Michelin develops its retail position and Certified Centre Network
Michelin already has one of the most recognised brands in the market. Now the company is taking steps to ensure the distribution part of the business operates at the same level. At the end of February Tyres & Accessories met with Oliver Gros, head of ‘go to market’ distribution development within UK and Eire, who – you may remember from previous interviews in these pages – was previously head of two-wheel at Michelin Tyres Plc. At the same time we spoke with Mark Coleman, partnership and certification programme (part of what Michelin calls its distribution team, itself an extension of the sales and marketing team), with a brief contribution from sales director Malcolm Scovell who was en route to another meeting. The focus of conversation was on the development of Michelin’s position in the retail distribution of its various product lines and specifically on the effort Michelin is putting into its certified centre valued added scheme in order to re-develop its links with small and medium sized tyre retail businesses.
Continue ReadingMaxxis joins EDIWheel
Maxxis has announced that it has become the most recent tyre manufacturer to sign up with EDIWheel. “The economic environment means that tyre retailers are looking to maximise their existing resources to reduce the costs involved in running their businesses and EDIWheel represents a no cost benefit to them because they do not have to upgrade their software to access it,” says Maxxis International UK’s managing director Derek McMartin.
Continue ReadingChancellor skips over fuel duty concerns in 2012 budget
With the Government’s Office of Budget Responsibility reporting that it has upped its UK growth forecast to 0.8 per cent this year, and with the statisticians no longer talking about the country being in technical recession, some may have expected the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne MP, to have addressed the continuing rise in fuel prices by freezing fuel duty increases. It didn’t happen. Much to the chagrin of fleet-based business this was despite recognizing that high oil prices are “a great concern across the world". Other highlights include plans to simplify small business taxation, reduce corporation tax and dispense with the 50 pence tax rate.
Continue ReadingFraikin chooses Bandvulc for retread policy
Fraikin UK, a leading vehicle contract hire firm, has started a supply arrangement for its retread tyres and casing management with the Bandvulc Group. The agreement, which sees Bandvulc’s product being used extensively within its operations, is supported by the collection and processing of all used tyres (casings). All of Fraikin’s UK locations will have regular tyre deliveries and collections by Bandvulc’s own fleet of commercial vehicles. Fraikin has used Bandvulc products previously, but only in part whereas this new arrangement is to supply 100 per cent of the Fraikin fleet.
Continue ReadingBond breaks £100 million barrier in 2011
After 40 years in business, fast growing UK and international wholesaler Bond International recorded sales over £100 million for the first time in 2011. The news marks something of a milestone for company founder Reg Bond, who had set his sights on breaking through this particular glass ceiling.
Continue Reading"4-2-2 would cost motorists £50 more a year" – Report
Government claims that reducing MOT frequency will reduce the financial burden on motorists have been undermined by a report which shows that proposals to scrap annual testing will hit both motorists and the UK economy hard. The report by Pro-MOTe – "A cost too far" – includes research that estimates that the average motorist would be more than £57 worse off under a less frequent MOT system than he or she is today.
Continue ReadingMichelin achieves greater energy efficiency in Dundee
Following the installation of a new cooling tower for process water, Michelin has managed to slash some 1,500 MWh from its Dundee plant’s annual energy consumption. The key to the savings is the new installation’s AC drives, which were supplied by Emerson Industrial Automation company Control Techniques. These AC drives control the speed of fans and pumps and match supply with demand; Emerson comments that when the cooling plant is idling, its energy consumption is now the equivalent to that needed to boil your cup of tea.
Continue ReadingTough times for tyre distributors?
As we look forward to 2012 there is no sign to economic pressures that blighted 2011 lifting any time soon. On the contrary, with the financial confusion surrounding the eurozone and with credit ratings agency Standard and Poor’s threatening to downgrade any of the 17 countries associated with it, there are still many challenges ahead. That said it was apparently a good year for some.
