Vellco Tyre Control recent took delivery of two brand new “60-registered” MAN 6×2 Tractor Units utilising unique EGR (exhaust gas recirculation) technology designed for Euro 5 engines. But for the company that began trading in 1950 the purchase was more than just a infrastructure investment, it was also something of a celebration of the fact that during 2010 the company has been celebrating 60 years of trading.
October net orders of heavy-duty Class 8 commercial vehicles for North American markets were 18,914 units, up 24 per cent from September, according to ACT Research Co. Medium-duty Classes 5-7 net orders also gained sequentially, posting 19 per cent month-over-month growth.
Wheel alignment company Supertracker has announced a new Steering Angle Sensor Reset tool to its product portfolio in order to further enhance the precise operation and technical requirements. Vehicle electronics continue to develop apace, and steering angle sensors are now a common feature on new car models. Supertracker states the tool allows any stability control electronics to operate correctly when the sensor is reset to match the correct wheel alignment settings.
Mancton Rubber Technologies – a tyre reclamation facility in Sheffield – has been aflame since 22:00 on 13 October and reports suggest that it could continue throughout the remainder of today after firefighters agreed to allow the fire to burn out. The 60 firefighters and nine engines at the scene are concentrating their efforts on cooling structures around the Stevenson Road, Atercliffe factory, using water from the River Don to prevent steelwork constructions from collapsing. Police say they will investigate the causes of the fire when it is no longer ablaze.
Goodyear has announced the appointment of John “Jack” D. Fish as senior vice president of global operations. Fish replaces Christopher W. Clark, senior vice president of global sourcing, who in June announced his intention to retire after 36 years with Goodyear. Fish will be responsible for overseeing manufacturing and related supply chain activities throughout all of the corporation’s global business units. He will begin work at Goodyear on 5 October, 2009.
Viking International has added the new Platinum battery range, from UK Batteries, to the company’s product portfolio. The Platinum range includes Prestige and Prestige Plus. According to the company, the batteries are manufactured to OE specification and used by a number of leading manufacturers including Toyota, Volkswagen, Saab, Lexus, Honda and Ford.
The Prestige range is suitable for the majority of cars including older models dating back to the early nineties up to today’s modern engines and includes a three year guarantee. Prestige Plus is designed for modern and premium vehicles, especially for larger engines and those vehicles with higher electrical demands such as air conditioning and GPS.
In a press release that avoids mentioning the recent Park family tussle, Kumho Asiana has announced the official inauguration of the group’s fifth chairman. Chan-Bup Park, who is no relation to San-koo and Chan-koo Park, began in his official capacity following an inauguration ceremony in Seoul on the morning of July 31.
A tyre business in Honeypot Lane in Queensbury, London was gutted by a blaze that was spotted shortly before midnight last night. The alarm was raised by workers at a nearby supermarket, who dialled 999 after hearing a loud explosion. A crew from Stanmore Fire Station was first on the scene and they quickly realised that more firefighters were needed to combat the blaze. At the height of the incident, the fire was tackled by 90 firefighters, with three aerial appliances and 15 fire engines.
Apart from quantities of acrid, black smoke, the firefighters were worried that the premises might contain propane gas cylinders and police closed nearby roads. The blaze was finally brought under control at 7am and nobody was hurt in the incident.
JK Tyre are to sponsor the fifth JK Tyre Indian National Rotax Max Karting Championship, which begins with its first round of the season at Coimbatore. The championship will take off at the Kari Motor Speedway with the qualifying & heat races to be held on Saturday June 6 and the main races on Sunday June 7, 2009. The winners of the 3 classes will have the honour of being declared the National Rotax Karting Champions of India.
The concept of the championship has been formatted to develop the burgeoning field of Indian motor sports. For the first time several teams will be in the fray for the prestigious event, with Amaron-Meco Pro Kart, Red Rooster, Mohites, Indus, AW, Rayo and Meco-City Kart all taking part. Also, for the first time the entries will have an international flavour, with a Scottish driver and an Iraqi girl participating.
Prof. Dr. Hans-Peter Schmalzl has taken up the post of Chief Technology Officer at BorgWarner with effect from July 1, 2008. He succeeds Mark Perlick, who is retiring after 10 years with the company. Schmalzl will report in his new function directly to Tim Manganello, CEO of BorgWarner.
Prof. Dr. Schmalzl is responsible in his new position for investments by the company in the area of new technologies and for the development of forward-looking products through which BorgWarner will continue to extend its market leadership. In addition, Hans-Peter Schmalzl will continue with responsibility for the Advanced Engineering function for Turbo & Emissions Systems. He will be located in Kirchheimbolanden, Germany.
Only 25% of Class 8 truck fleets say they “definitely will” buy or lease a new truck within the next 12 months, according to the latest J.D. Power and Associates Heavy-Duty Truck Customer Satisfaction Study. That 25% figure, said J.D. Power, was down from 41% posted in 2006, and indicates that there may be a very modest pre-buy of new tractors prior to new EPA-mandated engines that will be required as of 2010.
Only 54% of the truck fleets surveyed by J.D. Power said they will expand the size of their fleets, down from 2006’s 63%. The recent study tabbed smaller fleet operations with an average fleet size of 53 trucks at a single location. (Tire Review/Akron)
Clive Roberts has become Supply Chain Manager for Lafarge Cement’s resource recovery businesses, Sapphire Energy Recovery and Glacier, the first time such a role has existed across the two businesses. Roberts will be responsible for coordinating and managing movements of materials for both businesses, in an effort to streamline activity and improve customer service. He will be based at the resource recovery businesses’ head office at Cauldon, Staffordshire.
The role will initially focus on making further improvements to collections and deliveries for the tyre recovery business, Sapphire Energy Recovery, which manages collection and processing of tyres disposed of in cement kilns across the UK.
Joe Ruocco has been appointed as Goodyear’s new Senior Vice President of Human Resources. Ruocco, who has spent 23 years with GE, is due to take up the position at the beginning of August and “will provide strategic direction and business leadership for Goodyear’s global human resources operations,” according to Goodyear. He will also become a member of Goodyear’s core leadership team.
On the appointment, CEO Robert Keegan said that, “Joe has a wealth of experience in HR leadership positions with GE, an obvious global leader in the area of human resource management. We believe he is an excellent addition to our leadership team as we continue to build on Goodyear’s reputation as an innovative and globally admired company.” Ruocco stated his excitement at joining the team and his desire “to help Goodyear achieve its strategic business objectives.”
Sealey launches new products all the time and one of the latest additions is a range of ‘Cranked Handle Ratchet Wrenches with built-in LED’.
Ergonomically designed and finished in Chrome Vanadium steel, the wrenches come as standard with comfort handle and anti-slip grip. For ease of use in restricted areas, they feature an ultra smooth 72-tooth ratchet action allowing ratcheting in increments of only 5º. The built-in LED light shines through sockets, illuminating the work area directly – particularly useful when working in and around engines where light is restricted. Sealey supplies these wrenches in three different drives, 1/4”, 3/8” and 1/2”.
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Fire crews spent Monday evening battling what has been described as a ‘major blaze’ at a Hereford storage facility being used by Wyvern Tyres. Ten fire engines were sent to the storage warehouse at around 7.40pm, and thick black smoke and debris near the adjacent railway line led to a disruption of rail services between Hereford, Shrewsbury and Worcester.
Shortly after 11pm part of the building collapsed, reported the fire service. The blaze was brought under control around that time, however normal rail services did not resume until Tuesday morning. Although the fire is said to have begun in the tyre storage area, the fire service advises that finding its precise cause may be a difficult task due to the building’s structural instability.
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