As of May 23 the wholesale operations run by Nokian Tyres in the US city of Denver, Colorado will be taken over by Tire Factory, a group of independent tyre dealers that operate more than 200 locations in 15 states. The Meadow Creek facility in Denver will joint Tire Factory distribution centres operating in Portland, Oregon and Salt Lake City, Utah.
Goodyear Dunlop UK has announced that it will change its logistics service provider following the expiration of its current contract for warehousing and distribution activities in quarter three of 2011. The manufacturer has selected DHL as its new provider. It is currently contracted with Norbert Dentressangle, and the companies are now jointly developing a transition plan “to ensure continued outstanding service to customers”, says a Goodyear Dunlop statement. Full details of the transition plan will follow before the end of April.
The market can change so quickly: Passenger car alloy wheel manufacturers, both large and small, recently and sometimes reluctantly reduced their production capacity while others became casualties of the consolidation that takes place within the sector whenever overcapacity is present in the market. Now the picture is very different. Alloy wheel firms are desperate to find factories whose utilisation capacities are less than a hundred per cent.
Independent tyre industry software provider Cam Systems has signed an exclusive agreement with Azolve Limited to provide scanning and workflow solutions to tyre dealers. Azolve’s products are designed to increase efficiency and cost-savings by automating what have historically been manpower-intensive operational processes.
Describing TPMS as “a new market for tyre dealers in Europe”, leading valve sensor and system manufacturer Schrader has announced the introduction of TPMS Expert centres into the UK. As the apparent world leader in this specialist area (the company holds a reported 50 per cent market share) Schrader is already very much active in the aftermarket supply of these components. Nevertheless, this latest move sees the company move to extend and enhance its position in the market and sees Schrader offer “complete support to tyre specialists from technical training to products, tools, accessories and promotion of this new service.” In addition TPMS Expert Centre signage will enable customer recognition for the provision of this new expertise.
Haweka UK, a leading independent manufacturer of wheel balancing accessories and commercial vehicle alignment equipment, is to show its range at the Commercial Vehicle Show at the NEC in Birmingham this April.
Commercial vehicle operators in the US now have a new tyre service option available to them following the launch of a Michelin franchise network, the Michelin Commercial Service Network. Upon announcing its rollout, Michelin Americas Truck Tires (MATT) says the franchise network of commercial tyre dealers will be one “committed to establishing a new standard for consistent, high-quality service across the US.” Services offered by the Michelin Commercial Service Network include road service, online operating manuals and online fleet reporting. MATT adds that fleets will receive “consistent service from Network dealers with highly trained technicians, professional equipment, and casing management, all ensured by rigorous certification and audit standards.”
In order to prosper in today's competitive market, a company needs to be able to identify trends and wholeheartedly embrace new opportunities. A good example of this is Autogem, which used to be a market leader in the supply of exhaust fittings and workshop consumables, but which is now regarded as an authority on tyre pressure monitoring systems.
While it is true that all run-flat tyres must have some form of TPMS, the number is still comparatively small. However, says Prashant Chopra, managing partner at Autogem, this will all change, as from November 2012, a European Directive states that all new category M1 vehicles will have to be fitted with TPMS.
TyreSafe has released a statement suggesting that damage caused by the UK’s pothole epidemic can be minimised if the tyres are properly inflated. Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe, comments: “Potholes can cause significant damage to wheels and tyres. It’s therefore important for drivers to ensure their tyres are properly inflated to reduce any potential damage. If they do suffer the misfortune of hitting a pothole, drivers should make sure both their wheels and tyres are thoroughly inspected by a professional for signs of damage.”
Having taken the reins of Trelleborg Wheel Systems UK in September 2010, managing director John Westwood believes there is an important job to do in the distribution of agricultural tyres at the dealer level. As a whole, Westwood explains that TWS’s philosophy has undergone a “change of focus”, altering the emphasis “from products to solutions”. The implication of this attitude is that TWS will try to find ways to show the value of choosing its self-professed premium products, which often include the mounts in addition to the tyres. When Tyres & Accessories met with Westwood at the company’s Ashby de la Zouch office, he looked back on the successes Trelleborg has experienced with original equipment partnerships, such as that with New Holland Agriculture and AGCO, the company behind Challenger, Fendt, Massey-Ferguson and Valtra tractors, while explaining that the next step forward would be to forge partnerships with “progressive tyre dealers” who want to engage in technical conversations with end users, creating a “premium dealership network” to deliver “solutions rather than just products”. As well as what the dealers can offer Trelleborg, Westwood explained that the company would seek to “become proactive in helping dealers sell out”, a fact underlined by the company’s commitment to spending four per cent of its annual turnover on communications.
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US Myers Tire Supply is offering a new Tire Inflation Maintenance (TIM) customer retention programme designed for tyre dealers and their customers, reports Tire Review. TIM is a US initiative “dedicated to improving safety and the environment through the promotion of regular tire inflation maintenance,” the company said.
The TIA is bringing a “green” perspective to the proceedings with a late addition to the upcoming Global Tire Expo schedule, reports Tire Review. TIA will hold a forum “Making ‘Green’ Work For Tire Dealers” on Wednesday, 3 November from noon to 13:00 in Room S231 of the South Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Bridgestone Korea welcomed McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton to South Korea on Wednesday (20 October) at an autographing and talk show event held in the Seoul Arts Centre. The 2008 FIA Formula One World Champion signed replica Bridgestone podium caps for Bridgestone’s tyre dealers, customers and other invited VIPs. Against the backdrop of a Vodafone McLaren Mercedes show car, which is currently on display as part of the ‘Formula One: The Great Design Race’ exhibition held at the Seoul Arts Centre, Hamilton was also joined by managing director of Bridgestone Korea Tomoya Sano, and director of Bridgestone Motorsport Tyre Development, Hirohide Hamashima.
TPMS-maker Schrader is taking the long road to Las Vegas to promote its EZ-Sensor product line to tyre dealers, distributors and consumers, reports Tire Review. Schrader embarked on a 6,400-mile journey around and across the country, leaving Detroit on 18 October and reaching the Global Tire Expo/SEMA Show at the Las Vegas Convention Center by 2 November. The “EZ Road to SEMA” Cross-Country Tour made a scheduled stop at Tire Review’s offices in Akron, its first on the journey. Carl Wacker, vice president, sales and marketing, and Tony Davenport, business development manager, are driving a custom-liveried, EZ-Sensor-fitted Toyota Prius on the Tour.
Pirelli has commenced the second phase of its 2010 Pirelli Performance Centre (PPC) technical auditing process in the UK and Ireland, with the highest scoring depots set to be nominated for the prestigious title of Pirelli Performance Centre of the Year 2010. Pirelli developed the performance centre accreditation scheme to provide a network of dealers with the highest technical standards and commitment to customer service in order to instil confidence into Pirelli’s end users.
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