Johnson Controls, parent company of Varta, recently commissioned a survey to test trade awareness of starter battery brands. The survey was carried out by one of Europe’s most respected market research companies and covered eight European markets. 150 garages were selected randomly in each market and there was a 92 per cent response rate.
Franchised and independent workshops have been invited to participate in the national tyre safety month in October. The campaign is being coordinated by TyreSafe, the UK tyre safety organisation, to inform motorists about the importance of correct tyre pressures for safety, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions. According to TyreSafe, almost 25 per cent of cars and vans on the roads in the UK have at least one badly worn or illegal tyre and tyre safety checks are an excellent way for retailers to encourage motorists to visit their premises. Many dealers are set to take advantage of the promotional material, featuring Channel 5 Fifth Gear motoring programme presenter Vicki Butler-Henderson, including posters and leaflets now available to download from the TyreSafe website at www.tyresafe.org.
The European Commission has moved to ensure that car manufacturers will provide technical information about car repairs to all independent garages in the European Union. According to a Dow Jones report, the decision will legally bind DaimlerChrysler, Toyota, General Motors and Fiat to change their business practices and share technical repair information equally with branded and independent garages.
That’s Eric Bush – Pneumatic Components Ltd’s new North America Regional Manager, Tire Gauge (USA and Canada). Recently recruited by PCL, the leading international manufacturer and supplier of tyre inflation equipment, to build brand awareness within the US and Canadian markets, Eric will be based in Virginia and is now in the process of developing a sales & distribution service for PCL throughout North America.
Eric graduated from Virginia Tech in 1998 with a degree in Marketing Management. He began his career as a Regional Sales Manager for Ingersoll-Rand’s Tool & Hoist Division, before working in Alabama for a tool distributor, Tool-Smith Company. More recently Eric was in Atlas Copco’s Tool Division – Motor Vehicle Industry, before joining PCL.
NTDA chairman Peter Gaster has called on members to support the TyreSafe tyre safety month. According to an article on the association’s website Gaster said: “This initiative is a fantastic opportunity for all retailers to promote the tyre safety message and encourage motorists into their depots for free tyre checks. NTDA is right behind this exciting initiative and we hope that all our members will use the excellent array of posters and leaflets which are available to promote the campaign.”
Independent tyre retailers, garages and franchise dealers are being encouraged by TyreSafe to offer their customers free tyre safety and pressure checks. According to TyreSafe, almost 25 per cent of cars and vans on the roads in the UK have at least one badly worn or illegal tyre and tyre safety checks are an excellent way for retailers to encourage motorists to visit their premises.
Ranger Products has given the new R2600HD its US launch. The super-duty truck tyre changer is designed for servicing truck, bus and other commercial and OTR tyres and wheels. The addition of the R2600HD greatly extends Ranger’s market presence from general tyre repair to larger, more specialized commercial truck garages and service outlets.
Features include an electric-hydraulic drive system, multi-directional, self-centring hydraulic clamp chuck, quick positioning mount/demount arm, hydraulic sled and a single piece frame for superior rigidity. Hydraulically operated spreader-type jaws ensure secure clamping of virtually all rims and off-road style wheels.
Plans are well advanced for the first ever UK-wide tyre safety campaign, being organised by TyreSafe, the industry’s leading tyre safety organisation. The campaign is already said to have gained support from “all major tyre companies and tyre retailers.” The campaign will kick off on the 1st October and will run through the whole of the month. The campaign will focus on the important part that tyres play in road safety, and one of the key messages of the month long initiative will be under inflation and how this can impact on safety, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions.
Independent tyre retailers, garages and franchise dealers are being encouraged by TyreSafe to offer their customers free tyre safety and pressure checks. According to TyreSafe, almost 25 per cent of cars and vans on the roads in the UK have at least one badly worn or illegal tyre and tyre safety checks are an excellent way for retailers to encourage motorists to visit their premises. Many dealers are set to take advantage of the promotional material, featuring Channel 5 Fifth Gear motoring programme presenter Vicki Butler-Henderson, including posters and leaflets now available to download from the TyreSafe website at www.tyresafe.org.
Euro Car Parts, the UK’s largest distributor of parts to independent garages, has appointed Frank Massey FIMI as Director of Sales, Diagnostic Division.
Frank Massey is one of the UK’s leading vehicle diagnostics experts. With over 38 years’ experience and writing regular troubleshooting columns for trade publications, he is renowned in the industry for his unrivalled expertise and knowledge. Many garages have benefited from the wide range of Training DVDs that he has produced.
