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Watts Tyre Group win Toyota Supplier of Year Award

UK based tyre and wheel producer Watts Tyre Group has been voted “Supplier of the Year” by Toyota Industrial Equipment SA (TIESA) at this year’s supplier conference held in Ancenis, France. This award is the highest accolade Toyota gives to its suppliers and is awarded on the basis of performance against TIESA’s key quality and delivery indicators.

This year also saw Watts awarded “Certified Supplier Status” for the third consecutive year, and the company notes that this honour reflects the exceptional quality performance that has been achieved over that time. Watts has been a significant supplier to TIESA since the factory opened in 1996, supplying tyres and wheels both individually and as complete tyre and wheel assemblies for Toyota lift trucks.

2nd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Gripen UK Enjoying ‘Month on Month’ Growth

Over on the other side of the North Sea lies the headquarters of one of the largest and fastest growing wholesalers in Scandinavia and Europe, Gripen Wheels. The Swedish based company delivers tyres to more than 20 countries and operates numerous warehouses throughout Europe. Some 18 months ago the UK joined the list of locations where Gripen boasts a presence, and the Cambridge headquartered operation now supplies customers nationwide from its warehouse in Immingham, near Hull. Tyres & Accessories recently spoke with Gripen’s UK director, Ray Coulson, to find out how the company is progressing in our market.

2nd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Sealey Impact Wrench

Sealey have just launched a new ½” Square Drive Limited Torque Air Impact Wrench into their Power Tool range. The SA6035 Impact Wrench features an innovative pin clutch design which limits output torque, preventing over-tightening that can result in wheel/wheel fixing damage. The limited torque allows final tightening of nuts with a calibrated torque wrench to manufacturer’s specification, making this tool ideal for professional tyre shops.

Full torque is still transmitted in reverse direction for rapid fixing removal and anodised fixings enable easy identification as a limited torque wrench when amongst other models. The SA6035 is currently on offer at a special price in Sealey’s Power Tool promotion and comes with a free ½” Square Drive Calibrated Micrometer Torque Wrench.

2nd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

In Tyres & Accessories, July 2009:
EMOTR Tyres
CITExpo Preview
Tyre Manufacturing Equipment

Did you Feel the Earth Move?

In recent months a number of so-called ‘green shoots’ of recovery have been witnessed in various OTR/earthmover tyre markets. In April, for example, Michelin’s Luc Minguet reported that the US market had plateaued and was even showing signs of better performance. Furthermore, a number of companies have reported plans to increase investment in and focus their attention upon this segment. Interest in this particular part of the industry has always been considerable, and now that your appetite is whetted Tyres & Accessories is pleased to report that our OTR/Earthmover tyre review is only one month away!

CITExpo Preview

In September T&A will once again be boarding the big silver bird and heading to Asia for the CITExpo exhibition in Shanghai. Now in its seventh year, the 2009 Shanghai show has already attracted a great deal of interest from exhibitors. In July’s Tyres & Accessories we provide a taste of what to expect at this year’s exhibition.

Tyre Manufacturing Equipment

If we’re honest with ourselves, most of us can recall a time in our formative years when we thought tyres were simply made from rubber stuffed into a giant playdough like mould. The truth of the matter is, of course, much more complicated. The manufacturing process used to produce tyres is complex and the range of machinery utilised grows year by year. In July, Tyres & Accessories dedicates a feature to the equipment used to manufacture our favourite black, round objects. Join us next month as we focus on the machines behind the tyres.

2nd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Maxxis Signs 3 Year Deal with Liverpool FC

Maxxis has announced that it will extend its brand awareness activities at Anfield, the home of Liverpool FC, following its tie up for the final stages of the 2008/09 Barclays Premier League. The company has concluded a deal which will lengthen the relationship by a further three years. As an Official Partner of Liverpool FC until the end of the 2011/12 season, Maxxis will be heavily involved with the club – one of the giants of the game – showing the company’s desire to further its commitment to football and sport in general.

Under the terms of the deal, Maxxis will be entitled to an extensive rights inventory, providing it with prominent exposure through a pitchside advertising presence at every home fixture (except Champions League matches) plus advertisements in This is Anfield (the matchday programme) and in LFC Magazine, the club’s weekly magazine. Maxxis will also feature on Liverpool FC’s own TV channel, LFC TV – which was launched in 2007 and keeps almost three million UK viewers up to date with the club’s activities. The brand will continue to advertise on one of the UK’s most popular football websites, www.liverpoolfc.tv.

2nd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

25-Year Colleagues Open New Gloucester Tyre Retailer

Former Ebley Tyre and ProTyre colleagues John Price and Chris Mullins have resumed a working relationship spanning almost 25 years by joining forces to open a new tyre retail centre in the heart of Gloucester’s busy commercial centre. The new venture, Chris Mullins Tyres, is a £250,000 investment in a 5000 sq ft centre specialising in car, motorcycle, 4×4 and van tyres on the city’s Bristol Road, a few hundred yards from the ProTyre centre which Mullins managed for 10 years.

The pair first met while working for the west country independent group Ebley Tyres in 1985 and their career paths ran in parallel when both moved on to ProTyre in the late 1990s. Price owned and managed centres in Gloucester, Bristol and Alcester before selling his interests in the company in early 2006, while Mullins looked after the flagship centre in Gloucester until late last year.

