Sapphire Energy Recovery’s 2007 focus on quality service delivery went a step further last year when customer administration staff embarked on a study programme to improve effective customer service. Claire Childs and Sarah Mead, completed an NVQ Level 3 in Customer Service in December 2006 following seven months of study in house by Phil Gorst of PBC Associates who have helped devise other customer service training for Sapphire.
(Akron/Tire Review) The Association of International Automobile Manufacturers Inc. (AIAM) announced its opposition to the Motor Vehicle Owners Right to Repair Act (H.B. 1584) bill that was recently introduced in the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
In a letter sent to Oklahoma state legislators, AIAM said the bill was unnecessary, counterproductive and did not adequately protect the intellectual property of automakers.
(Akron/Tire Review) SEMA announced that it’s upcoming Spring Expo and Off-Road Show will be enhanced with the addition of several educational seminars geared to installers and retailers. Set for Mar. 23-24, 2007 at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, Georgia, the Spring Expo and Off-Road Show is open to all automotive retailers.
(Akron/Tire Review) Arnco says it has developed a new flatproofing material that is 60% lighter than polyurethane tyre fill material. Dubbed UltraLite, Arnco’s new tyre fill product is specifically designed for slower-speed, light-duty equipment such as lawn tractors, golf and utility carts, truck mounted forklifts, power wheelchairs, and roofing equipment.
Kwik-Fit Fleet, Britain’s number one fast-fit supplier extended its run of victories in the annual BusinessCar Awards to an unprecedented 14 years – making it the only organisation to have walked off with first prize each year since the event was launched in 1994.
(Akron/Tire Review) South Korean tiremaker Hankook Ltd. said it may be able to complete the first phase of the construction of its new 92,000-square metre plant in Dunaújváros, Hungary, by the end of March. The majority of the workforce has already been hired, and training has begun, Hankook said.
Nemesis UK, the official UK distributor of Magnaflow Performance Exhaust products, is offering garages and performance centres the chance to become approved Magnaflow installers. In order to meet increased demand for the brand, Nemesis UK has devised a business package that will enable garages and performance centres to equip themselves as approved Magnaflow installers and be able to build bespoke exhaust systems.
Indian tyremaker Apollo Tyres has reaffirmed its commitment to the development of professional tennis in its homeland by signing up a doubles team to compete in the 2007 ATP and Grand Slam Tours. The two players are top Indian player Mahesh Bhupathi and the Czech Republic’s Radek Stepanek.
Continental AG has outlined plans to broaden their pool of fresh talent by hiring 1,300 university graduates and young professionals this year. According to the Company’s human resources director and executive board member Thomas Sattelberger, Continental is seeking those with engineering and science degrees as well as economics and business administration graduates.
Established in 2002, Lawlyn Vulcanising Systems are a growing company that specialise in the manufacture of vulcanising systems for the repair of radial and cross ply earth mover tyres in sizes between 24 and 63 inches.
(Akron/Tire Review) In the United States and elsewhere, structural (non-wage) costs for manufacturers, as a percentage of the total costs, are continuing to rise. According to a study released in September by the U.S. National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), The Manufacturing Institute and the Manufacturers Alliance/MAPI, structural costs increased from 22.4% to 31.7% of the total costs, compared to similar costs for similar companies in nine trading partner countries in 2003. “(This) sharp rise in these non-wage costs represents a significant and long-term problem for our nation’s manufacturers and America’s economy,” said John Engler, president of the NAM.
Fast Fit Plus, on Bromsgrove Road, has joined Bridgestone’s First Stop network of tyre dealerships, a move that company representatives say will enable the business to retain its independent status while benefiting from the kudos and support of a direct association with the leading manufacturer.
“Joining the First Stop network offers the best of both worlds for Fast Fit Plus,“ explained Jason Thoms, who runs the dealership with fellow director Colin Anderson. “We have the freedom to run the business as we choose on a day-to-day basis, safe in the knowledge that there is a network of support available in terms of training, merchandising, customer relations and promotions should we need it. It’s a great position to be in, and the move provides the perfect foundation for us to take the business forward.”
Dunlop Race Academy 2006 winner, Rob Parkman put in an inspiring performance during the Ginetta Championship final at Donington in an October weekend meeting. Despite the driving rain, Rob put his academy training to the test and finished 19th in the second race after qualifying 31st out of 38 entrants on the grid in a race-prepared Ginetta G20.
In February 2007, the American Tire Industry Association (TIA) will hold its “TIA Commercial Tire, Retread & Recycling Conference” for the first time. This event will take place 6-8 February in Tampa (Florida, USA) and will replace the World Tire Expo. This was held in 2005 for the last time. The new Commercial Tire and Retreading Conference will be held in concurrence with the “Transportation Technology Exhibition”. According to TIA president Bob Malerba this new event is not only good for training and educating employees in retreading businesses but also for meeting suppliers and market players. More information is available at www.tireindustry.org. About a year ago the first rumours about the future of the then sluggish World Tire Expo appeared.
Maywood Equipment Group has announced that it will now be the sole UK importer of Omer scissor lifts up to and including five tonnes. Miriam Rossato, marketing and sales manager for Omer commented: “Maywood is the perfect partner for us in The UK. They are prepared to invest in holding stock and have excellent delivery arrangements which often is a problem with large scissor lifts.”
Gavin Masterton, director of Maywood responded by saying “We could not have a better partner for scissor lifting than Omer. They respond very quickly to all our. They even sent an engineer to Dundee in Scotland to resolve a very complicated wheel alignment levelling system! Their range of lifts is the most comprehensive and we will be launching even more models early next year.”
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