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ING Renault F1 Switches Support Fleet to Bridgestone

ING Renault F1 Team, 2005 and 2006 world champions, have converted their entire fleet to Bridgestone tyres. This means the Warwickshire-based tyre giants will now supply tyres for not only the team’s Formula 1 cars but also all the team’s support vehicles. Last season, Bridgestone supplied a number of F1 teams with tyres but this year saw the remaining teams also transfer to Bridgestone. As a result many team support vehicles are now following suit, converting to Bridgestone tyres from other leading brands.

Truck Point dealer Tructyre fitted over 300 new tyres to the Renault F1 Team fleet mainly utilising Bridgestone’s latest generation of highway tyres encompassing the R249 steer-axle, M749 drive-axle and R168 trailer-axle. Tructyre was recently awarded Expert Level recognition by Bridgestone UK for their high levels of customer service and administration to fleets.

10th October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Working with Tomorrow’s Mechanics

In order to put further weight behind its commitment to industry training, Chicago Pneumatic has launched a college sponsorship initiative through which the company will provide student groups access to good quality products and raise awareness of some of the challenges within the vehicle service sector.

Most recently, Chicago Pneumatic visited Wirral Metropolitan College near Liverpool and met with a group of first year student mechanics. “The idea behind the scheme is to make students aware of some of the challenges we face in the vehicle service sector today, provide some best-practice tips and also provide more practical tips, like what they should look out for and consider when buying tools,” commented Paul Humphreys, Chicago Pneumatic Vehicle Service global communications manager.

After a quick hands-on session showing the students some of the different types of tools available on the market, such as the CP7740 lightweight impact wrench, students were given a presentation outlining a few essentials of the industry including: what to look for when buying products; some of the challenges the industry faces today, such as vibration problems and how damaging this can be to mechanics; and the serious consequences of incidents involving vehicle wheel loss and how an investment in good quality products can help minimise this.

3rd October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Investing in the Future

The future of the UK tyre industry belongs to those who invest in their staff, believes David Boulton from Entyrety. Boulton, technical sales manager for the Birmingham based supplier of tyre and fleet training and support services, is concerned that a lack of investment in training will not only perpetuate existing bad workplace practices, but also will ultimately drag these businesses down.

“It is well known that in certain areas of retailing there is a shortage of good tyre technician/fitters,” comments Boulton, adding that this problem stems from a lack of investment over many years in the people who carry out this function. As a consequence, he believes, in some areas the ‘interface’ between the tyre industry and the public has been found wanting. “There has been some improvement in recent years,” admits Boulton, “but this is only in the businesses who recognise that to safeguard their future they have to invest in their staff and provide training and development schemes. These will be the companies that survive long-term, and those that do not invest could face a bleaker future.”

2nd October 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Hankook Lends Support to Transaid Charity Ride

Hankook is switching its attention to cycling this winter with the launch of plans to support transport charity Transaid in a 400 km charity cycle ride across Kenya. The tyremaker has pledged its support by becoming key sponsor for Gary Williams, a 55 year old former tyre fitter who is now on the board of Transaid and works for Direct Tyre Management.

Gary said he was looking forward to the fundraising effort. “This is a huge challenge for me but such a worthwhile cause,’’ he said, adding that he is already in training for the cycle ride. “At the moment I’m cycling 20 miles at a time and just thinking about the amazing views across Rift Valley and Lake Victoria.’’

Hankook’s UK commercial sales manager Barrie Horrocks said he was delighted that the company was part of this fundraising event that will help people in Africa benefit from safe, affordable and efficient transport. “As a global company Hankook is involved in transportation around the world and to be participating in such a prestigious and worthwhile event is ideal for us,’’ said Barrie. “We fully support this initiative.”

21st September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Cambrian Dealers Win Free Bridgestone Rubber

Tyre retailers from Colchester and Weymouth have secured free Bridgestone rubber to reward their support of a prize draw aimed at promoting bike safety. Sean Davies, of Sean Davies Service & Repair, and Alison Bethell, of Full Throttle, each won of a set of Battle Wing tyres after encouraging customers to win an off-road skills weekend in South Wales in return for a free tyre health check. Bridgestone UK also used the promotion with Cambrian Tyres to raise awareness of its new Battle Wing BW 501-502 pattern, which is designed for road and off-road use on powerful adventure sports bikes.

Sean and Alison were among scores of Cambrian account holders to get involved, submitting entry forms on behalf of customers who fancied the thrills and spills of off-road riding.

19th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Solideal Opens 25,000m2 Warehouse in Duisburg, Germany

Solideal Germany, (also known in the market as Industrie Reifenkontor Lüdtke), has put the final touch on its new facility in the new Logistics Port at Duisburg – the familiar Solideal logo, high atop a 26 meter high concrete post, making the German headquarters visible from a long distance.

Solideal Germany moved into its new facility in January 2007: a new building with 25,000 square metre, 21 dock-level loading doors, tyre fitting services, comfortable office space, a conference room, a training room, and a modern wheel fabrication facility to serve short-run wheel service needs. This move has allowed the company to consolidate activities from six different locations in the region. Solideal Germany also continues to operate a service centre in Frankfurt.

12th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Hennessy Unveils New Coats 1250-3DV Balancer

(Akron/Tire Review) Hennessy Industries has introduced the Coats 1250-3DV wheel balancer, which it says will help shops increase profits by streamlining operations and providing self-training capabilities. “Today’s new vehicles have larger wheels and special applications that are difficult to service with older balancers,” said Don Vanderheyden, Hennessy’s group marketing manager. “In addition, the increased use of hidden tape-weight balancing demands newer technology and custom balancing techniques. The 1250-3DV was designed to help address those issues.”

