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Service And Repair Code On-Line Subscription Process Open

Any garage wishing to subscribe to the new Motor Industry Code of Practice for Service and Repair, recently launched by Motor Codes Limited, can do so right now via the user-friendly website http://service.motorindustrycodes.co.uk

To allow businesses plenty of time to prepare for the consumer launch planned for August, the straightforward on-line process describes the code and enables garages to subscribe easily and instantly. Over 5,500 garages had already signalled their intent to subscribe when the code was launched to the trade at the Office of Fair Trading in May and now that the web-based system is live, many more will be encouraged to sign up.

20th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

A Third of Tyre Companies ‘on the Brink of Failure’

According to Plimsoll Publishing Ltd’s latest report, zero growth, sliding profits and escalating debts have pushed a third of the UK Tyre Manufacturers & Distributors industry to the brink of failure. The report says “consolidation is essential as supply is outstripping demand. All companies are having a difficult trade off between protecting margins and appeasing price sensitive customers.”

David Pattison, senior analyst on the project, comments “A great deal has been written on the general slow down in the UK, but until now no one has measured the impact on the tyre manufacturers & distributors market and crucially who is most exposed.”

20th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Wide Base Single Tyres Given the OK in Canada

Canada’s road haulage industry will be able to utilise wide single truck tyres following approval being granted for their use. The Council of Ministers Responsible for Transportation and Highway Safety has approved amendments made to Canada’s Memorandum of Understanding on Vehicle Weights and Dimensions. The amendments aim to, states a Memorandum of Understanding document, to “improve the consistency of weight limits applicable to use of these tyres across Canada, while also protecting highway infrastructure, the national standards for weight limits on single and tandem axle groups are being increased to the federal limits currently applicable in the United States.”

20th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Pirelli Aims for New Heights at Adria

Following a GT2 class second place for Babini-Malucelli-Ruberti at the Le Mans 24 Hours race, Pirelli says it is entering the third round of the FIA GT Championship aiming for GT2 class victory. The international FIA GT Championship resumes at the twisting Adria circuit near Venice, Italy for the third round of the series. As was the case last year, the two-hour race will take place during the evening, getting underway on Saturday 21 June at 7:50pm. Pirelli reports it will attempt to repeat the excellent results achieved during the first two rounds of the championship with the PZero Racing-equipped Ferrari 430 GTCs, which saw a third place ranking for Malucelli-Ruberti (BMS-Scuderia Italia) in GT2 at Silverstone and fourth for Babini-Davies (Scuderia Ecosse).

20th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Haweka and John Bean Release New Wheel Aligners

With governmental taxation of truckers on the rise and fuel costs for all soaring, road users are on the lookout for anything that can help reduce costs and fuel consumption. Responding to this need, Haweka of Toddington, Gloucestershire and John Bean, a brand within Snap-on Equipment – a fully-owned subsidiary of global tools firm, Snap-on Corporation – have released new wheel alignment tools and technology.

Haweka’s TA-20 laser wheel alignment system is designed for speed and ease of use, which they say “allows the operator to measure a 2-axle semi-trailer tractor’s to and thrust angles within about 10 minutes.” The system strives to achieve this feat through the use of a patented laser measuring head “placed on the rim by means of powerful magnetic feet (with additional grab arms for aluminium rims)”, which allows measurements to be taken immediately.

20th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone and Michelin in Disagreement over Tests

French website autoactu.com has reported details of a conflict between major tyre manufacturers Bridgestone and Michelin over the comparative energy-saving properties of Michelin’s Energy range of tyres. Bridgestone presented the results of an experiment testing Michelin’s promise of reduced fuel consumption when using their Energy tyres. The experiment was carried out at the behest of one of its carrier customers and, as a result, involved head-to-head performance comparisons with Bridgestone’s own conventional tyres. The initial results, said Bridgestone, showed no significant differences in the performance of each tyre. However Michelin were quick to dispute this conclusion, citing 70 tests involving tyres from both organisations, where the Michelin tyre came out on top in terms of fuel consumption and criticising the methodology of the tests, in which the company was not involved.

20th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Gori: Pirelli Must Expand in China, Russia & Brazil

Pirelli Tyre must consolidate its presence in mature markets and expand in high-growth areas such as China, Russia and Brazil, stated CEO Francesco Gori in an interview with Italian newspaper Milanzo Finanza. When asked why he did not include India as a focus country, Gori said sales in this market are impacted by the absence of a modern highway network: “India is not yet at the level of Brazil, China, and Russia.”

Mr. Gori said raw material prices have risen more than expected and that in such difficult market conditions, meeting targets is a challenge. He added that a listing of Pirelli Tyre is not on the agenda, and will not be considered in the near future.

