An unnamed European vehicle manufacturer is said to have sought the expertise of UK-based lithium-ion energy systems supplier, Axeon, and automotive technology, innovation and systems integration provider, Ricardo, to supply and integrate an advanced, lightweight battery pack for a pioneering plug-in hybrid vehicle, which both companies say “is guaranteed to grab worldwide headlines” when it is launched.
Cam Systems, the leading software solutions provider to the independent tyre industry, has been appointed by Zito Wheels Ltd to integrate its Cameo platform into the organisation. According to the company, Cameo will provide Zito with increased manageability over stock control, clear visibility of performance and easy to use accounting practices.
As a supplier of aftermarket aluminium alloy wheels with strengths in craftsmanship and technology to the highest standard Zito wheels requires solutiosn covering point-of-sale, customer management, products and pricing, stock control, depot management, through to integrated ledgers and real-time reporting and management views.
New York-Based Eurotire Inc. has commenced operations at its new office in Balikpapan, East Kalimantan, Indonesia. According to the company Balikpapan was selected by Eurotire for PT Eurotire Indonesia because of its strategic position in Indonesia’s central mining region. In addition to being Eurotire’s primary business office for Indonesia, this location also serves as Eurotire’s OTR tyre services and support centre for its local mining customers.
Texa is promoting its successor to the Axone 2000 diagnostic tool, the Axone Smart. According to the company, its latest product features “all the required updates provided by today’s modern technology” and the standard software is upgradeable from “light to “plus” for additional information.
In the US Volvo is recalling more than 3,600 vehicles in its S80 range built between 2007 and 2010 due to a TPMS related issue. The US National Highway Transport Safety Administration reports that certain vehicles in the S80 range were sold to customers with incorrect maximum tyre inflation pressure on their tyre and loading information label and in their user manual. Furthermore, the vehicles’ tyre pressure monitoring system software is set to trigger at the incorrect level. As a consequence, the NHTSA states these vehicles do not meet the required safety standards. Volvo dealers will replace the label, owner’s manual label and TPMS software free of charge.
Cam Systems, software solutions provider to the independent tyre industry has promoted Rachel Foster to the role of Process Impact Analysis manager. Dedicated to what the company terms the “requirements-capture function between clients and Cam’s development team”, the newly created role – reporting into Mike Allen, managing director – will ensure a formal process for examining, capturing and prioritising development needs to meet customer requests or to build strategic value in Cam products. In doing so, PIA is designed to help the software developer accurately provide technical specification and estimation.
MAM Software Ltd has held pride of place as the Aftersoft Group’s largest subsidiary of, and the significance of the automotive industry computer systems and data solutions supplier can be seen in the decision to rename the parent company; the Aftersoft Group has been rebranded as MAM Software Group, Inc.
Cam Systems reports that it is on the hunt for global business partners, as it launches Cam International, driven by Mike Allen, managing director, and Steve Daly, commercial director. According to the company, the aim is to establish international links and joint ventures that will enable Cam International to expand its technology franchise worldwide.
An increased pace of new product development has prompted Cooper Tire & Rubber to increase staff levels at its three technical centres. During 2010 a total of approximately 40 new employees will come on board, including several at the company’s European Technical Centre in Melksham. Cooper states that 25 engineers and scientists will also begin work at its North America Technical Center in Ohio and 13 at its Asian Technical Center in Shanghai.
Bartec USA, LLC announces the latest software update for its Tech400 TPMS re-learn tool. With this latest software update, the Tech400 tool reportedly provides market leading TPMS coverage of Nissan and Infiniti vehicles. According to the company, this is perfect timing because a recent survey conducted by the Equipment and Tool Institute (www.etools.org) found 53 per cent of the respondents concluded that Nissan and Infiniti vehicles are the most difficult to work with.
An employee at a County Durham fast fit outlet who stole tyres from his workplace over a four-and-a-half year period has been imprisoned four 15 months. Christopher Edward Watson, who worked at Tyre Spot in Darlington, entered non-existent transactions into the company’s computer system in order to make it appear that tyres were being transferred from Darlington to other Tyre Spot depots. Watson then sold these tyres, which had a total retail value of almost £120,000, to friends and other willing buyers.
Taking the paper consumption out of marketing – and in the process creating a somewhat product-appropriate way to disseminate literature on the new product – Pirelli has adopted QR Code technology, launching Scorpion Verde on Pirelli Tyre’s mobile telecommunications platform.
The latest application taken on as part of Cam Systems’ software and support service, the 20:20 Customer Charter, is to be launched in April. CAMWiki will be available to customers who have signed up for Cam’s 32 Bit Cameo implementation and will give access to existing and new product information, general news, benefit commentaries, user documentation and ”how-to” guides as well as “Flash Traffic” service updates and product sheet downloads.
Lodge Tyre Company has signed a three year service level agreement with Cam Systems. The agreement marks the first of Cam’s Commercial Service customers to adopt its EDP Fleet Inspection and Fleet Management software. The package, which Cam calls “class-leading”, will provide Lodge Tyres with an end-to-end commercial solution which caters for inspections (and consequent recommendations), service job completion and ultimately near-real time billing via Cameo. Cam has exclusive distribution rights in the UK for the package.
The roots of W. von der Heyde GmbH (Stade) run about 130 years deep. When the company receives a smaller order from the Elbe-Weser triangle region of Germany, employees are reminded that the company founded its reputation as a machinery manufacturer as a forge. In the meantime, “VDH” is primarily equipped for high tech solutions in the specialty machinery industry. Without the traditional craftsman-like background repair jobs of rather simple, but often times very old mechanical devices for which drawings and spare parts no longer exist, as well as very complex machines with highly automated processes, would not be conceivable.
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