Labelling
Last year's Tyre & Aftermarket Equipment Supplier of the Year winners (at their first attempt) Autogem Motor Concepts are joined this year by regular finalists Apaseal and Rema Tip Top Automotive. A new name is that of Pang UK and the final company in the shortlist is that of CAM Systems – very different from the others in that it provides software solutions as opposed to machinery and consumables.
After completing a three-year course, 24 apprentices recently entered permanent employment at Halfords Autocentres. Each apprentice has gained NVQ Level 3 in light vehicle technology and a full-time job at Halfords Autocentres after successfully completing the course. This is good news for them, but also points to the fast rate of growth in the network.
The GT Radial Performance Centre (GTPC) programme for independent garages is to receive a series of enhancements as the brand’s manufacturer GiTi Tire and its UK distributor Micheldever Tyre Services commence a significant three-year growth plan. Micheldever chief executive, Paul Fox claims the enhanced GTPC programme is “the most exciting brand proposition in the UK tyre business today” at its launch at GiTi Tire’s European Technical Centre, MIRA.
Last year we had six finalists in this category and five of them have made it through to the 2012 shortlist. In recent years, the award has been shared between B.I.T.S. and Stapleton's and this year B.I.T.S. is looking to make it double figures, while Stapleton's will be trying for three wins on the trot. Can the other three finalists – Bond International, Grouptyre and Micheldever – improve on their 2011 performances?
Lanxess reports it will work with the China Rubber Industry Association (CRIA) towards developing and implementing tyre labelling in China. The two parties signed a letter of intent on 13 July, and the German specialty chemicals and synthetic rubber specialist says it and the CRIA have “agreed to cooperate closely on sharing knowledge and expertise” in this area.
Back in mid-June, only a short time after manufacturers were able to release their tyre labelling data into the public domain on 30 May, Michelin became the first tyre manufacturer to share details of its labelling position across its range with Tyres & Accessories. The details show market leading wet grip has been a key factor in tyre development for years before the introduction of tyre labelling and therefore make for interesting reading.
Lanxess has announced that it is partnering with the National Tyre Distributor’s Association (NTDA) to ensure tyre dealers and wholesalers across the UK have everything they need to prepare for mandatory tyre labelling when it is introduced on 1 November.
The Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Company’s ‘Quick Reifendiscount’ stores in Germany have given e-paper manufacturer ZBD a “significant contract” to roll out its large format displays. Working alongside installation partner Aha Trade Marketing Concepts, ZBD will provide its e-paper displays to Quick stores over the next few months. With tyre labelling mandatory in November, tyre retail stores continue to search for the best ways to display information. It seems that a flexible system such as e-paper could allow companies to integrate the new label into current product pricing displays effectively.
Cam Systems newly developed website is designed specifically with tyre labelling in mind. The company wants to ensure customers are informed how to be totally operational and compliant in this area by November this year; the label will need to be present at point of sale on 1 November 2012 and Cam’s customers have been looking to the software provider to provide increased functionality to cover this requirement. In support of this, Cam says its own website (www.cam-systems.co.uk) has been designed to offer in-depth guidance and advice on the impending legislation.
While some in the tyre industry are rethinking the way they categorise and sell tyres following the introduction of labelling into the market, others have decided the clearest communication comes when the rubber hits the road. Perhaps that’s why Tyremen’s Hull depot has repainted the lines on its customer car park with a distinct labelling theme. Before they were simply a collection of parking bays, now Tyremen have transformed them into an illustration of how labelling works, with bays labelled from A – G and marked “wet grip.”
Immediately preceding the Reifen 2012 show at which its GT Radial brand had an impressive Hall Three stand, GiTi Tire held its Dealer Conference at which future growth plans were discussed for the GiTi Group’s full portfolio of products. Managing director Europe, Richard Lyons said that its European operation will continue to grow profitability in 2012 and 2013 by gaining volume share in mature markets and achieving breakthroughs in emerging countries. Speaking at the GiTi Dealer Conference at Reifen 2012, Lyons stated that these goals would be achieved in unprecedented economic times by the continued introduction of high quality products with premium performance, a first-class level of service and an improved value-proposition.
Pirelli unveiled its new Cinturato P7 Blue passenger car tyre on the first day of Reifen 2012 – an event that is significant as it is the first product to reach European markets with A ratings for both wet grip and rolling resistance. The tyre achieved the AA rating in size 235/45 R17, and is an evolution of the company’s Cinturato P7 product. Pirelli also demonstrated its Cyber Fleet truck sensors, currently trialling on a fleet of 13 HGVs, in real time. Responding to Tyres & Accessories’ questions, Pirelli representatives said that the P7 Blue achieves the improved characteristics over the base P7 model through use of a new compound and several subtle changes to the tread pattern, including “optimisation of the shoulder”. The base compound of the tyre, underneath the tread, was also credited for helping the P7 Blue attain it’s A ratings.
Goodyear Dunlop has used a ‘Speed Dating’ approach to explain the tyre development process and offer additional information relating to the new EU Tire Label to top technology and motoring journalists from around Europe. But the key message was, as we heard from several manufacturers as Essen just a few weeks ago, that the EU Tire Label will highlight a tyre’s performance in three areas while leading manufacturers such as Goodyear Dunlop analyzes over 50 criteria during development.
I don’t want to be overdramatic, but the first round of tyre label unveiling that took place during last month’s Reifen 2012 (see page 46 in the forthcoming July issue for complete coverage of this event) was certainly telling. What we saw was a wide range of different approaches to disseminating this information. What we heard was an even wider range of explanations for all of this. But in the end it was as much about what the various manufacturers didn’t say as it was about what they did say.
Announcing that it will start labelling its car tyres today (2 July), Bridgestone Europe says it will join Pirelli in bringing an AA-rated product – the Ecopia EP001S – to market. Coming in just a few months after the Cinturato P7 Blue, which was unveiled at Reifen 2012 in Essen, the tyre will be available in the UK on 1 October 2012 with top A grades on both fuel efficiency and wet grip. Bridgestone also claims that it is the first product in the industry to achieve top label grading both in Europe and in Japan. Though not present at the company’s Reifen stand in early-June, the EP001S, the latest member of the fuel-efficient Ecopia range, will be officially presented at this September’s Paris Motor Show and effectively introduced in the European market as of October 2012.
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.
