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Yokohama HPT Introduces Award-Nominated Wheels

Yokohama HPT Ltd, he UK distributor for Yokohama tyres and TSW and MAK alloy wheels, has announced the introduction of a brand-new range of aftermarket replacement alloy wheels. The TSR range is designed to provide style and value for money within the wheel replacement market and has already caused a stir by being nominated for the Product Innovation Tyre & Fast Fit (TAFF) award. All four of the new TSR wheels will be available through Yokohama HPT’s nationwide dealer network, in the first quarter of 2008. Prices are to be confirmed.

Managing Director of Yokohama HPT Ltd, David Seward, said; “We are naturally delighted that the TSR range has been nominated for a TAFF award. We feel that this is the perfect recognition for the objectives of the TSR range of wheels, offering style and performance to the consumer while providing an excellent opportunity for the retailer to offer a superb product and exceptional value for money.”

7th March 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Falken Launches ZE 912

January saw the launch of Falken’s new ZE 912, which is exclusively distributed by Micheldever Tyres in the UK. In addition to the performance benefits that the new asymmetrical tread pattern has to offer, the Falken ZE 912 also includes a new tread wear indicator and is said to be “proving a great success with the Falken dealer network.” Bob Thomas from Grove Street Tyres Wantage commented: “The new 912 has proved very popular with our customers,” adding: “The new asymmetric pattern is really eye catching and combined with the FK452, Falkens UHP offering makes it an easy brand to retail”.

7th March 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Bridgestone Signs 300,000 Tyre Deal with LeasePlan

An agreement sealed at the 2008 Geneva Motor Show paves the way for Bridgestone to supply passenger car tyres to Europe’s largest leasing and fleet management operator. The preferred partner deal between the tyre major and Leaseplan is estimated to be worth 300,000 tyres a year, which will be supplied to authorised service providers in a number of countries. The respective national Bridgestone companies will agree the product mix and volumes with local LeasePlan fleet operators in each market, and Bridgestone has highlighted the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and Spain as priority markets.

6th March 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Private Business

As reported previously, the line dividing company fleet vehicles and ‘private’ company vehicles is becoming harder to define in regards to vehicle maintenance. With so much emphasis being placed on care of duty and the impact this has upon drivers who use their own cars for work, it is unsurprising that when looking at the fast fit retail sector in 2008, one cannot escape also thinking in terms of fleet business. Kwik-Fit Fleet chief Mike Wise reports that many motorists who previously would have come under the retail umbrella are now, for legal reasons, being afforded the same vehicle service arrangements as those driving company vehicles.

“A number of customers that already have tyre safety checks undertaken by Kwik-Fit Fleet on their company cars already extend the offering to cover so-called ‘grey’ fleet vehicles because they understand that existing corporate health and safety legislation extends to cover all vehicles driven on business, irrespective of ownership,” comments Mr. Wise. “As a result, I expect Kwik-Fit Fleet to undertake an increasing number of tyre safety checks on ‘grey fleet’ vehicles as well as company-provided cars and vans.”

In total, the company’s mobile servicing fleet expects to perform more than a quarter of a million tyre safety checks at the customer’s premises, a little over 13.5 per cent more than the number carried out in 2007. “We expect checks to increase by at least 30,000 this year,” Wise says. While Kwik-Fit Fleet does not release month by month figures, he notes that this increase should be fairly uniform, however he does add: “Although, as more companies wake up to the importance of the new legislation and its impact on fleet safety we would expect tyre safety check demand to rise significantly in the second half of 2008.”

“In addition, numerous industry surveys highlight the ‘grey fleet’ as being an area of occupational road risk management weakness in the vast majority of companies,” Wise further comments. “Therefore, as more businesses start to react to the legislation and best practice advice and monitor issues around ‘grey fleet’ vehicles such as service schedules and MoTs I expect more work to be directed towards Kwik-Fit centres due to their accessibility and seven-day-a-week opening – something that franchise dealers cannot compete with.”

The head of Kwik-Fit Fleet gives the case of Crewe based mobile phone company 20:20 Mobile as an example of how many drivers not previously covered by fleet service agreements are now benefiting. Not only does the company’s fleet of 147 vehicles receive monthly safety checks, 20:20 Mobile assistant manager Andrea Shipman reports that steps are taken to ensure the on-road safety of all employees. “Employees who are not au fait with how to check tyres for pressure and wear and tear have nothing to worry about; and we ensure that qualified and fully trained technicians carry out the checks and any repair and replacement work. The company employs more than 1,050 people and tyre safety checks are part of the benefits package that is available to all staff as part of 20:20 Mobile’s suite of affinity programmes.”

