Autoparts UK has added a new product to its range of Ultratec lubricants after unveiling its new ‘R-Tec F1 0W-30’ oil. The fully-synthetic oil is suitable for a range of petrol and diesel passenger car applications and brings exceptionally low temperature properties to the modern engine. This allows motorists to benefit from improved performance, increased fuel efficiency, even greater engine protection and an improved flow rate.
Pelmar Engineering Ltd. has announced that it has been appointed by CRS (Cincinnati Retread Systems) as the company’s sole distributer of its lubricants worldwide (excluding North America).
The UK’s largest independent lubricants company has joined the independent Verification of Lubricant Specifications (VLS) organisation. Exol Lubricants said the move underlined its commitment to bringing greater transparency to the lubricants market. CEO Darren Frogson commented: “joining VLS is a strong signal that we want an industry that is professional, accurate and can be relied upon at every juncture.”
Exol Lubricants, the UK’s largest lubricants blender, has appointed Robert Lundie as technical support specialist. Exol says Lundie will be responsible for supporting customers and the Exol sales team with product recommendations and advice on the correct oil for a specific application. Furthermore, he is tasked with writing technical and laboratory reports and ensuring Exol's product quality remains of the highest standard possible.
Zafco, the United Arab Emirates-based importer & exporter of tyres, batteries and automotive lubricants, has inaugurated its new office extension in Dubai. The opening of the facility, located in the Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), was marked by a celebration on 22 November. Senior officials from Jafza, shipping firm DP World, Dubai Customs and several banks joined Zafco’s staff at the event. Zafco described the inauguration as a “new milestone in the company’s journey of ‘Growing Together’ with its business partners.”
The effects of the recession mean that more people are keeping their cars for longer and putting off the major expense of buying a new vehicle, according to new research from Halfords Autocentres. However, the mature motors of today are a long way from the old bangers of the past thanks to better engineering and maintenance techniques.
According to experts in the field, drivers are recognising that maintaining and running an older vehicle is more cost effective than buying a newer model.
Following a successful Tyrexpo Asia Zafco, the Dubai based tyre manufacturer, importer and exporter of tyres, batteries and lubricants, is also exhibiting at Automechanika Middle East. Founded in Dubai in 1993, Zafco is one of the world's leading importers and exporters of car tyres, batteries and lubricants. The company is based in the Jebel Ali Free Zone and its UAE storage facilities, which cover 43,100 square metres, can accommodate 1 million tyres.
Dunlop has announced it will be the “Official Tyre Partner” for the 2011 Isle of Man TT races. Allan Bell MHK, minister for economic development commented: “The TT Races commercial programme continues to grow and it is fitting that in the year of the centenary of the Mountain Course, one of the companies that has become synonymous with the event has become a commercial partner.” Eddy Geerdink, Dunlop marketing director, commented: “Dunlop is delighted to become the Official Tyre Partner of the TT Races. The Mountain Course is one of the world’s toughest circuits and our success in the event over the years has provided us with excellent recognition for the performance and technology of our tyres.”
Al Dobowi Group recently celebrated 35 years of operations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This fourth generation tyre business was started in the Middle East with the aim of addressing the needs of a growing tyre management and service industry in the Middle East. Today, says the company, it has grown to become a leading global player in the industry providing clients with superior services and unique solutions to their problems across three continents. The group has grown beyond tyre management into providing clients with all the solutions they need with regards to motion. This includes batteries for motive power, lubricants, conveyor belt systems and technical rubber products.
The latest Which? report on garage service concludes that there are still shocking levels of incompetence in the sector despite the introduction of several new codes of conduct. The undercover investigation found that 90 per cent of the 62 garages mystery shopped by the consumer watchdog missed (or ignored) at least one potentially dangerous fault, while 39 per cent charged for a product that wasn’t supplied.
Which? introduced four simple faults – “deflated spare and nearside rear tyres, brake fluid at the minimum level and a blown bulb on the reversing light.” However, according to the report just eight of the garages tested returned the cars fault-free and five garages failed to fix any of the introduced faults.
Ceat Ltd. in partnership with Total Lubricants, has organised an “interactive knowledge platform” called Ceat Pro in Nagpur, India. The idea is to give customers access to best practice ideas to help them their businesses and reduce operation costs.
According to the company, Ceat Pro is intended to be a common platform for sharing information and resources. Panellists at the event spoke on fuel economy, trends in the India lubricant market, the use of telematics to increase fleet efficiency, and crucially tyre radialization and the future of tyres in India.
Rhein Chemie reports that the new compounding plant build at its Mannheim-Rheinau site in southwest Germany is now in full operation – an event the Lanxess group subsidiary describes as a milestone in the company’s century-plus history. The facility will produce Rhein Chemie’s Rhenogran product line of pre-dispersed, polymer-bound rubber chemicals that are used to in the manufacture of tyres and other rubber items.
In addition to the presence of tyre makers, the Aftermarket Show at Autosport International proved to be the ideal stage for Triple P, a division of Universal Automotive, to demonstrate its ability to attract performance brands, with the announcement of a distribution agreement with Gulf Lubricants UK. The road-going version of the Gulf-sponsored Le Mans winning Aston Martin DBR9 was the centre-piece of the company’s stand.
Keith Jewers, Gulf UK retail sales director joined the rest of the Triple P team and was present for the duration of the show to answer any questions about the brand. “Being at the heart of the Aftermarket Show and featuring in the TalkShop forums provided the perfect platform to really get the message across to both trade and consumer that Gulf Lubricants are back in a big way,” he explained. “The Gulf brand is synonymous with quality and innovation, and the high performance range of products we are offering through Triple P will be extremely comprehensive and competitive.”
Goodyear Jamaica, which currently faces mounting losses on its island operations, has appointed Tropical Battery – a distributor of batteries, Castrol motor oils and other car care lubricants, brake pads and other automotive products – as its distributor in an effort to gain better local market positioning. Meanwhile, Goodyear will continue to operate its Caribbean marketing and administration from its Kingston office.
“(Tropical Battery’s) strong distribution structure, sales and service capabilities will significantly improve our customers’ overall brand experience,” states Steven Miller, Goodyear Jamaica’s general manager. “Tropical’s leadership team has a proven track record of success and is committed to growing the Goodyear brand across Jamaica.”
At this year’s Reifen exhibition, the emphasis for Rema Tip Top Automotive will be on new service concepts. In addition, the company’s complete range of products and services will be on show on the 900 m2 stand and highly qualified specialists will be present to explain and demonstrate these products and services.
There are only a few exhibitors who offer comprehensive system solutions, covering the whole range from high-quality products, through services to training and expertise. As an example of the latter, Rema Tip Top will be demonstrating its new training truck in a further exhibition area near the main stand. The truck provides mobile training concepts with the emphasis placed on runflats and UHP tyres. It also provides companies with a cost-saving option for training on site. The training truck will be the venue of a daily tyre-changing contest, where Germany’s best tyre fitter will be selected. The winners will be awarded attractive prizes, and will also be featured on Rema Tip Top’s website after the show.
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