SKF received the NAPA “Excellence in Quality” award at the recent 2011 NAPA Supplier Summit in Atlanta in the US. The award recognized SKF for quality in all areas of its business. “It gives us great pride to receive the ’Excellence in Quality‘ award from NAPA,” said Mike McGrath, president of SKF. “We are pleased to know that our distribution customers and end users recognize the value of SKF premium quality products in the aftermarket.”
Two new companies – Autogem Motor Concepts and Euro Car Parts join three regular finalists in this category, with those three being Apaseal, Harvie Tyres and Rema Tip Top Automotive. This category has seen a number of different winners over the years – will there be another new name for 2011?
For the first time, run-flat fitments have been added to Bridgestone’s replacement market portfolio in Japan. The first run-flat made available to aftermarket consumers in the tyre maker’s home market is the Potenza S001 RFT, introduced in four sizes on July 1. Run-flat variants of the Potenza S001 had their public debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March; according to Bridgestone, European replacement market customers will be able to purchase the Potenza S001 RFT as of August, with global market availability to follow.
With the process for the NTDA 2011 Tyre & Fast-Fit Awards (TAFF) Awards is well under way, the names of the finalists can now be revealed. NTDA members were invited to submit nominations in the five categories of the awards and the most popular companies go forward to the final voting stage. The short-listed finalists, by category (* denotes 2010 winners) are:
Bosal has created a UK commercial team, to be led by new sales and marketing director, Robin Evans. Evans, 42, officially joins Bosal UK on 1 August after a successful four years with K & N Filters as their UK sales and marketing manager. He has considerable experience of the aftermarket and distribution sectors, starting his career in 1993 with Valvoline and rising to become their EMEA business manager.
Alcoa Wheel Products, which manufactures forged aluminium wheels for trucks, trailers and buses, will be in attendance when Truckfest South West 2011 kicks off on 2 July. To strengthen its position in the UK, Alcoa hired a new UK sales manager in February this year. Crampton brought with him 15 years of experience in the commercial vehicle industry and the company explained that Truckfest South West is a great way for people interested in the company’s products to meet the team.
A legal enquiry has been commissioned into access to repair and maintenance information for independent repairers following a decision from the Committee on Internal Market and Consumer Protection, which is part of the European Commission. The RMI Independent Garage Association (IGA) along with CECRA, the European organisation which represents 260,000 independent repairers throughout the European Union, were invited, together with FIGEFA which represent the aftermarket through Europe, to give evidence before Gomez-Acebo a firm of lawyers who are conducting the legal enquiry.
Hyundai Mobis Co., (the South Korean carmaker’s mobile, system, parts and service arm) reports that it has developed the first locally made tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) and plans to supply it to foreign auto firms as well as its local affiliates. The company said the new device demonstrates equal performance with overseas-made rival products and is easier to install due to its use of rubber valves.
The new device reportedly weighs 10 per cent less than rival products due to its smaller battery size, uses 30 per cent less electricity and shows a stronger performance in securing wheel balancing, Hyundai Mobis said.
Dunlop’s SportSmart motorcycle tyre has received the ‘Best Aftermarket Product’ certificate of merit from British Dealer News. The awards are given as a result of votes registered by over 500 motorcycle dealerships in the UK. In their tenth year, the awards have gained a prestigious reputation within the motorcycle industry. Tyres & Accessories reported on the technologies used in the SportSmart tyre – MultiTread compound, Jointless Belt construction and the NTEC pressure-adjustment system – in its February issue (pp. 66-7, or click the first link in the related news section below).
In order to prosper in today's competitive market, a company needs to be able to identify trends and wholeheartedly embrace new opportunities. A good example of this is Autogem, which used to be a market leader in the supply of exhaust fittings and workshop consumables, but which is now regarded as an authority on tyre pressure monitoring systems.
While it is true that all run-flat tyres must have some form of TPMS, the number is still comparatively small. However, says Prashant Chopra, managing partner at Autogem, this will all change, as from November 2012, a European Directive states that all new category M1 vehicles will have to be fitted with TPMS.
Wegmann Automotive has named Thorsten Thom as its new managing director. The 40 year-old industrial engineering graduate ascended to the position on 1 January 2011. He joins Felix Bode and Markus Vogler on the Group's board of directors.
Europe’s passenger car and light commercial vehicle tyre markets returned to year-on-year growth in November, reports Pirelli. The Italian tyre maker estimates a three per cent year-on-year growth in the region’s (excluding Russia) original equipment market plus replacement market growth of 15 per cent. Year to date, Pirelli’s estimates peg European OE market growth at 13 per cent and the aftermarket at eight per cent.
The long-awaited Brityrex 2010 exhibition got underway today, with a significant increase in visitor footfall compared to the same point in the last show back in 2007. Apaseal’s Bruce Somerville, who is exhibiting at the show, described it as “the best start to Brityrex for many years.” Official figures have not yet been released, however exhibition organiser ECI International is expected to confirm these observations when it releases initial show figures tomorrow.
For more than 30 years Manbat has been the primary distributor of Varta batteries to the UK aftermarket. The Varta brand has developed a strong reputation and is the preferred OEM supplier for numerous European vehicle manufacturers. Alongside Varta, Manbat is also the sole supplier of the Lucas and Numax brands.
ACDelco notes with pride that its batteries described as “the best dressed and the business”, and this distinction may be one of the reasons why batteries remain one of the company’s flagship product groups. And with ACDelco looking to focus on fine-tuning its part offering across all main product groups this year, the company will be shortly enhancing its battery range with the addition of a number of new parts references.
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