself to enacting measures in conformity with the initiatives guidelines.”
Continue Reading![Total UK ban: NTDA chief executive hardens stance on part-worn tyres](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Stefan-Hay-45.jpg)
Total UK ban: NTDA chief executive hardens stance on part-worn tyres
Following up comments made at the Tyre Wholesale Group’s annual lunch on 5 October, NTDA chief executive Stefan Hay has called for a total ban on the sale of part-worn tyres. Speaking at the association’s Tyre Industry Conference, held at the VOX Conference Centre on Thursday 6 October 2016, Hay said previous attempts to enforce current laws through collaboration with trade bodies and enforcement agencies have not yielded the required results, leaving the association with little option but to harden its stance. Later the same day, NTDA chairman Roger Griggs reiterated the message during the association’s annual dinner.
Continue Reading![Infrastructure developments, key appointments show Kirkby moving forward](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Aisle-Master.jpg)
Infrastructure developments, key appointments show Kirkby moving forward
For Liverpool based wholesaler Kirkby Tyres, 2016 has become something of a landmark year. The company is currently undergoing a major infrastructure development that includes a major Warehouse Management System (WMS), and Kirkby has also made key personnel appointments, including a new director of business development & special projects.
Continue Reading![Bridgestone: Tyre Industry Awards pay tribute to ‘giant strides’ made over past 12 months](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/TMYAward-sml.jpg)
Bridgestone: Tyre Industry Awards pay tribute to ‘giant strides’ made over past 12 months
Back-to-back titles as Tyre Manufacturer of the Year has likely led to back slapping all-round at Bridgestone. The tyre maker was selected ahead of fellow nominees Goodyear Dunlop, Hankook, Michelin, Pirelli and Yokohama to take the award for a second consecutive year at last Thursday’s Tyre Industry Awards, and this victory was further sweetened when Bridgestone scooped the Staff Training & Development Initiative of the Year award.
Continue ReadingCompilator buys Team Systems
Swedish software house Compilator announced that it has agreed to acquire English tyre software specialist Team Systems Ltd on 15 September. As a result of the acquisition Compilator gains about 500 new customers as well as six new employees.
Continue Reading![TWG chairman solidifies stance against ‘pop-up pushers’ of part-worn tyres](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/john-twg.jpg)
TWG chairman solidifies stance against ‘pop-up pushers’ of part-worn tyres
The NTDA Tyre Wholesale Group annual lunch saw greatly increased numbers alongside enhanced association support in its new position the day before the Tyre Industry Conference (5 October 2016), and location (the Hilton Birmingham Metropole adjacent to the NEC). The group chairman, Kirkby Tyres’ John Parker, presented his third – and potentially final – annual survey of the UK wholesale landscape. His topics included part-worn tyres, against which he joined the NTDA in taking a more radically oppositional stance, commented on the coming challenges and perhaps opportunities of Brexit, and the role of wholesalers in the e-commerce age.
Continue Reading![Tyre Industry Award winners 2016](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/IMG_20161006_204736.jpg)
Tyre Industry Award winners 2016
The Tyre Industry Awards have been presented for 2016 during the sold-out NTDA Annual Dinner, this year hosted by the Vox Conference Centre on the site of Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre. In addition to the various gongs, the NTDA presented Sir Tom Farmer with the National Chairman’s Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Tyre Industry, sponsored by Hankook UK, while Brian Funnell and Lennie Wells were also made NTDA Honorary Life Members. Presented by television personality Suzi Perry, the winners were decided by a panel of leading industry judges, and the results live-tweeted by Tyrepress via its Twitter feed.
Continue Reading![BKT launches mobile website](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/BKT_SitoMobile.jpg)
BKT launches mobile website
A mobile-friendly version of the BKT website went live today, and the off-road tyre maker says the m.bkt-tires.com site offers improved content research and browsing from any mobile device, with six language options (English, Italian, French, Spanish, German and Portuguese) available from the start. Additional languages will be introduced in the near future to cater to a wider range of users in the 130 countries where BKT is present. Site visitors from the USA will also be spared the ignominy of metric measurements by choosing the US standard option within the site’s settings.
Continue Reading![Uniwheels for sale? Controlling shareholder assessing “strategic options”](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/uniwheels-poland-plant.jpg)
Uniwheels for sale? Controlling shareholder assessing “strategic options”
A sharp dip in the Uniwheels AG share price was reversed on the afternoon of 4 October after the company informed the Warsaw Stock Exchange (WSE) about its controlling shareholder’s decision to “assess its strategic options.” Uniwheels Holding (Malta) Ltd., a holding company owned by former Uniwheels chief executive officer Ralf Schmid and his brother Michael, is currently “at an initial stage” with its assessment, reported the German alloy wheel manufacturer.
Continue ReadingZonar acquisition broadens Continental’s fleet management horizons
In addition to its acquisition of Hoosier Racing Tire, Continental AG reports it has taken an approximately 81 per cent shareholding in US fleet management solutions provider Zonar Systems Inc. Upon announcing the share purchase, Continental noted that its involvement in Zonar has the potential to “chart the course of the future of smart fleet management” around the world.
Continue Reading![Hoosier Racing Tire now a Continental company](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/HOOSIER-LOGO.png)
Hoosier Racing Tire now a Continental company
Germany’s Continental AG has acquired US-based tyre specialist Hoosier Racing Tire for an undisclosed sum. The deal to purchase the formerly privately-owned company was completed on 3 October. The acquisition of Hoosier Racing Tire follows seven years of collaboration with Continental, during which time the two companies worked together on various development and motorsport projects.
Continue ReadingMichelin invests in Iberian tyre distribution
Michelin has opened a new distribution centre for the Iberian peninsula following investment of some 32.5 million euros. The goal of the logistics centre located in Illescas, near Toledo in Spain is to optimise logistics performance in Spain, Andorra and Portugal, not to mention the Balearics, the Canaries, the Azores and Madeira.
Continue Reading![STARCO moves to new HQ – Bohnenkamp settles into former site](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/STARCOHQ.jpg)
STARCO moves to new HQ – Bohnenkamp settles into former site
Denmark’s STARCO has called Skovby, near Aarhus, its home since 1993, however its headquarters site for the past 23 years was recently sold to Germany’s Bohnenkamp as part of the divestment of STARCO’s aftermarket activities. Bohnenkamp A/S – the company previously known as STARCO A/S – is now located in the 4,500 square metre office and warehouse facility in Skovby, and STARCO employees have moved to 515 square metres of rented office space in nearby Brabrand.
Continue Reading![LKQ Corporation acquires Andrew Page](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/ECP_martingray.jpg)
LKQ Corporation acquires Andrew Page
LKQ Corporation has announced that its United Kingdom subsidiary, Euro Car Parts, has acquired substantially all the business assets of UK automotive parts distributor Andrew Page Limited. As part of the transaction, Euro Car Parts will acquire 102 Andrew Page branch locations, its national distribution centre and corporate office.
Continue Reading![Johnson Matthey on the move](https://www.tyrepress.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/JM-opening.jpg)
Johnson Matthey on the move
Johnson Matthey Battery Systems Automotive has relocated to new facilities in Milton Keynes. Precedent House has been officially opened by the Lord Mayor of Milton Keynes, Councillor Coventry. Local councillor Robert Middleton also attended last week’s event.
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