Calculate Costs with Conti
Continental has claimed a world first with the release of its truck tyre division’s “ContiCostCalculator”. This software employs a DEKRA-certified database and enables customers to directly compare the purchase and operating costs of commercial vehicle tyres amongst all main tyre brands. The key aim of the ContiCostCalculator, the company notes, is to help calculate a commercial vehicle’s running costs and show ways to reduce them. The ContiCostCalculator works out the ideal choice of tyre using the customer’s individual usage figures. The cost-saving potential compared with similar tyre products is calculated and the improvement in economy is shown. The application not only takes the kilometre costs and the fuel consumption into account for the overall calculation, it also covers additional income from the increased payload that a lower tyre weight makes possible.
Continue ReadingKwik-Fit Fleet Wins Fleet Award for ‘Green’ Focus
Amongst those recognised at the 2009 Van Fleet World Honours, announced in London on May 20, was Kwik-Fit Fleet, who walked away with the Environment Award. This accolade, which the company states is the first fleet recognition of its environmental strategy, follows activities in this area that include the opening of its Northamptonshire based National Distribution Centre in summer 2008. The £10 million, 245,000 square foot complex stocks up to 300,000 tyres across up to 650 different sizes with the guarantee of next day delivery to Kwik-Fit’s 670 centres and more than 200 mobile fitting units. According to Kwik-Fit Fleet, the benefits delivered by the new centre are varied and include a number of environmental pluses. One example is the ‘reverse logistics’ process that has been introduced: Kwik-Fit’s 69-vehicle truck fleet – after delivering tyres to its centres or its five distribution hubs across the UK –returns with removed tyre casings and scrap catalytic converters.
Continue ReadingMRF Temporarily Relocating Production from Locked Out Plant
India based tyre manufacturer MRF Ltd appears set to circumvent the lockout and worker protests at its Arakonam factory in Tamil Nadu state by temporarily transferring production to its Medak facility. In a press statement, the company made reference to vehicle manufacturers’ dependence on tyres it supplies, commenting that “MRF has made all efforts to ensure regular supply of OE tyres from its factory at Medak in Andhra Pradesh.” The Business Standard newspaper reports that on May 21 around 800 employees and their families were arrested for continuing their sit-in strike within the company’s premises and were evicted.
Continue ReadingLanxess Opens Expanded China Research Centre
The Lanxess research and development facility in Qingdao, China has undergone a ten million euro expansion programme, a measure the company says will facilitate its strategy of profitable growth in Asia through targeted investments in research and development. Upon announcing the official inauguration of its bigger and better High Performance Rubber R&D Center (RRCQ) on May 22, Lanxess Board of Management member Werner Breuers commented that the upgraded research centre “will give us a competitive edge by developing new products and applications for the growing Chinese rubber market.”
Continue ReadingCTNA Extends Engage360 Programme to CV Dealers
Continental Tire North America has released a new online training programme it says responds to the training and technical information needs of commercial vehicle tyre dealers. Called “Engage360 Untamed Innovation”, the programme is available in the commercial vehicle section of the company’s interactive training website for tyre dealers. According to Engage360 training manager Amy Spears, Engage360 Untamed Innovation allows dealership personnel to learn the basics about the construction of Continental premium commercial tyres, review product technical information and become certified as a Continental Commercial Tire Specialist.
Continue ReadingWolfrace Website Re-Launched
Wolfrace, one of the UKs best known alloy wheel brands, with a 38-year history, announces the all-new and improved Wolfrace website. The new website www.wolfrace.co.uk showcases the Wolfrace alloy wheel portfolio, providing details on all the wheel ranges including the new premium collection Wolfrace GB as well as Wolfrace Eurosport, Asia-Tec and Classic. Also shown are associated brands Wolf Design (for SUVs) Excite (entry level 4x4 wheels) ATS - for which Wolfrace is a UK distributor and the BMW specialist brand Breyton - for which Wolfrace is the sole UK distributor.
Continue ReadingGrudge Leads to Tyre Damage Conviction
Retired and at a loose end? Don’t know how to keep yourself occupied during those long idle days after the boss presents you with a watch, shakes your hand and sends you packing out the door? You could take up golf, travel with the wife, dabble in a rewarding spot of voluntary work – or you could nurture a two-year vendetta against a neighbour. A 70-year old Norwich man settled for this last option and embarked on an odyssey that recently ended in Norwich Magistrates Court. Trevor Mallett – known to readers of the Norwich Evening News by the dramatic (but inaccurate) moniker the “OAP tyre slasher” – allegedly fell out with neighbour Carol Keable, 66, over a parking dispute a couple of years ago. It has been suggested that Mallet took exception to a vehicle parked opposite the front gate of his house, and decided to exact justice by “nailing” the offender, so to speak.
Continue ReadingMotaquip Picks MAM To Replace Paper Catalogues
Motaquip, one of the leading aftermarket parts suppliers in the UK, is to use MAM Softwares latest electronic parts cataloguing solutions in a bid to reduce its reliance on paper parts manuals. As well as recommending Autocat+ to its customers, Motaquip will use MAMs new Catalogue Data Tool (CDT) to maintain the Motaquip product data that Autocat+ holds. Motaquip currently produces 54,000 paper catalogues a year, spread over eighteen product categories. By actively encouraging the use of alternative electronic mediums such as Autocat+, Motaquip is aiming to not only save money, but also improve the quality of product information its customers receive.
