‘Fascinating times’ – Roger Griggs speaks at NTDA Annual Dinner
NTDA national chairman Roger Griggs used his speech at the 86th NTDA Annual Dinner to echo many of the sentiments expressed at the Tyre Industry Conference, calling especially for unified voices in tackling industry-wide issues. Encompassing cheap imported products, the under-regulated part-worn tyre market, MOTs and road safety, and the importance of attracting young talent to the industry, Griggs’ speech outlined the evolution of the NTDA’s position over the past year and, most crucially the work it is doing in attempting to bring together a variety of disparate voices. Reinforcing the association’s “growth and renewed energy,” according to Griggs, the dinner was the “biggest… in recent decades, with 620 guests in attendance,” indicating the “value…we all place on spending time together as an industry.
Continue ReadingNew directors appointed at ATSE
Rachel McMullen has been named group operations director - comprehensive at ATS Euromaster, after nearly eight years leading the company’s finance department. In March 2015 she was named UK Finance Director of the Year at the Business Finance Awards.
Continue ReadingNTDA ressurects annual conference
After a decade-long hiatus, the National Tyre Distributor Association (NTDA) resurrected the concept of having an annual tyre industry conference, with a new location and new format at the start of October. The new conference sees the association position its gathering as an industry-wide professional event alongside the NTDA dinner. The decision to re-launch the conference comes at a time when the NTDA dinner has itself evolved significantly – this year some 600 people attended (see complete coverage in the preceding section of this issue). But the most noticeable thing was the concerted effort, especially on the part of various industry associations participating, to present a united front. By doing this they showed that the associations are now more interested in highlighting where they stand together as opposed to where they differ.
Continue ReadingHow a tech approach can improve fleets’ approach to tyre maintenance
The maker of the TreadReader handheld tyre scanner has called for fleet managers to prioritise tyre maintenance, citing economic and road safety statistics in its reasoning. Pointing out that tyres account for around 35 per cent of a car’s overall maintenance budget, SigmaVision says prolonging the healthy life of tyres is sound practice, securing maximum value from a set of tyres. The early detection of uneven wear, for example, means the cause of the problem – incorrect inflation of the tyre, or wheel misalignment – can be corrected. On the safety side, fleets’ tyre care policy has a clear role to play too: more than a quarter of road traffic incidents involve someone who is driving as part of their work at the time.
Continue ReadingMichelin closing Pneu Laurent (Germany) in 2016
In addition to closing its Ballymena truck tyre factory, Michelin has announced plans to shutter its Pneu Laurent location in Oranienburg, Germany at the end of 2016 and shift all of its activities to Michelin’s Avallon, France retreading location.
Continue ReadingMichelin closing Ballymena factory, investing in Dundee and Stoke-on-Trent
Michelin Tyre Plc is consulting on the closure of its Ballymena truck tyre factory at the same time as investing in the expansion of its Dundee car tyre and Stoke-on-Trent retreading sites. The Ballymena factory closure plans suggest the site will be run-down between now and a mid-2018 closure point. The Ballymena factory currently employs 860 people and Michelin says it is “committed to supporting those employees during consultation and in the forthcoming months”.
Continue ReadingATS Euromaster’s Vasey ‘honoured’ by Roadside Technician award
Joint recipient of the Tyre Industry Awards REACT Roadside Technician of the Year, ATS Euromaster’s Michael Vasey works at the network’s Aberdeen centre predominantly as a mobile technician in one of ATS Euromaster’s more than 820 service vans. The 29-year-old holds City and Guilds qualifications in every aspect of tyre fitting and roadside breakdown, from car and van to heavy industrial vehicles, including experience working airside at Aberdeen International Airport.
Continue ReadingFuture profitability declines despite increasing sales – NMDA Attitude Survey
The NMDA Autumn 2015 Dealer Attitude Survey, published 2 November 2015, shows that the all dealer average when asked about the overall value of the franchise remained stable at 6.6 since the last survey in spring 2015. Harley Davidson, KTM and Kawasaki were recorded as the top 3 franchises, while the BMW, Honda and Piaggio Group were least valued.
Continue ReadingVolkswagen scandal drives car owners to electric vehicles – Flexed.co.uk
Car leasing company, Flexed.co.uk states that there has been a surge in electric car interest in the wake of the Volkswagen emissions scandal. The Yorkshire-based company has found that both private and company buyers want to make the switch to green motoring after worrying how much their cars really are polluting the environment. Eco-consciousness is […]
Continue ReadingMEPs urge EU Commission to get tough on emissions fraudsters
Emissions testing fraud should be investigated thoroughly and those responsible should face appropriate sanctions, said MEPs in a resolution passed on Tuesday 27 October. They said that the EU emissions testing system should be strengthened to ensure that EU emission limits are respected and that vehicles exceeding these limits are discovered quickly. They also recommended considering whether to establish an EU-level surveillance authority.
Continue ReadingSawyers Transport signs Michelin solutions Effitires tyre management contract
Northern Ireland-based haulier Sawyers Transport has signed up to Michelin solutions’ Effitires tyre management system. The company said it expects the programme to streamline tyre administration and management for the company’s 550 commercial vehicle assets.
Continue ReadingSaracens Tyres first to join Michelin Exelagri farm tyre partnership in North Wales
Saracens Tyres has become the first agricultural tyre dealer in North Wales to join Michelin’s Exelagri dealer partnership programme. The company joins nearly 800 farm tyre specialists selected by Michelin across Europe to carry the company’s accreditation of agricultural expertise. Admission to the network follows an independent 48-point quality audit looking at all aspects of the dealer’s operations, from the levels of staff training and the cleanliness of its workshops, to equipment standards and the quality of advice given to farmers and contractors.
Continue ReadingFIA confirms later F1 British grand prix date
The FIA has released a revised schedule for the 2016 Formula One season, including a date for the British grand prix two weeks later than originally slated. The new date for the race will be 10 July, revised from 26 June. The rescheduling also scotches rumours of the event’s demise – at least for next […]
Continue ReadingReduce driving stress with new book from DVSA
A new book has been launched to help drivers understand how their attitude, mood, health and other human factors can affect the way they drive. The guide, Better Driving, has been produced by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) in partnership with leading psychologist in the field of driver behaviour, Dr Lisa Dorn.
Continue ReadingAnglian Water spot on with pressure test
Anglian Water and Michelin are celebrating the success of a five year drive to ensure tyres are maintained at the correct pressure across its 4,000 employees’ vehicles.
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