20th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Belshina to Increase Output by 7%

A more efficient use of production capacity should see tyre output increase by 7 per cent this year at Belshina. The Belarus based company is reported to be planning an upgrade of its existing processing lines and the introduction of a new tyre assembly system. Its output of OTR tyres is also set to expand following the commissioning of an OTR radial assembly system supplied by the VMI Group. The system can accommodate tyres between sizes 17.5 R25 and 24.0 R35, although it will be principally used for manufacturing 21.0 R35 and 24.0 R35 size tyres suitable for rigid dumper applications. Belshina will reportedly increase output to just under 28,500 units per year, with 37 new sizes and types introduced by 2010.

20th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Launch Bandag Chain to Boost Japanese Retreads

The Bridgestone Corporation has announced that it is to promote its recycled tyre business through Bandag, a new retail chain based on their retreading business acquisition of last year: the US firm Bandag Tire Solutions. The chain will look to employ the technology of Bandag Tire Solutions to retread around 10,000 tyres every year. Bridgestone plan to open its first new Bandag depot by the end of the year, and to spread the presence of the chain to 20 over the next three to four years. Each one will be the subject of a 100 million yen investment.

20th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

A New Breed?

It has both the M+S mark and the Snowflake, but its rolling resistance is said to be comparable with a summer tyre. It reportedly has the slush grip of a premium winter tyre, but weighs 700 grams less and is quieter. No it’s not a riddle, I am of course referring to the new Optimo 4S, a tyre that manufacturer Hankook is promoting as the first in the next generation of all-season tyres.

Hankook’s decision to place the Optimo 4S centre stage on the company’s large Essen show stand (situated right opposite the entrance to Hall 3) is particularly resonant in light of the difficulties the winter/cold weather tyre market has been facing in supposedly safe ‘winter’ markets like Germany. From the talk going round Essen it was clear around 7 million of last winter’s unsold cold weather tyres were still floating around the German market in May. Could that be why Hankook decided to promote the all-season tyre, its hybrid silica compound and its built in ice/snow/slush/rain performance properties?

19th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Tech International Promotes OTR Manager

Ron Reiring has been promoted to Tech International’s OTR sales manager for North America. His new responsibilities will include developing new OTR sales opportunities for tire repairs and OTR equipment within the US, Canada and Mexico while providing support to Tech’s existing OTR customer base.

Reiring was formerly a western U.S. zone manager for the company. (Tire Review/Akron)

19th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper to Invest in Mexican Tyremaking JV

In an effort to boost cost competitiveness Cooper Tire & Rubber is investing in a tyre manufacturing facility in Guadalajara, Mexico. According to an agreement announced June 18 Cooper will have 38 per cent ownership in the facility, jointly owned with Mexican holding corporation IBSA and Cooperativa TRADOC S.R.L. Cooper’s investment in the factory is to be US$31 million. Cooper tyres have been produced at the Guadalajara site since the company’s entry into an agreement with Corporación de Occidente, which was finalised late September 2007.

19th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Brembo Expands in US

Brembo will consolidate its corporate and technical groups from Northville, Farmington Hills and Costa Mesa, California at a new headquarters to be built in Novi, Michigan. The subsidiary of Bergamo, Italy-based Brembo S.p.A. will also expand capacity at its manufacturing facility in Homer (Calhoun County). The combined project is expected to retain and create 325 jobs for a total of 1,049 Michigan jobs for Brembo.

“The consolidation and expansion of our operations in Michigan, building on the skills of our workforce and competitiveness of our manufacturing facilities, create great opportunities for sustained growth in North America,” said Brembo North America general manager Adrian Smith.

19th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Thorite Publish “Demystifying” Air Supply Brochure

The mist is set to lift from the eyes of companies with the task of installing an “effective and efficient workshop compressed air supply”, as Bradford-based supplier of pneumatic products and process systems, Thorite have published a 16-page guide to the job.

‘Pipe Up!’ delivers a complete illustrated step-by-step guide to installing compressed air systems: “All the different components required to complete an efficient air distribution system are fully detailed and the brochure’s illustrations are linked by keys to the main Thorite product catalogue, for easy identification and purchase.”

19th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Voronezh Factory to Pay no Amtel-Vredestein Dividend

Russian media has reported that Amtel-Vredestein shareholders will receive no 2007 dividend from the Amtel Chernozemye tyre factory in Voronezh, Russia, following a decision made at the facility’s annual meeting on June 9. The 2007 profit will instead be retained.

A second tyre making facility at the site – Voronezh-2 – is scheduled to enter series production in the near future, and will have a capacity of 2.5 million tyres per annum. The Voronezh-2 plant will bring the number of facilities operated by the company to four; factories also operate in Kirov (Amtel Povolzhye) and the Enschede, the Netherlands (Vredestein).

19th June 2008/by Tyrepress Editors