Ms Shipman adds: “Safety of our drivers is paramount. The forthcoming corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act further underlines the importance of tyre safety checks.”

Kwik-Fit’s all makes fixed price menu has proven popular with retail customers since its introduction two years ago, however Mr. Wise reports that there has been concern from some quarters that undertaking servicing on the late model vehicles typically used for business purposes, including company fleet vehicles, could compromise manufacturer warranties. Kwik-Fit has acted to counter any such fears. “Our new manufacturers’ servicing initiative will enable technicians to download each vehicle manufacturer’s exact service schedule on a model-by-model basis. The cost of each service will be individually calculated by adding together ICME service time, hourly labour rates and spare part prices.

“Most retail customers drive cars that are more than three years old and therefore outside of the warranty cover offered by most carmakers,” Mr. Wise points out. “Vehicles are serviced using long-established service procedures and even if warranties are in place they are not impacted.”

Recently Kwik-Fit made a range of additional services available to both retail and fleet customers, services that – for the time being at least, round out the company’s fast-fit menu. “Last year Kwik-Fit Fleet completed its one-stop shop of motoring services with the roll-out of a new vehicle windscreen repair service,” says Wise. “The launch came on the back of adding air conditioning recharging, vehicle servicing and MoTs to our menu of services.”

With Kwik-Fit’s extended range of services now in place, the company intends to focus upon making itself more attractive to both retail and fleet customers. As Mike Wise says: “With regards to our 670-strong centre network and mobile fleet we will continue to roll-out our multi-million pound fast-fit centre modernisation and refurbishment programme and, earlier this year, we announced that we would add a further 30 units to our 200-strong mobile fleet in 2008 to cope with the boom in demand for tyre safety checks and mobile tyre repair and replacement.”

In closing, Mike Wise comments on what he believes sets Kwik-Fit apart from its customers. “Time is money,” he says. “Our seven-day-a-week opening and our ability to offer an MoT and service within typically 48 hours of booking rather than the 14 days of most franchised dealers makes our expansion into all SMR sectors very attractive…Additionally, it should be remembered that the whole ethos of fast-fit is a drive-in service, something which, in today’s 24/7 world, is significantly more customer-friendly than the rigid opening hours of franchised dealers.”

5th March 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Generally Successful

Roughly a year ago Southam/Micheldever wholesale director, Alan Baldwin, told Tyres & Accessories that he expected General Tire’s 4×4 range to increase its UK market share by about 10 per cent. A year later, T&A asked if the company’s bold targets had been realised?

In answering that question with a resounding yes, Alan Baldwin explained that his calculations make Southam/Micheldever the largest seller of 4×4 tyres in the UK: “[Southam/Micheldever] had another phenomenal year in 2007…General 4×4 2007 sales grew by 15 per cent over 2006, and [the company] continues to produce the innovative tyre sizes that the very specialized UK market requires…More and more 4×4 tyre specialists and retailers stocking and selling the ever expanding General line up.”

5th March 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Asian Manufacturers Could Hold 8% of CV Tyre Market in Next 5 years

Herbert Mensching, Continental’s manager Sales and Marketing Commercial Vehicle Tires Europe has predicted that Chinese and other Asian manufacturers could occupy between 6-8 per cent of the European truck and bus replacement market in 5 – 10 years time. Speaking at the recent re-launch of the ContiNetwork group in the UK, Herbert Mensching told Tyres & Accessories that his company was prepared for the “further complications” this may bring to markets like the UK.

Mensching also pointed out that while the numbers of cheap budget products sold in the roughly 1.3 million unit UK CV replacement tyre market has doubled in the last five years (from 100,000 to 200,000 units), these products don’t have the same retreadability properties or whole-life sales and marketing support as premium brands like Continental. With 70 per cent of UK CV casings currently re-used as retreads, this remains a key market factor, he continued.