2nd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

GM on the Hook to Tyre Companies

With General Motors now in bankruptcy, details are starting to emerge about what the troubled automaker owes some of its key suppliers. According to reports, GM still owes Goodyear some $7 million, Continental AG some $15.5 million, and another $4 million to Bridgestone Americas. GM plans to pay all of its key suppliers in full, say reports. (Tire Review/Akron)

2nd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin Execs Apparently on Missing Flight

Various news reports say that at least two, maybe three – Groupe Michelin executives were aboard an Air France flight that disappeared en route from Brazil to France on Monday.

Dow Jones reports that two executives – the head of Latin American operations and a computing manager for Brazil – were on the Air France Airbus A330 that disappeared over the Atlantic just hours after taking off from Rio de Janeiro. Meanwhile, AFP reported that a third Michelin executive from its corporate offices in France was also on the flight.

Officials say that the flight apparently lost all electronics after hitting a sudden, unexpected storm, knocking out its communications and radar devices. Currently, search teams are scouring the Atlantic off the South American coast. (Tire Review/Akron)

2nd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Mastercraft Tires Celebrates 100th Anniversary

In the US Cooper’s Mastercraft brand is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, and the tyre-maker plans to use the milestone to reinvigorate the brand for future success. “Very few brands can say that they have been around for 100 years,” said Hal Gardner, Cooper vice president of marketing. “The Mastercraft brand has built a lasting commitment to quality, dependability and durability, and it’s that level of product dependability that has built trust with our Mastercraft dealers and consumers throughout the past 100 years.”

Cooper said it is implementing several programmes in honor of the milestone including the creation of a 100th anniversary logo, rebate programme and sweepstakes. For example, consumers purchasing four select Mastercraft Courser and Mastercraft Avenger tires between 1 June and 31 July can receive a rebate up to $50. A full list of eligible tires, rebate amounts and rebate forms are available at MastercraftTires.com. Consumers can also enter the 100 Days of Summer Celebration sweepstakes for a chance to win a Yamaha FX SHO WaveRunner with trailer, free Mastercraft tires for life and gift cards to Bass Pro Shops.

“The 100 Days of Summer Celebration is a tremendous opportunity to re-energize the Mastercraft brand and remind people of the quality that goes into each one of our tires,” said Gardner. “And going forward, we will continue to apply that same innovative approach to technology and marketing that has made us successful for a century.” (Tire Review/Akron)

2nd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Kumho Opening First US Retail Outlet

June 3 marks the date on which Kumho Tire is opening its first retail tyre centre in North America. The first of Kumho’s “Tires 4U” shops to officially open is located in Beuna Park, California, and will stock a comprehensive range of passenger car, 4×4 and light commercial vehicle tyres plus offer mounting, balancing and alignment services. The new centre is reportedly similar to existing Kumho retail outlets operating in Asia.

2nd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Tax at Ruia Group Tyre Companies under Investigation

An article published by the Indian business daily Mint indicates that three tyre companies owned by Ruia Group chairman Pawan Kumar Ruia are being investigated for tax incongruities. The probe is focusing upon the presence of “hawala” activities, a name given to the transfer of money in order to avoid taxes without a corresponding physical or electronic transfer of funds. The companies under investigation are Dunlop India Ltd, Falcon Tyres Ltd and Monotona Tyres Ltd.

2nd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Update – Michelin Execs on Missing Flight Named

Updated news releases appear to confirm earlier reports that three senior Michelin employees are amongst those 228 people aboard the Air France airliner missing since June 1. They have been named as Luiz Roberto Anastacio, president of Michelin South America; Antonio Gueiros, its computer systems chief in Rio; and France based engineer Christine Pieraerts.

2nd June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Sri Lankan Transport Board Re-Opens Tyre Plant

Sri Lanka’s Daily News reports that the refurbishment carried out at a tyre rebuilding factory belonging to the Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) is complete. The opening ceremony for the plant was held on May 30; the facility, which is located in Ampara, should help address the tyre needs of the SLTB’s own bus fleet.

This refurbished facility is to be complemented by two factories, located in the country’s Ekala and Matele regions, which will produce new tyres for the SLTB. The transport operator decided in early 2008 that it would produce its own tyres rather than import them – a plan made feasible by Sri Lanka’s import duties. The SLTB will save an estimated 20 per cent in costs by manufacturing its own tyres.

1st June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Getting to Specifics

During this past year operating costs have, more than ever, become a prevalent theme within the materials handling industry. Awareness of the need to rein in these expenses wherever possible is strong, and efforts to this effect are being paired with attempts to maximise productivity. Such heightened sensitivity to costs has led to ever more operators carefully monitoring tyre costs over the entire life of the tyre in order to select the most cost effective tyre for each specific application.

1st June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors

Beissbarth Easy 3D Aligner

The patented Easy 3D wheel aligner from Beissbarth is the first of its kind and, says the company, offers workshops a completely new 3D wheel alignment method, comprising highly accurate cameras and an integrated reference system to ensure reliable results. Classic features of the Easy 3D include easy use, reliable technology that is robust and easily mobile – suitable for use with any lifting platform or wheel alignment pit.

Using the Easy 3D, one workshop technician needs roughly seven minutes to carry out precise wheel alignment on a car. This represents a time saving of 50 per cent compared with conventional devices. Accuracy is ensured by the use of two high-precision cameras per wheel. The sensors can be positioned wherever convenient in the workshop without time-consuming calibration. The Easy 3D wheel aligner is suitable for aligning all types of cars, through to light transporters and commercial vehicles. The standard indicators enable vehicles with a wheelbase of up to 340 centimetres to be aligned. With the larger rear indicators available as optional equipment, vehicles with a wheelbase of up to 430 centimetres can be aligned.

1st June 2009/by Tyrepress Editors