TRIB Addressses Canadian Parliament, Prime Minister
The following is an open letter to Prime Minister Steven Harper and all members of the Canadian parliament, written July 28 by Harvey Brodsky, managing director of the Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau: Dear Prime Minister Harper and all Members of the Canadian Parliament, The Tire Retread & Repair Information Bureau is an international non-profit, member owned industry association. I am writing today on behalf of our Canadian members in the tire retread and tire repair industries to bring to your attention the tremendous contribution our members make to both the environment and the economy throughout Canada.
Continue ReadingIndependent Garage Complaints Down
The garage sector is said to be succeeding in raising customer service levels. Figures released this week by government-funded advice service Consumer Direct suggest that the number of concerns with workshops is falling, reporting that it received 8,047 calls between January-June 2009 about service and repairs carried out by independent garages – a fall of 4.16 per cent over the same period the previous year. “These latest figures indicate that there has been an improvement in the performance of independent garages over the past few months. The more businesses that recognise the benefits to be obtained by subscribing to this Code, the better the overall consumer experience will be,” said Motor Codes director Chris Mason. “By working with the sector to provide real benefit for consumers and raise standards across the industry, Motor Codes is best positioned to help motorists identify who they should be doing business with.”
Continue ReadingHankook to Sponsor Audi Cup
This weekend a football extravaganza is being held in Germany to celebrate Audi’s 100th anniversary. On July 29 and 30 the Allianz Arena in Munich will host four of the world’s most highly regarded teams – FC Bayern München, AC Milan, Argentine champions and three-time Intercontinental Cup winners Boca Juniors, along with our very own Manchester United. Hankook Tire will also be present at this gathering of the football world’s elite, as one of the official sponsors. “Naturally, it is a great honour for us as one of the original equipment suppliers to Audi to be able to get involved in this sporty highlight for Audi’s hundred-year anniversary,” commented Jin-Wook Choi, executive vice-president and COO of Hankook Tire in Europe.
Continue ReadingPagid Range at ECP Provides 99% Market Coverage
Aftermarket parts supplier Euro Car Parts is now offer one of the worlds leading manufacturers of brake friction material, Pagid, and customers can thus take advantage of this comprehensive range that includes more than 1,200 brake pads and discs, more than 250 brake drums and over 500 brake shoes. Indeed, ECP states that the Pagid line-up covers an astounding 99 per cent of the UK car parc and gives the company great coverage across may of the newer vehicles. Examples given by ECP are the latest model ford KA, released in February 2009, the new fiesta released last year and the new Vauxhall Insignia released in December 2008 – all of which now have coverage in the Pagid brand.
Continue ReadingMarangoni Supersizes its Retreaded Machinery Range
Demand for larger size OTR and earthmover retreads has been robust over the past couple of years, and Marangoni Tyre Machinery has now introduced a product aimed at this segment of the market. The Trio Super 63” can, as its name suggests, accommodate up to and including 63-inch size radials. Marangoni reports the unit can peel, buff and groove OTR and earthmover tyres rapidly, and as the tyres being processed can be fitted upon flanges and inflated up to 1 bar, the Italian manufacturer is confident the resultant geometric stability is maximal.
Continue ReadingHankook Tire Doubles Quarterly Operating Profits
Hankook Tire has reported strong second quarter sales of 1,257.3 billion won (£613.945 million; 715.822 million euros; 1.009 billion), up 10.3 per cent from 1,111.7 billion won (£545.693 million; 637.191 million euros; $893.855 million) in the second quarter of 2008. However, the company also recorded a 239.6 per cent increase in quarterly operating profits, which grew from 79.0 billion won to 144.8 billion won (£71.098 million; 82.944 million; $116.456 million) in the second quarters of 2008 and 2009 respectively. The Hankook Tire China and Hungary operation saw record-high growth that led to a triple-digit percentage increase in its operating profit figures. In particular, the China operation reportedly recorded a 34.8 per cent sales increase quarter-on-quarter due to an increase in consumer demands and OE supplies, in line with the growing Chinese automotive industry. The Hungary operation showed a 44.6% sales increase year-on-year and resulted in operating profits following growth in the European market and cost efficient production.
Continue ReadingSuperbrands Survey Acknowledges Top Industry Marques
Superbrands has released its 2009 Superbrands and Business Superbrands survey results, and several familiar names appear in the respective top 500 lists this year. Tyre manufacturer Michelin appears in the 88th spot and Pirelli at number 154. The trio of tyre Superbrands is rounded off by Dunlop, occupying the 265th position this year. Business Superbrands – which began in 1995 – lists the UK’s strongest business-to-business brands as voted for by independent experts on the Business Superbrands Council and more than 1,500 individual business professionals from across the country. Our three tyre Superbrands were also present in this category – Michelin in eighth spot, Pirelli at number 20 and Dunlop at 53. They are joined by Bridgestone in the 54th spot and Snap-on Tools at 193.