4th March 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Competing on the Premium Level

As a leading independent retread operation, Bandvulc Tyres has learnt to adapt its business model to the various market conditions it has encountered over the years. However, the Ivybridge, Devon-based family business remains unwilling to compromise on either quality or the ambitious targets it sets itself. With production expected to be around 200,000 units this year and having attained IS0 14001 in 2007, the company now aims to set the pace in terms of environmental tyre production.

One of managing director Patrick O’Connell’s targets for 2008 is to increase international sales. Bandvulc’s
number one target market is Germany, something that is evidenced by the fact that the company appointed a German speaking salesperson to cater specifically for this market at the end of last year. Bandvulc currently exports a total of around 5 per cent of production and has been selling tyres in Germany via the well-known, Conti-owned retail chain Vergoelst for four years now. O’Connell is very
positive about progress in the market: “Germany has a lot of potential,” he commented.

Bandvulc punches above its weight in terms of tyreproduction and development too. Speaking to Tyres & Accessories in late February, managing director, Patrick O’Connell revealed that Bandvulc re-invests £1 million a year into its manufacturing process alone.

As far as product development is concerned, the fact that Bandvulc does all its own compounding through its Devon Rubber division means the company is well-positioned to develop the new low rolling resistance compounds fleets now demand. In order to fulfil these demands Devon Rubber recently started using a specialist carbon black in its tread compounds and, as a result, all Bandvulc tyres are expected to benefit from the wear characteristics it provides.

Bandvulc is also using some of the latest digitised tyre footprint analysis systems and as a result will soon launch a number of updated products which have been optimised to improve mileage and handling characteristics. This range of tyres is known as the Plus range.

Equipment investments

The latest machinery update at Bandvulc is the addition of a new high speed shearography machine from Steinbichler in Germany. According to the company, casing shearography has been shown to save on inprocess rejects due to casing failures which would otherwise not be detected until each tyre is finally inspected before leaving the factory.

Following its installation, this £150,000 machine is now handling 250 (mainly 385 width) casings daily. Through further automation and potentially extending the period of operation, this will increase the quantity processed close to 80 per cent of total volume through the manufacturing facility.

However, the machinery upgrades don’t end there. During Tyres & Accessories’ factory tour, O’Connell revealed that Bandvulc is currently upgrading its entire collection of curing presses (42 in all). So far, the company has already installed and is running five bagomatic presses which are monitored in great detail by a bespoke-designed piece of computer software.

In addition to the sheer scale of curing presses that are installed, the fact that the Ivybridge plant is the only retread production site in Britain that uses three Marangoni Alpha Twin tyre building machines demonstrates Bandvulc’s quality orientated production philosophy.

Casing the joint

All retreaders need a steady supply of quality casings. That’s why at any given point Bandvulc has a stock of around 20,000 casings in its yard pre inspected. During the checking procedure, detailed notes of damage, husbandry and usage are stored in the company’s unique CCC (centralized database) system. To date this system has logged 10 years worth of inspections, relating to literally millions of casings. And all this gives Bandvulc a deep insight into the manufacturing consistency of various tyremakers’ overseas operations. It also enables the retreader to select from a wider range of casings than some retread producers. This gives the company the flexibility of reusing the range of tyres that may be fitted to a fleet’s vehicles.

Following inspection all tyres are barcoded using Bandvulc’s unique ‘Merlin’ product tracking system, which was installed last April. Next, approved tyres are conveyed to an adjoining building where casings are buffed down on 4 TRM computer automated machines (after inspection all casings are transported around the factory on an overhead monorail system). Following repair in one of Bandvulc’s eight “knights of the round table” themed repair bays, tyres are once again checked for defects including nail holes, using Hawkinson machinery.

After curing, the newly reborn tyres go through a post production test procedure that includes visual test, inflation test and the less common sonic testing. The latter sees the newly cured and trimmed tyre submerged in water and then showered with ultrasonic frequencies in a process not dissimilar to the ultrasound scans expectant mothers have. According to O’Connell, this technique is more effective than any other at detecting porosity. Again the software was designed by Bandvulc and custom produced for the independent retreader.

Greener than green

At the beginning of last year Bandvulc began an 11-month long project to obtain ISO 14001 certification. This was headed up by Matteo Littera, the company’s then Knowledge Transfer Partnership graduate. According to Bandvulc every single one of the 250+ workforce in Ivybridge was involved in its implementation.

