A red London bus with a BAE Systems hybrid electric drive train joined Transport for London and Metrobus, one of the city’s principal bus operators, in November. The bus, a double-deck model built by Britain’s Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL), is among 17 hybrid units built by ADL and BAE Systems that will be evaluated in passenger service starting later this year.
Beissbarth UK is introducing a new easy use Drester W-750 fully automatic wheel washer to their range which cleans in approximately 30 seconds. Additionally, the company showcased its new hope for the future of wheel alignment, the Easy 3D, at the Automechanika Show. Beissbarth believes that the machine will save workshop space, requiring little room in which to work and easy storage capabilities.
The Drester wheel washer gives wheels a low environmental impact wash that aspires to generating a show-room sparkle. The company claims that the relatively short payback time on the machine can also have a similar effect on the balance sheet, boosting profits in a comparatively short space of time.
The introduction of a law compelling motorists in Canada’s Quebec province to fit winter tyres has not been a smooth ride. First tyre retailers across the nation reported a shortage of the seasonal product as ‘Quebecers’ scrambled to tog their vehicles out in the right rubber for the weather, then regional media sources began reporting sporadic winter tyre thefts, some thought to be the work of ‘organised’ crime cartels. Now it appears that those who see the lighter side of Canada – the creators of the ‘South Park’ television series are two shining examples – have been handed additional ammunition to use against the North American nation: Many in Quebec have discovered they haven’t a convenient nook and nary a spare cranny in which to store their off-season set of tyres.
Owners of Jaguar XJ40s and XJ6s from the late 80s and early 90s have had an impossible task locating their discontinued replacement tyres. However, Vintage Tyre Supplies is aiming to solve this problem with the re-introduction of the 220/65VR390 Avon CR39 Turbospeed. According to the vintage tyre specialist, Cooper Tire Europe (the home of the Avon brand) had been holding these moulds for the tyres in storage at its Melksham headquarters. So, following some mould refurbishment the first batches completed their test programme with flying colours and are now exclusively available from VTS
Before Kwik-Fit invested in a National Distribution Centre, there was a problem with tyre deliveries. All of the fast-fit chain’s main suppliers were delivering to all of its 670-odd active branches two to three times a week, which was expensive for the delivering manufacturers and disruptive to the Kwik-Fit branches. The answer? Build a specialist centre in cooperation with a leading third party logistics supplier and deliver all the brands in one go. Keen to get an effective new service up and running as soon as possible, Kwik-Fit GB Ltd appointed CEVA Logistics to manage and operate the new Corby-based National Distribution Centre (NDC) and its transport operation in June, before stocking up the site and getting systems up to speed this summer. In October, four months and somewhere in the order of £10 million of investment later, Tyres & Accessories met with Kwik-Fit Fleet sales director, Mike Wise; head of supply chain, Neil Arnott; and Toby Leybourne product director-tyres for an exclusive tour of the state-of-the-art site.
Looking back to the 1970s and 1980s Kwik-Fit sold just 25 different sizes. As anyone in the trade knows, today it is a completely different story and there are up to 700 different size and brand products in the premium segment alone. Something that, according T&A’s Kwik-Fit tour guides, is “a monster to control.” At the same time the floor and storage space available to individual Kwik-Fit branches remains pretty much the same as it was two decades ago. Toby Leybourne summarized the pragmatic thinking behind the project like this: “Having 90 depots inside the M25, for example, means logistics is key, but now Kwik-Fit’s nightmare has become an opportunity.” Head of Kwik-Fit Fleet, Mike Wise added: “Virtually every new vehicle launched comes to the market with a new tyre size…The proliferation of tyre sizes has made it a necessity that Kwik-Fit has its own distribution operation and is not reliant on tyre manufacturers to deliver tyres to centres, which can take several days.”
Trade visitors to The Aftermarket Show have always had the opportunity to walk away with useful giveaways, but the stakes have been raised this year with the opportunity to win a professional tool chest worth over £3,200. Donated by tool specialists Teng Tools, the Mega Master TCMM1001N is a top-of-the-range tool storage solution and a superb prize for the professional technician. Containing 1001 tools and featuring 19 sliding drawers with super-smooth ball bearing runners and steel shutter doors for peace-of-mind security, the Mega Master can justifiably claim to be the king of the tool chest world.
To have a chance to win the Mega Master, visitors must pre-register their aftermarket trade ticket online at www.theaftermarketshow.com before 20 December. These pre-registered trade visitors will be entered into a special prize draw, which will be made during a TalkShop seminar in the aftermarket area on Friday, 9 January 2009.