Continue ReadingKeeping Costs Down with Conti
Bitumen supplier Nynas has exclusively fitted Continental tyres to its fleet of 120 tractor units and trailers for the past 15 years, and the decision to do so appears to be paying off – the company’s annual tyre budget is said to be lower now than a decade ago. A combination of good tyre husbandry – an annual independent audit by entyrety shows the company as being amongst the top performers in terms of its tyre management process – and the tyres chosen are to thank for this happy situation. Nynas reports achieving good wear from the tyres, while benefitting from their low weight and the contribution they make towards fuel efficiency: it is said that each truck can carry up to a tonne more payload every week, with fuel consumption of 8.64 mpg for tankers running at 44 tonnes.
Continue ReadingGoodyear Adds Texas Dealer as Authorized Retreader
Heintschel Tire & Service Inc. is converting its commercial truck tyre retreading operation to Goodyear’s pre-cure and patented UniCircle retreading processes at its retreading plant. “We feel Goodyear offers customers products that help provide fleets and truck operators the cradle-to-grave tire solutions they want,” said Garry Heintschel, vice president and co-owner of Heintschel Tire. “That’s why we decided to make the move to Goodyear. We feel Goodyear is moving in the same direction that we need to go and at the speed in which we need to respond to our customers. Pat Demianenko, national sales manager for Goodyear Retread Systems, said Goodyear is pleased to have Heintschel Tire as an authorized Goodyear retreader. “Heintschel Tire has a strong reputation among its customers and its peers as a leading tire retreader that’s committed to producing quality products and supporting them with great service,” Demianenko said.
Continue ReadingMcConenchy’s Bridgestone F1 Day Raises £1,000 for Charity
McConechy’s Tyre and Exhaust Centres and Bridgestone raised almost £1,000 for Diabetes UK at the Glasgow River Festival. Visitors to the festival got a close up look at Bridgestone’s replica Ferrari F1 car and tested their racing skills on a F1 simulator in exchange for a small donation to Diabetes UK. These fantastic donations raised a whopping £970 as Donald Carmichael, managing director of McConechy’s, said: “Thanks to the weather and the huge generosity of the festival goers we managed to raise a fantastic amount for Diabetes UK. With the 2009 championship in full swing, F1 fans young and old made the most of the exclusive opportunity to take the driving seat in the F1 car and simulator. The event was a huge success and we are looking forward to seeing everyone again in 2010!”
Continue ReadingAlcoa Releases 17.5×6.75-inch Wheel for Low Deck Trailers
Alcoa has launched a new 17.5 x 6.75 trailer wheel with 10 bolt holes on a 225 mm PCD. The wheel is comes in sizes 245/70 R 17.5 and 235/75 R 17.5 and will be available in Europe from mid-August. It is suitable for: low deck trailers for transport of heavy and oversized vehicles and loads; trailers and semi-trailers for volume transport; special trailers for transport of passenger cars.
Continue ReadingUSW Wants USTR Appearance
The United Steelworkers (USW) union wants make its case for restricting Chinese tyre imports and has requested an appearance before the US Trade Representative (USTR) public hearing scheduled 7 August. The USW advocates strong enforcement of a US trade law. Last month, a majority vote of the ITC reportedly found that “tariff relief was needed to urgently reduce tire imports,” say the steelworkers. However, trade associations including the TIA have questioned the effectiveness of such measures. USW President Leo W. Gerard said: Our nations job loss numbers at tyre factories dramatically understate the impact Chinas flooding imports have caused in the communities where our represented workers live. The consequences of lost tyre production jobs have extended to many thousands of other jobs in supporting industries and suppliers that have also been lost.
Continue ReadingAnalysts: Continental’s New In-Vehicle Infotainment System is ‘Revolutionary
While the top level executives at Continental AG, Schaeffler Group and the panel of banks they owe huge sums of money to slog it out over who will run the companies, for many who work within their subsidiaries it is business as usual. And while one of the fiercest battles in German corporate history rages at the upper echelons of the business, Conti’s in-car division is apparently doing something right. According to a report released today by Frost & Sullivan, Continental’s AutolinQ in-vehicle connectivity and infotainment platform is set to “revolutionise the automotive world, ushering in new business models that are simpler, more flexible, and better set to maximise payoffs for all players along the telematics value chain.” However, questions of connectivity, the overall selling model, cross industry collaboration and application types must be ironed out first.
Continue ReadingMichelin Trial Proves ‘Food for Thought’ For Frank Wright
A year-long trial with Michelin’s XZM tyres fitted to a single forklift unit has led to animal feed manufacturer Frank Wright Trouw Nutrition International taking the plunge and switching to the Michelin brand across its mixed fleet of 20 diesel and electric powered forklift trucks. During each day the test unit operated for an average of ten hours on a range of surfaces from asphalt to concrete and grit. The Michelin shod forklift was carefully monitored during the entire period, with monthly tyre inspections to check for wear and damage.
Continue ReadingDownload NHTSA Braking Standards Report
Yesterday (July 24 2009) NHTSA announced new US braking standards requiring most truck tractors to cut stopping distances by a third. As Tyres & Accessories/Tyrepress.com reported yesterday the new regulations will be phased in over a four year period beginning with 2012 models. However, if you would like to read the details and assess their impact your business, you can download the complete report here.
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