While many manufacturing companies have achieved ISO 14001, what is unusual about Bandvulc is its whiter than white transparency about the details of its green policy, and the company’s attention to detail in this respect. How many other companies volunteer the information that switching the company boiler system to automatic start will save 443,136kWh per year (83 tons of CO2)?

Bandvulc’s Green thinking approach stretches as far as the boardroom, with company management keen to highlight the fact that its retreads have saved (at the time of going to press) 2 million litres of oil and 1.3 million kilos of rubber this year alone. Outside of the boardroom, Tyres & Accessories heard that certain senior managers’ company car choice is now heavily influenced by the amount of CO2 vehicles emit. Even company literature is printed on recycled carbon neutral paper!

29th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

HiQ Racing Ahead

Last July Tyres & Accessories attended the opening of the completely refurbished HiQ outlet in Nuthall road, Nottingham. The reason for our visit to the East Midlands, and what set this particular occasion apart from the numerous store openings that take place each year, is that the revamped Nottingham store was representative of things to come at HiQ. The Goodyear Dunlop group chain of retail fast fit outlets, as we reported in detail within our September 2007 article “What the HiQ “Revolution” Looks Like, was embarking of a programme of standardising its brand image and expanding its nationwide profile considerably. Six or seven months later, these plans are still in their early stages, but with some 30 outlets already refurbished, definite progress has taken place.

The number of HiQ outlets nationwide as of February 2008 stands at approximately 120. The three-year plan unveiled last year is to more than double this number by 2010. By the end of this year 30 more outlets are anticipated to join the HiQ family, seven in the first quarter; a positive start to the company’s growth plans – and the drive to attract new franchisees is really only beginning to get underway in earnest. As HiQ managing director Neil Burrows said at the time of the Nottingham outlet opening, more than 100 franchisees are anticipated to come on board over the course of three years. An initial geographical focus was the North West and the area ringed by the M25.

These new stores will follow the pattern set by the £600,000 Nottingham outlet refurbishment, says Neil Burrows. “The Nottingham centre is the first realisation of the new HiQ concept and it encapsulates everything we are aiming to do in the industry.” He adds that, while many outlets currently may not meet the high standards set by this particular premises, the company’s three-year plans will see all existing outlets redeveloped.

However for HiQ it is not simply a case of laying out the welcome mat then sitting back awaiting prospective franchisees to beat a path to its door. The company is proactively using a number of means to increase its profile – both with the motoring public but also, more specifically, with those within the industry that may not be aware of the franchising opportunities now becoming available. An important vehicle HiQ intends using to get its name out there in 2008 is the British Touring Car Championships. Goodyear Dunlop’s relationship with the series dates back a number of years and the Dunlop brand name held title sponsorship for the 2006 and 2007 seasons. During these years the benefits of the association with the BTCC were readily apparent, and the decision was taken to use the considerable exposure offered by the BTCC to Hi-Q’s advantage.

“We re-launched HiQ last summer with a rigorous plan through to 2010 to grow our network and to invest in brand awareness for HiQ,” comments Goodyear Dunlop corporate communications manager James Bailey. “We had already realised through our Dunlop sponsorship of the BTCC that this series provides fantastic exposure – it is the only championship outside of Formula One that is broadcast prime time on ITV.” Bailey adds that, as Dunlop retains its position as exclusive tyre supplier to the series, a switch to HiQ title sponsorship in actuality provides the best of both worlds – the simultaneous exposure of the company’s product and service brands. And as a means of getting the HiQ name out there, BTCC title sponsorship is hard to beat. The ITV coverage, says Bailey, attracts around two million viewers for each round – 20 million a season. Added to the 250,000 or so who attend the races, this is a sizable audience by any standard. The company’s brand exposure through the BTCC is, and will continue to be, supplemented by an increased level of advertising.

The main focus for HiQ in the next two to three years is, says Bailey, to continue the success achieved by the Nottingham store and the company’s first new look stores. “We have already noticed an increase in sales at outlets fitted out with the new HiQ brand identity,” he comments. And, as previously mentioned, plans are already firmly in place to ensure the number of stores conforming to the new HiQ look and feel continues to grow.

“Our second focus is to look at areas on the map where opportunities for franchising and extending our presence exist,” says the corporate communications manager, adding that the Norfolk region and the corridor between Manchester and Liverpool have been identified as key regions for growth. Hi-Q is actively seeking investment in these areas.

