We may have the pound and the credit crisis to worry about, but at least those in the fast fit industry in our part of the world need not lose sleep over an unexpected hazard encountered by employees and customers at a tyre service centre in South Carolina, US. As deer mating season continues in full swing, a buck burst into the Fort Hill outlet looking for love, but finding only tyres.
Viking International has announced that Hunters of Linlithgow are the winners of the company’s recent mini-break promotion for Barum Tyres. All Barum dealers took part in the promotion which ran from 2 June and 25 July. John and Mari Hunter, owners of Hunters of Linlithgow, were the proud winners and received £500 of holiday vouchers towards a short break of their choice. With a great deal of experience in the motor trade, John and Mari established Hunters of Linlithgow six years ago. They now have twenty-two employees and are the largest Viking International Barum dealer in the UK. John Hunter commented: “Barum is a quality brand and we get a lot of repeat business from it. We plan to use the vouchers to get away to the sun during the winter, thanks to Viking International.”
Hunter Engineering has made a number of management appointments. Dave Smith, recently named senior vice president, will oversee the U.S. and Canadian field organizations and Hunter’s marketing department. John Zentz has been promoted to vice president of sales, responsible for Hunter’s 23 U.S. regions and field managers.
Net-A-Tyre (www.netatyre.co.uk) is the UK’s newest online tyre company, established in Scotland by independent garage group D&G Autocare. www.netatyre.co.uk offers customers the chance to buy tyres online and have them fitted where they want at one of the company’s UK wide network of independent fitting agents. No details of exactly how many fitting agents the company has were given in the launch statement. However, Net-A-Tyre did state that it is actively seeking to expand its network.
Net-A-Tyre Manager Stuart Burns: “There are many advantages to becoming a Net-A-Tyre agent, namely that we can generate traffic into the garages who perhaps do not use their services at the moment or have not known about their locations. This will give those garages the chance to turn these new customers into regular visitors. And if there is extra work required in the vehicles outside of their new tyres being fitted, the garages are free to sell that additional work to the customer, which will boost their revenue.”
The Ford Motor Company has chosen Hunter Engineering as its exclusive wheel alignment system supplier for Ford and Lincoln-Mercury dealerships in the United States.
Hunter Engineering has maintained a strong partnership with Ford since joining the Rotunda equipment program in 1964 as the first supplier of alignment and balancing equipment. The relationship between the two companies has strengthened over the years, as Hunter’s product line has expanded to include tyre changers, brake lathes and inspection equipment, which are also approved for the Rotunda program.
Hunter Engineering recently filed a patent infringement action against Hennessy Industries. On April 30, Hennessy issued this statement:
“Earlier this month, Hunter Engineering filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Hennessy Industries. The suit alleges infringement of Hunter patents relating to a balancing system marketed by Hunter under the SmartWeight brand name.
“Hennessy Industries disputes the merits of the suit, and intends to vigorously defend its right to market EconoBalance (EB) technology in its Coats brand wheel balancers.” (Tire Review/Akron)
This is the relevant portion of the official statement issued by Hunter Engineering regarding its recent patent infringement lawsuit filed against competitor Hennessy Industries:
“On April 7, 2008, Hunter Engineering filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Hennessy Industries, Inc. relating to Hunter US patent numbers 6,952,964 and 7,320,248. These patents involve technology marketed by Hunter as SmartWeight that simplifies the wheel balancing process and significantly reduces the materials necessary to effectively balance wheels, thus reducing the cost to perform proper wheel balancing operations.
“The lawsuit implicates Hennessy’s wheel balancing equipment that includes the ‘Coats EconoBalance’ feature or the ‘Coats EB’ feature.” (Tire Review/Akron)
US based automotive service equipment manufacturer Hunter Engineering has announced two key new appointments from within the company’s ranks.
Dave Smith has been promoted to senior vice president, and Beau Brauer to vice president of marketing. Smith joined Hunter in 1975 as a sales representative in Richmond, Virginia. and was appointed Cleveland regional manager in 1980. Since 1984, he has served as Hunter’s vice president of sales and marketing. During this time he led the growth of Hunter’s field management team and sales and service organisations from 200 representatives to more than 630 today. Similar growth was achieved in Canada. Smith will now continue to manage Hunter’s U.S. and Canadian field managers and sales and service organisations, and provide guidance to Hunter’s marketing department.
