Formula One Autocentres Opts for MAM Software
MAM Software has announced that it has completed the successful installation and commissioning of a new Autopart business management system at independent tyre retail chain Formula One Autocentres. The new system is now fully operational and is being productively used in all 37 Formula One stores across the South, South East and the Midlands. The installation of this new Autopart software has given Formula One Autocentres a fully integrated system capable of supporting their fast-fit, servicing and MoT business. The system links over 100 users with a central database at the companys head office in Stevenage. Using dedicated communication technology developed by MAM, it enables Formula One to maintain data centrally and pool statistics from each of its 37 branches. It also provides the ability to transfer stock between branches whenever required.
Continue ReadingMichelin Tops Up UK Pension Fund
A report in the Daily Telegraph revealed that Michelin is making two emergency payments, together worth nearly £60 million to plug a £286 million black hole in its UK pension scheme. According to the report, Michelin employs 3,500 in the UK and its final salary pension scheme has 5,500 active members, 9,500 pensioners and 11,000 deferred members. The final salary scheme was closed to new members last September and employee contributions rose to 5.25 per cent (from 3.25 per cent) in April. Michelins contribution is 13 per cent of salary.
Continue ReadingGT Batteries Available Same Day
Group Tyre (UK) Ltd. is now offering an up-to-three-times-daily delivery service for its GT Ultra Start range of batteries. Chairman John Church said: Our research has shown that even franchised dealer networks frequently cannot supply from stock, leaving customers frustrated and having to search for a stockist. At Group Tyre, we provide the answer, with our GT Ultra Start branded batteries available ex-stock on a same-day basis.
Continue ReadingAutomotive Hazardous Waste Service Launched
A service to help garages, workshops and automotive centres deal with the disposal of hazardous waste in line with the new July waste regulations has been introduced by waste disposal specialists, the OSS Group. The HazTech package provides a guaranteed scheduled collection for all hazardous wastes including oil, filters, batteries, solvents, brake fluid and aerosols. Under the service guarantee late collections will mean customers get the next collection free. Costs are based on a set pick-up price after which customers are only charged for the actual number of waste containers emptied at the time of collection. Containers that comply with regulations for each waste type are supplied on a weekly rental basis and the frequency of the collections depends on individual customer needs.
Continue ReadingNokian Tyres Introduces Runflat Winter Tyres
Nokian Tyres is improving the safety and comfort of driving by introducing the runflat property to its most important winter tyre models. If a flat occurs, the driver can drive on runflat tyres for about 100 km to reach a tyre store or service station where a new tyre can be fitted. The runflat property allows drivers to avoid danger and difficult tyre changes amid busy traffic. Use of runflat tyres in increasing at a very quick rate. Although runflat products held only a small share of the European tyre market in 2004 (about 0.25%), sales saw a threefold increase over the previous year. Half of the runflat products sold were winter tyres. This year sales are expected to increase even more.
Continue ReadingFIA Publishes Charges Against Michelin’s F1 Teams
Formula 1’s governing body, the FIA, has published charges against the seven Michelin supplied teams that declined to take part in Sunday’s disastrous US Grand Prix. The International Automobile Federation (FIA) said teams had “committed one or more acts prejudicial to the interests of a competition and the interests of motor sport in general.” Specific charges alleged that teams failed to ensure that they had a supply of suitable tyres for the race. Perhaps most controversially, the teams were also accused of making a demonstration damaging to the image of Formula One by pulling into the pits immediately before the start of the race”.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Wants F1 Tyre Contract
Bridgestone has put itself forward to be the sole F1 tyre supplier if Max Mosleys 2008 regulations come into place. “We want to showcase our technology,” said the manufacturer’s technical manager Hisao Suganuma, “even with a one make situation. We want to be in Formula One.” FIA president, Mosley, claims that imposing a single slick tyre would improve safety and reduce the need to test. It will also ensure that no team is affected by being “contracted to the wrong supplier”, an FIA dossier read.