Continue ReadingETRMA ‘surprised’ by TWG speech
Following the publication of Tyres & Accessories’ report on the recent NTDA Tyre Wholesalers Group annual lunch, ETRMA secretary general Fazilet Cinaralp has written an open letter stating her association’s surprise at the issues raised in TWG chairman Ashley Croft’s keynote speech. During the speech, Croft referred to testing, lobbying and the relative importance of the implementation of current tread depth legislation. As our coverage explains, no-one was available to attend the event on behalf of the European Tyre and Rubber Manufacturers association, so here is the association’s response in full:
Continue ReadingConti: ‘Modest growth’ in store for UK truck tyre market
The latest forecast for the UK’s replacement tyre market for 2011 suggests volumes total 1 million units, which will be marginally down on the comparable 2010 figure of just over 1,050,000 units. Speaking at the recent Continental UK market trends briefing in London, new commercial vehicle marketing manager Tracey Hyem explained that the recent UK trend was at odds with the European experience, which has seen most other countries experience positive growth in replacement tyre sales with an average increase of 3 per cent overall.
Continue ReadingConti: UK passenger car market “stable” at 33 million units
Continental estimates that the 2011 UK car, 4x4 and van tyre market will equate to 33 million units despite estimates from other leading tyre manufacturers earlier in the year suggesting demand could have been in for a double digit drop. Speaking at the tyremaker's annual market trends briefing in London, executives from Conti's UK operation (Continental Tyre Group Ltd) explained that the market has “remained static, with a number of evident developments, such as an increase in the part worn market due to the scrappage scheme.” Continental now estimates that part worn sales equate to 2 – 3 million units a year, with sales of these used products estimated to have increased by up to 50 per cent of the traditional and widely accepted 2 million units annually figure.
Continue ReadingWholesalers Group chair outlines concerns with ETRMA
The ears of the European Tyre & Rubber Manufacturers Association must have been rather warm as Ashley Croft, chairman of the Tyre Wholesalers Group of the NTDA, gave his speech at the group's annual lunch. Around 75 people – customers and suppliers – attended the event on 22 November at the National Motorcycle Museum and, as well as lunch, there was plenty of food for thought, particularly for manufacturers of premium brands.
Continue ReadingPCL acquired by Horn Tecalemit
The management of Pneumatic Components Limited, or PCL, reports that Germany’s HORN GmbH & Co.KG (Horn Tecalemit) has acquired all shares in the Sheffield-based business for an undisclosed sum. This deal took effect on 1 October 2011 and although the two companies will continue to trade independently, PCL and Horn Tecalemit say the acquisition will give both firms “access to a wider range of complementary products” and benefit customers, suppliers and company employees.
Continue ReadingMichelin to invest £50 million in UK manufacturing sites
Michelin Tyre PLC has announced that Michelin Group has agreed to invest up to £50 million in its UK manufacturing sites at Ballymena, Dundee and Stoke-on-Trent over the next six years. This investment plan will be supported by grants from the UK and Scottish governments and will help the company increase production capacity and help secure employment at all three of its UK production sites. Implementation of these plans has already begun at Dundee with the hiring of 140 people to fill newly created positions and the construction of a building extension to house new production equipment. In Stoke work has also commenced with the conversion of an existing building, ahead of the installation of new state-of-the-art equipment for the manufacture of the latest generation Michelin Remix truck tyres.
Continue ReadingMitas aims for greater prominence after UK name change
Mitas is aiming to raise the profile of the company and better communicate the strength of its products and recent sales performance in the market following the official rebranding of the UK company as Mitas Tyres Limited. With an impressive number of OE contracts under its belt, Mitas is aiming to grow market share in both the OE and replacement markets and solidify its position as “the UK’s leading off-road tyre specialist”, according to the company. And despite the fact that company is well-known for producing Continental branded agricultural tyres under licence, as you might imagine, a key part of this strategy is to highlight the Mitas name in the UK and beyond.
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