DSV, a global organisation that offers total logistic solutions across a wide range of industrial and commercial sectors, has re-signed an additional 12 month contract with Bridgestone. The majority of DSV’s fleet of 7500 trucks is fitted with Bridgestone Bandag 385/65R22.5.
Several changes in Goodyear Tire & Rubber’s finance leadership have been announced. Filling the soon to be vacant position of vice president and controller, North American Tire is Richard J. Noechel, currently vice president of finance for North American Tire. Noechel replaces Thomas A. Connell, who intends to retire on March 1, 2011. The position at present occupied by Noechel will be filled by Laura K. Thompson, who currently serves as vice president of business development. Stepping a rung up the ladder into Thompson’s old job is David Campopiano, currently senior director of business development. All abovementioned changes will take effect on March 1, 2011.
At its second 2010 national conference, HiQ announced what it calls a number of historic milestones in the development of the UK’s only hard franchise fast fit network. Franchisees at the two-day workshop and business forum event were welcomed by recently appointed HiQ retail director Peter Tye, who shared news of developments within the network on the second anniversary of it becoming a fully franchised operation.
Tyre manufacturer Maxxis International has received original equipment accreditation from PSA. The company says it has developed its MA-510 tyre in conjunction with PSA specifically for the European OE market – it already complies with the European type approval standard 661/2009 – and is supplying the tyre in size 175/65R14 on the Peugeot 206+.
Privately owned multi-service transport organisation Clarke’s Transport has selected the Bandvulc range of tyres as policy fitment for its fleet operation. The arrangement sees the Clarke’s fleet using AC Tyres based in Oldham to manage and provide fleet support to its Northern based vehicles. AC Tyres is a certified member of Bandvulc Tyre Contracts’ Service Provider Recognition Scheme and a key partner for Bandvulc.
Half a year after opening his HiQ outlet in Dorking, former British Touring Car Championship driver Jeff Allam has signed on the dotted line to open a second franchise centre. The fast fit network reports Allam is opening a centre in Leatherhead following a “productive six months” in partnership with HiQ. The ex-BTCC driver was the first UK dealer to secure a partnership with HiQ and his expansion is seen as a big show of strength for the network.
Kumho Tire has been awarded an original equipment supply deal for the all-new 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The manufacturer will supply its Solus KS21 UHP tyre in sizes 265/60R18 or 265/50R20 for versions of this new Jeep destined for markets outside of North America, and in doing so Kumho expects to “generate an even stronger momentum in its pursuit of overseas markets.”
In November, Continental Tire the Americas launched the first tyre it has specifically engineered to both meet the needs of the people moving segment and to perform on roads throughout North and South America – the steer and all-position HSR2 SA. This heavy steer regional tyre was designed and will be produced at the company’s Mt. Vernon plant in Illinois, and according to Clif Armstrong, CTA’s marketing director for commercial tyres in the Americas, the HSR2 SA completes the tyre maker’s product portfolio for people movers. Conti’s American people mover range also contains a long-distance steer/all-position tyre for heavier buses and recreational vehicles (the HSL1 Coach, introduced in January 2010) and a steer/all-position tyre for urban bus traffic, the HSU1.
Cooper Tire has announced the first ‘SmartWay’ verification of a member of its commercial vehicle tyre range. The company’s Roadmaster RM180 long haul steer tyre has been added to the US Environmental Protection Agency’s SmartWay Transport Partnership list of low rolling resistance commercial vehicle tyres after meeting the required criteria.
Japanese tyre manufacturer Yokohama celebrated its 100th race as official tyre supplier to the FIA World Touring Car Championship earlier this year, having supplied the control tyre to the series since 2006. Commenting on the season, Yokohama HPT’s Motorsport manager, Mark Evans, said: “We’ve seen another exceptional year of competition in the WTCC, which is a superb environment to showcase the brand’s performance.” The ADVAN wet and dry racing tyres have drawn critical acclaim from the competitors, with the manufacturer developing products that suit both the front and rear wheel drive cars competing.
Transense Technologies plc has formed a joint venture company with SenGenuity, the sensors division of Vectron International Inc. The joint venture company, Bulldog Innovations Limited is a 50/50 partnership between Transense and SenGenuity that is designed to enable “closer cooperation in order to accelerate the development of specific applications based on the companies' existing [battery-less sensor] technologies.”
Tyrenet, the independent tyre network, has gone live with Cam Systems’ UniSerV application suite. The platform handles the call logging, customer policy and contract management, interactive mapping and breakdown form processing requirements that Tyrenet have, enabling it to streamline its operations significantly and introduce Straight Through Processing for the first time. Tyrenet is also UniSerV’s integration into Cam’s Cameo platform for systemised updating of transactions into the organisation, making commercial functions speedier, more robust, more visible and, ultimately, easier to manage.
Once again Yokohama has held its LIVEecoMOTION event in partnership with MTV Japan. The ‘one coin’ live charity event has been held annually since 2007 and the October 1 concert in Tokyo raised 492,500 yen (£3,780) in admission fees. On October 12, Yokohama donated this amount plus a further 37,280 yen in contributions to WWF Japan, which is – sorry wrestling fans – the local chapter of the World Wide Fund for Nature. The proceeds will be utilised for the organisation’s activities aimed at combating global warming.
Viking International’s group managing director Kevin Parker says that the company has “embarked on a period of change within Viking that is unparalleled in its history” during the last 12 months. Parker has implemented a number of initiatives designed to streamline efficiency and improve customer service. He is also the head of Viking’s sister company National Fleet and he believes the best way to drive the business forward includes the partnership of these companies, providing a more complete service to customers; this would include wholesale tyres and automotive parts alongside fleet solutions for dealers and independent partners.
The road safety partnership RoadSafe has stated its support for near-namesake TyreSafe’s Tyre Safety Month initiative, which runs throughout October. Adrian Walsh, RoadSafe director says: “Tyres are a vital part of your car. You cannot brake, steer or accelerate properly when they are worn or underinflated. Drivers must remember to check them regularly. It can save a life.”
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.
