Tyremax has expanded its business with the addition of two new sites in Finchley and Chigwell, bringing the total number of sites to three in North and East London. As a result, it will be extending its contract with Cam Systems to introduce the Cameo platform into the new locations.
Improved fleet driver communication and enhanced data information for contract hire and leasing company customers are the two key advantages Kwik-Fit Fleet says will be gained from its new web-enabled Service 24 initiative. The recently installed Service24 software handles and co-ordinates driver bookings for vehicle servicing, maintenance and repair to be carried out either through Kwik-Fit Fleet’s own network or motor manufacturers’ franchises; glass replacement; breakdown assistance and vehicle recovery and vehicle hire for all Kwik-Fit Fleet’s leasing customers.
Cooper Tire’s new ERP, or Enterprise Planning Resource, system is intended to standardise, automate and integrate the company’s data and processes into one system and provide access to information in a real-time environment. To assist in the successful roll out of this system, Cooper has appointed Ron Ranallo to the newly created position of vice president, ERP implementation. In this new role, Ranallo will supervise numerous business process owners who are tasked with designing and configuring the enterprise resource planning business processes and enabling software.
The trend towards environmentally-friendlier vehicles, particularly those drawing on the benefits of start-stop technology, has been observed with interest by Johnson Controls. The company notes that, of the 20 plus new cars at the show fitted with its Varta batteries, nearly a quarter of them featured an AGM (absorbent glass matt) battery to power this energy-saving technology. Indeed, driven by EU targets to reduce CO2, the micro-hybrid market is accelerating. Johnson Controls notes that, since the adoption of stop-start technology in the BMW1 Series, more than a million micro-hybrid cars fitted with Varta AGM battery power have been sold in Europe. A further estimated 2.5 million micro hybrid vehicles will be manufactured by 2010, and this is expected to rise to 10 million by 2015.
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TMS Motor Spares Ltd has installed the Autocat+ electronic parts catalogue from MAM Software Ltd. throughout its branch network for quick and accurate parts identification.
TMS, a founding member of the RAPID buying group, is the largest independent supplier of motor parts in South Scotland and Northern England. The company has installed Autocat+ at trade counters throughout its entire branch network, giving its sales staff access to the latest product information.
VAT-registered businesses are being urged to get ready now for major changes to VAT return filing and payment coming next April. HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) has sent a leaflet to all 1.9 million VAT-registered businesses to alert them to the fact that, from 1 April 2010, those with an annual turnover of £100,000 or more (excluding VAT) will have to file their VAT returns online and pay their VAT electronically. Under the changes, businesses registering for VAT on or after 1 April 2010 will also have to file their return online and pay electronically, whatever their turnover.
MAM Software Ltd. is advising businesses to begin planning now for the impending change in VAT rate. The VAT rate will return to 17.5 per cent on 1 January 2010, but MAM Software is recommending companies make their preparations before they close for the Christmas break. "Businesses should begin planning as soon as possible" explained Robin Darnell, Director of Support Services at MAM Software. "A lack of preparation will hinder the changeover. Much like Christmas shopping, the later you leave it, the busier it gets and the more stressful it becomes. If businesses plan now, they will have ample time to ask questions and understand the processes involved." MAM Software has published a number of detailed factsheets to help its customers implement the change. These can be accessed online at www.mamsoft.co.uk/vatchange.
Sicam has announced the release of two new products: the SBM V80 compact wheel balancer for car and light industrial vehicle wheels, and the SA 830 D3 wheel aligner. In over 30 years in business, Sicam has earned great esteem among producer of tools and equipment for tyre changer and balancing machines, befitting its location in the Industrial area of Correggio – a place the company calls the “home of tyre changers”. In 1975, Sicam launched the first car Tyre Changer, FALCO F9/20A model, a forerunner of its main range of garage equipments. Thanks to innovative ideas and ambitious projects, Sicam says it has earned relevant market shares both in the domestic market and the international one. At present Sicam exports its equipments to more than 90 countries all over the world, while current production is over 22,000 machines per year, equal to 13 per cent of the market.
