The Retread Manufacturers Association (RMA) has announced that it will introduce a series of specialist training courses as part of a development programme aimed at increasing the range of value-added benefits offered to RMA members.
SmarTire has signed an agreement with North American company, Motor Coach Industries International (MCI), for the supply of its bus tyre monitoring system.
MCI designs, manufactures and markets coaches and coach-related parts and services for the market, it currently produces approximately 1400 new coaches per year. The agreement covers both aftermarket installations on existing MCI coaches and original equipment installations on at least one of the company’s production lines this year.
“Matador Group has completed another successful year,” said company spokesperson, Dušan Koblišek in a statement about its 2004 activities.
Describing Matador’s acquisitions and its move into the automotive supply segment as “a breakthrough period in the history of our company,” he went onto explain that the group’s initial consolidated results recorded a profit before tax of SKK 388 million (£7 million).
BorgWarner Inc has reported 2004 earnings of $3.86 per share on sales of $3.5 billion (£1.9 million). In the fourth quarter of 2004 the company also recorded sales of $889 million (£477 million) up 11 per cent compared with the same time in 2003. BorgWarner reports that this equates to an operating income margin of 10 per cent.
German television programme ‘Frontal 21’ has attacked the quality of service delivered by Kwik Fit owned Pit Stop following a series of mystery shopper investigations across the country.
Frontal 21, which is broadcast by ZDF in Germany, claims that a succession of Pit Stop outlets made the unnecessary and costly replacement of brake parts that had been deemed effective by experts prior to the investigation.
ArvinMeritor Inc has been awarded Q1 certification from Ford Motor Company. The award, which was presented by Terry Revord, Ford North American Supplier Technical Assistance Engineer, recognises Ford suppliers who demonstrate excellence in product quality, on-time delivery and outstanding customer service.
When presenting the award, Revord said: “The Q1 award symbolises that ArvinMeritor Chickasha is among the very best suppliers to Ford Motor Company, with the commitment and processes in place to consistently provide the highest quality parts to our customers.”
“We are very proud to receive Q1 certification today,” added Paul Rogers, director of operations for the Chickasha facility. “Our employees have worked very hard for almost a year to meet Ford’s stringent requirements to be certified Q1. We value our relationship with Ford and look forward to supplying them with superior ride control products for many years to come.”
The Chickasha facility has more than 650 employees and manufactures automotive shock absorbers and MacPherson struts. The Q1 celebration included a cookout served to employees by facility management.
It was with great sadness that we learned of the death of George Marshall on December 15th 2004, aged 81.
George was well known in the tyre industry throughout the world, having edited Tyres & Accessories magazine since January 1971 and having been owner and publisher of the title from September that year until September 1987.
Having spent his early career running his own tyre retreading and retailing businesses, George had a thorough knowledge of the industry, both from a practical and political viewpoint. His achievements were many, having been instrumental in founding the Brityrex exhibition in the UK and its South African and Australian equivalents, Satyrex and Austyrex. George also played a role in the foundation of the Imported Tyre Manufacturers Association and the Tyre Wholesalers Association in the UK.
His lifetime spent in the tyre industry was recognised internationally, when he was honoured by the AMF (TEI) at Essen in 1986 and presented with the Industry Leadership Award by the American Retreaders Association in 1987. George received another accolade from the ARA when he was inducted into their International Tire Retreading and Repairing Hall of Fame in April 1995.
George Marshall was a striking figure, instantly recognisable and known to tyremen all over the world; he was definitely his own man, with his own ideas and some of these were not universally popular. Nevertheless, whether you liked him or not, or agreed with him or not, you could be sure that his views were honestly held. It is a mark of the man that those who he criticised in print will be as saddened at his passing as those who he counted as his friends.
As far as Tyres & Accessories is concerned, George was instrumental in rescuing what was a moribund trade magazine and building it up to become the best-respected journal in the industry, not just in the UK, but globally.
George leaves a widow, Edna, to whom Tyres & Accessories extends deepest sympathy; a sentiment no doubt echoed by George’s many friends in the worldwide tyre community.
But, as so often in the past, let George Marshall have the last word. Here is an extract from the last Editorial column that he wrote for Tyres & Accessories in September 1987. The article was entitled “It’s been a great 16 years!” and it sums up George Marshall’s life in tyres, as he wrote thus:
“Never in my wildest dreams did I, when I took over T&A, even think that I would see so many parts of the world and make friends and meet so many tyremen in so many different countries. Nor did I ever think I would become a public speaker at tyre functions around the world.
“I count myself as one of the luckiest men in the tyre industry for having been able to put back into it something it has given to me – a remarkably eventful and enjoyable life.”
George Marshall 1923 – 2004
On 9 January the NEC in Birmingham will host the Great British AutoJumble and Automart. The show offers visitors the largest selection of car-related products available under one roof. There event will also feature a dedicated Automart section where an extensive range of used cars will be available to buy.
The Great British AutoJumble section will have over 500 stands with a wide range of automotive products and services available including motoring memorabilia, reconditioned, new and old car parts for 1000s of marques, literature, tools and car care products. Live demonstrations will also be featured showcasing new automotive products and informative restoration displays.
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MAM Software has signed a deal to supply its Autowork software to Motor Parts Direct Limited (MPD) for use in their garage programme.
As the trading image of Tyre Shredders UK (TSUK) continues to flourish in the UK market, yet another established tyre reprocessor has recently acquired one of the company’s machines.
Automotive supplier, Delphi Corp has reported third quarter revenues of $6.65 billion and a net loss of $114 million (20 cents per share). When this is compared with net losses of $353 million (63 cents per share) last year, this figure shows signs that the company’s cash is flowing again.
Motor World has confirmed that it will join other exhibitors at next year’s Aftermarket Show. The company’s attendance guarantees the presence of a product range including car parts and accessories for the performance car markets, audio, in-car vision, navigation, styling, alloys and tyres.
The European Automobile Manufacturers Association has criticised the European Commission’s decision to adopt the proposal prepared by Commissioner Bolkestein (Internal Market) aimed at abolishing design protection rights for automotive spare parts across the EU. The ACEA strongly believes that if approved, this measure would have a serious impact on the competitiveness of the European industry, and claims that the proposal has no clear benefits for the consumer.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) has proposed that tyre monitoring systems should be installed on 50 per cent of new vehicles sold after 1 September 2005, according to DB Global Equities New York.
The new proposal requires car manufacturers to install a direct tyre monitoring system to indicate when a tyre is more than 25 per cent under inflated and will eventually include 100 per cent of new cars by 1 September 2007. NHTSA estimates the cost of each device at between £26-40.
Industry representatives believe that by 2007 TPMS could grow to a $1 billion (£55 million) per year revenue opportunity. Currently there are at least five major auto parts suppliers competing in this segment of the market: Lear, Delphi, TRW, JCI and Continental. The announcement could also mean good news for Beru, a leading producer of direct measuring systems that provides software to Lear through a licensing fee agreement.
German online service, F1Total is reporting that Bridgestone has declared its innocence in the recently tyre ‘theft’ fiasco. The company made its comments in response to accusations that Jenson Button’s blown Michelin could have ended up in Bridgestone’s possession. Bridgestone spokesman, Adrian Atkinson, said there was nothing in the accusations and that the Japanese tyre supplier had no parts of Button’s tyre. Observers expect that it is just a matter of time before the whole issue blows over.
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