Continue ReadingFederal Launches “Federal Motorsport”
Federal Corporation held its annual shareholder meeting in Chungli, Taiwan last week announcing the launch of “Federal Motorsport.” The manufacturer’s new tyre lines, are a result of “years of intense research and testing by Federal Technical Center (FTC),” said Jamie Ma, president of Federal Tire. Two distinct series’ will make up Federal Motorsport – the street-legal 595 Competition Series and the exclusive, limited production FZ Combat Series for professional circuit use.
Continue ReadingFirst Stop Dealer Says Thanks
First Stop dealership Wilson’s Tyres and Exhaust Centre has found a novel way to say thanks to its customers for their support through the year, with a golf day at a course in Cambridgeshire. “This is the seventh year running we have held the golf day,” said Nigel Wilson, manager of the outlet in Eaton Socon, “and it’s getting more and more popular each year.” “It’s always a fun and relaxing day, and a great way for us to get to know our regular customers better,” added Mr Wilson.
Continue ReadingMoving On
Having grown out of its current premises work has begun on Pro-Align’s new headquarters in Northamptonshire. The new site is located at ‘The Old Orchard’, Greens Norton and when completed, will offer bespoke offices, workshops, warehousing and an alignment bay. Carl Potter, Pro-Align’s general manager commented: “Everyone at Pro-Align is really excited about the new site as we have literally out grown our current unit. We pride ourselves on our already high level of customer services, but the new building will mean we can expand our range and stock, offer further courses in the purpose built training facility and also provide a retail alignment centre for the surrounding area too. All in all the new premises will enable us to build a future for alignment”. The company expects to move into its new premises at the end of the year.
Continue ReadingModern Tyre Celebrates 40 Years
Goodyear UK’s MD Dick Johnston recently paid a visit to Ireland’s Modern Tyre Service to congratulate directors and staff on their 40th anniversary. Having started in 1965 the company now operates through two headquarters based in Newry and Enniskillen. Following extensive investment, and the acquisition of several new depots, Modern Tyre now has a total of 26 branches making it the largest independent tyre retailer in Northern Ireland. The company services the private, fleet and wholesale markets with all major brands of tyres as well as batteries, exhausts and alloy wheels.
Continue ReadingAnother BMW OE Fitment
Bridgestone run-flat tyres are to become standard fitment to BMW’s new 3-Series. The model will join a list of BMW OE fitments for the manufacturer including the new 6-Series, 5-Series, and 1-Series. “We are delighted BMW has chosen to fit Bridgestone run-flat tyres as original equipment on the new 3-Series,” said Andy Lane, marketing manager at Bridgestone UK. Both the high-performance Bridgestone Potenza RE050 RFT tyre and the comfort-orientated Bridgestone Turanza ER300 RFT tyre will be used on 3-Series models.
Continue ReadingTitan Trades Debt For Shares
(Akron/Tire Review) Titan International Inc will swap $33.8 million in 5.25 per cent senior convertible notes (due in 2009) for Titan common stock, the company reported. The private transaction resulted in 3,022,275 shares of Titan common stock being issued to retire the notes.
Continue ReadingBandag Brings BDV Tread to N.A.
(Akron/Tire Review) Bandag Inc. has launched BDV (Bandag Drive Urban), a new pre-cure tread the company said is designed especially for bus drive tyres and for all wheel positions on pickup/delivery vehicles. Used extensively in its South American and Asian markets, said Bandag, the BDV tread design will replace Bandag’s Omnibus design in North America, which is being phased out in the next year. Bandag said the new tread is ideal for commercial applications “where irregular wear from corners and curbs presents a maintenance challenge.” The tread is available in 210, 220 and 230 mm sizes. “Field trials in the US on two urban bus fleets shows that BDV delivered 20 per cent better tread wear over the tread it is replacing,” said Chris Hoffman, Bandag’s product manager for global tyre products, “BDV offers a deep 22/32-inch tread depth which reduces maintenance expenses for fleet managers.”
Continue ReadingSilverstone Produces More ‘Premier Tyres’
Silverstone Bhd has expanded its range of premier tyres to remain competitive in the market, according to managing director Phang Wai Yeen. “We have been paying lot of attention to research and development since our inception in 1990 and that is why we have been making headway in the luxury and motor sport segments,” Mr Phang said during a visit by Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Peter Chin to the company’s plant in Kamunting, near Taiping.
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