Awards
Hankook has confirmed its return as associate sponsor for the 2013 What Car? Car of the Year Awards and continued sponsorship of the ‘Ultra Low Carbon’ award, which was won by the Kia Rio in 2012 – a car that boasts Hankook’s Kinergy Eco in size 185/65 R15 88H as an original equipment fitment.
On its Hall Three stand and during an evening event at Essen’s central Mövenpick Hotel, Nankang unveiled its new logo at Reifen 2012 alongside two new products. The Taiwanese company’s staff also presented the array of new lines it has recently introduced, in addition to previewing its latest asymmetric tyre, the AS-2, which is in the “final evaluation” stage of its development. Manufactured in Taiwan (“14,000 pieces per day”) and China (“25,000 pieces per day”), Nankang turned over 461 million euros in 2011, and with 40 per cent of its sales, Nankang said that Europe is by far its biggest market (comparing favourably with 18 per cent in North America and 15 per cent in Asia). The company also presented its comparative sales figures in Europe over the past five years, which showed a dip from 120 million euros in 2007 to a nadir of 97 million in 2009 – having ascended significantly in 2010, the figure now stands at 184 million euros in 2011. The company also noted the growing demand for its winter tyres in Europe, which has climbed from 0.336 million in 2008 to 1.215 million in 2011. It is, according to the company, “the main line we are focusing on.”
In line with its plan to continue the strategic growth of its business Manbat, the UK's largest battery distributor, has set its sights on Europe as its makes its debut appearance at Automechanika, Frankfurt this September, promoting its three key battery brands of Numax, Lucas and VARTA to the European aftermarket.
The Al Dobowi Group has announced that it is to sponsor Virginia Espejo; a 23-year old rising star in the sport of golf. The company says that it was impressed by the potential of Virginia, who immediately became hooked on golf after starting to play alongside her father at the age of twelve.
Something virtually all the tyre manufacturers currently using RFID (Michelin, Goodyear, Bridgestone, Mesnac) have in common is a connection with UK-based sensor firm Transense Technologies plc. Following the announcement that this provider of sensor systems is supplying the tyre probes being used in Michelin's recently launched “communicating tyres” fitted to buses running during the London 2012 Olympics, it is worth taking a closer look at is both companies’ desire to see the wider market adopt this technology.
To coincide with the London Olympics, Hankook Tyre UK is launching a new outdoor advertising campaign. The ads will be positioned in key locations in central London, including Cromwell Road, North Circular Road, Whitechapel Road, York Road and the Chiswick Roundabout, and will run until mid-September – a timeframe covering the entire Olympic Games. Hankook anticipates the location of the ads will expose thousands of games visitors to its ‘Be One with It’ campaign, an advertising series the tyre maker describes as “an important pillar” of its marketing strategy.
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.
Bridgestone recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of its Bari plant in Italy. The tyre maker held an open day for employees and more than 700 attendees, and festivities were attended by local management and Ryutaro Ishii, senior vice-president Manufacturing Bridgestone Europe. During the event, Bridgestone presented awards to long-serving employees and also celebrated 2.5 million work hours with “zero accidents” at the plant.
The FTA backed campaign FairFuelUK has been recognised for its tireless work in lobbying the Government in order to stop planned fuel duty increases and fight for lower fuel prices. In the same week that the campaign sees MPs from various political parties uniting at Westminster in an urgent call to scrap the August 3p fuel duty rise, the organisation created by Peter Carroll Associates won the prestigious CIPR 2012 Excellence Award for Public Affairs which applauded the organisation's work and credited its achievements in the category which acknowledged 'a campaign designed to inform the public policy agenda or influence the legislative process.'
Thousands of motorists have voted in a nationwide contest to seek out the UK's best car service centres and Motor Codes, the operator of OFT-backed codes of practice for the motor industry, has revealed which were voted the most trusted large and small garages in the UK. Garage of the Year, backed by Havoline, is an annual initiative, highlighting to motorists those garages that are committed to providing consistently high customer service standards. In being awarded the title, the winning garages have beaten off competition from a huge field, open to entry for all garages.
Nankang will unveil its new logo from Hall Three, Stand 105 at Reifen 2012 in Essen next week.. It consists of the logo typeface of 'Nankang' and the brand promise of 'Free Your Way'. Nankang Tyre's corporate logo has been used for over two decades. Facing the increasingly competitive global marketplace, the company says it is charging forward with a new Corporate Identity System (CIS). The new CIS will serve as critical guidelines for global brand management, and more importantly as the foundation to fresh brand image of Nankang.
Following the launch of its award-winning EfficientGrip passenger car tyre, Goodyear chose Portugal to showcase its new EfficientGrip SUV tyre, aimed squarely at the 4×4 and SUV market, from luxury, full-size vehicles through standard, compact and sub-compact ranges. The 4×4/SUV market in Europe is growing and is expected to reach several million vehicles by 2014, meaning increased demand for specialised 4×4/SUV tyres which combine performance and fuel economy.
Australian tyre dealer network Tyreplus has named its Windsor branch Dealer of the Year at an awards ceremony during the gala dinner at the annual Tyreplus conference in Fremantle, Perth last weekend. The annual Tyreplus Dealer of the Year Awards recognises outstanding customer service, presentation and performance. The store is run and owned by husband and wife team of Rod and Sue Carroll, who have over 22 years in the business. Rod Carroll said he was proud to receive recognition for the hard work his team has put in over the last 12 months. “Our whole team has contributed to us receiving this award.”
Alcoa Wheel & Transportation Products (AWTP) has announced that its line of wheel products are now Silver Cradle to Cradle Certified CM. The award is a result of the company’s material choices and production processes, which the global sustainability consulting firm behind the certificate – McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry – deems environmentally safe and healthy. The recyclable nature of aluminium was also cited as a reason for Alcoa’s accreditation. The company’s wheels are the first products in the transportation industry to receive certification from the Cradle to Cradle Certified CM programme, a fact that Alcoa says can be attributed to the sustainable characteristics of its aluminium.
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