Pro-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.
Continue ReadingTesco Extends Bandvulc Contract
Tesco, the largest retailer in the UK and third largest globally, is to continue its long term agreement with Bandvulc Tyres, the Devon-based commercial tyre manager and retreader. Bandvulc’s tyre management facility, BTC, manages all of the commercial tyre requirements of Tesco Distribution, Fuel and Northern Ireland operations, making it one of the largest non-transport fleets in Europe.
Continue ReadingThe Delivery Co Appoints ATS Euromaster for PPK Contract
The Delivery Co has appointed ATS Euromaster to manage the tyres across its mixed fleet of DAF, Iveco, Mercedes-Benz, Scania and Volvo commercial vehicles on a pence-per-kilometre (PPK) contract. The agreement will see ATS Euromaster support the companys fleet of 350 trucks with 30 distribution centres across the UK. The contract will see Pirelli and Vacu-Lug tyres fitted across The Delivery Co’s fleet, supported by ATS Euromasters 250 frontline rapid response vehicles. These vehicles are further supported by another 950 mobile service vans, which carry out routine tyre maintenance at a customers own premises.
Continue ReadingMultistrada to Supply Sepang 1000km Race Tyres
Indonesian tyre manufacturer PT Multistrada has won the contract to supply the Sepang 1000km race on 4-6 June at the prestigious Sepang International Circuit. Multistrada will supply 1400 of the company’s Achilles 123 model, which has been named as the official tyre for the race a compulsory requirement for all competitors. The 195/50/15 semi-slick medium-hard tyres can be used in both wet and dry conditions. Despite being low in cost the tyre has met the standard at other events, said SIC CEO Razlan Razali. Although it is the first time SIC will be engaging Multistrada as the official tyre provider, the brand is a well known name in Indonesia, particularly its rallying scene.
Continue ReadingProtyre Creates 21 Dedicated Bike Tyre Centres
Protyre has invested in establishing 21 dedicated Two-Wheel Centres in the UK. The new centres are designed to offer a “ride in and ride out service” and to further underline the company’s commitment to this important market, Protyre has created a motorcycle tyre website www.rubberupright.com. The new website is now live and will be progressively developed to provide in-depth sales information and advice and safety tips for bike riders. To mark the launch, Protyre is teaming up with Bridgestone to offer a £10 discount on the purchase of two Bridgestone tyres or free fitting as an alternative – a voucher can be downloaded from the website up to the end of June and it is valid to the end of June 2009. As an added incentive to visit the new website the company has created a 2-Wheel Challenge with 20 bike related questions.
Continue ReadingTrelleborg Appoints New Galaxy Brand Manager
Agricultural tyre manufacturer Trelleborg has expanded its European sales team. Stepping into the position of product manager for the Galaxy brand is 29-year old business administration graduate Milos Odavic, who will be responsible for the brand’s distribution and positioning within the company’s product portfolio. Odavic’s duties also see him acting as the original equipment market customer contact person, and also as the replacement market contact for Germany and Switzerland.
Continue ReadingBarry Stocker New TRA President
TRA has elected Barry Stocker as its new president, at its Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on 20 May. During the AGM, the association also elected a new vice president/treasurer to succeed the existing appointees whose terms of office fall vacant under the association’s rules. Keith Rodgers, managing director of Saltire Recovery Limited was elected to this position. Both the president and vice president/treasurer are set to serve two-year terms of office.
Continue ReadingAutomechanika Shanghai
Automechanika Shanghai, reputedly Asia’s largest automotive trade fair and the organiser’s second largest Automechanika fair, will take place from 9 - 11 December 2009 at Shanghai New International Expo Centre. This fifth edition of the fair is organised by Messe Frankfurt (Shanghai) Co Ltd and the China National Automotive Industry International Corporation (CNAICO). In line with the product profile of the global Automechanika brand, the event will encompass a broad spectrum of products and services for the automotive original equipment and aftermarket. Products on offer cover the sectors Parts & Systems, Accessories & Tuning, Repair & Maintenance, IT & Management to Service Station & Car Wash. In 2008 Automechanika Shanghai had a record number of 1,982 exhibitors from 23 countries and regions showcasing their products in eight halls covering 92,000 square metres. The show attracted more than 30,800 visitors from 104 countries and regions and half of the buyers had full purchasing authority. The number of exhibitors and visitors were up to 59 per cent and 41 per cent respectively.
