No particular surprises awaited Tyres & Accessories at Continental’s Reifen 2012 stand. The German tyre maker presented its full consumer tyre range, including several key new products also seen at the Geneva Motor Show in February – the recently launched ContiPremiumContact 5, the ContiWinterContact TS850 and the Conti.e.Contact Winter.
Six companies have signed again with Bridgestone’s Truck Point network. Three companies from the UK – Downton Transport and C&H Hauliers from England, NR Evans from Wales and Yuill & Dodds from Scotland – have chosen to give Bridgestone their fleet servicing contracts, while Truck Point consolidated its position in the Republic of Ireland with two renewed contracts from National Truck Rentals in Dublin and Tops Oils in Cork.
For the 30th Olympic Games, to be held in London from 27 July to 12 August, Michelin is unveiling its latest innovation – the “communicating" tyre. By combining a tyre pressure monitoring system and radio frequency identification chips, the tyre maker is enabling public transport operators in London to enhance the safety of the tyres fitted on their buses, thereby immediately improving the mobility of both vehicles and transport users.
A national insurance broker is warning businesses to take precautions as the theft of catalytic converters from vehicles increases. According to latest figures the practice, which involves removing the converter from the exhaust pipe to sell onto scrap metal dealers, has doubled from 1,100 incidents to 2,300 over a five month period as the value of platinum, palladium and rhodium from which the converters are made increases.
Goodyear has converted the last bits of its former Truckwise truck tyre programme to the FleetHQ moniker, reports Tire Review. Announced at the recent Truck World event in Toronto, Goodyear rebranded its Canadian fleet tyre and service to FleetHQ. The new Canadian brand will “create a consistent business solutions brand that offers products, services and information tools for trucking fleets and owner/operators throughout North America,” the company said.
Kwik-Fit Fleet will use this week's CV show to launch its improved service offering to light commercial vehicle fleets. As well as tyres, the company will showcase its other services, such as vehicle servicing and MOTs and its 'fit tyres at your premises' offering via its mobile tyre fitting and repair fleet.
Bridgestone will offer visitors to its exhibition area free industry seminars at this year’s CV Show. Visitors can get advice, hints and join the debate on wheel security (cost and consequences); the future of fuel efficiency; and how to save money through improving tyre maintenance. The seminars will run daily during the show, held at Birmingham’s NEC, on 24-26 April.
Alcoa Wheel Products Europe has announced the opening of its European Fleet Service Center, operational from 1 April, 2012. Located in Paal, Belgium, the Fleet Service Center will provide direct service to Alcoa wheel users, serving the majority of the European countries, according to Alcoa. The company says that the new facility will “improve the service level with better and faster support to Alcoa wheel customers”.
Yokohama Tire Corporation has launched an online-based resource tool that helps fleet owners effectively manage the costs and pressures of their tyres. The Yokohama Inflation Pressure Calculator recommends appropriate inflation levels, thus preventing under-inflation or over-inflation that are often the culprit behind the most common tyre wear, tyre damage and excess fuel consumption.
Having already reported considerable success in the UK consumer market with its passenger car TPMS system, Tyresure has now unveiled its latest multi-axle truck and bus technology. According to the company, the Tyresure system can handle up to four tyres per axle and up to six axles, meaning 24 separate pressures and temperatures can be constantly monitored and then relayed back to the driver in an easy-to-read format with full automatic alerts. And there is even talk of the equipment being fitted to the fleets belonging to well-known names in the FMCG business.
ATS Euromaster says it is ducking to meet the finish line of its preparations for the London Olympics in late-July through to 9 September, when the Paralympic Games close. The company has been introducing measures to ensure its ability to support customers in areas affected by the Olympic and Paralympic Games. With three centres located within six miles of the Olympic Park in Stratford (Bow, Leyton and Camden), the company has special reason to make special plans, though ATS-E says it is taking into account all of its 15 centres within the M25, those close to Olympic venues outside London and centres near major airports, where traffic is expected to reach record levels on 13 August (the day after the Olympic Games closing ceremony).
Delticom reports that it now offers UK fleets mobile servicing through its Fleettyres24.co.uk online portal. At present mobile service through Fleettyres24.co.uk is available from more than 150 service providers throughout the UK, and tyres can be delivered and fitted to the customer’s home or other place of their choosing.
FleetMatics GPS has illustrated how its systems have been used to improve the cost efficiency of businesses’ fleets. Growing customer demand led Surrey boiler services company, B&K Boilers Services to employ FleetMatics’ fleet management solutions for commercial fleet vehicles. The company employs 10 registered ‘Gas Safe’ fitters and their management depended on phone calls and check-ins at the office: “As each fitter can complete up to 10 jobs every day, that’s a lot of calls to answer in a week,” said Mr Worthington, B&K Boiler Services Owner. Since fitting the FleetMatics GPS fleet tracking system, Worthington has made scheduling of jobs more efficient, and he can better manage his fitters.
With commercial tyre sales show continual year on year growth, Hankook is once again appearing at the Commercial Vehicle Show at the NEC 24 – 26 April 2012.
The company will be presenting a range of tyre solutions at this year’s show including the Hankook e-cube AL10, TL10, AH22+ and RA18 and specifically new sizes for the e-cube. The Hankook AL10 e-cube tyre for the steer axle is now also available in super single size 385/55 R 22.5 for better fuel economy.
Bridgestone has announced plans to offer free industry seminars on “some of the hottest topics” on the company’s exhibition area at this year’s CV Show. For the first time, visitors can get advice, hints, tips and join the debate on wheel security (cost and consequences), the future of fuel efficiency and how to save money through improving tyre maintenance. The seminars will run daily during the show, which is being held at Birmingham’s NEC, 24-26 April.
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