servicing Archives - Page 20 of 29 - Tyrepress

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Kwik-Fit Reveals ‘7 Blunders of the MOT World’

So your car didn’t pass its MOT inspection…according to Kwik-Fit, odds are better than half that the vehicle failed to make the grade due to problems with one (or more) of seven very everyday components.

The company’s research showed that seven most common MOT ‘fails’ account for 55 per cent of all failures. The most common of these is tyres, accounting for 13 per cent of all failed MOTs. This is followed by brakes, at 11 per cent, windscreens 8 per cent, headlamps 7 per cent, registration plates 6 per cent and suspension and exhaust systems both accounting for 5 per cent of failures.

2nd October 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

NTDA: Foreign Registered Cars Causing Tyre Safety ‘Black Hole’

Increasing numbers of virtually untraceable foreign registered cars on British roads are causing a tyre safety ‘black hole,’ according to the NTDA. The NTDA (National Tyre Distributors Association) says there are 140,000 foreign-registered vehicles using Britain’s roads at any one time and the estimated 3 million that enter the country each year, fall outside of the UK’s registration and MOT systems which regulate vehicle safety standards.

“Our concern is that foreign-registered cars often come from countries which have less stringent testing and maintenance standards than the UK. Once they’re in the country they can drive around with little risk of detection and without having to take an MOT test or even re-register with the DVLA,” said NTDA chairman Peter Gaster.

29th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Accuride President Resigns, Company Restructures

Accuride has announced the resignation of John Murphy as president and CEO and director of Accuride, effective 22 September 2008. Upon acceptance of Murphy’s resignation, Accuride’s board of directors appointed William (Bill) Lasky as interim president and CEO. At the same time, the wheel manufacturer also announced that it is embarking on restructuring programme that will eliminate a total of 392 positions, or 11 per cent the company’s workforce. This includes 159 salaried positions (18% of current level) and 233 hourly employees (9% of current total).

As a result of the restructuring programme, the Company expects to incur a one-time restructuring charge of approximately $14.3 million in the third quarter of 2008 of which a total of $10 million will impact cash during 2008 and 2009. However, the company expects that the restructuring will save an estimated $6 million in 2008 and generate annual cost savings of approximately $27.5 million thereafter.

25th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Sealey’s Aids To Servicing

Sealey’s Autumn 2008 Vehicle Service Tools promotion features hundreds of products and tools for the workshop or garage, including more than 70 new products.

Some of these are basic, simple ideas which are nevertheless extremely useful when servicing vehicles. One such is the VS0140 Bonnet/Tailgate support – as the name suggests, it is primarily used to prop open bonnets and tailgates, but it can be used to hold open doors, or depress accelerator, brake or clutch pedals.

11th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

TIA Releases Earthmover Tyre Service Programme

As part of its continuing quest to educate technicians on the proper safety procedures for servicing tyres, the Tire Industry Association has released a new training program for OTR and earthmover markets. Basic Earthmover Tire Service (ETS) outlines the minimum skills and safety guidelines for servicing one-piece, three-piece, five-piece and double gutter OTR assemblies. Designed as an in-house training program, ETS is comprised of a 3.5-hour video and a 350-page color workbook. Students who successfully complete the final exam and skills demonstration will receive a TIA certificate of completion.

Basic ETS is divided into 15 different modules on subjects ranging from tyre nomenclature and service truck operation to site preparation and hydraulic tools. “Basic ETS is another example of TIA responding to the need for safety training in the tire industry,” remarked TIA Executive Vice President Roy Littlefield. “OTR tyres present unique risks to technicians due to their size and volume of air, and Basic ETS will provide them with valuable information that they can use to protect themselves and others.” (Tire Review/Akron)

11th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Harris Brothers Tyres Raises £800 for Charity

Harris Brothers Tyres raised £800 for the Paul Sartori Foundation, a local charity, at the Pembrokeshire County Show. The three days of events raised a total of £814 for the charity, which provides palliative care for patients with life-limiting conditions, both from the hospice based in Haverfordwest and for patients at home.

Leighton Walker, director of Harris Brothers Tyres, commented: “Despite the British weather, the event was a huge success. Thousands of visitors came along to the stand to see the Formula One car and give the simulator a go, helping us to raise a fantastic amount for charity. Working within Bridgestone’s First Stop group, we are able to do more to give that little bit extra to our customers and also to local charities such as the Paul Sartori Foundation.”

8th September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Diesel Do Nicely

Penny Hydraulics has supplied a new mobile tyre press powered by a diesel generator to Yorkshire-based Ossett Tyre House (Ken Clarke Ltd). According to the company, the diesel generator will allow Ossett Tyre House (Ken Clarke Ltd), approved agent and service provider for BMH Industrial Tyres, to expand its capabilities and visit customers in chemical and process industries where petrol powered equipment is prohibited for safety reasons.

“The new press opens up new opportunities for us because we can now go onto customers’ sites and offer an additional service,” says Stuart Clarke, Director of Ossett Tyre House (Ken Clarke Ltd). “It’s great to be using the first diesel powered press and to get the support from its owners BMH Industrial Tyres.”

2nd September 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

HiQ Experiences “High Level” of Franchise Interest

Mark Brickhill, the group managing director of Goodyear Dunlop, has released a statement commenting on the “high level of interest from ambitious businesses wanting to join us in investing in the future growth of HiQ” following the announcement of the company’s plan to sign long-term franchise agreements. The move towards longer franchises comes as a manoeuvre that will prevent a proposed management buyout from taking place, while also extending the scheme that has seen great success in Northern Ireland and Scotland.

