The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) is pleased to announce the appointment of Wendy Williamson as Aftermarket Development Manager. She brings a wealth of experience in the aftermarket sector and will take control of SMMT activities from the end of the year when SMMT's current aftermarket expert, Bob Davis, retires.
Apart from the new venue, something else that you will quickly notice about this year’s Brityrex (which kicks off in just over a week's time) is the addition of a series of Tyre Talk seminars, designed to inform and provide a forum for discussion about some of the most pressing issues of the day.
This year's Tyre & Fast Fit Awards are proving as popular as ever, with votes reaching the NTDA thick and fast, both by post and online. Voting ends on 14 September, so if you haven't yet voted for the main categories click on the link below, or copy this link into your address bar: http://www.ntda.co.uk/taff_voting_form.html.
Benoit Raulin has taken on responsibility for Bridgestone Europe’s French and Benelux markets after his appointment as managing director of the company’s Western region. He succeeds Eric Gaétan in the role following the latter’s appointment as managing director of Bridgestone Europe’s Consumer business unit in Brussels.
Earlier this summer Speedline Truck announced the latest extension to its range, with the addition of a new product for trailer applications. The newest wheel in the Speedline Truck portfolio is the 17.5×6.75 SLT 3086, with 10 bolt holes. The wheel is designed for trailer applications with a particular focus on low platform trailers for construction and special application transports.
point-S UK recently held its first member only TPMS seminar as a result of recognising the importance of impending legislation and increasing numbers of TPMS equipped cars on the road. TPMS and consumables supply partner Autogem hosted the half-day session at the company’s headquarters in London.
Accuride Wheels has unveiled a new proprietary, multi-step, post-production treatment process that texturises, anodises and seals the surface of aluminium wheels. According to the Accuride Corp. subsidiary, this new ‘Accu-Armor’ treatment gives aluminium wheels highly a high level of resistance to scratching and scuffing and filiform corrosion from the high- and low-pH chemicals commonly used in truck washes, and common chemicals used in de-icing road surfaces. Accu-Armor aluminium wheels also are said to be durable under extended exposure to heat and UV light, will not chalk or fade, and are easy to clean.
Last year's Tyre & Aftermarket Equipment Supplier of the Year winners (at their first attempt) Autogem Motor Concepts are joined this year by regular finalists Apaseal and Rema Tip Top Automotive. A new name is that of Pang UK and the final company in the shortlist is that of CAM Systems – very different from the others in that it provides software solutions as opposed to machinery and consumables.
Euro Car Parts opened 11 new branches, in the second quarter of 2012, continue on its rapid growth trajectory. Delivering on its promise to make Euro Car Parts (ECP) the biggest aftermarket supplier in Scotland, ECP opened two new branches in June alone – Edinburgh East and Perth. The doors also opened at new stores in Borehamwood and Telford during June, with these four branches combined, creating over 200 new jobs. The company opened 17 new branches between Jan – June 2012.
Nominations for the 2012 TAFF awards subject to public vote are now closed, but according to the NTDA all trade supplier are being invited to nominate a product or service for inclusion in the 2012 TAFF Innovation Awards. The current holder is Rema Tip Top for their Ram Rod tyre cage.
Now the nomination process is over, the NTDA has published details of who is in the running for the 2012 Tyre and Fast Fit Awards’ tyre environment, manufacturer, wholesaler, aftermarket supplier and industry advertiser of the year awards.
Over 70 Point S UK members, staff and suppliers gathered in Solihull yesterday to reflect on the independent retail network’s development in 2011 and plans for 2012. At the end of 2011 Point S UK had 45 members and 125 points of sale. And although the group opted to slow down additions to its membership in order to ensure high standards, this is still ahead of initial goals of 100 plus points of sale within two years of the network’s inception. That said the group is now revving up its membership once again, with ambitious targets and plans for national coverage. Looking around the mini-exhibition hall next door to the conference presentations you can see that that Point S UK is still growing and gaining influence in the market.
Tyre retailers will soon have a major new profit opportunity as legislation covering the fitment and testing of TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems) comes into force later this year. And suppliers including Apaseal/Tyresure, Autogem and Rema Tip Top will be exhibiting at Brityrex International to demonstrate the technical aspects of the systems and the commercial potential available.
Wegmann automotive has appointed Esteban Urgel as its new sales manager for the Iberian region. The company says the appointment represents an increase in its efforts to spur “rapid growth in European countries outside Germany”. Urgel took up his post, covering Spain and Portugal, in February.
Point-S has selected Autogem Motor Concepts as a supply partner to its UK network. Writing in a letter to members, company representatives explained that Autogem offers “a number of solutions to the Point-S network through [its] well established and competitive consumables programme”. In short this means, but is by no means limited to, the delivery of TPMS repair and service equipment and products.
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