Test Lanes Take Off
The fact that Maha has now installed over 50 automatic test lanes in the UK market is proof that MOT test lanes and the new one man test procedure is taking off in the UK.
The fact that Maha has now installed over 50 automatic test lanes in the UK market is proof that MOT test lanes and the new one man test procedure is taking off in the UK.
Automotive parts manufacturer Remy Automotive UK has relocated its UK Head Office to a new 61,080 sq. ft. complex at Burntwood in Warwickshire.
(Akron/Tire Review) Vredestein Banden has engaged UK software developer INCAT to help it reduce tooling costs, including a significant 50 per cent drop in the amount of time necessary to produce tyre moulds.
Those car dealers not offering a tyre replacement and fitting service are passing up a golden profit opportunity by not offering a one-stop service for fleet, business and private users, believes Group Tyre (UK).
Chairman John Church points out that dealerships are seeing their traditionally profitable sales opportunities, such as optional extras and accessory sales, being steadily eroded, as more and more vehicles leave the factory with higher specifications and features fitted as standard. Add to this the fact that service intervals are growing ever longer and it is easy to see that opportunities for profits are becoming more difficult to find.
Mobile tyre safety checks on company cars and vans, instigated by fleet managers and carried out by Kwik-Fit technicians, reveal that around 20 per cent of vehicles “require attention”.
Typical findings include tyres that are wrongly inflated, the tread depth may be close to, or below, the legal minimum, tyre wear may be irregular, indicating alignment problems, or the sidewall may be damaged. The analysis is based on a month of safety checks – in a typical month, some 490 site visits are made, with 22,500 vehicles inspected.
International Automotive Distributors Limited (IAD) has acquired the ADS business unit of Unipart Automotive.
Trading as Maccess, the company currently has 14 locations across the UK and will gain a further five sites from ADS. This coordination of resources has been done to improve product availability and offer, as well as delivery service levels to customers of both businesses.
Automotive parts manufacturer Remy Automotive UK Ltd. has appointed Michael Flensborg (43) as Country Manager for the UK and Ireland. He succeeds Managing Director Tim Rahill, who left the company at the end of August.
Danish-born Mr. Flensborg joins the UK operation from the Remy Automotive European sales team, where he has been responsible for the development of the Scandinavian and Baltic markets for the past six years, plus the recent successful launch of Remy into the Russian market.
10 years after the “dot-com” boom and bust, e-commerce technology is increasingly moving into the mainstream. Government statistics compiled at the end of 2004 show that 69 per cent of UK firms are now using broadband and that 30 per cent of micro businesses are trading online.
Furthermore when these numbers were calculated, the proportion of smaller businesses with websites went up 16 per cent compared with the previous year, bringing the total to 73 per cent. In the same period the number of businesses that saw the benefits of e-technology rose from 8 per cent to 53 per cent.
With this in mind Tyres & Accessories would like ask its readers what they think. How much of your business is handled using e-commerce technology? Click here to state your views.
The discussion of tyre distribution channels continues in the October issue of Tyres & Accessories, but this time on a more international level. How do the methods by which companies get their tyres to market differ on a European level, and can the UK tyre industry learn anything from studying other markets’ dealer to end user relationship?
The GEA’s administration controller, Helen Kelly, celebrated 10 years with the UK association last month at its annual golf day. Originally working alongside John Nelson, chief executive of the GEA, who recently retired, she has been responsible, among other things, for organising the association’s annual dinner, which is usually held during the Commercial Vehicle and Automotive Trade Show. She now supports Dave Garratt who succeeded Nelson.
Rodney Stafford, immediate past president, and treasurer of the GEA, presented Kelly with a bouquet of flowers and a bottle of champagne at the GEA golf dinner and expressed his thanks on behalf of the GEA for her continued efforts and hard work.
Dave Garratt, chief executive of the GEA added, “I sincerely hope that in 10-years time we will be celebrating Helen’s 20th year with the GEA”.
Bridgestone UK has added to its truck tyre sales team with the appointment of Paul Emery as Trade Sales Manager (South). He replaces Terry Slater, who has become Bridgestone’s new retread business development manager.
In his new position, Mr Emery will manage a team of five salesmen and will be responsible for all Bridgestone’s truck and bus tyre sales in the southern half of the UK. He will report to head of truck sales, Julie Plumb.
The very latest device in the battle against the car thieves has been launched by security specialists, Autolok. Developed from the Autolok 2000, the new Autolok 2000 Plus incorporates the latest security technology and new user friendly features.
Bridgestone has appointed Paul Turner to the role of technical training manager in the UK, replacing Steve Howat who has taken up a similar role at Bridgestone Europe. Paul Turner has more than 21 years’ experience in the tyre industry, and has worked for Bridgestone UK for more than a decade in a variety of roles ranging from sales office supervisor to technical engineer, where he ran the company’s RFT (run-flat technology) dealership certifying courses.
Tyre Pressure Monitor (UK) Ltd. has signed an exclusive deal with Automotive Aftermarket Products, of Coral Springs, Florida, for the distribution of the “Quik-Chek” Tire Pressure Monitor for the UK and Republic of Ireland.
When the tyre has been inflated to the desired pressure, Quik Chek fits on to the tyre valve. To check pressure, the button on the Quik Chek is depressed and a colour-code indicates whether the tyre is at the correct pressure, or over- or under-inflated. It works at pressures from 20-44 p.s.i. (1.4- 3.0 bar).
Kayaba has revamped its website, giving it a fresh, user-friendly look. It is divided into two sections – one for mechanics and one for distributors – and the latter section features an online version of Kayaba’s 2005 shock absorber catalogue, plus company information, press releases and product information.
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