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Assessing the Industry

A scheme to raise standards of car servicing and repair by testing the competence of technicians currently working in the retail motor industry has been launched.

Automotive Technician Accreditation (ATA) is a voluntary assessment system designed to appraise technical competence and in turn raise the professional status and credibility of skilled individuals whilst providing a benchmark for technician recruitment and career development. It is hoped that the initiative will improve consumer confidence in the retail motor sector.

The NTDA’s spring conference, held last month, highlighted the tyre industry’s desire to initiate a similar scheme and the Institute of the Motor Industry, IMI, offered its support in moving forward with the idea. The assessments would be based upon National Occupational Standards, and formed in cooperation with industry representatives to ensure that they are updated with changing technologies. The NTDA is currently looking to organise a seminar in July, which will be hosted by the IMI, and invites all interested parties to join the discussion.

16th June 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

Tire Wholesaler to Secure New Headquarters

(Akron/Tire Review) Tire Group International Inc. (TGI) has acquired a 600,000-square foot warehouse facility in Miami that will be converted into its new headquarters.

14th June 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

Brand and Service Belong Together

The decision to introduce a private brand was taken in light of the strategic advantages, says point S international AG. Point S believes that it can react more flexibly to the changing market conditions because of its adoption of the Summerstar and Winterstar tyres, which are produced in Europe and sold in all states represented by the cooperative. Heinz-Werner Knörnschild, chairman of point S international, told Tyres & Accessories what he sees as the benefits and requirements that come along with the introduction of a private brand.

8th June 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

Performing With Private Brands

National wholesaler Southam Tyres, a trading division of Micheldever Tyres Services Plc, has an established position when it comes to private brands. And as the home of the UK’s first exclusive own-brand tyre, the company is in a good position to comment on the future of the private brand concept. Similarly Stapletons Tyres Services is another of the UK’s most influential tyre wholesale businesses and sells significant quantities of private brand products. When Tyres & Accessories spoke to the company’s two marketing managers (Stuart Amos representing Southam Tyres and Stephen Marsh, Stapletons), they explained that there is an art to selecting the right brand and sizes and that private brands are moving away from being synonymous with yesterday’s technology, towards the forefront of consumers’ high performance demands.

8th June 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

New Hazardous Waste Regulations

New hazardous waster disposal regulations are come into force on 16 July 2005 and are expected to impact on around 20,000 sites related to the motor industry, with the Environment Agency having the powers to issue £300 on the spot fines to sites which are in breach of the law. Some things have a way of sneaking up on you, and the new Hazardous Waste Legislation is not different. Of course it doesn’t help when businesses bury their heads in the sand and pretend it’s not going to happen. And to some extent that’s what the UK tyre industry has been doing over these latest environmental rules and regulations. The issue raised its head at the NTDA’s Spring Conference, and highlighted a serious need to raise the industry’s awareness, something the association is trying to do, and quickly.

3rd June 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

Manual Handling of Tyres Guide Launched

The NTDA Regional Meeting, held at the Brityrex International exhibition on 11 May, played host to the launch of a new Guide to the Manual Handling of Tyres, drawn up by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in consultation with industry bodies and trade associations.

The Guide was launched by Chris Flint, HM Principal Inspector, HSE and one of the Guide’s authors. It is, he said, aimed at employers whose businesses involve the collection or delivery of new or used tyres and is relevant to employers who manufacture, store, distribute, collect, deliver and retail tyres and to retreaders, road haulage companies and bus operators. It is limited to dealing with the risk of musculoskeletal disorders arising from the manual handling of tyres during collection and delivery and does not cover tyre handling during manufacture and retreading.

18th May 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

Inside Look at China’s Automotive Market

(Akron/Tire Review) Special Report by Amy Antenora of AMN

Over the past few years, global competition in the automotive industry has significantly heated up. Wayne Xing, editor and publisher of China Business Update, addressed the country of particular Interest, during a presentation at the 2005 Global Automotive Aftermarket Symposium (GAAS).

GAAS was held this week in Chicago.

In recent years, China’s automotive industry has exploded as the country’s infrastructure and economy have begun to allow for and create increased interest in passenger cars. It took China 40 years to produce 1 million automobiles, from 1953 to 1992. Today, however, the Chinese vehicle market is expanding at an ever-increasing clip. It is estimated that this year, China will surpass 6 million vehicles produced.

16th May 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

Kwik-Fit For Sale

Following its acquisition by British private equity firm, CVC Capital Partners, Kwik-Fit has put itself up for sale in a move that could raise as much as £800 million. CVC is reported to have sent information on the company to “a string of prospective buyers.” Although the names of the these companies have not been officially released, Reuters speculated that the list would include all the leading buyout firms including Cinven, Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, BC Partners, Permira and J P Morgan Partners. The sale is expected to be completed by the end of the summer.

28th April 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

Casalbore Leaves Cooper

(Akron/Tire Review) Carl Casalbore, Cooper Tire & Rubber Co’s vice president of marketing and retail sales, abruptly left the company 11 April. The former Pirelli high performance sales and marketing manager left to pursue other interests. Cooper has not yet named a replacement.

Casalbore joined Cooper in 1999 after more than 20 years with Pirelli Tire North America, and was initially director of Pirelli sales for Cooper when the two companies worked together on sales and distribution. He later helped spearhead Cooper’s push into the high performance market and with development and launch of Cooper’s Zeon line.

26th April 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

Wheel Manufacturing in the UK

International News, News, Product News, UK News

It would be something of an understatement to say that high raw material costs, the weak dollar and unprecedented competition from the Far East is affecting UK alloy wheel manufacturing. But, in the cases of the selection of companies that Tyres & Accessories spoke to, it is more a question of ingenuity triumphing over adversity. So, in the face of such pressing circumstances, how are UK manufacturers holding firm? Work smarter, not necessarily harder, they say.

25th April 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

Cooper Personnel Changes

(Akron/Tire Review) Carl Casalbore, vice president of marketing and retail sales at the Cooper Tire & Rubber Co., has announced his departure from the company, and Robyn N. Dashnaw has been appointed territory sales manager by the Findlay, Ohio-based tyre manufacturer.

20th April 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

Continental Automotive Appoints Director

(Akron/Tire Review) Continental Automotive Systems has appointed David M. Mestdagh as director of the company’s North American aftermarket business.

Mestdagh will be responsible for overall business strategy, product quality and performance and will oversee development of sales and marketing activities for the company’s ATE brand.

Previously, Mestdagh served as national accounts sales manager for Visteon Corp.’s aftermarket group and has held various positions – including national retail sales manager, program group manager and sales and marketing development manager – at Federal-Mogul Corp.

12th April 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

Canadian Tire Announces New Five-Year Strategic Plan

(Akron/Tire Review) Canadian Tire has introduced its 2005-2009 strategic plan, which includes establishing up to 285 new and replacement retail stores, to shareholders.

8th April 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

Further Appointments at Stapletons

National tyre wholesaler, Stapletons has made strategic supply chain appointments. Ian Kirkpatrick will move from his role as national logistics manager becoming head of supply chain as part of the company’s ambitions to work even closer with UK and worldwide tyre manufacturers.

8th April 2005/by Tyrepress Editors

Stapletons Appoints Interim Retail General Manager

Stapletons Tyre Services has appointed a new Interim retail general manager to join its expanding business. Keith Pringle joins Stapletons from his previous position at the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes (NAAFI), where he was a management consultant. Previous to that, Keith was director of operations at national pub retailer, Scottish and Newcastle.

7th April 2005/by Tyrepress Editors