Logistics provider DHL is introducing across Europe a new patented solution for transporting tyres to market. The company calls the product ‘DHL Tyrebox’ and reports it is a convenient, cost saving and environmentally friendly method of packaging. The Tyrebox, says DHL, offers a unique solution to the conventional challenge of transporting tyres, turning them from a non-conveyable shipment into a conveyable one, allowing tyres to be easily stacked together and delivered flat-packed.
Parker Hannifin has added a new portable nitrogen tyre inflation system to its TireSaver product line. The newest system, said the company, will produce 95 per cent pure nitrogen from standard compressed air.
The cart-mounted TireSaver Model TS051-0ABCBR features a 30 gallon storage tank; built-in auto inflator that purges and fills up to six tyres simultaneously; built-in counter to keep track of a dealer’s nitrogen business; two pressure gauges to monitor inlet and outlet pressure; a plastic bezel design to eliminate potential damage from accidental contact with a vehicle; and hand held nitrogen analyser. (Tire Review/Akron)
Manbat Batteries Ltd is introducing a new range of AC-DC accessories. No, not a compilation CD or concert tickets – the leading UK battery specialist has boosted its line up with the addition of power inverters. Launched to coincide with the International Caravan & Motorhome 2008 at NEC in October, the Numax ‘connect and convert’ power inverter line-up is a four-model range of ‘Modified’ and ‘Pure Sine Wave’ (PSW) inverters.
It’s a contentious issue – price versus established brand reputation and trusted quality. Virtually everyone in the industry holds an opinion on the matter, but according Tyre Bay Direct, when it comes to tyre changers and wheel balancers, an equipment supplier can only properly answer what is best if they offer machines from both camps.
“As one of the only companies that can offer the choice between competitive Chinese tyre equipment and premium specification European models, Tyre Bay Direct believe each option has its merits,” comments company managing director Leigh Stote. “There is no need for us to steer a customer to one make of machinery we offer as we are not limited by one range. We simply listen to what they require, competently advise what each machines’ capabilities and specifications are, the warranty, service and accessory packages available with each, and the customer can then make their own, informed decision to suit their requirements from our advice.”
Penny Hydraulics has released a statement in support of its self-published booklet, which aims to offer guidance on current manual handling regulations, giving practical advice on how to reduce the need to handle loads by hand. The booklet also includes case studies explaining how Penny Hydraulics has helped customers to reduce manual handling and implement best practice through its design, manufacturing, installation and training service.
According to the latest HSE figures show that in 2004/5 around 1.9 million working days were lost through injuries caused by handling, lifting or carrying and that each incident resulted in around 9.3 days off work. Almost 11 million working days were lost to MSDs in 2006/7.
Advanced ID Corporation, the parent company of tyre management RFID specialists Pneu-Logic, is predicting it will record a 400 per cent increase in fourth quarter revenues following the acquisition of Shenzhen DDCT Technology Co. The company earlier announced that DDCT has developed RFID readers and modules that are capturing major tenders and orders in their respective RFID sectors. Several contracts have already been negotiated and are seen as the key reason for the predicted growth.
Dan Finch, president and CEO, said: “We are more than pleased with DDCT as our new acquisition. Working with Cherry Lim, our country manager and Mr. Siyou Su, chairman of DDCT, we have received confirmation of projects that will start before the end of 2008. We have funded the infrastructure for our new location in Shenzhen and are completing production and manufacturing on those projects as we speak.” Mr. Su commented in an earlier press release on his projections for 2009 of US$12 Million and is very confident that this will be not only achieved but surpassed for the China market alone.”
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.
Sykes Pickavant have launched a collection of 5 Grip Wrenches. This includes: a Grip Wrench 5” Curved Jaw (06600100), a Grip Wrench 10” Curved Jaw (06600300), a Omnium Jaw Grip Wrench 7” (06600800), a Omnium Jaw Grip Wrench, a 10” (06600900) and a Hose Clamp Grip Wrench 10”, that comes with, and can be stored in its rollable storage pouch.
When Sapphire Energy Recovery announced it was redeveloping a brownfield site in Trafford into a bespoke end-of-life tyre (ELT) reprocessing centre back in 2006, the company’s 100,000 tonnes a year target may have sounded ambitious. Two years later the Manchester site is looking better than ever and is now equipped to de-rim tyre/wheel fitments and accept rough shred. And what’s more, thanks to the development of similar sites near arterial routes all over the UK, last year Sapphire broke the 50 million tyre barrier – something that is particularly impressive when you consider that the company was only founded in 2000.
When Tyres & Accessories first visited Sapphire’s Manchester site (located in Greater Manchester’s Partington, Trafford area) two years ago, the facility had only just received the might Colombus McKinnon shredder that forms the centre of the site’s works. Now that this is fully up to speed, the company aims to raise the bar 20 per cent from its 2006 target and process 120,000 tonnes of ELTs this year. Any further expansion is expected to depend on further cement industry growth.
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