Continue ReadingChinese Passenger Car Tyre Replacement Sales up 31%
Emerging tyre markets led by China are bucking the downward sales trends encountered in the European and US markets. According to Michelin’s latest market figures, Chinese passenger car replacement tyre sales have grown significantly (up a huge 31 per cent in the circumstances). At the same time Chinese truck tyre replacement market is said to be flat year-on-year, compared with massive falls in the West. South American tyre sales, on the other hand have not faired so well. In Brazil sales of original equipment truck tyres are 30 per cent lower than last year, according to the data, which also points out that this reflects on the heavy cuts that have been made to new truck tyre production. As far as the Brazilian replacement tyre market is concerned, truck tyre sales are said to have declined approximately 20 per cent year-on-year.
Continue ReadingMichelin 2Q Tyre Volumes Predicted to Be -18%
Assuming stable share, Michelin’s second quarter tyre sales volume is expected to be inline with analysts’ earlier estimates of a drop of 18 per cent. However, Michelin’s monthly tyre market data, which has become something of barometer in the current unstable market conditions, shows that the leading French tyre manufacture is performing better than analysts had expected. In an investor’s note entitled ‘Punctured but still rolling” Morgan Stanley described the company’s recent performance as “slightly better than our expectations, after adjusting for an average two fewer selling days across Europe.” Year-on-year growth rates remain negative, but the pace of the decline is considered to be “more on track to meet or exceed [forecasted] tyre sales to dealers.” As a result of the fact that tyre prices are positively correlated with both volume and input costs, Morgan Stanley suggested manufacturers remain under pressure to cut prices: “Investors must prepare for a reasonable level of price ‘give back’ to struggling tyre dealers, distributors and consumers in this environment…We believe depressed volumes and the tailwinds from lower raw material that will materialize in the second half will continue to put at risk the pricing discipline – and the profitability – of the industry.”
Continue ReadingTruck OE Tyre Sales Down 74%
European truck tyre OE sales reportedly fell an enormous 74 per cent in April, while replacement tyre volumes were down 44 per cent. The figures, which are sourced from leading tyre manufacturer Michelin, show that most global markets are affected (China aside). As far as truck tyre sales are concerned, the good news is that everyone’s best guess is that this segment cannot remain under this “particular pressure” forever and that there is still a good chance of improvement, or at least a slowing in the downward trend in time for the second half of 2009.
Continue ReadingMixed Reaction to Conti Compromise
While Continental and the German IG BCE union arrived at a compromise regarding the company’s Hanover-Stöcken truck tyre factory, Germany’s Bild-Zeitung reports the decision to suspend production has far from won the universal admiration of employees. The paper records “indifference, anger and disappointment” amongst the affected employees – close to 430 of whom will be let go by next year at the latest. “We have been taken for a ride,” one employee was quoted as saying. “As ‘little people’ we can not at all appreciate what this compromise brings.” Another said: “Unions and works councils are so weak, we feel betrayed. I have worked my fingers to the bone for 20 years – all for nothing.”
Continue ReadingPower to the Elbow
Need extra leverage or extended access when ratcheting? Laser Tools say the new Laser 1/2D Extending Ratchet is the answer. The 1/2D ratchet features an extending function, which simply releases the spring loaded mechanism on the handle and the ratchet grows from 460mm (18) to 601mm (24). Manufactured from polished Chrome Vanadium and with 72 teeth gearing for a smoother operation, the ratchets are expected to retail at around £35.00.
Continue Reading