If you are not happy with the results below please do another search
After a competitive tender process, WRAP (the Waste & Resources Action Programme) has chosen US-based EER Limited, an international consulting firm specialising in waste tyre reuse, recycling and recovery, to carry out a comprehensive study of international ‘Best Practices’ for recycling scrap tyres into marketable products. “EER Limited’s wide-ranging international experience was important in the decision making process,” said Steve Waite, WRAP’s Tyre programme manager.
Following on from last month’s Spotlight on Northern Europe, Tyres & Accessories spoke to executives from one of the region’s leading manufacturers, Michelin Nordic. Passenger car and light truck marketing director, Vikram Raman and Krista Sivonen, marketing director for industrial products, trucks, agricultural vehicles and earthmover tyres, answered the questions.
(Akron/Tire Review) The Wall Street Journal reported this morning that Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire (BNAT) is now recommending a maximum life span for passenger vehicle tyres – 10 years. This is a clear break from other US tyre companies, which have fought state and federal attempts to mandate a specific life span and/or require “born on” dates on tyre sidewalls.
(Akron/Tire Review) Continental AG is considering the purchase of Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co’s engineered products business. Conti CFO and Continental Tire North America President Alan Hippe told German media last week that such an acquisition would be a good fit. “We will look at that. That is for sure,” Hippe said. “But I have to state here that our major priority is to grow in automotive systems.
Fast-Fit, a leading East Anglian tyre and exhaust specialist with branches across the region, has become one of the largest fast fit companies to achieve the Pirelli Driver accreditation.
All eleven branches of Fast-Fit, which sells and fits batteries, tyres and exhausts, have achieved the ‘Driver’ standard from the world famous Pirelli brand, after successfully meeting all elements of the technical audits.
(Akron/Tire Review) China has been reshaping the tyre world in the recent years, with most of the world’s leading brands either launching or expanding their manufacturing bases and sales networks in China. But even there, the key players need a trade show to effectively meet the needs of distributors, suppliers and manufacturers.
The third annual China International Tire Expo (CITExpo), to be held in Shanghai from 14-16 December aims to link the professionals from the worldwide tyre industry. According to the organisers of CITExpo, thousands of buyers from over 66 countries attended last year’s event, and hundreds more are expected this year. Exhibitors were satisfied with the results and found that it was much easier for them to close the trade leads and obtain buyer information at CITExpo, according to organisers.
Goodyear’s ultra-high performance Eagle F1 GS-D3 has been awarded first place in a test of 11 top competitors conducted by the editors of Car & Driver. The F1 was praised for its strong wet performance and for have dry handling characteristics comparable with the best dry performers. Continental’s ContiSportContact 2 took second place earning compliments for its “very good” performance in the wet. Yokohama’s Advan Neova AD07 took third place and was praised for its grip: “If you’re looking to cut the quickest lap times while using a street tyre, this is the one to have,” the magazine reported.
Hi-Q’s fleet operation has continued to forge links with local authorities by adding Salford City Council to those councils already involved with its North West based Local Authority Purchasing Partnership (LAPP).
The contract will see Hi-Q provide all tyres and tyre servicing to the entire Salford City Council fleet, which comprises over 300 vehicles ranging from large tippers to grass mowers.
ARS spol s.r.o. has opened a brand-new facility close to major highways in the Bratislava area. The inauguration was part of an Open House event held on 22 September 2005 and was attended by the management of Bandag Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
The new premises combine a state-of-the-art Bandag retreading workshop, a huge service outlet for trucks and the company’s new offices. Customer benefits include faster, much-improved service and easier access.
Here’s a question for you – which tyre retailer has 42 outlets in the capital and in November opened the 43rd on a Tesco hypermarket, making this the 10th centre on a Tesco forecourt?
The answer is B-Quik, of Thailand and the capital city is, of course, Bangkok. For many people in Europe, the first they heard of the name was during the period when the Ford Motor Company was going through its “showroom to scrapyard” phase and it bought Kwik-Fit in Europe and B-Quik in Thailand.
North Eastern Tyres and Exhausts’, North Tyneside branch has received a prestigious Michelin award, as part of the manufacturer’s prestigious accreditation scheme. According to the manufacturer, the standard certifies high quality premises, expert staff and exemplary customer service.
NETE is the first centre in the North of England and one of just sixteen centres to have achieved this level anywhere in the UK. According to the company, the Michelin accreditation programme is designed to raise the standards of the tyre distribution industry in the same way that the famous Michelin Guide has done for restaurants and hotels over the past 100 years.
When Tyres & Accessories exclusively reported on the launch of the Michelin accreditation scheme back in February, programme development manager Jonathan Brett said he expected between 50 and 100 branches to be on board by the end of the first year. As that timeframe draws to a close Mr Brett explained that he is pleased with the programme’s development.
“It has gone really well. There is signage on about 16 depots, but this is fast moving and could change by next week. Fifty more are involved in the accreditation process.” Perhaps the scheme won’t reach the 100-mark that Mr Brett had hoped for this year, but in his words, the introduction of a new scheme was “never going to be a sprint, but a marathon.
When Tyres & Accessories published the news that Cooper had signed a three-year contract to supply tyres for the A1 Grand Prix last December, the series wasn’t exactly well known. 12 months later A1GP, which sees national teams compete against each other, is already looking forward to going up a gear. T&A met Cooper-Avon marketing and motorsport director, Julian Baldwin, at the EuroSpeedway for the German leg of the A1GP and asked what the manufacturer stands to gain from its involvement.
Blackcircles.com is aiming to turn 700 independent garages across the UK into franchisees. And what’s more, managing director, Mike Welch, has a five-year plan to capture 10 per cent of the market and plans to enter Europe in 2006.
Blackcircles.com is something of dotcom success story. Founded in 2001 when Mr Welch was 23, the company currently operates a network of 987 independent garages serving consumers from “Thurso to Truro.” Next the 27-year-old managing director is aiming to capitalise on this position by turning 700 of the garages into branded franchisees, making local independent garages into outlets linked to Blackcircles’ ordering and stock checking systems.
Nokian’s net sales between January and September were up 13.7 per cent to 445.6 million euros compared with 392 million the year before. Operating profits totalled 65.1 million euros, virtually the same as last year. According to Nokian, the company’s target is to increase sales while keeping operating profit margins constant.
Online tyre company rubberball.co.uk has published research showing that 10 per cent of British motorists will be driving with at least one faulty tyre this winter. Only 9 per cent of drivers surveyed were aware that the minimum legal tread depth is 1.6 millimetres and a further 10 per cent believed that their tyres were still safe below this level.
If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com. Or click below to continue on Tyrepress.