Bridgestone has donated a number of ‘tyre toolbags’ to help a number of talented automotive apprentices progress as part of National Tyres and Autocare’s ‘Foundation Modern Apprentice’ scheme, which includes NVQ level two training courses. Bridgestone’s support comes in the form of a branded hold-all for each learner containing a wide range of equipment to assist in both the classroom and in branch.
Ryan Naughton has been appointed Cam Systems’s general manager with the aim of reinforcing the company’s service-oriented culture and “driving up its results-led organisational approach”. According to Cam, Naughton demonstrates “in-depth analytical and strategic expertise”, and will build upon the company’s operational and procedural planning.
The daunting challenge of climbing the UK's 3 highest mountains in 24 hours was the latest fundraising activity MAC Tools has undertaken as proud supporters of BEN, the automotive industry charity. Through sheer will and determination the team of Head Office staff reached all 3 summits and expect to raise £5,000 in total, aiding BEN in its provision of support services to anyone who works, or has worked, in all automotive and related industries, as well as their dependents.
At the end of July Chinese tyre manufacturer Shandong Linglong opened a European tyre testing office at the IDIADA facility in Tarragona, Spain.
At the opening ceremony general manager, Feng Baochun, deputy general manager of marketing, welcomed visitors on behalf of chairman Wang Feng and spoke of the company’s desire to take its products to the next level. Following the ceremony Linglong Tire Europe demonstrated texts designed to assess its radials’ rolling resistance, fuel consumption, noise (there is a semi-anechoic chamber on-site) and other characteristics.
Inflation fell in July but analysts suggest households continue to struggle against falling incomes. The consumer price index (CPI) measure remained well above the Bank of England's target, at 2.8 per cent, while the broader retail price index, was 3.1 per cent. The retail price index (RPI) measure of inflation used as a basis to set train fares as well as negotiate pay deals eased to 3.1 per cent in July from 3.3 per cent in June.
According to the weekly e-newsletter of the Independent Automotive Aftermarket Federation, Kwik Fit has introduced a new fleet pricing strategy, which sees all brake pads and discs for a manufacturer's individual car and light commercial vehicle model range priced identically irrespective of the derivative of the vehicle.
According to local media, Michelin may expand its Olsztyn tyre factory in Poland. The country’s economic minister Janusz Piechociński is reported to have named Michelin as one of two automotive sector firms that may potentially invest in Poland; the tyre maker is said to be considering investing zł.379.5 million (£77.8 million) in the plant expansion, which would create 51 new jobs.
The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd. subsidiary YH America, Inc. (YHAI) will produce automotive air conditioning hoses in Mexico next year. According to the company YHAI plans to begin delivery of the hoses to a Japanese car maker in Mexico from summer 2014. To limit the investment burden, YHAI will consign assembly to a local company rather than build its own plant. It also aims to use the Mexican output to expand transactions with Japanese car makers and with the US Big Three. Local Mexican production will be located in the suburbs of the west central Mexican city of Aguascalientes, where a number of auto makers have established plants.
Italian brake manufacturer Brembo SpA has acquired the 30 per cent share held in the Brembo Nanjing Brake Systems Co. Ltd joint-venture company held by Chinese partner Donghua Automotive Industrial Co. Ltd. The RMB 90 million (£9.4 million) paid for the share gives Brembo total ownership of the operation and is a transaction the company describes as “the last step towards the full integration of the hub.”
New car sales figures for July, released by the SMMT, show month on month sales were up 12.7 per cent compared to July last year. This continuing buoyancy caused the SMMT to revise its forecast for sales for the year as a whole – up from 2.1 million vehicles to 2.2 million. This figure is an 8.4 per cent increase on 2012 sales.
While the European financial fug continues, brake suppliers are being required to show greater flexibility in their operations. The reactions of brands operating in the sector are shown in this feature to include a drive towards internationalisation – particularly with performance products generating improved revenues in the Americas and Asia Pacific – and a more varied product line-up to suit both OEM and end-user requirements. A new report published by Markets and Markets suggests that the global brake market will “grow to $28,532 million by 2018, as compared to $20,210 million in 2013, with a CAGR of 7.14% from 2013 to 2018. During this period of flux, the report suggests drum brakes will occupy the major share when compared to disc brakes systems, but that demand for discs will increase at a faster rate and slowly surpass the drum brakes market.
Although it retains a positive view of long-term developments, Germany’s Lanxess AG has admitted its current performance falls short of the company’s own expectations. Board of Management chairman Axel Heitmann spoke frankly upon the release of the specialty chemicals firm’s second quarter 2013 results – figures that include a 95 per cent year-on-year drop in net income.
On 15 July 2013, Marcos Guzman took over the position of production manager, responsible for B&J Rocket’s factory in the USA. With immediate effect, Guzman is in charge of quality assurance and improvement for all B&J production. In addition to further optimising production processes he will closely monitor costs and the resources utilised. Furthermore, he is responsible for improving maintenance to ensure a consistently high quality output.
April's Tyres & Accessories is now available to online subscribers via our e-paper format. This issue contained features on wholesaling, wheels and previewed May's Autopromotec exhibition.
While we have become accustomed to technological advances driving changes in mature markets, Automotive part supplier First Line, owner of the Borg & Beck brand of braking systems, comments that a more retroactive potential change in the brake market is being driven by automotive ecological and economic considerations. The company says that in recent years, braking technology has remained fairly stable with no great evolutionary advances, which means the biggest change in the market continues to be the growth of the drum/shoe combination as the rear brake solution for many small cars.
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