Avon has announced that the new Hyde Harrier and a selection of the world’s finest limited-edition and one-off motorcycles have chosen to fit Avon products as standard. Last month saw Norman Hyde’s latest creation – the Hyde Harrier Jubilee – released to the public and it runs exclusively on Avon Tyres.
Pirelli Tire North America has announced the addition of Western Power Sports as a selected aftermarket distributor for Pirelli motorcycle tyres in the United States. Western Power Sports is a wholesale/distributor of motorcycle parts and accessories with warehouses in Idaho California, Tennessee and Pennsylvania.
Continental AG shares rose over 10 per cent yesterday, following the start of a widely expected 1.1 billion euro rights issue. About three quarters of the new shares are said to have been placed with investors already. The offer also has the dual effect of diluting Schaeffler’s stake in the company to just over 75 per cent. Strategically, this is something Schaeffler (which previously indirectly controlled 90 per cent of Conti) shares is likely to be happy with as it is still firmly in control of the company’s stock.
New car registrations in Europe EU27 + EFTA) rose 26.6 per cent to 1,182,082 in November 2009, a far cry from the 25.8 per cent drop in the same month last year. Western Europe’s increase of 30.6 per cent contrasted with a 16.7 per cent drop experienced by the new EU Member States and reflects the impact of fleet renewal schemes in a number of main Western European markets. The UK market, for instance, shot up 57.6 per cent to 158,082 new registrations in November – although, admittedly, November 2008 was the month of steepest decline during the 15-month run of falling volumes between May 2008 and June 2009. Scrappage accounted for 21.6 per cent of all new car registrations during the month.
Hofmann, a brand within Snap-on Equipment, has unveiled its new duo of machines under the brand name Fusion. The company says that the wheel balancer and tyre changer both aim to be class leading. They are available as a package for £3,999, including a 24-month parts and labour warranty, delivery, installation and training.
Pirelli Tyres and Parts reports its adherence to the Copenhagen Communiqué on Climate Change, an initiative promoted by the University of Cambridge supported organisation the Prince of Wales’s Corporate Leaders’ Group on Climate Change. This communiqué, issued by the business leaders of over 500 global companies, calls for “an ambitious, robust and equitable global deal on climate change that responds credibly to the scale and urgency of the crises facing the world today” and urges the world leaders meeting at December’s United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen to tackle environmental issues with the same level of resolve and coordination as witnessed in the London Summit’s response to the global downturn.
For almost nine years responsibility for Continental AG’s global communications has rested in the hands of Dr. Heimo Prokop, and during this time the senior vice president of Corporate Communications has, in Conti’s words, been “a formative influence on communication in decisive phases of the corporation’s development”. On November 17 Continental announced that Dr. Prokop will leave his position with the company at the end of 2009.
Global silicone producer Momentive Performance Materials has announced the launch of a new range of elastomer products that can be cured through exposure to ultraviolet light. Unlike traditional silicone elastomers (HCR), which are typically vulcanised with a peroxide catalyst cured by heat exposure, this UV-sensitive, platinum catalysed curing system allows curing to take place at room temperature. This will, says Momentive, lead to energy savings and increased extrusion speed while maintaining the silicone elastomers’ physical properties.
Tire Service Equipment Mfg. Co., Inc. (TSI/SSG) has bought all inventory, trademarks, equipment and manufacturing rights of Amermac, Inc. of Ellaville, Georgia. Not details of the price have been released. Amermac, Inc. is a leader in tyre vibration equipment and is known in the automotive trucking industry and the motorsport world. President, Wes Sprunk, said the company is committed to providing superior service to all Amermac customers and is looking forward to building lasting relationships with them. The entire Amermac line of tyre vibration equipment will continue to be supported and all service parts will be available through TSI/SSG.
Bridgestone has been showing that its involvement in Formula One stretches beyond the supply of rubber on race days; the manufacturer hosted an event in which eight of the disadvantaged children of Singapore’s Club Rainbow met up with Vodafone McLaren Mercedes driver, Lewis Hamilton. Club Rainbow (Singapore) is a registered charity committed to helping children and youths suffering from a range of chronic and life-threatening illnesses. Established in 1992, the charity currently supports more than 470 beneficiaries and their families.
Vauxhall MasterFit is not only offering to price match any local area tyre quote – customers making tyre purchases will also receive a free 25-point vehicle health check and a tyre pressure gauge. Commenting on the offer, David Elder from Vauxhall Aftersales noted: “Motorists don’t always think about taking their car back to their franchised retailer when looking for replacement parts such as tyres. We’re delighted therefore to introduce our tyre price promise campaign this autumn to demonstrate to our customers that we not only provide quality parts as you’d expect with a vehicle manufacturer, but also at an unbeatable price.
Pirelli has been confirmed in the twice-yearly review of Financial Times sustainability indices FTSE4Good World and STOXX, for the seventh consecutive year. The indices measure corporate performance in terms of respect for international standards of economic, social and environmental sustainability. British independent research provider Eiris, working for the Financial Times, evaluated corporate characteristics including: sustainable supply chain management, ethical behavior rules, means of prevention and management of risk, environmental impact management and relations with stakeholders. The review did not admit new companies to the Automobiles & Parts segment of the indices, continuing to include Pirelli as the only Italian company included in that segment.
In the US, Ascot Supply Corp. has added Haweka balancer adapters to its line of tyre and wheel service equipment. "Haweka is a world-renowned innovator of specialty tooling for the wheel balancing industry," said Ascot's Danny Spencer. "We are very optimistic about growth opportunities that this premium product brand will offer our members."
Following the postponement of the 2009 CV Show earlier this year, the event’s organisers are now promoting the Commercial Vehicle Operator Show (13-15 April 2010) as the event for everything for everything from fleet management systems to tyres, lubes and fuels, specialist refrigerated or municipal equipment or vehicle parts, bodies and equipment. Not since the CV Show in April 2008 has such a meeting place been available to enable operators to review their business arrangements and discuss technical and operational developments with suppliers.
According to the organisers the CV Operator Show will focus exclusively on the road transport and logistics business. The event will be held at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) in Birmingham
Like the CV Show, the Commercial Vehicle Operator Show is owned by The CV Show LLP, comprising the Road Haulage Association, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders and IRTE Services Ltd, the trading company of the SOE (Society of Operations Engineers).
Parts distribution specialist XPart, a wholly owned subsidiary of Caterpillar Logistics Services UK Ltd, has increased its battery range 280 per cent, offering batteries for motorcycle, commercial vehicle, leisure and marine applications. The expansion of the “competitively priced range” will also include nearly 50 percent more car batteries, and will be available to order from all XPart wholesalers and AutoService centres, with same day delivery.
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