In late March 2023 Lodge Tyre’s Manchester operation opened new “bigger and better” premises. The “extensively refurbished” location in Mode Wheel Road South, Salford, Greater Manchester boasts over 7,500 square feet of internal space plus an extensive commercial vehicle servicing area.
Goodyear is launching DrivePoint Heavy Duty tyre monitoring solution to help container handling maintenance managers improve preventive tyre maintenance and reduce vehicle downtime. According to the company, Goodyear DrivePoint Heavy Duty is based around durable hardware and user-friendly mobile and web applications. It uses technology proven in the truck industry but upscaled and adapted for use on larger container handling machines such as reach stackers, straddle carriers and automated guided vehicles (AGV).
Continental has launched new software designed to support “fleet operators, dealers and service technicians in maximising the safety and efficiency of their tyres”. The new TireTech mobile app for truck and bus tyres, complements the existing version for agricultural tyres.
VCS, the UK’s leading manufacturer of emergency services vehicles, is investing over £5 million in a new manufacturing facility for ambulances, police, and specialist vehicle conversions in Bradford this April. According to the company, the new factory will ensure the UK’s supply of world-class emergency vehicles by creating the country’s largest dedicated manufacturing facility and trebling VCS’s current production capacity to nearly 1500 vehicles annually. And with ambulance and police vehicles a strong source of premium fleet tyre sales, there are obvious positive implications for the tyre business.
Recent months have seen the appointment of a completely new leadership team at Yokohama’s UK distribution operation, Yokohama HPT Ltd. Well-known in the market for its high-performance passenger car tyre and wheel sales, the appointments signal the start of a new chapter. With that in mind, Tyres & Accessories visited the company’s Milton Keynes headquarters and distribution centre in order to meet with recently-appointed CEO Peter Fairlie; commercial director, Karl Naylor; and marketing manager, Lucie Dalton, in order to find out more.
Bridgestone, Continental and any other tyremakers that suffered cyber-attacks during the last year or so may be interested to learn that, on 4 January 2023, Avanade announced the expansion of its 22-year relationship with Microsoft to help the automotive industry and OEMs protect against increasing cybersecurity threats using Microsoft Azure and Operational Technology (OT) cybersecurity tools and capabilities.
Tructyre is introducing 80 new truck service vans to its fleet as part of a program of investment designed to meet ongoing demand. As a 100 per cent mobile tyre service provider, Tructyre operates more than 350 commercial tyre fitting vans, and these new vehicles will soon be distributed across the country.
As 2022 draws to a close, Bridgestone representatives reflected on the highlights of a “memorable” 2022, including: strategic appointments, commercial vehicle tyre and fleet developments, and numerous award wins.
Ballymoney-based J Adams & Sons Transport is switching its fleet of 16 tractor units and 35 trailers to a full Michelin X Multi new and Remix policy, in a move designed to maximise tyre life and sustainability.
The UK’s most northerly council is in the process of electrifying its fleet of over 320 vehicles. During that process, the Shetland Islands Council recognised that their cohort of vehicle technicians needed electric vehicle (EV) training to manage the transition. In order to help address that need, Autotech Training travelled 26 hours, covering almost 800 miles by car and ferry get there.
As the world moves away from the pandemic period, businesses are working on ways of reviving themselves. For instance, the transport companies like Migway have been boosted by the tremendous growth of the e-commerce sector. Urbanisation has also contributed to the improvement of roads previously untraversable. At the same time, driver numbers are down, which means those qualified to drive heavy goods vehicles are in demand. And those factors have led to the labour market for drivers becoming increasingly attractive but also complex.
New connected vehicle technology will help fleet improve tyre management after a 33 per cent increase in prices during the last two years, new research from epyx shows. Matt Waller, director of connected car at epyx’s parent company, Fleetcor, said that spiralling costs meant that both the monitoring of tyre performance in real time and prediction of future wear were becoming essential to controlling costs.
Tyrenet its pitched as the “’go to’ tyre emergency service” for many tyre dealers and fleets all over the UK and increasingly in Europe. In 2021, the introduction of Tyrenet’s on-line tyre ordering solution meant it could provide a service for the public as well as commercial fleets that didn’t have an account or contract with a local tyre dealer.
During June Vaculug invited partners, suppliers and media to a high-profile event in Oxford based at the former prison (now Malmaison hotel) and including an exclusive dinner within one of the Oxford University colleges. The overall message is clear, the company is not only reaching out in the increasingly post-Covid environment – its growing team of experienced key industry personnel is positioning itself to capitalise on the company’s status as one Europe’s largest independent tyre retreaders.
ATS Euromaster reports that demand for its mobile tyre service increase rapidly over the last two years. The tyre retail business currently attends 9,000 jobs a month on average. A quarter more jobs are expected next year.
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Lodge Tyres; Absolute Group
Goodyear
Continental
VCS
Google
Consumer Technology Association
Bridgestone
Michelin
Autotech Training
Peter H; Pixabay
epyx
Tyrenet
Chris Anthony; Tyre Industry Publications Ltd
ATS Euromaster