Traxx Tyres: new wholesaler builds million tyre firm in under a year
Within four weeks of the company’s launch, Traxx Tyres secured new premises 15 minutes from London for the business’ head office. Walk in through the shining polished glass doors and you are greeted by the smell of new carpets and freshly unwrapped furniture. However, the first thing you notice is that this is not simply the administration department of a regional wholesaler, but rather the suite of ground floor offices and board rooms tell you that this operation is set up to be the nerve centre of a business with national aspirations. With the company having such impressive aspirations, Tyres & Accessories visited the Bracknell headquarters (Maxx House) to find out more about Traxx’s short history, recent achievements and plan for the future.
Continue ReadingWestlake to appoint new UK truck tyre agents
Representatives of the Westlake truck tyre brand in the UK have announced plans to appoint between eight and 10 UK-based agents for the brand produced by leading Chinese tyre manufacturer Hangzhou Zhongce Rubber. According to the company, the new distribution network will be comprised of partners that are independent, established commercial retread processers, retailers, tyre repairers or casing dealers. Once the right partners are identified Westlake is understood to be offering to agree “appropriate and exclusive territory” such as North East, North West with the right companies.
Continue ReadingGfK offers "cost-free opportunity" to truck tyre dealers
Many in the industry will be familiar with the work of GfK within the tyre market, producing regular reports on market size, market shares and trends, among other information. According to the old saying, "knowledge is power" and GfK (which stands for 'Growth from Knowledge') describes itself as 'a knowledge provider' and has been collecting, processing and analysing data on various markets since its foundation in 1937.
Continue ReadingDick Anderson dies
Well known tyre wholesale stalwart Dick Anderson died suddenly on Saturday 16 July. The news was confirmed by RH Claydon group business development manager, John Parker who wrote to Tyres Accessories: “It is with great sorrow that I must inform you of some sad news in that Dick Anderson unfortunately passed away.” Anderson, who retired just over a year ago, was apparently working alone in the garden at his old home in Welnetham when he suffered a massive heart attack.
Continue ReadingF1 Autocentres expands car servicing offering
F1 Autocentres has announced that it will offer three levels of car servicing designed to meet better the varying needs of Britain’s motorists. The newly identified three options comprise interim, full and major services. The Interim Car Service is designed to maintain cars between annual services, states F1 Autocentres. The new Full Service consists of a 66 point check and is an important part of a cars annual maintenance programme, while the new Major Service checks 71 points, covering all areas of essential maintenance comprehensively. The company says that each service is designed to meet the various needs of motorists, carried out by fully trained technicians, and perhaps most importantly is competitively priced.
Continue ReadingNational Tyres adds 10 Broadway branches to its network
National Tyres reports that it has added 10 branches to its network this month as part of the company’s expansion strategy. According to National Tyres and Autocare, the 10 new branches are a group acquisition from Broadway Retail Ltd. “This is a very exciting development for National Tyres and Autocare,” said chairman Alan Revie: “It is a testament to the strength and professionalism of our business that we are able to expand at a time when so many retailers are contracting. It also represents a significant acceleration of our growth plans, having already added eight new branches to our network in the last 12 months alone.”
Continue ReadingFormula One Autocentres to offer new puncture repair service
Formula One Autocentres has announced the addition of a new puncture repair service, costing £19.30. The chain says it considers the service to be priced at a “very inexpensive” level. The company says the replacement of a punctured tyre is “not always necessary as punctures in the tread area of the tyre can often be repaired”. It is easy to see how repair could be a popular option in the current financial climate, as motorists seek ways in which to save money.
Continue ReadingItochu officially completes Kwik Fit Group purchase
Itochu has just announced that it has officially completed the acquisition of the Kwik Fit Group for £637 million. While details of the purchase have been in the press and a popular part of market discussion for some time, up till now the deal had been subject to regulatory approval. However, with the issue of today’s statement Itochu can now say it has officially purchased the UK’s market leading automotive repair company from PAI Partners, which had owned the group since August 2005. The business received EC approval for the purchase back in May.
