QH Brake Discs now supplied as singles
From 1 January 2013 the QH Brake Discs range of 2,000 standard, high carbon and black discs will be packaged as single parts, adding convenience and flexibility to this very popular product. Category manager Jon Haywood explains why the change of packing policy has been implemented:
Continue ReadingAdvan V105 – Super-sport meets luxury
With a technical background that includes a stint as a motorsport technician working in the UK 30 years ago, Yokohama’s president went on to share further details of exactly how the new tyre surpasses its predecessor. To improve steering stability, a new "Matrix Body Ply Structure" was developed employing technology fostered through participation in world motorsports. According to the company, weight was reduced while rigidity was maintained, producing more agile handling and more comfortable ride, although this upgrade is not available on all sizes in the range. Meanwhile the asymmetrical, non-directional tread pattern - inside for enhanced performance on wet surfaces, outside for dry - features a new compound created to provide “exceptional” grip.
Continue ReadingTrailer market 5-year forecast downgraded
With Germany the only market out of the Big 7 economies that will have positive GDP in 2012, this deterioration has reportedly fed directly into slowing trailer sales. In the first quarter of 2012 trailer demand was up 0.4 per cent, but it will finish the year down 6.3 per cent. Nevertheless 77 per cent of goods in Europe are moved by road and most of that proportion is transported on a trailer, making the progress of this sector of significant interest.
Continue ReadingBrembo adopts new aftermarket packaging
Brembo has made a significant change to its aftermarket marketing adopting a new packaging concept. The packaging includes the faces of employees, marking a departure from the all-red box, which for more than ten years has been the face of Brembo in the Aftermarket. The message the company says it is trying to promote is that “Brembo believes in its products, and is not shy about saying so.”
Continue ReadingBridgestone: TPMS improves fleet uptime and fuel consumption
Bridgestone’s own Tyre Pressure Management System (TPMS) is currently being rolled out across Europe with the aim of providing a more thorough pressure maintenance service to customers. The system is made up of a valve-mounted sensor, a receiver gate mounted at the fleet site and a cloud based data system. The valve sensor emits a signal every six seconds relaying up-to-date pressure and temperature data to the gate receiver which collates the information and sends it to the Bridgestone database on a regular basis.
Continue ReadingUK firm Sheaffer pens Ferrari partnership
UK prestige pen manufacturer Sheaffer has added the Ferrari name to a new line of products for the first time. The iconic Italian brand was unveiled on four new Sheaffer pen models, which all include the Scuderia Ferrari Shield. The new collection features: the Ferrari VFM, the Ferrari 100, 300 and 500, all with the Scuderia Ferrari name engraved on the band, along with the Sheaffer White Dot symbol of prestige.
Continue ReadingComplex ECUs need increased battery support – CTEK
A hot topic at the recent Automechanika trade fair was the significant battery support needed to program the increasingly complex activities coordinated by engine control units (ECUs) in vehicles, says CTEK, a global leader of smart battery charger development.
Continue ReadingHow direct TPMS manufacturers are preparing for the mass market
Everyone’s talking about the introduction of tyre labelling in November. But we should also be aware that at the same time that the so-called fridge labels are being mandatorily applied to tyres, another rule stipulating that all new cars must fit TPMS is being implemented. The law stipulates that all models homologated since July 2012 have to be manufactured with an appropriate Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). From 2014 it will be broadened to include all cars being sold into the market in order to cover any cars not yet mandated. What both dates mean is that there are going to be lots of TPMS equipped cars on the road very soon and tyre retailers need to be ready to service them professionally and take advantage of this business opportunities this provides. It also means that direct TPMS manufacturers are ramping up production in order to meet increased demand from both the OE and replacement markets.
Continue ReadingIs there a long-term future for indirect TPMS?
Ask a leading tyre pressure monitoring system manufacturer what the future is for indirect TPMS and they will probably say there isn’t one. Tyres & Accessories asked this precise question of one of the biggest manufacturers in the business recently and the response was swift and somewhat in line with expectations. Of course direct TMPS makers have economic reasons not to like the solution offered by the competition, but is there more to it than that? As the European legislation mandating TPMS installation in every new vehicle comes into force, Tyres & Accessories engages with both sides of this debate.
Continue ReadingCES releases Engine Management Guide
CES has published a new product guide to showcase its engine management components. The company says distributers need to stock a wider range of engine management parts as vehicle technology advances. CES says it has rapidly increased its range in recent years, stocking a wide range of sensors, turbos, fuel systems and diesel and petrol injectors.
Continue ReadingBanner: Correct battery choice ‘vital’
Sell premium quality batteries, they Cost less than a tank of fuel. That’s the view put forward by Banner, the battery maker, which suggests it is prudent to supply and fit the best battery you can: “Budget batteries are fine for older cars without any electrical consumers but there are less of those on the roads today.”
Continue ReadingBest Choice launches Mazzini TBR tyre range
Beijing based Best Choice International Trade Co., Ltd. launched the Mazzini radial truck tyre brand in August. Labelling tests have already taken place and the 315/80 R22.5 MZ266 product is said to be rated C in fuel efficiency and D in wet grip.
Continue ReadingMilltek Sport releases ‘Toyobaru’ performance exhaust system
Milltek has designed and manufactured a new exhaust system for all three variants of the anticipated ‘Toyobaru’ – a vehicle the company describes as “one of the most hotly-anticipated tuner cars of the last decade”. The Toyota GT86, Subaru BRZ and Scion FR-S – the three versions of the tuning car – is to be offered gains in power “throughout the rev range”, according to Milltek. The exhaust manufacturer’s engineers worked alongside leading Subaru tuner Litchfield to create a design that enhanced the normally aspirated flat-four engine.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Dunlop to launch coach-specific tyres at IAA
Amongst the numerous new releases to be unveiled at next month’s IAA Commercial Vehicle Show in Hanover, Germany will be Goodyear Dunlop’s first dedicated coach tyres. The Goodyear Marathon Coach all-position tyre and Goodyear Ultra Grip Coach winter drive tyre will be on display between 20 and 27 September, and Goodyear Dunlop says it will reveal information at the show “underlining the outstanding wear characteristics and comfort features that coach fleet operators have reported during extended customer testing.”
Continue ReadingFirst Line launches Borg & Beck in Russia
First Line is exhibiting Borg & Beck in Moscow at Automechanika, Russia on 27-30 August this year. Dan Joyner, managing director of First Line said: “Last years show was a useful ‘toe-in-the-water’ exercise for us to test the reaction to our products in the market and we were very pleased with the warm reception we received.
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