A new Hyster H25.00XM-12 forklift truck fitted with an IMT TH3536 tyre handling attachment will be showcased on Elite Truck Bodies’ stand at Reifen 2010 in Essen. The idea, according to the company, is to demonstrate the most efficient way of handling and changing large tyres on vehicles operating in open-cast mining and construction applications.
TyreCheck, which supplies business automation, CRM, and fleet and tyre management solutions to the global tyre market, has announced that it is launching INContact at Reifen 2010. The latest release reportedly incorporates solutions for the new EU tyre energy labelling system in addition to its enhanced IN (Intelligent Newtech) fleet management and inspection products. TyreCheck managing director, Michael O’Dwyer, and commercial director, Jonathan Brennan, invite interested parties to stand 1 – 105 to find out more.
This year’s Reifen show coincides with the release of a totally new and fresh online presence for Euro-Tyre: At Essen the Dutch wholesaler, in addition to offering dedicated tyre expertise and displaying its extensive product portfolio, will premiere its re-launched website. The layout and structure of the homepage has been completely redesigned in order to increase its user friendliness to online shoppers.
US consumer confidence rose in May, the third straight month for plus results according to the Conference Board’s monthly survey, says Tire Review. The Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index rose to 63.3 in May, well up from April’s 57.7 mark. And consumer outlook for the next six months also rose, reaching 85.3 up from last month’s 77.4 result, the highest outlook result since August 2007.
The role compressed air equipment plays in the tyre business is often underestimated. But with the recession causing businesses to think more about energy costs and legislation; and with general opinion swaying us all towards being more ecologically friendly, this is something that the pneumatic experts at Tom Parker Ltd are hoping to change, with the launch of the Exhausted Air Recycling System or EARS. EARS is designed to capture the exhausted air from pneumatic tools and recycle this otherwise wasted energy back to the compressor, which improves efficiency and therefore saves money.
Because the new technology centres on recycling wasted exhaust air it represents a major advance in compressed air technology. It does this by running two lines between the compressor and the pneumatic tool in a way not dissimilar to veins and arteries in your own body – the primary airline acts like an artery sending out “clean” air to power the tool, while a secondary line is like a vein and returns used, or exhausted air, back to the compressor. By capturing and reusing this exhausted air, it reduces environmental pollution in the workplace with no airborne contaminants such as oil, dust or other pollutants being released. However it is also quieter, comfortable and more energy efficient due to higher output flows from the compressor, which maximises its power consumption and operating life.
Quality assurance managers for commercial vehicle fleets are being urged to check their supply lines as a leading wheel distributor warns that a rise in unqualified wheel sellers threatens to “contaminate the market with substandard products.” Motor Wheel Services (MWS) estimates that over 10,000 second hand and take-off wheels entered the market in 2009, of which the large majority were sold by companies who do not possess the technical abilities or examination procedures to ascertain the history and fatigue of a wheel. In a few very serious cases, the company’s field sales team have been made aware of old, repainted wheels being sold as new. And, as MWS reports, the serious implications of purchasing a faulty wheel include warranty, liability and safety issues.
Following its official unveiling at this month’s Truckfest, Motor Wheel Service Distribution reports that it has received orders in excess of £20,000 for its xlite range of forged aluminium commercial vehicle wheels. According to the company, companies such as J E Douglas & Son, Ball Trucking and Paul Stewart Transport have all taken delivery of new product, while several other haulage and coach operators have expressed a serious interest in future purchases.
Races seven and eight of this year’s FIA World Touring Car Championship – better known to you and I as the WTCC – are scheduled to run at Monza on Sunday May 23, and during this round of the series Yokohama Rubber will be title sponsor. Therefore, prepare yourself for the delights of the “FIA WTCC Yokohama Race of Italy.”
Over 700 Michelin and Kleber car tyres were stolen from a truck in a lay-by on the A1 in Rutland on 5 May. The tyres were en-route from Michelin’s Dundee factory to a distribution centre in mainland Europe when, Michelin reports, they were stolen by thieves who slashed the curtain-sides of the trailer while the driver was asleep. The sizes of tyres stolen were as follows (quantity in brackets):
195/65 R 15 91H Energy Saver (35); 185/65 R 15 88H Energy Saver (205); 195/65 R 15 91V Energy Saver (164); 155/70 R 13 75T Energy E3B (67); 185/65 R 14 86T Energy Saver (92); 175/70 R 13 82T Energy E3B (55); 165/70 R 13 79T Energy E3B (61); and 155/80 R 13 79T Kleber Viaxer (58)
Dinex A/S, the exhaust manufacturer, has completed implementation of the Quality Management System ISO/TS 16949 and has achieved the certification. This latest announcement, made at the end of April, follows the news in June last year that the Dinex Group’s fifth production facility, Dinex Latvia, achieved the ISO 9001:2008 certification.
At the New York Auto Show, Chevrolet unveiled a new, 40mpg addition to next year’s Cruze model range, the Cruze Eco. And Goodyear reports that the new model, when it hits US showrooms in the fourth quarter of 2010, will be fitted with its Assurance Fuel Max tyres in a 17-inch wheel diameter as standard. This latest news follows earlier announcements from the US of the tyre also being chosen as the exclusive fitment for the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, and for the 2010 Toyota Prius and 2010 Ford Fusion S.
According to data released by Pirelli & C. SpA, Europe’s passenger car and light commercial vehicle replacement tyre market grew 14 per cent year-on-year during April 2010, below the 20 per cent improvement observed in March yet a three point improvement on the market’s 10.5 per cent year-to-date improvement. Original equipment sales of all tyre brands in Europe improved one per cent year-on-year during April, considerably lower than the 19.25 per cent improvement seen in the year-to-date. Replacement market truck tyre sales showed a 20 per cent year-on-year improvement during the month, down on the year-to-date increase of 32.75 per cent. The original equipment truck tyre market in Europe shot up 60 per cent in April, by far the largest monthly year-to-date growth so far this year. Year-to-date, growth in this sector have improved by 16 per cent over last year.
Slovenian manufacturer Sava has added a high performance range to its winter tyre portfolio. Known as the eskimo hp, this lower-case titled tyre is described by Sava as a “high-performance winter tyre that offers excellent handling performance in difficult winter conditions as well as good mileage levels to the cost-conscious passenger car driver.” The eskimo hp is available in 23 sizes fitting most passenger car models and features a directional tread design optimised for winter conditions plus optimized plus a full silica compound. The Sava eskimo hp features the snowflake symbol on its sidewall, certifying that it meets the required performance levels of winter testing.
Every year PACCAR Inc., the parent company of truck manufacturer DAF, acknowledges suppliers meeting specific quality requirements with a “PACCAR 50PPM Quality Achievement Award”. The ‘50PPM’ refers to 50 parts per million, the maximum proportion of non-conforming parts PACCAR allows for from its suppliers, and Bridgestone has received a 50PPM Quality Achievement Award for its performance as a tyre supplier in Europe during 2009. This is the first time Bridgestone has received such an award from DAF’s parent company.
New passenger car registrations in Europe (EU27 lands) fell by 7.4 per cent year-on-year in April. This drop in comparison with April 2009 figures is not unexpected when it is remembered that registrations began to rise a year earlier in response to short-term scrappage schemes introduced in a number of countries. Over the first four months of 2010 the market expanded by 4.8 per cent compared to the same period a year ago, while shrinking by 11.6 per cent in comparison to January-April 2008.
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