The Recycling and Economic Development Initiative of South Africa (REDISA) has appointed Continental SA sales director Eddie Jordaan and Alliance Tyre Africa managing director Piet Swart to key positions within the fledgling recycling scheme. Both men take up their posts with REDISA on 1 September.
West Yorkshire’s Bedfords Transport says it has been able to halve tyre-related breakdowns since adopting a new tyre policy with ATS Euromaster in December 2011. The company signed a new deal with its existing tyre service provider to fit Pirelli new and remould tyres across its fleet of 84 trucks and 135 trailers. During the first seven months of the contract, Bedfords Transport has recorded an average of 3.4 roadside tyre failures per month, compared to 6.4 per month during the previous year. The company credits a “closer working relationship” with ATS-E for the significant impact on operational uptime the new deal has made.
Kumho Tires has gained “official recognition” for reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 13,339 tons over the past five years. In a press statement, the Korean company’s Australian subsidiary reported that Kumho Tires achieved this reduction through upgrading production facilities and adopting renewable energy strategies while at the same time working to develop and manufacture more efficient fuel saving tyres. Kumho’s CO2 reduction plan was launched in 2005 by Kemco (Korea Energy Management Corporation) and was devised in response to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
At Reifen 2012, the Alliance Tire Group presented a new off-road tyre it says represents an innovative approach to dual-tyre configuration for excavators. Called the 528 Dual Master, the new product solves the problem of stones becoming embedded between double tyres. It does this through the use of a unique sidewall construction that enables close contact between the two tyres. “There is normally a rubber spacer between the tyres, but stones nevertheless get between the tyres and cause punctures,” commented ATG marketing communications manager Tal Rappoport to Tyres & Accessories. “The 528 Dual Master is the first tyre model for excavators that doesn’t require this spacer, and stones therefore can’t get penetrate this space.
Double Coin and the China Manufacturers Alliance have launched a new mobile website aimed at North American customers. The site will complement the existing www.doublecoin-us.com and is designed and formatted for optimal viewing on any web-enabled Smartphone, including iPhone, Android, Blackberry and others. Features accessible through the mobile site include product specifications and warranty information, and visitors can use the dealer locator function to access over 1,000 independent Double Coin tyre dealers across North America. The phone’s GPS automatically redirects to the closest dealer based on the user’s current location.
Tyre pressure monitoring system technology provider Advantage PressurePro and Alliance Wireless Technologies, manufacturer of mobile rear vision camera systems and wireless communications products, have announced a new partnership agreement. The companies, who have worked together since 2009 as integration partners on Advance Wireless’ Vivid units, have formed a new relationship to bring PressurePro’s stand alone TPMS units to the waste and commercial markets.
News out of India indicate Alliance Tire Group is planning to erect a new OTR tyre plant there and boost capacity at another plant. According to a report in the Business Standard, the tyre maker is looking at investing a total of around US$160 million; this will go towards a 50,000 tonne per annum greenfield facility in Gujarat state and to boost output from the company’s Tamil Nadu factory from 48,000 tonnes per annum to 61,000 tonnes. A co-generation plant will also be installed in Tamil Nadu.
Scotland’s leading auto parts distributor, Dingbro has opened two new branches in Dumfries and Stranraer, increasing its network to 23 sites. The new branches have been placed to support garages and workshops in the south west of Scotland. "I’m delighted at the recent additions to the network. Expansion is always exciting for us, but even more so in a challenging economic climate,” said Gary Dingwall, managing director, Dingbro.
Automotive business group, The Parts Alliance used the event of National Apprentice Week (6-13 February) to call for the UK automotive aftermarket to increase its support of training and apprenticeships. “The best investment our industry can commit to, alongside the best equipment, is training,” said Mike Smallbone, The Parts Alliance, garage programme manager.
UK aftermarket business group The Parts Alliance has won three awards at the annual Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation Excellence Awards, held at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole Hotel on 8 December. IAAF president Nick Best presented the evening’s awards, honouring excellence in the aftermarket. Parts Alliance member Mill Autoquip won Distributor of the Year; Matthew Warren of CES (UK) received the coveted Parts Person of the Year award, and Alliance Autocentre member D & D Autos won the Garage of the Year award.
CES (UK) Ltd recently launched Autosessive.com, a retail website which sells consumables, tools and gifts as well as ebeepbeep.com, a customer referral platform (designed in conjunction with The Parts Alliance) for garages to capture a share of the growing online market for car servicing and repairs. SecureTrading provided the online payment processing system.
Alliance Tire Americas has introduced the FloTruck 382, a new all-steel radial flotation tyre. Developed for on- and off-highway use, the FloTruck 382 is rated for 6,610 pounds at 62 mph (3,000 kg at 100 km/h) and is DOT-compliant, the company claimed.
Double Coin Tires and China Manufacturers Alliance have launched a refreshed US market website. In addition to providing a wider viewing area and all-new tyre imagery, the updated www.doublecoin-us.com website features a resource centre where information and reference material can be downloaded plus a customer testimonial page.
Alliance Tire Americas has launched the Primex LS Xtreme LS-2, a new radial forestry tyre, reports Tire Review. The new tyre features a variable-angle, tapered lug design for “exceptional performance in a wide array of terrain and soil conditions,” Alliance said. “It’s exceptionally stable on steep hillsides, delivering market-leading traction in virtually all soil conditions: sand, mud, clay and everything in between.”
GKN, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of agricultural and off highway wheels, has chosen Kirkby Tyres as its UK partner for the OE and replacement markets in the UK and Ireland. Kirkby thus takes responsibility for distributing the company’s line-up, which ranges from 12 to 26-inch fitments. GKN is well known as a supplier to major OEM’s including JCB and many other leading trailer and implement manufacturers worldwide.
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