ATS Euromaster Archives - Page 23 of 33 - Tyrepress

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Tenneco to Supply Exhausts to Unipart

Tenneco Inc. is to supply aftermarket exhaust systems to Unipart, the UK's largest independent automotive parts supplier. "We are pleased to partner with Unipart, to expand our reach in the UK with the largest distributor of exhaust products in this important market," said Hari Nair, president, international, Tenneco. "This relationship positions both companies for significant aftermarket emission control growth by combining the strength of Unipart's customer service focus and high consumer recognition with Tenneco's powerful aftermarket brands and reputation as a leading original equipment supplier."

John Neill, Unipart Group CEO, added: "Working in partnership with one of the world's largest and most successful original equipment manufacturers further strengthens Unipart Automotive's position as the number one exhaust choice in the UK aftermarket. We are the best known brand for automotive components and our partnership with Tenneco demonstrates our commitment to providing the best trade partnership to our customers across our extensive branch network."

3rd June 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Wins Malcolm Group Deal

The Malcolm Group has switched to a Pirelli and Vaculug tyre policy effective from 1 May 2010. According to the company, the decision was made after an intense product test and tender process which saw the leading truck tyre manufacturers’ pitching their best products for performance comparison. Pirelli fitment for new tyres and Vaculug for retreads were chosen, working with ATS Euromaster as service provider.

Graham Hutchison, Pirelli director of truck UK was obviously pleased with the result: “Tenders can be difficult situations and The Malcolm Group management team and engineers provided a tough and demanding audience, but Pirelli’s range of new ‘01’ products and Vaculug’s retreads proved to be the best.”

18th May 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Axle Group See Profits Double on Flat Sales

Axle Group Holdings Ltd, which owns National Tyres and Autocare, has reported that profits nearly doubled to £5.8 million in the financial year to 31 December 2009, despite turnover remaining flat at £153.1 million. The latest accounts to be filed show that much of the company’s improved profitability came through £3.6 million worth of cuts in “administrative expenses” to £53.6 million, while distribution costs fell £400,000 to £6 million in the year. However, according to reports in Crain’s Manchester Business, a 106-person drop in staff count to 1,238 during the year, reduced the wage bill by £2 million to £26 million. However, in addition to reduced head count there is also evidence of thriftiness in the boardroom. The accounts, which inlcude the Viking tyre wholesale subsidiary, show the company's highest paid director, which Crain’s speculates is Revie, earned £763,907, roughly a third of the £2.1 million the company’s highest paid director received the previous year. Total boardroom pay for the four directors fell sharply as well, down £2.65 million to £1.4 million from £4.05 million the year before. The company's net asset value reportedly rose to £55 million, from £49 million the previous year.

14th May 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

ATS Euromaster Offers Small Businesses “Free Safety Inspection”

ATS Euromaster has announced a new promotion o small businesses operating between five and 50 company cars or vans (up to 3.5 tonnes). The company will give the first 500 companies – who are not already ATS-E customers – to contact their local centre manager a complimentary tyre safety inspection for their fleet. The fast-fitter, which has over 380 centres and 1,000 mobile service vans operating across the UK, will also undertake the first tyre repair it identifies per fleet free of charge.

13th May 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Gregory Distribution Renews ATS Euromaster Contract

ATS Euromaster will continue to fit Michelin rubber to Gregory Distribution’s 500-plus trucks and 850 trailers over the next three years after the logistics firm renewed its contract with the service network. ATS-E reports the deal is worth more than £4 million. The relationship between the two companies dates back to the early 1990s, and involves two ATS Euromaster technicians working full-time at Gregory Distribution centres at Cullompton and North Tawton.

7th May 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

ATS Euromaster “Comfortable” with Reduced 380 Location Offering

ATS Euromaster has merged or closed 80 branches in the past year, as a result of the consultation exercise reported by tyrepress.com in September 2009 (see ‘ATS Euromaster “Reviewing” 80 Branches’ on tyrepress.com). In the time since that article, there has been a shift from the regional organisation towards a segmentation of the organisation of the business into Retail, Comprehensive and Truck, which group operations director Chris Hufflett characterised as giving “more emphasis” to the needs of the customer when he spoke to Tyres & Accessories. An additional element of this increased customer focus is the “significant investment” in mobile service vehicles, he continued, leaving ATS-E able to meet the figure of 10,000 breakdowns every month. And further investment in the ATS-E network is to come in the form of “£6 million rolling investment”, which will mainly go to “stronger locations”, MOT servicing, some location scouting and the continuing process of refurbishing and improving the facilities available in outlets.

5th May 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Euromaster to Present Franchise Concept at Reifen

Euromaster, has announced plans to present a “comprehensive insight” into its new franchise concept to potential partners at the Reifen 2010 exhibition in Essen, Germany in June. Part of the main Michelin stand (Hall 3 – 219), will offer visitors the opportunity to find “extensive information” about the franchise system and even a personal interview with the franchisor.