Continue ReadingVoith Industrial Services planning growth in wheel and tyre assembly operations
Voith Industrial Services has appointed Jack Callaghan in a bid to further expand the company’s business in wheel and tyre assembly operations throughout the UK and mainland Europe. Callaghan, who has more than 20 years’ experience in wheel and tyre operations in the automotive sector, has been appointed business development manager based at Voith Industrial Services’ UK headquarters in Warwick.
Continue ReadingBond International joins ITMA to “stay on top” of EU import regulations
UK importer and wholesaler Bond International has joined the Imported Tyre Manufacturers’ Association (ITMA). As the exclusive UK distributor for several brands, the company says it will benefit from ITMA’s expertise and access to the latest EU legislation and regulations, in ensuring that its imported tyres remain fully compliant for sale in the EU. “The number of laws and technical requirements for importers and manufacturers looking to sell tyres within the EU can be quite daunting and overwhelming,” explains Steve Tidmarsh, financial director, Bond International.
Continue ReadingGITI aiming for 10% market share
GITI Tire has appointed Richard Lyons to the position of general manager Europe as part of a series of moves that sees the firm implement a new organisational structure for its European operations. The structure, which took effect 1 May 2011, has been established following the departure of Michael Andre in March. Andre previously held the role of marketing director for passenger car tyres Europe and was managing director of the company’s Giti Tire Germany GmbH Deutschland subsidiary. Hervé Richert, GITI’s executive director, international sales and marketing described the new-look team a “direct consequence of GITI Tire Europe’s growth of business over recent years.” Writing in a statement detailing the reshuffle, he explained that it also follows the company’s “clearly defined strategy of building on strong relationships with its partners and customers with a focus on key markets in Europe and emerging markets” such as CIS and Russia.
Continue ReadingPAS 107 quality products from the tyre recovery association
Tyre Recovery Association members will be the first in Britain to offer Quality Protocol (QP) audits for tyre derived rubber materials to all its members. Based on the BSI Publicly Available Standards (PAS 107) for these materials, qualifying TRA member companies will, from this autumn, be able to acquire new product status for a range of size reduced materials derived from old tyres. Until now all such materials, however valuable, have been deemed waste and therefore subjected to permit and transportation constraints.
Continue ReadingUK launch for Michelin Truck Professional
The Michelin Business Advantage Scheme is dead, long live Michelin Truck Professional. Michelin has introduced a new independent dealer advocate programme in the UK to replace its Michelin Business Advantage Scheme, a decision it says marks a new level of commitment towards selected independent tyre specialists who deal in its truck, bus and coach products.
Continue ReadingKumho expands football sponsorship with Germany’s HSV
Manchester United sponsor Kumho Tyres has extended its European football activities by signing on as an exclusive partner to German club Hamburger SV. The Hamburg-based team, which is currently ranked seventh in Germany’s premier Bundesliga championship, welcomes Kumho as sponsor starting in the 2011/12 season. As part of the two-year contract between Kumho and HSV, the tyre maker’s advertisements will be displayed in the stadium and in other relevant media, including at press conferences, on game entry tickets, official teams photos and on the HSV website.
Continue ReadingPaul Goggins MP wins Parliamentarian of the Month award for wheel efforts
Paul Goggins, Labour MP for Wythenshawe and Sale East, has been awarded ‘Parliamentarian of the Month’ by road safety charity Brake and Direct Line. The award is said to have been presented in recognition of his efforts to raise the issue of regulation for heavy goods vehicle wheel safety in parliament. In June 2010, Paul was approached by Motor Wheel Service because the firm was concerned about the lack of regulation to ensure the safety of second hand heavy goods vehicle wheels. They believe that there has been a rise of approximately 10,000 substandard second hand HGV wheels entering the UK market per year. Paul is concerned that there are no guarantees that these second hand wheels are safe because while tyres are heavily regulated to ensure they meet minimum standards of safety, wheels are not.
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