NTDA issues 8000th REACT licence
Four years after hitting 5000 licences and following an almost two-year interruption in training forced by Covid-19 restrictions, the NTDA Roadside Emergency Action Concerning Technicians (REACT) scheme passed the 8000-licence milestone on Monday 28 February  Commercial Tyre Technician Stephen Fritter of Watling Tyre Service Ltd was issued with his certificate and Licence to Work Safely at the Roadside.
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Schaeffler seeks independent workshopsâ views in âlisten, learn and supportâ mission
As part of Schaefflerâs ongoing commitment to the independent sector, the company is keen to gauge the opinion of the many professional vehicle technicians that fit its original equipment (OE) parts, regarding several key issues, as garages face the many challenges, opportunities and uncertainties of the ever-changing aftermarket landscape.
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Liqui Moly establishes UK subsidiary
The oil and additive specialist Liqui Moly has now established the subsidiary Liqui Moly UK. âThis will enable us to better exploit the potential offered by the British market,â says Salvatore Coniglio, Export Manager at Liqui Moly.
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January car production hits 13-year low
UK car production fell 20.1 per cent in January, to 68,790 units. The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) says this is the weakest January total since 2009. Output was down 17,262 units against the same month last year, which itself was one of the worst Januarys on record when volumes were impacted by friction in the new post-Brexit trading arrangements, extended shutdowns and the pandemic.
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Free visitor tickets now available for UK Garage and Bodyshop Event
Registration has opened for the inaugural UK Garage and Bodyshop Event, the UKâs dedicated event serving the latest training, technology and tools to the nationâs garages and bodyshops. Taking place at Birminghamâs NEC from 8-9 June, the UK Garage and Bodyshop Event, presented by Automechanika Birmingham, provides the first opportunity for the industry to meet face-to-face on this scale since 2019, and get hands-on, learn, network and prepare for the fast-evolving landscape of the automotive industry.
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Conti SportContact 7 win âshows commitmentâ to âclass-leading performance tyresâ
Continentalâs new SportContact 7 won its first independent tyre test when Tyre Reviews made it the winner of its 2022 Ultra High-Performance test. The new model improves on the sixth generation SportContact with braking distances eight per cent shorter in the wet and six per cent shorter in the dry. Peter Robb, marketing director at Continental, said: âWhat a win for the SportContact 7! With the success of its predecessor, this result is evidence of Continentalâs commitment to producing class-leading high performance tyres. We are thrilled with the win, especially as it is the first tyre test for the new tyre.â
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Denso Aftermarket revises website
As a leading supplier of original equipment components to the independent sector, one of the most important elements of the Denso Aftermarket website is the e-catalogue. As a result, to make it easier for users to find the right parts quickly, particularly when undertaking complex searches, it has been thoroughly revamped to make it more user-friendly and more intuitive.
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31 waste crime sites targeted by SEPA, BBC Disclosure programme
At the end of January, Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) staff and their work tackling waste crime were featured as part of investigative journalism programme BBC Disclosure. The programme entitled âDirty Businessâ highlighted problems associated with unregulated âman with a vanâ flytipping to large scale illegal activities with links to serious organised crime such as abandoned lorry trailers bursting with up to 41 tonnes of waste.⯠SEPA launched a dedicated intelligence and enforcement function in October 2019 to deal with those types of growing activities.âŻ
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Recycling no longer the Cinderella of the tyre industry â BTMA
Sustainability has risen to become the leading mobility trend over the last few years, and the drive towards greater levels has permeated every major corner of the tyre business. While the focus of pro-environment efforts in the tyre business has often fallen to the tyre recovery sector, developing a Circular Economy necessitates a more holistic industrial input, from raw materials suppliers to manufacturers, from the environmental effects of the tyres in use to the material and energy it is possible to recover from end-of-life tyres. Recognising the fundamental place this theme has in our industry, this month Tyres & Accessories presents the latest news and analysis in the sustainability space, beginning with a general overview of developments in the recycling sector from the British Tyre Manufacturers Association (BTMA)âs perspective.
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Northern Ireland biennial MOT testing debate points towards privatisation
The proposal that MOT testing in Northern Ireland should move from annual to biennial testing has stirred up a variety of opinions among the trade and the public and, over the past weeks, National Franchised Dealers Association Northern Ireland (NFDA NI) has drawn attention to the issues currently facing the MOT system in Northern Ireland and the Department for Infrastructureâs proposals for biennial testing.
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IGA warns of âdangerous precedentâ for UK
The results of the recently-published summary of findings show that, while the Independent Garage Association (IGA) and other motoring organisations are strongly against biennial testing, a significant majority of individuals are in favour of the change.
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Tyrenet launches online, public-facing service
Tyrenet has launched an on-line solution designed to enable stricken truck and van drivers to âquickly place an enquiry to repair or replace a tyre 24/7â. According to the company, Tyrenet.net will enable a driver to get back on the road in 90 minutes, halving experience of three-hour downtime.
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PCL sales director retires after 17 years
PCL sales director, Simon Shorter is retiring from his role in charge of End User and OEM sales at PCL. Moving forward, Shorter plans to spend more time with his family as he looks forward to celebrating his 60th birthday. He also intends to continue his charity work and lecturing at Sheffield Hallam University.
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HGV registrations up 12.9% in 2021
New registrations of heavy goods vehicle (HGV) rose by 12.9 per cent year-on-year in 2021, reports the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). Growth in key industry sectors such as construction saw demand outstrip supply, with truck registrations surging following a locked-down 2020 decline of 32.2 per cent.
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Ring releases SmartCharge Pro charger
Ring Automotive has launched the SmartCharge Pro, a versatile, 30A battery charger suitable for intensive use across mixed vehicle fleets. The 2.6 kilogram, 12/24V-output compatible power supply rapidly recharges with variable rates of five, 10, 20 and 30 amps, allowing technicians to charge batteries quickly.
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