Tire Review reports that China’s Qingdao Doublestar Industrial Co. Ltd. is opening its first warehouse and distribution center in the US, with an assist by Del-Nat Tire Corp. Executives from both companies were in the city of Memphis on November 5 to sign an agreement whereby Qingdao Doublestar will warehouse and distribute Doublestar brand medium radial truck tires from Del-Nat’s facility in South Memphis.
Following the news that point S has embarked on a transatlantic expansion plan, the company has revealed that John Cowderoy from point S UK attended the Sema show in Las Vegas too. According to the dealer network Cowderoy flew to the US along with the point S development team to work in partnership with the latest network to join the point S ranks, Independent Tyre Dealer Group (ITDG) one of the largest tyre dealer groups in America.
Tyre dealer network point S has announced its entrance into the American market at an official event on 1 November at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, where the company is exhibiting for the first time. US collective The Independent Tire Dealers Group, LLC (ITDG) has signed a partnership with point S, stepping up the group’s international development onto a new continent. Following its entrance into Turkey earlier this month, the network is now present in 21 countries in Europe with over 2,000 depots.
Turkish tyre maker Brisa reports a 36 per cent year-on-year rise in revenues between January and September. In a statement released on October 30, the company disclosed it earned some TL942.5 million (₤329.8 million) during the nine-month period. Net profits rose 35 per cent year-on-year over the same timeframe, to approximately TL47,500 (₤16,600) while EBITA grew 41 per cent to TL114 million (₤39.9 million).
Marangoni Retreading Systems has announced a new deal with Bergkvarabuss AB, one of the largest private tourist bus and coach companies in Sweden. The Italian retreader will supply tyres with its BUS-T tread pattern, manufactured using its Ringtread joint-free procured ring technology, to the transport firm, becoming the first retreader to supply Bergkvarabuss. Founded in 1975 as a small taxi and bus business, the fleet has since grown to become the biggest family business in the sector in Sweden.
After labour and fuel costs, tyres are one of the largest items in a truck fleet operator’s budget, representing a valuable asset that requires careful management, Bridgestone representatives recently told Tyres & Accessories.
AlloyGator, a patented alloy wheel protection system, has been launched with the aim of providing car owners with unrivalled protection against scuffs, scratches and other wheel damage. AlloyGator is an affordable solution in keeping alloy wheels looking better for longer for consumers and an opportunity to up-sell for tyre dealers.
HiQ branch Raw Tyres in Pontefract has won a Hunter HawkEye ‘Special’ imaging aligner worth £8,995 in a competition organised by wheel alignment specialists Pro-Align. The winning workshop was one of 251 from across the UK that entered Pro-Align’s online competition as part of its 20th anniversary celebrations.
September 2011 saw the launch of six GT Radial branded trailers in partnership with Micheldever Tyre Services, GT Radial’s exclusive UK distributor. The liveried trailers will are in addition to Micheldever’s existing logistic fleet of 52 units, all manufactured by Montracon.
It isn’t easy attracting new staff to the world of commercial tyre fitting; indeed both leading and independent service providers report finding it difficult to recruit young, enthusiastic candidates. But for its part Tyre Maintenance is committing to partner with one of the UK’s leading training organisations, Remit (Retail Motor Industry Training).
A Bridgend garage that lost £10,500 worth of equipment to thieves is bouncing back after joining the HiQ network. Waterton Tyre Services now has the fast-fit franchise’s black and white branding above its forecourt, following a £60,000 investment. The garage, based in Waterton Industrial Estate, was robbed at the start of the year after just five months of trading in the town.
Safer sporty driving through better synchronisation between tyre and vehicle – this is the aim of a new technology partnership agreement between tyre maker Continental and well-known German vehicle tuner Brabus. The two companies formalised their collaboration at the recent IAA motor show in Frankfurt, with Nikolai Setzer, head of Continental’s Tires division, and Brabus CEO and founder Prof. Bodo Buschmann signing the deal.
California-based renewable products company Amyris, Inc. reports it has signed a definitive agreement with Michelin to collaborate in the development and commercialisation of isoprene sourced from renewable feedstocks. The substance being developed, Amyris No Compromise renewable isoprene, is expected to be ready for commercialisation and use in tyre industry and other applications in 2015. Amyris says Michelin has committed itself to “off-take volumes” for a ten-year period. In addition, Amyris will retain the right under the agreement to market its renewable isoprene to other customers.
It’s said to have required “much deliberating, cogitating and digesting,” yet the shortlist for HiQ's national grid girl competition is now ready. The fast fitter says this year’s competition received an overwhelming response from grid girl wannabes all over the UK. According to HiQ marketing manager Geraldine McGovern, the company was “overwhelmed with entries and it was a tough decision shortlisting the final ten.”
Continental has announced it is partnering with lithium-ion battery specialist Akasol Engineering in order to develop the next generation of lithium-ion technology for electric vehicles. The two German companies’ work centres on a scalable battery concept that allows for modular expansion to accommodate vehicles of varying size. The batteries under development will also utilise a fluid cooling system that uniformly cools all parts of the unit, an action that enhances battery performance, vehicle range and service life.
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