The company views Hi-Q’s fleet business as an existing area of strength, one that has greatly benefited from business brought in through the Goodyear Dunlop brand. During 2008 Hi-Q intends as a matter of priority to strengthen the retail side of operations and, through greater brand awareness, attract more retail customers. HiQ is aware that franchised dealers have raised their standards in recent times, and if they wish to remain a market leader HiQ needs to in turn raise its own standards even further. As James Bailey concludes: “Although market research shows a positive view of the Hi-Q brand, we believe that greater exposure through television advertising and motorsport, combined with an increasingly standardised brand image throughout the UK, will take public awareness of the Hi-Q brand to another level.”

28th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Fit for Duty?

Although not given the sort of media attention reserved for terror threats or Britney’s latest escapade, a piece of legislation coming into effect on April 6 stands to affect the lives of many throughout the UK. Known as the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007, it will lay a framework for pursuing convictions against organisations whose failure to manage their activities leads to a fatality. And what exactly, you may ask, does this Act change in relation to tyres? Come the second week of April and companies will be liable, and prosecutable, for any death resulting from an unsafe tyre (or any other part of the vehicle) during a journey undertaken for business purposes – even if the employee is driving their own private car.

These vehicles that make up the UK’s “grey fleet” – and it is thought that as many as a million employees use their own cars when travelling for business – have been described by many as a health and safety timebomb. According to a study conducted between June and August 2007 by the fleet management expert Arval, the emergence of this grey fleet during the past decade has been driven by a move towards the provision of more flexible employee benefits; the day of the company car as the standard non-cash incentive has passed into workplace history. But while seen as a win-win situation by many employers and employees, those that opt out of a company car scheme because they only travel for work sporadically are, when the need to travel does arise, obliged to do so in a vehicle perhaps not maintained to the same standard as one from a corporate fleet.

Arval found more than 37 per cent of companies reported clocking up at least 10 per cent of their business mileage was in grey fleet vehicles; 13.4 per cent said that more than 26 per cent of business miles could be attributed to this so-called grey fleet. These figures are worrying, as the majority of employers surveyed had little policy in place to make sure the vehicles used were up to the job. Few requested that drivers produce a MOT certificate for vehicles more than three years old – only 26 per cent requested this as a matter of course, and this figure drops to around 20 per cent for those operating fleets of fewer than 50 vehicles. Almost three-quarters of employers placed no age restriction upon private vehicles used for company business and, perhaps most worryingly, some 52.8 per cent had no procedure in place for checking that grey fleet vehicles carried appropriate insurance cover.

This suggests, comments Arval, that “the offer of cash, which is likely to be used for a vehicle purchase, does endenger some feelings of responsibility on the part of employers.” However a sense of having passed on all responsibility together with the cash is an attitude that bears little weight against the upcoming Act, which builds upon current legislation. Under the existing Health and Safety at Work Act, driving for work is classified as a business activity, therefore the vehicle is viewed as a place of work and must meet the same risk management criteria. “Work-related road safety can only be effectively managed if it is integrated into your arrangements for managing health and safety at work,” states the Health & Safety Executive in a document targeted at employers. “You should look at your health and safety systems and consider whether they adequately cover this area of work.”

This should be familiar territory for most employers. But while current health and safety policy has been in place for more than 30 years, the new Act, with its creation of the offence known as corporate manslaughter (corporate homicide in Scotland), sharpens the legal teeth of those wishing to bite companies failing in their responsibility to maintain a safe workplace.

When accidents do occur, the issue of who is ultimately responsible is looked at much more closely now than in past times, not only in terms of legal liability. With business drivers experiencing collision rates some 30 to 40 per cent higher than private drivers, the long arm of the law is already a firm believer in the new legislation. According to Metropolitan Police superintendent Mark Bird, businesses “must face up to their duty of care responsibilities and realise that they are responsible for the welfare of their employees when on the road for business purposes, whether they are driving a company car or not.”

“Just as employers would make sure that employees are safe in the workplace, so they should while they are on the road,” he added. “In the event of a collision or injury, the police take seriously all the reasons that have led to it happening including the condition of the vehicle and why the driver was on the road, including if they were travelling for business reasons. More and more we carry out follow up investigations with companies after collisions to ensure that work-related road safety is embedded within company policies.”

