The emissions systems joint venture between Robert Bosch GmbH, Deutz AG and Eberspächer GmbH & Co. KG commenced operations earlier this month having received the necessary approvals from the EU Commission, according to the companies. In December 2009, the three parties announced their intention to co-operate in reducing exhaust emissions from construction machinery and agricultural vehicles, to satisfy future emission regulations.
Bosch reports that it is offering “great deals on its ‘around the wheel’ tyre equipment,” which provides vehicle technicians with the ability to service tyres and rims on passenger vehicles, light commercial vehicles and motorcycles.
In March 2010 Beissbarth received the "2010 German National Award for Outstanding and Innovative Achievement in the Field of Trade" from Germany’s Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology for its ‘Easy 3D’ chassis alignment system. The Beissbarth system received the favourable attention of a panel of representatives from numerous German trade organisations on the basis of its speed, simplicity to operate and the small space required for its use. The award was presented to Silke Spitzer, head of technology at Beissbarth GmbH, during a trade fair on March 7.
Aftermarket parts supplier Euro Car Parts (ECP) has reported pre-tax profits of over £17 million in 2009, two and a half times the £6.6 million figure it reported in 2008. According to the company, this has been achieved through partnerships with many leading original equipment brands. In 2009, ECP entered into a long term agreement, which added TMD's PAGID friction brand to a portfolio, which already included the likes of Bilstein, Bosch, Continental, Denso, Exide, Sachs and Valeo, amongst others. For 2010 and beyond ECP is actively engaged in further expanding this partnership with other blue-chip automotive brand names, so that all parties can benefit from the partnership.
Company representatives report that the plan is to accelerate this programme during 2010, with the ultimate aim being coverage of 98 per cent of the UK market – three quarters of which ECP aims to provide with delivery of parts "within-the-hour". ECP's biggest investment in its future is the building of its new 400,000 square foot logistics facility.
Regarding braking as one part of the triumvirate of chassis safety, car parts, garage equipment and training provider, CES UK has launched a series of events at educational facilities located close to its branch network across the UK. CES has a “Safety Triangle” logo illustrating this point, with the three ‘s’-es of stopping steering and stability emblazoned on each of the shapes sides. The events, in the words of CES, “will be looking at the safety critical systems within the chassis systems and exploring the results of component failure, duty of care, changes in technology and garages profit opportunities.”
Euro Car Parts (ECP) says that it will strive to meet motorists demands with its high quality Teco brand tyre changers. It states that with the ever increasing demand for improved workshop safety and the ability to handle bigger and more varied tyre/wheel packages, the demands on tyre changing equipment to meet a number of criteria has never been higher. Euro Garage Solutions (EGS), the Garage Equipment Specialist Division, of Euro Car Parts Ltd is confident that its Teco brand of tyre changers is more than capable of meeting the workshops current and future demands. In consumables, the distributor has announced that it will supply Bosch’s recently launched new range of garage equipment ‘Around the Wheel’ products. The company, which calls itself “the UK’s leading aftermarket parts supplier”, also stocks a comprehensive range of tyre repair materials from Rema Tip Top, launched a new extended range of SNR wheel bearing kits adding nearly 1,000 existing references in September and becomes “the first in the UK to sell the Koyo Hub Bearings in a branded Koyo box”, with its Japanese OEM timing belt tensioner/idler and Wheel Bearing Range extension.
Kwik-Fit founder Sir Tom Farmer, who is credited with revolutionising tyre retailing in the UK, is to present a keynote speech at the TyrexpoAfrica industry conference in Johannesburg next March. Sir Tom is one of the most recognisable names in the global tyre industry. He founded Kwik-Fit in Scotland in 1971, developing it to become one of the world’s largest automotive parts repair and replacement specialists, before selling the company to Ford in 1999.
Among many honours, Sir Tom was awarded the CBE in 1990, received a Knighthood in 1997 and in the same year was made a KCSG (Knight Commander with Star of the Order of St. Gregory the Great). In 2009 he was created a Commander of the Victorian Order (CVO) in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours.