Continue ReadingAutoglym Aids Record Attempt
The British team behind Inspiration – the vehicle that will next month make an assault on the world land speed record for a steam-powered car – recently called on the skills of car care experts Autoglym as part of final preparations before the car is shipped to the USA for its record attempt. The Autoglym team was tasked with reducing surface drag and enhancing the appearance of the already stunning-looking car with a coat of its super-durable High Definition Wax. At Edwards Air Force in the Mojave Desert, California, the team will attempt to break the 145mph US national record (set in 1985) and the FIA record of 127mph which has stood for 103 years. The Inspiration team hopes to hit 170mph, and every effort has been made to optimise aerodynamic performance and reduce drag. Autoglyms High Definition Wax was applied to Inspirations metallic British Racing Green paintwork to provide a smooth, ultra-glossy surface that will help the car to cut through the air with minimal resistance.
Continue ReadingBlack Swan a New Marangoni Option for Smaller Scale Retreaders
For Marangoni Retreading Systems, the implementation of a high degree of automation into the retreading process is not the only innovative priority for its Ringtread retreading technology. The Italian based company also bills respect for the environment in compliance with European Commission CO2 emission reduction regulations as a factor worthy of top consideration. This approach to its business has led to the development of what Marangoni calls a new generation of machinery for applying cushion gum – the Black Swan.
Continue ReadingCooper Kenda Facility Ready for ISO Certification
Cooper Tire reports that Smithers Quality Assessments lead auditor Ricker Zoller recently conducted an ISO 9001:2000 stage one audit at its Cooper Kenda Tire facility in Kunshan, China. This stage one audit, the company adds, is comparable to the pre-certification audits that North American plants underwent in spring 2008 in preparation for their actual certification audits. The certification audit at Cooper Kenda Tire is scheduled for July. Following the four-day inspection, the auditor commented that he found “no issues that would prevent Cooper Kenda Tire from obtaining its certification.” This positive feedback comes after half a year of preparation for ISO auditing, a time in which department leaders and employees have been engaged in establishing proper procedure documents. Cooper states that employees have developed all the required systems, such as document control, internal audit, corrective and preventive action and calibration systems.
Continue ReadingWoods to Lead Snap-on Diagnostics’ Workshop Equipment Range
Snap-on Diagnostics has appointed Julian Woods as Under Car Product Lead with specific responsibility for Snap-on’s recently introduced new workshop equipment range. In his new role, Julian will be responsible for the new Snap-on range of lifts, tyre changers, wheel balancers and wheel aligners which were introduced in January this year as a result of strong customer demand. Snap-on Diagnostics’ VOSA-approved Sun VIC 3000 ATL Automatic Test Lane has now been added to the under car range and this now also becomes Julian’s responsibility.
Continue ReadingPro-Align: Hunter HawkEye ‘Special’ is a Real Bargain
With the recession biting and more of the aftermarket looking to wheel alignment servicing to generate revenue and increase profit margins, Pro-Align is its new Hunter HawkEye ‘Special’ alignment system at an economical price. The idea is to increase access to premium quality products by offering an entry-level model at a competitive price. The HawkEye Special is very similar to the Hunter HawkEye 100 model, with the only real difference being it uses a two camera system instead of the four camera system of its sibling. The camera lift system offers versatility enabling the HawkEye Special to operate at variable adjustment height. With the console mounted on the main column, the system remains compact, offering great space savings in the workshop whilst not compromising on quality and accuracy of alignment readings as well as offering the valuable ‘before’ and ‘after’ colour customer printouts. According to the Hunter HawkEye imaging provides low cost of ownership through the use of its polycarbonate HEX targets and the cameras being mounted out of harms way.
Continue ReadingDunlop Seeks Passionate Performance Drivers
Dunlop is calling for passionate performance car drivers to take part in a national tyre test to discover what difference the choice of tyre makes to their car. The company will provide tyres and tuition from a top Hi-Q British Touring Car Championship driver to transform the driving experience of 6 drivers from across the UK. The test, which will run throughout the summer will be launched at the Goodwood Festival of Speed where drivers will be able to put themselves forward to take part. James Bailey, Dunlop’s communications manager said: “We want drivers to understand what difference the tyres make to their car. Dunlop incorporate design elements from race tyre technology in our road tyres to improve the connection and feedback between driver, car and road. More drivers have won demanding races such as the Le Mans 24 hours and British Touring Car championship on Dunlop than any other tyre make, and we want to show drivers how this experience translates into ultimate road tyre performance.”
Continue ReadingPirelli Introduces Snowcontrol Series II
Pirelli has launched the Winter Snowcontrol Series II, which the tyre manufacturer describes as an “environmentally-friendly high performance winter tyre developed for small to mid-sized vehicles.” According to the company the new Snowcontrol Series II, like Pirelli’s UHP-orientated Sottozero Series II, aims to broaden the company’s winter tyre range in order to meet every market’s requirements.
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