First Stop Network Grows
Bridgestone has reported that the number of independent tyre dealerships that have joined Bridgestone First Stop is at an all-time high. A total of 160 dealerships are now involved in the network.
Awards
Posts
Goodyear Gets a Gold Star
Product NewsGoodyear has received an award at the American Point-of-Purchase Show for the “creative merchandising and selling tools” that it used to support its line of Assurance tyres.
The show focuses on the best in-store marketing ideas used and three of Goodyear’s Assurance items were honoured with awards.
Women Rewarded in Transport Awards
Product NewsIveco’s third annual Women in Transport Awards has recognised the achievements of three women working in the UK road transport industry.
First Stop Awards Customer Service Stars
Product NewsBridgestone has announced that the number of UK First Stop dealerships reaching the network’s highest customer service standard has doubled in the past 12 months. In addition the company has given six outlets its highest five-star award.
New Jeeps to Use Superior Wheels
Product NewsSuperior Industries International, Inc has announced that it has been awarded four new aluminium wheel contracts for the 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee and Liberty models.
Michelin Tops Customer Satisfaction Survey
Product NewsThe JD Power and Associates 2004 Original Equipment Tire Customer Satisfaction Survey has placed Michelin at the top of three of its four Categories.
Mobile Tyre Fitters Meet Royalty
Product NewsPrince Charles recently visited Darren Williams Tyre and Auto Care Services in Scotland as part of the Prince’s Scottish Youth Business Trust (PSYBT).
Mr Williams set up his own mobile tyre-fitting firm in 2001 with the help of PSYBT, and has since grown from a one man tyre fitting operation to servicing the domestic, haulage and agricultural sectors. The dealership, which is part of the RH Claydon network, won the regional final of the PSYBT Business Awards in 2003 and later went on to win the runner-up prize in the national finals.
E Business of the Year Award
Product NewsOnline tyre retailer, Black Circles, has won an e-commerce award at the Scottish 2004 National Business Awards.
The company views the award as an endorsement of its strategy to trade predominantly online. The E-Strategy Business of the Year Award joins the company’s Shell LiveWIRE Young Entrepreneur of the Year award received by Black Circles’ 25 year old managing director Mike Welch.
Mr Welch commented: “Our overall business strategy, including the e-commerce strategy, is highly innovative and includes a highly appealing consumer offering. We sell top brand name tyres cheaply and we fit them at a location of your choice at a time of your choice. That has already been shown to be appealing to tens of thousands of consumers across the UK already and this award is further endorsement that we are continuing to go in the right direction.”
The company’s web service allows consumers to source, purchase and arrange tyre fitting all online.
Motor Transport Awards
Product NewsThe Motor Transport Fleet Truck of the Year Award went to Daf’s CF85, for the third time in four years. The Motor Transport Award judges, a mix of fleet engineers and managing directors, praised the truck for its “overall package,” and described the victor as “a clear class-leading truck that continues to evolve in the tough retail market.” The Mercedes-Benz Sprinter achieved Fleet Van of the Year for the second year running and Grocontinental was Haulier of the Year.
Goodyear Win Innovation Award
Product NewsGoodyear’s Two-Piece Assembly was has won a Nortech Innovation Award at the 2004 award. The ceremony, held 8 June was sponsored by the Northeast Ohio Technology Coalition. Nortech’s annual innovation awards recognise companies, non-profit organisations and individuals that have been responsible for creating, developing or implementing new ideas.
Toyota Honors Hayes Lemmerz with Supplier Award
Product NewsHayes Lemmerz International received three prestigious quality awards at the Toyota Motor Europe Manufacturing supplier awards ceremonies recently held in Brussels, Belgium.
Goodyear Honours Technical Associates
Product NewsGoodyear has presented awards to more than 350 associates at its Technical Centres in Akron and Luxembourg, recognising the contributions their inventions and innovations have made. Last year alone, the associates were responsible for more than 260 US patents and 68 trade secrets. Robert J. Keegan, chairman and CEO, paid tribute to the Akron group, saying: „I have tremendous respect for what you do.“ He said that technology is critical to Goodyear’s turnaround – not only in developing new products, but in getting them to market faster.
Obituary – Sakip Sabanci
Product NewsSakip Sabanci passed away at 6:00 am on Saturday 10th April, following a long battle against cancer. He was 71. As head of the Sabanci group, he presided over the establishment of Lassa in 1974 and the later joint venture with Bridgestone in 1988, as a result of which the company name changed to Brisa. A new factory was built at Izmit and production began in November 1990. Married with three children, he was the author of 13 books and, during his lifetime, was awarded no fewer than 11 honorary doctorates by Turkish and US universities. Other awards include the Crystal Globe by the European Economic Institute and the Turkish State Distinguished Service Medal. In 1999 Sakip Sabanci was elected “Businessman of the Year” by the FABSIT foundation in New York and was given the “Award for promoting Turkey” by the Turkish-American Businessman Association. With an estimated fortune of 2.65 billion Euro, he was reckoned to be Turkey’s richest man.
Goodyear Radials Beat Competitor by 56% in USAF F-16 Test
Product NewsIn a competition to supply tyres for the F-16 Fighting Falcon, the United States Air Force notified The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company that its radial aviation tyres won a USAF performance shootout with a major competitor. Goodyear Flight Radials beat a Michelin radial tyre design by 56 per cent on the F-16 block 40 main landing gear, according to results of the USAF competitive evaluation. Goodyear officials said the win is significant since the Air Force uses the test results in its annual procurement awards.
More Good News For Goodyear Aviation Tyres
Product NewsGoodyear Flight radial aircraft tyres beat a Michelin radial tyre by 56 per cent in a head-to-head test on the landing gear of a US Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon. The test examined tyre life cycle costs and in the past, the USAF has used test results as a basis for its annual procurement awards. The USAF has more than 2,000 F-16s in service.