11th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Graduation Day at National

Congratulations to the latest graduates of National Tyres and Autocare’s Apprenticeship programme. The 12 graduates recently passed the two year course, giving them a professional qualification in motor vehicle fitting. The course, designed for 16 year-olds looking for a qualification and with an interest in the motor trade, enables apprentices to work alongside qualified technicians and also includes a twelve week off-the-job training course to study for an NVQ in Motor Vehicle Fitting (Fast Fit). Once completed, apprentices are given the opportunity to participate in the City & Guilds of London Institute Skills Tests.

11th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

10 Roadside Recovery Workers Killed Each Year

Employees working on roadside recover/repair are particularly at risk from other road users, according to lawyers at Lawgistics legal team. It is estimated there could be up to 10 deaths per year for this particular activity. According to Lawgistics, employers must minimise the risks by devising safe systems of work to protect the employee(s) and the vehicle occupants; ensuring vehicles and equipment are regularly tested for safety; ensuring Personal Protective Equipment including high visibility and weatherproof clothing is issued, maintained and used; and training employees on the necessary precautions they should take.

11th September 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Euro Car Parts Expands Diagnostic Division

Euro Car Parts, the UK’s largest distributor of parts to independent garages, has appointed Frank Massey FIMI as Director of Sales, Diagnostic Division.

Frank Massey is one of the UK’s leading vehicle diagnostics experts. With over 38 years’ experience and writing regular troubleshooting columns for trade publications, he is renowned in the industry for his unrivalled expertise and knowledge. Many garages have benefited from the wide range of Training DVDs that he has produced.

He holds training seminars and addresses conferences worldwide, including regular lectures for the IMI and Electronics Industry.

30th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Michelin India Introduces Regrooving Service

Michelin India has announced it will begin offering a truck tyre regrooving service which it claims will add about 20 per cent to a tyre’s total lifetime mileage. The regrooving will be performed through Michelin’s dealer network, and technicians will be given training in operating the handheld regrooving guns used in the process.

The regrooving process can potentially add up to 4mm of fresh grooves on a tyre and decrease fuel costs by as much as 10 per cent. “The company’s aim is to make our customers happy by helping them get maximum mileage from the tyres, more so because our products are at [the] high end in terms of price,” said Jason Cooper, Michelin India road staff manager.

21st August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

‘Awesome Foursome’ Celebrate Training Success

Technicians at a First Stop dealership in Cornwall have earned a new nickname – the ‘awesome foursome’ – after their noteworthy performance on a tough training course. The quartet, from the St Austell and Bodmin branches of Steve Andrews Tyres, have each attained the Institute of Motor Industry (IMI) Level 4 Certificate in Management in partnership with Bridgestone UK. More than 30 people took the course, but the four men, plus just one other person, were the only ones to pass.

Thus, as well as being dab hands at carrying out a comprehensive range of repairs, the technicians have shown themselves to be equally adept at running the show behind the scenes as qualified managers. “The fact only five people passed the IMI certificate tells you what a demanding course it was, so to have all four of our guys amongst the successful candidates is quite an achievement,” said boss Steve Andrews. “The guys have proved themselves excellent ambassadors for the business, and the additional skills they have gained in completing the course will strengthen the team as we take things forward.”

17th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Ayce Systems Hits the Road

Yorkshire based manufacturer and supplier of Smart Repair Systems, Ayce Systems, has acquired and equipped a demonstration vehicle to highlight the full extent of the company’s services to existing and potential customers who find it difficult or inconvenient to visit their offices, demonstration and training facilities in Skipton, North Yorkshire.

The vehicle has been fully equipped with every Ayce Smart Repair system, including the Wheelrite Pro alloy wheel repair and refurbishment machine. Technical services manager Dave Allen commented, “Customers who visit us are invariably impressed with the facilities and the range of our products. However, we accept visiting Yorkshire is not always convenient and can be time consuming. Now, if we get an enquiry in the South of England, for example, we can go and visit them. As far as I am aware this is a unique service within the Smart Repair industry.”

15th August 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

Conditional Grants Would Help Goodyear Plant

(Akron/Tire Review – Fayetteville Observer) The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. plant in Fayetteville could receive US$40 million in state grants if it spends at least $200 million on improvements and keeps a minimum of 2,400 workers. A bill approved 105-5 by the North Carolina House on July 26 creates a fund designed to help the tyremaker, which closed two plants last year. The Fayetteville site, which has been on Ramsey Street for 38 years, was among those considered for closing.

The bill now goes to the state Senate. It would give as much as $4 million yearly for 10 years to as many as five companies meeting the investment and employment requirements. Fayetteville’s Goodyear plant is the only one that qualifies. “This is huge for all of the communities,” said Rep. Margaret Dickson, a Fayetteville Democrat who worked on the bill.

30th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors

ATSE Locks Onto Wheel Security

ATS Euromaster has teamed up with gas distribution specialist BOC to tackle the major industry-wide issue of wheel loss on commercial vehicles, which is the cause of between 150 and 400 incidents per year, according to Brake. The project has seen the creation of a training DVD which demonstrates best practice in wheel security, illustrating the correct procedures for preparing, removing, inspecting and fitting the most common types of commercial vehicle wheels.

The DVD is being utilised as a valuable interactive learning tool within specific ATS Euromaster technician training courses, which help to ensure consistency in knowledge and skills nationwide. It is also being shown to BOC engineers, technicians, transport team leaders and over 1,000 drivers. Copies are also being supplied to the 40 independent dealers and workshops which carry out maintenance for BOC, in areas of the country where there is not an in-house workshop.

24th July 2007/by Tyrepress Editors