MOT
At the General Assembly of the international association for parts distributors, FIGIEFA, held on 24 May in Brussels, president of the German association GVA, Hartmut Rohl, was unanimously voted (with 34 votes) to the position of Figiefa president for the second time. He takes over from Michel Vilatte of FEDA (France) who was elected to the vice-president’s role with 30 votes. IAAF chief executive Brian Spratt was elected as Figiefa’s new treasurer with 31 votes.
Liftmaster is the latest company to join a scheme designed to help industry improve its safety record. The Hampshire based firm recently received accreditation from SAFEcontractor, a programme which recognises very high standards of health and safety practise amongst UK contractors. Specialising in the sales of 2 post lifts, 4 post lifts, scissor lifts, tyre equipment, MOT and ATF Equipment, Liftmaster’s application for SAFEcontractor accreditation was driven by the need for a uniform standard across the business.
As this issue of Tyres & Accessories goes to press, most of the team are en route to Essen for what has become the world’s largest tyre exhibition (look out for full coverage in our July issue and online at Tyrepress.com). Now that restrictions related to tyre labelling have been lifted, it is likely that this is the subject that everyone will be talking about. The leading manufacturers have already started positioning their companies in relation to one another and we can only imagine how they will position their respective pre- and post-labelling products compared with the rest of their group brands. Again this is something we are keeping a close eye on here at T&A.
Following Mike Penning Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Transport’s announcement that an amendment will be made to regulation 6 of The Motor Vehicles (Tests) Regulations 1981 to enable the MOT exemption for vintage vehicle, the RMI has voiced its displeasure.
Andrew Bates, sales director of Straightset Ltd, was recently appointed president of the Garage Equipment Association (GEA), according to a statement released by the trade body. One of the first items on his agenda was announcing the latest developments relating to the association’s Engineer’s Accreditation Programme during his president’s speech at this year’s GEA dinner.
Roads Minister Mike Penning has announced that classic vehicles will be exempted from the MoT test. According to details released by the Department for Transport on 21 May, vehicles manufactured before 1960 will be exempted from the MoT test from 18 November 2012.
Following research by Motor Wheel Service last month that showed commercial wheels sustaining undetected damage when fitted to non-standard hubs, the Department for Transport has stated that it will undertake independent testing to verify the company’s findings. The initial investigation, carried out on an LBF machine by one of the world’s leading CV wheel experts, Dr Sundararajan of Wheels India, found that non-circumferential hubs, which give only partial contact between axle and wheel, are causing untested load stresses which cause cracks and half life expectancy. MWS, the worldwide distributor of Wheels India’s xlite truck wheels, has campaigned extensively over the past few years for increased safety checks, maintaining that there is also a problem with used take-off wheels entering the market without mandatory safety checks.
Birmingham-based ATS Euromaster has been presented with the Innovation Award for the second year in succession at the Van Fleet World Honours 2012. The company was commended by the publication for its “highly progressive approach” to van fleet servicing, reacting to a “constantly changing” market. The trophy was presented today at a special ceremony held at the Royal Automobile Club in London on Wednesday 16 May.
A recent survey by insurance comparison website Confused.com reveals that first-time buyers are becoming more savvy about the cost of cars; looking at the full cost of motoring rather than just the initial purchase price. Cars are one of the biggest expenses that people make in their life time. However, people are having to compromise on the cars they drive. Big engines and car modifications no longer the new driver's prerogative, due to the cost of insurance and overall rising cost of motoring.
It has been announced that John Ball is to step down in May as MOT chairman of the Retail Motor Industry Federation. He said "I have very much enjoyed my time as chairman of RMI MOT and having played a lead role in defeating the frequency challenge, the effort has been more than justified.
Commercial vehicle wheels operating on non-standard spider and star shaped hubs are sustaining damage that could half their lifespan, according to research by Wythenshawe-based distributor, Motor Wheel Service. The company instigated research into the damage non-circumferential hubs can cause to wheels untested on anything other than circumferential products. John Ellis, managing director of MWS, said: “We do not know how many vehicles are operating on UK roads with spider and star shaped hubs. It is now up to VOSA and the main CV bodies, who I suspect are completely unaware of this problem, to ascertain the scale of the issue and exactly how it should be handled.” Ellis and MWS have long campaigned for the introduction of more stringent safety checks on CV wheels, citing the influx of take-off or second-hand wheels into the UK market; now the use of non-standard hubs has provided them with a second angle to present to the Department for Transport.
Tyre retailers will soon have a major new profit opportunity as legislation covering the fitment and testing of TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems) comes into force later this year. And suppliers including Apaseal/Tyresure, Autogem and Rema Tip Top will be exhibiting at Brityrex International to demonstrate the technical aspects of the systems and the commercial potential available.
While progress in its campaign for increased safety checks on take-off, or second hand commercial wheels entering the UK market was delayed by the UK government’s back-tracking on proposed MOT changes, Motor Wheel Service has continued to develop its forged aluminium xlite brand, on which it has a worldwide distribution deal, launching its “next generation Xbrite” single part, transparent finish. The protective coating was specially developed for MWS, offering what it calls “the highest levels of corrosion resistance and unrivalled shine for xlite forged aluminium wheels”. In other news, a change in truck racing’s technical regulations will allow forged aluminium wheels to be fitted to the outside of the rear axle from 2013 onwards, responding to the wishes of 10-time British Truck Racing Championship, Stuart Oliver, who said of xlite: "lighter wheels mean less unsprung weight on the axle, creating less wear and tear to surrounding parts and greater grip between the tyre and the circuit.”
Motor Codes has revealed the nation’s 50 most trusted garages, following six weeks of voting by thousands of motorists. Motor Codes, an OFT approved code of practice for car service and repair and new car sales, in invited satisfied customers to nominate their local garage through its annual Garage of the Year contest. This year around 10 per cent of the top performers were tyre specialists despite strong competition from general garages, MOT centres, and franchised vehicle dealerships.
Micheldever Tyres Services will no doubt be particularly pleased with the results, as four of these branches belong to the group, which is know for its Micheldever and Southam wholesale brands as well as its famous Micheldever Station retail outlet and Protyre chain. This year Micheldever Tyre & Auto Services, Winchester as well as Protyre Plymouth, Protyre Gloucester and Protyre Poole were the ones to make it into the top 100.
TPMS (Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems) will soon become a legally required feature of the MOT test. From 1 November 2012 all new passenger car models must be fitted with TPMS and a non-working TPMS system will has already been subject to advisory on the MOT test from 1 January 2012. As from January next year, all taxis will be required to have the TPMS system working to pass the MOT and this will then become the same for all TPMS fitted vehicles as of the start of 2015.
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