Brauer joined Hunter in 2005 as a sales representative in Charlotte, North Carolina. He was named New York regional manager in 2007, responsible for sales, service and national account activities in the region. As vice president of marketing, Brauer is now responsible for all of Hunter’s marketing and advertising department activities.
Pro-Align has launched Hunter’s new third generation digital imaging alignment system – HawkEye. The new technology combines the features of the popular DSP600 imaging system with the new High-Definition (HD) digital imaging sensors. According to Pro-Align, Hawkeye will provide precise, high-speed alignment service and greater productivity, while taking up a minimum amount of shop space.
The HawkEye system comes in two versions – the Hunter 100 aligner with Hawkeye digital imaging sensors; and the Hunter WA aligner with Hawkeye HD digital imaging Sensors. The Hunter 100 aligner is a kind of ‘mini’ version that operates on the new low cost Hunter100 console, with standard hexagonal targets, to provide the benefits of rapid imaging alignment at a price that, in the past, has been associated with aligners with conventional sensors. This news is said to close the ‘affordability’ gap, offering more tyre shops the opportunity to make that move away from hang-on tracking gauges.
One of Micheldever’s newest acquisitions, Tavistock Tyres in Devon, has undergone an extensive refurbishment programme, including the replacement of equipment. According to those involved, the aim from the outset was to fit out the workshop to a very highest standard, achieve the optimum in customer service and efficiency/revenue generation. In order to achieve this, Micheldever selected key equipment from Pro-Align’s ‘world leading’ Hunter equipment range. The improvements and reorganisation at Tavistock Tyres, has meant they have now been able to create a new dedicated alignment bay, headed by the Hunter Imaging Alignment System.
Pro-Align has launched a mobile version of its popular Hunter DSP600 alignment system – the DSP600CM. Upon making is debut at the Mechanex show in Sandown, company representatives remarked that the Hunter DSP600CM imaging system offers “the same benefits as its ‘fixed column’ cousin, but with the added flexibility of being mobile between adjacent alignment lifts.”
The CM has the main camera column fixed to the side of the alignment console, this allows the technician to simply move the whole unit between adjacent alignment lifts. It is then located in position using with small floor plates.
Hunter’s TCX550 automatic swing-arm changer includes operational features familiar to most technicians and a Bead Press System to help easily service difficult run-flats or low-profile tyres mounted on large or oversize alloy wheels. The automatic swing-arm design saves time by eliminating repositioning. With the push of a single button, the swing arm locks to a preset wheel diameter and width to speed service of same-size wheels.
The tabletop clamping system is designed to easily handle 13 to 28-inch wheels safely. The XT-out table design allows easy access to the bottom bead while ensuring rigidity for large diameter wheels.
The powerful motor and unique two-speed drive system operates at a low speed with increased torque to prevent damage to wheels and tyre beads when servicing tough combinations. Technicians can apply the faster speed when servicing less difficult combinations.
The wheel-centred Bead Press System aids in blocking and pressing stiff low-profile tyre beads into deep drop-centre wheels. BPS provides effortless assistance with the most difficult tyres and custom wheels up to 28” in diameter.
Vibration problems are one of the most difficult problems to solve and because of this, they often gets the ‘head in the sand’ treatment. The NTDA has recognised this and has highlighted the vibration issue in their recent Service Bulletin 06/07 (copies are available from the NTDA offices)
In the past, to solve a vibration problem that balancing alone does not fix, it has been done through a process of elimination/ trial and error. This can be very time consuming and more often than not a vibration problem still persists.
Pro-Align suggest that the Hunter Road Force Balancer puts an end to guess work and can not only save you time and money, but can also provide an additional profitable service for your business.
Pro-Align is to feature in the next Harvie Prema product catalogue, as a new ‘supplier partner’. A selection of equipment, including the ‘World Leading’ Hunter wheel aligners, balancers, tyre changers, plus the Pro-Aligns range of alignment lifts, will be presented within the ‘Equipment Section’. Both Harvie Prema and Pro-Align see the involvement as a complimentary one, supporting both companies’ business activities and will go to enhance the service to their customers.
The ‘handshake’ took place during the recent Harvie Prema Sales meeting, held at Pro-Align’s purpose built premises in Towcester. During the meeting, Harvie Prema staff were given demonstrations of the Pro-Align equipment, seeing for themselves many of the cost saving and revenue generating features.
Earlier this year NGK Spark Plugs launched its Wholesaler “Milesmore” promotion, whereby wholesalers could redeem points earned for a variety of gifts, ranging from home entertainment systems, luxury holidays or items to support their business.
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