Battery Check Kit from Varta
Varta Automotive Batteries is offering a workshop battery check to the trade in order to assist them to maximise user sales as the winter battery replacement season begins.
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Batteries
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Watch Your Power Consumption
Product NewsBattery manufacturer Varta has highlighted an anomaly regarding automotive batteries – with today’s products vastly superior to those of a few years ago in both performance and longevity, how come the battery is still the cause of most calls to motoring organisations and breakdown service providers?
The answer, says Varta, is that there are so many power consumers on today’s cars that these can adversely impact on the ability of the battery and alternator to provide constant energy, particularly in winter where the nominal output of the alternator can be easily exceeded in even the shortest journey. And we are talking about modern cars with healthy batteries with comparatively low power consumers, such as lights and heaters.
Has Your Battery Got A Touch of the Sun?
Product NewsAs the busy summer holiday motoring season draws to a close Kwik-Fit is offering motorists a free battery check-up, explaining that even though most batteries die in the winter, it’s actually the summer that inflicts most of the damage.
According to Kwik-Fit, on a hot summer’s day – with the engine running – temperatures under the bonnet can reach up to 90 degrees centigrade. This extra heat causes the chemical reaction within a car battery to speed up and in older batteries this can lead to a total failure.
Getting a Grip on the Net
Company NewsWhen it comes to online tyre sales, Delticom claims the position of European market leader, with 47 business to consumer (B2C) online shops in 21 countries. Alongside its core tyre business, Delticom is expanding its range of car products to include spare parts, roof racks, garages, motor oil and batteries for both private and business customers.
Delticom’s recent financial results reflect the company’s confidence. In the first-half of 2005 Delticom increased turnover to 56 million euros, compared wit 34 million euros in the same period the previous year. This 65 per cent increase means the company expects its full-year sales to total some 110 million euros.
Super Clinic on Safety
Product NewsThe TIC has organised a Super Clinic, to be held at Manchester’s Trafford Centre, in a bid to raise tyre safety awareness. The two-day event is set to take place at on the 16th and 17th September and it is estimated that the clinic will receive some 170,000 visitors located in an arena that has an average footfall of 500,000 people.
Tyre safety checks will take place in the centre’s overflow car park. Batteries, windscreens, lights and wiper blades will also be checked. There will be an average of 40 staff members from the supporting companies and service providers giving expert advice on preventative maintenance, road safety and product information
The event will be filmed for the production of a five minute DVD and will be accompanied by outside radio broadcasts, PR to all local and national automotive media will also take place.
Amongst those supporting the TIC’s tyre safety checks is National Tyres and Autocare, ATS Euromaster, Exide Batteries, RAC, Auto Windscreens, Continental, Michelin, Trafford Metropolitan Council, Manchester Police Force and Manchester Fire Brigade. cma
The Days of Supply Only are Over
Product NewsNewark based Tanvic Tyres is planning to make “wholesale” changes to its operation. In order to streamline the business and improve efficiency, from 1 January 2006, Tanvic Tyre Distributors Ltd and We Sell Tyres (Wholesale) Ltd will come together to form The Tanvic Group Ltd.
The major change will occur when the Newark based TS Wholesale re-brands under the We Sell Tyres (wholesale) name before the end of 2005. Tanvic Spares Ltd will remain a separate company.
Independent Success Story
Product NewsDexel Tyres is something of a rarity in today’s tyre business – a family-owned business that has been trading for over 40 years and which is still expanding.
The business was founded in 1961 by Harry France and, over the next 25 years, was steadily expanded by his son, Peter. It was Peter who purchased the premises in Staniforth Road, Sheffield in the 1960s that today are the group’s head office. Nowadays the business is under the control of Peter’s son Paul as managing director, assisted by his sister Julie as group credit controller.
The policy of expansion has continued and the company has doubled in size over the past decade, today claiming to be one of the UK’s largest independent tyre companies, with an annual turnover of more than £13 million and sales of over 100,000 tyres a year.
The pattern of expansion has been steady, rather than dramatic, and concentrated on the East Midlands area of Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire, opening depots in Worksop, Gainsborough, Horncastle, Market Rasen and two in the city of Lincoln.
Varta Buys Delphi Battery Business
Product NewsVarta is set to strengthen its already dominant position of OE car battery supplier in Europe through the acquisition of the European battery business of Delphi Corporation. The acquisition came into effect 1 July, following approval by the European Commission under antitrust laws.
Exide’s New X-tra Power Range
Product NewsExide has launched a new range of high-performance batteries, which it says benefit from Exmet technology, a feature designed to boost engine starting power and battery life.
The X-tra EXpanded METal technology means the battery contains grids of lead, calcium and tin alloys which are said to enhance starting power by as much as 30 per cent. In addition Exide says it produces lower water consumption, eliminating the need for topping-up.
CEL Acquires Waste Company
Product NewsCredential Environmental Limited (CEL), the tyre, automotive and special waste collector and reprocessor, has acquired Betta Special waste and Betta Environmental Solutions. The deal, details of which were not revealed, effectively doubles the size of CEL’s hazardous waste division.
Varta Streamlines Blue Dynamic Range
Product NewsVarta has embarked on a programme to enhance its premium Blue Dynamic range of replacement batteries, giving it virtually complete coverage of the UK car parc.
Hybrid Turbos for F1
MotorsportFIA president, Max Mosley, is considering introducing turbo boosters into Formula 1, The Guardian has reported. According to the newspaper, Mr Mosely is in discussion with “several of the car makers.” The idea is to introduce energy retention systems, like those used in hybrid vehicles like the Toyota Prius.
£2,000 Battery Management Centre Free with Hella Battery Plan
Product NewsTrade stockists are being offered a £2,000 incentive to participate in Hella’s 2005 Battery Plan, with qualifying orders receiving a Midtronics GR1 Battery Management Centre and printer completely free of charge. The offer is part of an aggressive campaign which also includes a package of extended credit terms, merchandise and display materials, price stability, rebates for high-achieving distributors and an extended and rationalised product offer.
Introducing Monbat
Product NewsMonbat may not be a well known brand in the UK at the moment but according to the company all that is about to change. The brand has been driving sales across Europe and having signed a contract with Squadron Batteries earlier this year the UK is Monbat’s next target.
Partly owned by Texaco Chevron, Monbat has been manufacturing batteries for over 45 years. The company specialises in heavy duty, high specification batteries for rail and military applications, as well as manufacturing UPS batteries for the telecom industry. Its car and commercial vehicle batteries are produced in the same manufacturing facility and to the same quality standards says the battery manufacturer.
No More Weighting Around
Product NewsBy the time you read this article, European directive 2000/53/EC will have come fully into force. This regulation, more commonly known as the end of life vehicle (ELV) directive, will have a profound effect on the tyre trade – banning the sale of lead balancing weights. But is the trade ready? Tyres & Accessories spoke to representatives from weight manufacturers Trax and Remog in order to find out more.