The exact penalties organisations found guilty of corporate manslaughter will face have yet to be decided upon. However, a consultation document produced by the Sentencing Advisory Panel recommends punishment should take the form of publicity orders and fines of between 2.5 and 10 per cent of the organisation’s average annual turnover. And even considering the financial impact of a penalty at the upper end of this limit, representatives from the business lobby group The Confederation of British Industry appear to believe the Act is a necessary measure. “It is clear that the message (that) work-related driving is a health and safety issue for employers, regardless of vehicle ownership, is not getting through fast enough,” commented the organisation’s head of health and safety, Janet Asherson.

The silver lining in all this talk of increased responsibility and penalties for non-compliance comes mainly for those in the vehicle maintenance and servicing business. While no figures exist to indicate the added value the Act’s introduction will inject into the UK fast fit market, at least two retail chains, Kwik Fit and Nationwide Autocentres, report making preparations for a greater influx of business come April; further details can be found in this section.

28th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Continental Relaunches ContiNetwork CV Tyre Retail Business

Continental has relaunched its ContiNetwork UK commercial vehicle tyre retail operation. The new-look ContiNetwork numbers 55 members, covering 75 specific territories across the UK. 12 members were lost during the transition period, being replaced by a further 12. According to Continental Tyre Group commercial vehicle sales and marketing director Arthur Gregg, the updated network offers a more balanced offering for dealer partners; and allows the flexibility for dealers to custom-make partner arrangements.

27th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Renault Retail Adding 9 Fast Fit Facilities in 2008

The Renault Retail Group has plans to add nine new fast-fit branches to its network during 2008 following the success of existing Renault Retail sites across the UK. The 100 per cent Renault owned network can provide motorists with a range of products and services, including tyres, brake pads, shock absorbers and oil changes.

The first Renault Minute fast fit facilities were installed in the group’s flagship London West, Birmingham and Manchester branches, and subsequently the company’s London city, London East, Cardiff, Leicester, Cannock, Liverpool and Bolton sites were also upgraded accordingly. This year’s expansion will now cover the Renault Retail dealerships at Oldham, Wirral, Swansea, Wolverhampton, Slough, Watford, Orpington, Dartford, and Croydon.

26th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Racing Ahead

Last July Tyres & Accessories attended the opening of the completely refurbished HiQ outlet in Nuthall road, Nottingham. The reason for our visit to the East Midlands, and what set this particular occasion apart from the numerous store openings that take place each year, is that the revamped Nottingham store was representative of things to come at HiQ. The Goodyear Dunlop group chain of retail fast fit outlets, as we reported in detail within our September 2007 article “What the HiQ “Revolution” Looks Like, was embarking of a programme of standardising its brand image and expanding its nationwide profile considerably. Six or seven months later, these plans are still in their early stages, but with some 30 outlets already refurbished, definite progress has taken place.

26th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Goodyear to Give Max Technology UK launch at CV Show

Goodyear Dunlop will be using the 2008 Commercial Vehicle Show (15-17 April) to launch its innovative Goodyear Max Technology ranges to the UK market. According to the company, Max Technology benefits are said to include improvements to fuel consumption, shorter wet braking, greater load capacity and longer tyre life. To prove their performance, Goodyear’s new regional and long haul truck tyres have been independently tested and successfully compared with not only their predecessors but also their competition. Max Technology includes new high silica content tread compounds, new tread designs, new carcass construction and new sizes.

25th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Amtel Mortgages Retain Chain for Materials – Report

Reports out of Moscow say that struggling Amtel-Vredestein is using its retail chain as collateral to obtain tire raw materials from rival Sibur-Russian Tyres.

The feedstock will be directed to A-V’s plant Amtel-Volga. The collateral against the loan, not to exceed $20 million, according to reports, is A-V’s AV-VTO retail store chain, currently valued at $150 million. (Tire Review/Akron)

22nd February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Former Senior BFNAT Exec Appointed CEO of ABC Supply

Former president and CEO of Bridgestone/Firestone Retail Operations and executive vice president of Bridgestone/Firestone in the US, David Luck, has taken on the position of CEO with ABC Supply Co. Luck assumed the position with the large American wholesaler of roofing, windows and building cladding following the sudden death of company founder, chairman and CEO Ken Hendricks last December.

David Luck will also continue in his current capacity as company president, the role he has served in since 1998 following his retirement from the tyre major after 27 years.

18th February 2008/by Tyrepress Editors