30th April 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin XZY 3 Tyre Tops 280,000km on R.W. Stewart Tractor

Michelin is highlighting the ability to get increased mileage from its XZY 3 tractor tyre through the regrooving process administered by ATS Euromaster during a routine vehicle maintenance inspection, by exemplifying a set of steer axle tyres fitted to a Scania tractor owned by R.W. Stewart – one of Scotland’s oldest privately-owned transport businesses. The tractor has clocked up more than 280,000 km on a set of Michelin XZY 3 steer axle tyres. R.W. Stewart managing director, Alan Stewart, comments: We have found Michelin’s XZY 3 tyres offer us improved steering feel and durability over the mixture of terrain we operate on, combined with the best sidewall and damage protection of any tyre we have found on the market.”

27th April 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Arla Foods Milks Benefit of Michelin X One Tyres

Those with a hankering for milk products will be pleased to hear that the use of Michelin’s X One MaxiTrailer tyres has enabled Leeds based dairy company Arla Foods UK plc to increase the load capacity of its palletised milk deliveries by 50 per cent. Through the added stability the Michelin tyre provides the company’s first variable deck trailer, Arla Foods can now load 36 pallets on board as opposed to 24. The Gray & Adams variable deck trailer is being used by Arla Foods to support a major contract that requires milk to be delivered in palletised loads to a regional distribution centre, from where the retailer amalgamates it with other products prior to delivery to its stores. This process differs from most milk contracts where products are transported in roll cages that are wheeled directly from the trailer onto the shop floor.

31st March 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Halfords/Nationwide Autocentres Increase Sales 5%

Just a month after Halfords bought Nationwide Autocentres for £73.2 million, the new owners have reported that like-for-like sales have grown 5 per cent since the buyout. According to the company, the integration plan is “progressing well” and the programme of rebranding the centres under the Halfords moniker will be rolled out during 2011.

David Wild, chief executive officer, commented: “Halfords retail performance continues to be robust, with full year earnings now anticipated to grow by approximately 25 per cent. The acquisition of Nationwide Autocentres, completed during the quarter, logically extends our successful service proposition and provides a further opportunity for future growth.”

23rd March 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Fast-Fit Accreditation Added to ATA Scheme

According to the Institute of the Motor Industry (IMI), recent survey results indicate that more than 80 per cent of the population do not know how to tell a good vehicle technician from a bad one. To help UK motorists gain consumer confidence in the automotive repair industry, the institute has administered an Automotive Technician Accreditation (ATA) scheme since June 2005. The ATA tests the current competence of individuals working in the retail motor industry, and following a pilot programme, the IMI has announced that two levels applicable to technicians working in the fast fit sector have now been added to scheme.

23rd March 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

98% of London Buses on Michelin PPM Contracts

Many Britons of a certain age will blanche when hearing the words “on the buses”, as memories of the questionable comedy series from the early 1970s flood back uninvited. But at Michelin this phrase has an entirely different, and far more pleasant connotation – Michelin Fleet Solutions, the specialist tyre management division of Michelin Tyre plc, has grown its share of the major bus fleet market to include vehicles operating on 98 per cent of red London bus routes within the M25 – all supported on pence per mile (PPM) contracts. The combined agreements cover well over 8,000 vehicles under the management of London Buses – part of Transport for London (TfL) – operating primarily on 245/70 R 19.5 and 275/70 R 22.5 Michelin X InCity tyres.

4th March 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Nestlé Develops a Sweet Tooth for Michelin Trailer Tyres

Nestlé Logistics is rolling out Michelin's 455/45 R 22.5 X One MaxiTrailer tyres across its fleet following a year-long tyre trial. During the 12-month period, a Montracon trailer in service with Nestlé covered 200,000 kilometres, and at the end was capable of travelling a potential further 20,000 kilometres before re-grooving is performed. The Michelin tyres were fitted as original equipment on the trailer, which has operated since new on busy trunking routes between the Nestlé factory in York and its distribution hubs across the UK.

1st March 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Motiva Leasing Fleet Opts for Michelin New Tyre Policy

ATS Euromaster has increased its share of business with Motiva Group from 30 to 100 per cent, under a new tyre fitment policy which has seen the company select Michelin as its preferred tyre brand across its fleet of over 3,500 cars. The new agreement spans each of Stoke-on-Trent-based Motiva Group’s leasing and rental arms, including Motiva Vehicle Contracts and M-Way Vehicle Rentals. The deal replaces a previous arrangement which saw tyre fitment shared between Kwik-Fit and ATS Euromaster, with a predominantly Pirelli-based policy.

12th February 2010/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin XZE 2+ Chosen for Midlands Bus Fleet

Paul S. Winson Coaches has chosen to meet the challenges of inner city school runs, private hire contracts and long-distance touring with Michelin products that it believes will help deliver increased tyre mileage. The Loughborough-based company says that with XZE 2+ tyres one of its luxury 53-seater VDL Bova Futuras is seeing increased tyre life while maintaining high levels of safety and ride quality performance.

9th February 2010/by Tyrepress Editors