Following the opening of its Veszprém, Hungary sensorics-development centre, Continental AG has opened a new test track designed for testing and developing electronic braking systems. Guests from the Chassis & Safety Division's management team, city councillors, faculty members from Veszprém and Budapest universities and numerous employees were in attendance.
The new test track for ABS and ESC systems consists of high friction, low friction and rough road test sections; altogether, it is over one kilometer long. According to the company, this expansion forms part of “Continental's contribution to Hungary's dynamic growth as an emerging economic region.”
Tawse Tyres of Inverurie, Aberdeen has upgraded its existing Tyreman systems to the company’s version 12 program. Bryn Jones of Tyreman said: “One of the reasons why Tyreman is so popular with ambitious retail tyre chains and independents is because we work closely with each company to ensure they maximise the opportunities the software provides.”
(Tire Review) ASA Tire Systems has an all-new look, launching a fresh logo – its first revision since the company was formed 30 years ago. The software provider said the new look integrates elements from its TreadX, TireMaster and AutoRepairMaster products to create a more modern look. ASA Tire Systems said work on the new logo began after it launched a redesigned website last year. “The new look for ASA continues the evolution of our brand and brings our product lines closer together in the software suite of ASA Tire Systems,” said Wayne Croswell, president. ASA Tire Systems said it will fully integrate the new look by the end of the year.
Kwik-Fit Fleet has announced plans to expand its servicing and MOT operations into the company car and van markets. According to the company, the decision was made in response to “booming demand for the services.” Currently 452 centres offer fleet servicing and MoTs, however this number will increase to 500 in the next few months. The extra 48 centres are likely to complete Kwik-Fit’s roll out to its 650-branch strong network. Some of the new centres will be equipped with two MoT bays, thus further increasing centre capacity. In order to facilitate the move, Gary Ralph, operations manager, London and the South East, has been seconded to Kwik-Fit Fleet from Kwik-Fit GB to lead a major project to accelerate the growth of fleet servicing and MoTs.
In response to customer feedback, and in light of recent Ofcom announcements, MAM Software has decided to replace all of its 0870 phone numbers with standard geographic numbers. “Following Ofcom’s recent announcement regarding changes to non-geographic numbers, we took the opportunity to review and improve our customer contact strategy.” explained Robin Darnell, MAM’s Director of Support Services. “In order to offer our customers better value, we decided against implementing the new 0871 or 0844 numbers and have instead reverted back to standard 01226 phone numbers.”
Advantage PressurePro, LLC and Vehicle Management Corporation Pty Ltd have introduced enTIRE PressureAgent. The PressureAgent interfaces with PressurePro’s with market leading TPMS with Vehicle Management Corporation’s advanced Tire Management Software (enTIRE) and reads, analyzes and reports tyre pressure information. The enTIRE system compares pressure readings to the recommended pressure for each tyre type and vehicle position.
“Our uploading capability provides our customers with the ability to download historical pressure readings from each tyre on a vehicle into enTIRE, which contains detailed information about the recommended pressure for each tyre and axle”, said Mark Fernie, managing director of Vehicle Management Corporation, adding: “We were impressed with the simplicity of the PressurePro system which allows quick implementation on a fleet of vehicles with a robust pressure reading system.”
Dan Guiney, Yokohama Tire Corporation’s director of technical services, has been appointed a member of the Tire Society’s advisory board. “the Tire Society is a 29-year-old organization that’s widely respected within the tyre industry for its high-level technical and scientific endeavors,” said Jim MacMaster, Yokohama executive vice president and chief operating officer. “Dan’s the first Yokohama employee to sit on the board and all of us here congratulate him. He is a consummate professional with unmatched engineering expertise, so his appointment to the board makes perfect sense.”
The Tire Society, which is based in Akron, Ohio, has 200 members representing the tyre and automotive industries, as well as academia, government agencies, independent research organizations, private consultants, equipment manufacturers and software firms. Its mission is to “disseminate knowledge and to stimulate development in the science and technology of tires through seminars, technical meetings and publication of the journal, Tire Science and Technology.” The organization will hold its 28th annual meeting and conference, September 15-16, 2009, at the Akron City Centre Hotel.
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