He holds training seminars and addresses conferences worldwide, including regular lectures for the IMI and Electronics Industry.
The Garage Equipment Association (GEA) is part of a working group in consultation with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) regarding the new EC Regulation No 842/2006 on Certain Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases (F-Gases), and has produced an eight page guide to help those in the vehicle servicing industry understand what this regulation means to them.
The principle objective of the F-Gas Regulation is to contain, prevent and thereby reduce emissions of F-gases covered by the Kyoto Protocol. Key obligations in the Regulation apply in the UK and the rest of the EU with effect from 4 July 2007.
F-Gases are hydro fluorocarbons (HFCs) and their main application in the motor industry is the use of F-Gas 134a as the refrigerant in vehicle climate control and air conditioning systems. As such the July 4 phase-in of the above-mentioned obligations impacts the vehicle service industry.
Blackcircles.com’s rapid success, gained through adapting dotcom technology to suit the tyre business, is well documented. According to Plimsoll’s 2007 analysis, the online tyre enterprise is the 32nd fastest growing company in the UK tyre business and blew away industry sales averages by posting sales growth of 80 per cent. So what’s the secret? The ever-increasing number of “fitting stations” listed as Blackcircles franchisees is one reason for the business’ rapid growth, but the company’s use of conventional media strategies appears to be another way it has kept traffic coming.
As Blackcircles prepares to sign-up its 300th franchise garage, the company has also launched a service designed to give consumers instant access to mechanics across the UK. The move follows the launch of www.mechanic-torque.co.uk in which consumers can post queries about their car and receive an expert answer from a Blackcircles franchise mechanic. Since launching in early 2006, the Blackcircles franchise network has spread across the UK. The franchise arrangement sees local independent garages retain their identity, but gain access to Blackcircles’ stock checking and ordering systems. Blackcircles plans to increase the number of franchises to 500 by December and 800 within a year.
East of England specialist Kingsway Tyres is making tracks for an all Mercedes-Benz fleet of vans. The firm has bought 10 Long-bodied Sprinter 311CDIs already this year, and now plans to convert its entire fleet of nearly 100 vans. Kingsway Tyres previously ran Mercedes vehicles, but then bought a number of vans from a rival manufacturer. It has now gone back to Boston dealer H and L Garages with a series of orders for high-roofed Sprinter vans and Sprinter chassis cabs fitted with dropside bodies by McComb Coachworks in Lincolnshire.
Kingsway Tyres offers a repair and replacement service for all kinds of vehicle tyres. A subsidiary of Bridgestone Tyres, it has a main base in Stamford plus 17 depots across the east of England; all of the vehicles are commissioned and fitted out at its Peterborough depot.
Yet another reminder of the importance of frequently checking tyre pressure has come from the results of a survey conducted by the Institute of Advanced Motorists’ Trust. The survey of approximately 500 drivers showed that on average only 18 per cent of men and 4 per cent of women are checking vehicle tyre pressure once a week, the recommended frequency. And only a minority of motorists – 37 per cent of men and 32 per cent of women – conduct monthly pressure checks.
Air pressure facilities at garages were found to be largely accurate, with 80 per cent accurate to within 5 psi at 30 psi, and almost all the others accurate to within 7 psi. However the majority of motorists appear to be unaware that the recommended inflation pressures given by car manufacturers and at garage facilities are for “cold” levels, when even a short drive from home to the garage can cause tyres to become heated. The result of inflating heated tyres to cold levels is that they can end up being between 12 and 15 per cent under inflated.
As Tyreweb approaches its 30th year in business, company founders Karl and Susan Webber are celebrating their business’ expansion into a new 20,000 square foot warehouse. But what triggered the company’s recent success?
“Over the years, Tyreweb found on many occasions it was impossible to source tyres that were required the same day that were non stock tyres, being aware that other companies would be in the same position, we put a van on the road to offer two deliveries a day to customers a little further afield,” the Webbers told Tyres & Accesssories.
Innovative tyre retailer Blackcircles.com has announced two new additions to its executive team as it prepares for another year of exciting growth. Launched in 2001 by managing director Mike Welch (28), the online tyre retailer has set a new quality standard for the tyre industry and strong sales in 2006 has seen it create the two new posts of commercial director and head of finance.
A habitual fly-tipper has been taught a lesson he is unlikely to forget in a hurry after officials seized a Mitsubishi 4×4 he had used during his illicit operations and put it through a crusher. Council bosses in Wigan approved this drastic measure against the trader suspected of dumping car tyres in a number of locations around the Wigan area.
If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com. Or click below to continue on Tyrepress.