German automotive technology supplier Bosch admits the recession has left a clear mark on its results. For 2009, the Bosch Group expects sales to decrease by 15 per cent, to some 38 billion euros. In its automotive businesses, the decline in worldwide sales will be as much as 20 per cent at year-end. Yet following the deep recession, Bosch Automotive Group chairman Dr. Bernd Bohr sees clear signs that the automotive business’s situation has stabilised. Orders have begun to improve and during the past few months Bosch has acquired major new projects. This is expected to support the company’s growth in the coming years. However, Bohr cautioned “it could take us until 2012 to return to the pre-recession levels of 2007."
Although confirmed as the man for the job in September, the tenure of Prof. Dr. Ing. Wolfgang Reitzle as chairman of Continental AG’s Supervisory Board became official as of October 19 after his election during the day’s meeting. The Supervisory Board also made two other appointments during the October 19 meeting: Wolfgang Schäfer was confirmed as a regular member of the Continental AG Executive Board. He will take up his appointment on January 1, 2010, and will be responsible for the areas of finance, controlling, IT and law. Also assuming his position on the board next January 1 is José A. Avila, who is taking over as head of the Powertrain division.
The UK battery market is seeing branded products in growth at the expense of private labels, though the latter still hold over two-thirds of the total market, according to Paul Matarewicz, the managing director of Johnson Controls Batteries and VARTA. Meanwhile, Manbat’s MD, Steve Sheppard believes that the rising brand awareness in the UK is a result of the general economic slump, to which consumers are responding with a desire for greater reliability and longer lifespan.
Euro Car Parts has launched a new battery catalogue and announced a buy now and pay later promotion. According to the aftermarket parts supplier, one of the largest independent distributors of batteries in the UK, customer demand has led Euro Car Parts to produce its own 40-page ‘Battery Application Guide 2009/2010’. The guide covers all car marquee applications, from Alfa Romeo to Volvo, including all the technical specifications one would expect, covering brands by Bosch, Exide and Lion. Also included are sections delivering comprehensive safety advice and regulations for lead-acid batteries as well and instructions for using starter batteries.
ECP has also launched a customer buy now and pay later battery promotion, offering the customer the chance to bulk buy on batteries from leading worldwide brands. Customers signing up for the promotion have the chance to receive a free battery stand, point of sale items, and an advanced battery tester.
Through its recent acquisitions of Beissbarth and SICAM, Bosch has enhanced its product range and now reports it can offer workshops a complete range of tyre service and wheel alignment equipment. Its latest release is a new garage equipment line-up that it says focuses upon "around the wheel" products.
Bosch reports the 81 per cent of passenger cars newly registered during 2008 in its home market of Germany are now equipped with its ESP electronic stability programme, two per cent more than last year. Europe-wide, 55 per cent of newly registered passenger cars were so equipped in 2008, five per cent more than in 2007. This figure is set to keep on growing as the enforcement date for EU legislation draws nearer – the EU requires all new vehicle models from November 2011 to be fitted with the safety system, while all newly registered vehicles must have ESP from November 2014. Similar legislation has also been passed in the US and Australia.
Taray International Corp. introduced team USA, headed by Craig Russell (formerly of Multi-Seal Corp.), to serve as the company’s domestic sales, marketing and service group. “For the past 30 years, Taray has provided its international customers with top quality products and unrivaled service at very competitive prices. With the introduction of Team USA, our domestic clients can now enjoy the same level of service and quality as our international clients,” the company said in a press release.
Team USA is a group of field representatives divided into three territories across the U.S., allowing Taray to meet the needs of customers much faster, according to the company. Taray supplies tyre retreading supplies, automotive service equipment and commercial tyre products, including Bosch rubber extruder sales and repair; expandable rim sales and refurbishing; hand and pneumatic tools; and much more. For more information, visit www.taray.com. (Tire Review/Akron)
Bosch has enhanced and extended its Electronic Stability Program (ESP) consumer website. Introduced by Bosch in 1995, ESP is a vehicle active chassis braking safety system that can prevent a vehicle going into a potential skidding situation. ESP is, comments Bosch, three chassis system technologies in one – Antilock Braking (ABS), Traction Control (TCS) and ESP. Visitors to www.bosch-esperience.co.uk can gain access to all the information on this proven life-saving vehicle technology and view on-track driving demonstrations and animations of how the technology works.
If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com. Or click below to continue on Tyrepress.
