The Klarius Group has concluded an agreement with Irish auto parts distribution company, CD Group, to sell its Quinton Hazell Ireland operation. QH Ireland will continue to operate as a stand-alone entity within the CD Group of companies distributing QH and Klarius branded products to the Irish market. Customers can continue to deal with the people that they always have done at QH in Dublin and place orders through the normal channels.
Trade Garage Equipment, a distributor of Rotary lifts, is launching a new range of garage equipment. Ian Leatherland, equipment specialist for Trade Garage Equipment, introduced it: “It’s all in the technique, the correct and most efficient way to do things which guarantees success.”
Sailun Tyres has announced details of a string of new appointments to its European sales team. The first was the appointment of Martin Lumb as new business development manager, Europe & Middle East. Lumb joins the Sailun team from 1 November 2012 having previously worked for Infinity and Goodyear.
Vacu-Lug has been appointed as the sole UK distributor for all West Lake truck and bus radial tyres. The move means nine product lines spanning a wide variety of operation types and with a choice of 17.5", 19.5" and 22.5" rim diameters have been added to the Vacu-Lug line up.
Axle Group Holdings company, Viking Wholesale Tyres and Equipment operates from eight strategically located warehouses, serving customers across Britain. In addition to supplying a range of premium brands, Viking launched its exclusive distribution deal for Westlake PCR to light truck tyres earlier in 2012, with an internal event to highlight the patterns and sizes available in the UK and to emphasise the substantial investment made at Westlake manufacturer Hangzhou Zhongce.
When Itochu completed its purchase of the UK’s largest tyre retail operation, Kwik Fit in June 2011, the corporation underlined the separation of the retailer and its wholesale operation, Stapleton’s. A year on, and the latter company has renewed its focus, in its words; the STS, Tyre Pros and Central branded shops are no longer within Stapleton’s remit, meaning that the UK’s largest tyre distributor now has a clear single focus on distribution. “By taking our own retail operations out of the Stapleton’s arena this year we’ve been able to concentrate all our investment, effort and expertise on delivering a doubly effective response to our retail customers’ requirements, building those needs into every strategic move we make to offer real, tangible benefits to our customers’ business,” says Stapleton’s managing director, Yutaka Kimbara.
Shandong Linglong Tyre Co. Ltd. headlined its participation in Brityrex International 2012 with the introduction of its Green-Max product family to the UK market.
According to the company, the Linglong stand was visited by prospective customers, apparently “eager to discuss new developments and opportunities.” The new Green-Max passenger tyre range was said to have been of particular interest and representatives from Linglong’s global headquarters in China were also on hand to welcome visitors and answer questions.
As the introduction of compulsory tyre labelling legislation draws ever nearer, independent data providers DriveRight have seen a new stream of enquiries from tyre manufacturers and distributors.
Director Richard Bailey explains, "The question from the industry was 'where do we get label information?' We have communicated via our EC1222.com website that we have manufacturer label information available; now the prevalent enquiry has become 'how are we going to get it?'
Independent tyre wholesaler, RH Claydon may have built a name for itself as a distributor of larger agricultural and commercial vehicle tyres, with the longest authorised distributor deal for BKT in the UK, but the company also sees itself as a true “one-stop shop”, whether the customer needs consumer, off-highway or truck tyres. Business director, John Parker explains the company’s wide range of brands and fitments allows it to meet the requirements of the distributor/service provider and end user alike for the UK and Northern Ireland market place.
Danish company, Nordisk Daek Import A/S (NDI) signed a significant contract with the tyre importer, Desmond Simpson & Sons Ltd of Cookstown, Northern Ireland. As of 1 October 2012 Desmond Simpson will handle exclusively the Nordexx brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland. In the last six months, Desmond Simpson has imported a significant number of containers, boosting the sales of Nordexx in the British Isles, NDI says, leading to the decision to make Desmond Simpson the exclusive distributor.
The Westlake tyre brand will be distributed in Spain by Don Tyre SL following the completion of an agreement with Eskay Tyres. The company, part of the Al Dobowi Group, distributes the Westlake brand in several key European markets and says the latest move is intended to expand the brand in Spain through several strategic alliances with key players in the sector. Unlike the deal in the UK, under which Axle Group Holdings company Viking Wholesale Tyres distributes the brand exclusively, Eskay has chosen a strategy involving several distribution partners for Westlake in Spain.
Sailun Tyres appointed Chr. Kapodistrias & Sons Limited as its sole distributor of passenger car and radial truck tyres in Cyprus earlier in the year. The company is the largest automotive parts company in Cyprus. Sailun says the companies will pursue a number of brand awareness and marketing communication initiatives to stimulate sales and growth for Sailun in Cyprus. These will include radio commercials; press advertisements; leaflet distribution; participation in a local automotive exhibition; an appearance on rally and racing cars and events; and an event evening in Nicosia with a joint presentation and cocktail party for key, existing and potential new customers.
Buckinghamshire-based aftermarket supplier, Allparts Automotive Ltd will accelerate its branch network expansion following what it says is a significant investment from HgCapital. The company said its founder, Steve Fulford will continue to support the Allparts management team and retain his position as chairman of The Parts Alliance. As a founder of The Parts Alliance, Allparts stated that it would remain a committed and active member. Managing director, Mark Darvill, will continue to lead the Allparts board of directors and management team. Independent investment firm, HgCapital has assets under management of over £3.8 billion, and a strong interest in the automotive aftermarket. Allparts’ Parts Alliance colleague CES (UK) Ltd is also part of its investment portfolio, and the new investment will lead to greater collaboration between the companies, though both parties made clear that they intend to remain separate entities.
Infinity Tyres has announced its autumn promotion, which gives those purchasing a set of Infinity tyres the chance to win a Bentley or the cash alternative of £130,000. The entrant will attempt to win this top prize by selecting the winning envelope from a basket containing 100 envelopes; the remaining choices will all contain splendid consolation prizes.
It makes no sense at all for a distributor to ship Chinese-made tyres to Europe and then re-export them around the world, and for this very reason Danish tyre and wheel supplier NDI (Nordisk Dæk Import A/S) recently decided to establish a local operation in China. NDI China was established in May 2012 with the signing of a cooperative agreement between NDI and the local government in Beiguan, Jiaozhou City, which is located near the major port of Qingdao.
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