Brickhill continued, stating that since the announcement of the extension of the franchising system to all parent-owned HiQ sites in England and Wales, many businesses had applied to join the scheme: “On the closing date (May 16th) we had more bidders than the total number of franchise regions. This puts us in a strong position to make choices that ensure we have committed franchisees on board who share our vision in strengthening the network.”

27th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

You’ll Be Amazed – the Kwik-Fit Fitter is Back

There were – thank goodness – no dance routines or jaunty jingles, and not be a jumpsuit in sight, but in spite of these trimmings being absent the Kwik-Fit fitter burst back onto television sets on the evening of August 18 – after the company responded to customer requests to bring back one of Britain’s most loved advertising icons.

To confess you remember the Kwik-Fit fitter’s original screen debut is to admit you’re getting on a bit – amazingly, it’s been nearly a quarter of a century since the legendary Kwik-Fit fitter first landed in our living rooms on September 11th, 1984. The company says that the fitter has grown up during his absence, and he now represents the face of a new Kwik-Fit.

19th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Roadrunner Tyres Get Stuck in at Garstang Show

First Stop depot, Roadrunner Tyres had a significant presence at this year’s Garstang Agricultural Show as part of a summer of events which has seen the dealership out and about across the region. Roadrunner Tyres, part of Bridgestone’s network of independent tyre retailers, hosted a large hospitality area which celebrated fifty years of the tractor tyre including showcasing a vintage tractor and giving away Bridgestone merchandise.

The vintage tractor was the star attraction at the event along with a huge Firestone tractor tyre. Staff from Roadrunner Tyres, which is based in Garstang, were also on hand offering information and advice to visitors to the stand on its products and services, which include agricultural, commercial and car tyres, servicing and repairs.

19th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Quality Alignment and Garage Equipment from Snap-On

Snap-on Equipment has been building on its long-standing position as a leading garage equipment manufacturer, supplier and service provider with a comprehensive range of wheel alignment systems, including the John Bean Visualiner 3D Arago, Ultra, V3D1 and V3D Lite systems, through to the new hybrid PRISM.

Three-dimensional wheel alignment offers workshops the latest technology for accurate alignment readings in an easy-to-use package. Designed with the UK wheel service market in mind, the John Bean V3D Lite wheel alignment system has been well received since it was introduced in 2007 complementing the John Bean line up, through to the top-of-the range 3D Arago aligner. The Reading-based company has also gained endorsement for the 3D Arago for all marques under the Volkswagen Group.

18th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Car Scrappage Scheme ‘Simplistic’

Recommendations from the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee for a government–funded car scrappage scheme have been criticised by the Automotive Distribution Federation (ADF). “There is a blinkered attitude towards environmental issues which propels people towards simplistic ‘headline’ solutions, rather than small simple steps which, in combination, can have a significant impact,” says ADF chief executive Brian Spratt.

Spratt contends that tighter environmental inspections in MoT tests, which in turn would lead to better servicing of vehicles, along with programmes of driver behaviour training aimed at reducing pollution and improving fuel economy would be preferable. “Even a simple thing such as the correct tyre pressures,” he says, “will add to the positive impact and, cumulatively, outweigh the environmental costs of producing new vehicles. These straightforward measures will be a greater benefit to motorists who, despite any scrappage incentive, will still find it impossible to fund the purchase of a newer car.”

15th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Nationwide Autocentre Names First Apprentice of the Year

Nationwide Autocentre has named 19 year old trainee mechanic Ayaz Khalid as its first ‘Apprentice of the Year.’ Ayaz Khalid, currently training at the Redditch centre in the West Midlands, won the title from the UK’s leading MOT and car servicing specialist, where he is currently studying for the third year of his apprenticeship programme. The competition was made up of 13 second and third year young apprentices, chose from a pool of 200. All had been nominated by their regional or centre manager.

Duncan Wilkes, CEO of Nationwide Autocentre, commented: “The day was a real success and the calibre of candidates that took part really highlighted the talent we have within our apprenticeship scheme. The tasks were not easy, many of the third year challenges were set at master technician level, which is the highest level a mechanic can reach. Ayaz was a well deserved winner; he showed great flair for the job and it was clear he was performing well above the level he is currently at within the apprenticeship programme.”

12th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

HiQ Unveils New Cornwall Regional Franchise Owner

St Austell tyre trade expert, Justin Roberton, has rubber-stamped a deal to own three fast fit centres in Cornwall, after his ambitious bid for a slice of a national franchise plan was accepted. Roberton has successfully applied for the Cornwall zone of the HiQ Franchise Programme, and will now run garages in Truro, Bodmin, and St Austell.

The regional manager is only the second man to be unveiled as a HiQ regional franchise owner following the decision by Goodyear Dunlop to group its existing, company-owned HiQ outlets into 15 regional zones.

5th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors

Zeus Acquires Liebherr Site

Zeus recently acquired the current offices and workshop complex of Liebherr’s Dortmund plant and equipment services facility. According to company representatives, the move is designed to further Zeus’ global strategic growth programme for large earthmoving, OTR and general industrial tyre filling and puncture proofing solutions.

The new site is located adjacent to Zeus’s main manufacturing plant in Dortmund, Germany. Once the new complex is refurbished and fully equipped, it will add an extra 7,000 square metres of office space, laboratory, manufacturing, distribution and servicing facilities.

4th August 2008/by Tyrepress Editors