US news sources report Cooper Tire & Rubber has brought in temporary workers to operate its Findlay, Ohio factory. Union member employees have been locked out of the plant since 29 November and local television station WTOL says temporary factory workers were driven in vans into the plant past picketing union workers on 5 December.
New European requirements on roadworthiness testing will mean that there will be changes to the content of annual vehicle tests from January next year. From 1st January 2012, revised European legislation will introduce new requirements to annual vehicle tests to reflect advances in technology. The changes include additional checks for some of the vehicle systems already examined such as brakes, steering suspension and lighting.
ATS Euromaster reports having won back a sole-supplier agreement with Scotland’s largest independent wine and spirit wholesaler, Wallaces Express, just six months after the account was passed to a local independent tyre dealer. The Irvine-based fleet, which operates 50 cars and 70 commercial vehicles, initially changed suppliers in an effort to trim its fleet operating costs, but the new provider apparently failed to meet its required service standards.
Leading tea and coffee retailer Ringtons has signed up with Michelin in a deal that will see the manufacturer provide tyres for its 200-vehicle fleet of light commercial vehicles. The Newcastle company had fitted mid-range tyres two years ago in an attempt to reduce costs. Its fleet manager Stephen Killinger says that the cheaper product led to a greater frequency of replacement due to a reduction in tyre life.
Continental is pleased to announce that Lodge Tyres has joined the tyre manufacturer’s pan-European Conti360° Network. Operating a dozen sites across the central area, Lodge Tyres is ideally located to offer commercial vehicle operators the support they require.
Simon Christmas, director at Lodge Tyres said: “Being part of the Conti360° Network means that we offer the same high standard service to our customers as all the other partners throughout Europe. Lodge Tyres was founded in 1935 as a family-run business and it’s still the same today. We offer a wide range of commercial vehicle, van and car tyres, as well as commercial retreads. To complement this, our fleet of over sixty fully-equipped breakdown vans maintain a 24hr breakdown service throughout the region”.
Imagine the thought of tens of thousands of mobile traffic cameras on our roads. No these are not the kind of traffic cameras that are fitted to high police vehicles or are erected at the side of the road. We are talking about cameras installed in private cars, rusty old vans, delivery lorries and even public buses. No its not a nightmare it is the future according to one ex-police chief.
Nottinghamshire’s Midland Skip Hire has appointed ATS Euromaster to supply, fit and service tyres across its 62-strong fleet. ATS-E will provide monthly fleet inspections and rapid-response breakdown assistance across the waste disposal and skip hire company’s 37 trucks, eight trailers and five vans. The on-road fleet, plus 12 telescopic handlers used onsite for waste transfer, will be supported by the nationwide tyre specialist’s mobile service fleet – the UK’s largest at 1,000 vehicles.
"Commercial vehicle sales remain strong with around 23 per cent growth in August. Whilst economic uncertainty is ever present, truck and van sales are retaining their strength with all sectors in the market performing better than last year." said Sue Robinson, Director of the RMI National Franchised Dealers Association which represents commercial vehicle and franchised car retailers across the UK, commenting on the SMMT’s van and truck registration figures.
"It is vital that motorists MOT their vehicle to ensure it is safe to drive" commented RMI director, Stuart James responding to recent findings published by The Kwik Fit Group. The findings indicated that a staggering "1million motorists are deliberately driving without an MOT."
After more than two years of waiting, the European Commission’s mandatory requirement for vehicle manufacturers to fit systems to detect and avert skidding on all new cars and vans will come into force on 1 November this year. Whether they’re called ESP, ESC, VDC, VSC or any of the many other proprietary names, the proportion of new cars fitted with these systems will jump from 60 per cent of those driving off dealer forecourts (at present) to 100 per cent.
Yorkshire-based Ayce Systems, a leading manufacturer and supplier of SMART Repair Systems, has taken to the road with a new demonstration vehicle which is now available to showcase the company’s products anywhere in the country.
The VW Crafter long wheel base, high top van is fully kitted out with the very latest Ayce Alloy Wheel Refurbishment equipment including their quick cure UV Oven, the WheelRite all-in-one alloy wheel refurbishment machine which incorporates everything needed to repair and polish kerbed, scratched and corroded alloy wheels in one single unit and the WheelRite Paint Booth with four stage filtration. The van also carries their high quality smart repair systems for paint, bumpers, interiors and glass repair.
Euro Car Parts says many garage owners are crying out for a modern automotive parts supplier to open in their area, and thus it has been spoiled for choice when it comes to selecting new regions to enter. The company reports adding two new locations – Oxford and the Rochester area – to its network, and this pair of newcomers will be soon joined by a further two centres.
The Lancashire Evening Post describes the theft of almost £30,000 worth of tyres on its patch as being a “well-planned criminal operation.” Reporting the incident on July 19, the newspaper states detectives from Preston CID believe a highly organised crime gang were behind the theft, which appears to have been a well-planned operation.
Continental Tyre Group has appointed Irish Global Logistics (IGL) as its distribution partner for the Republic of Ireland on a 32 county basis. Under the terms of the agreement, IGL will be responsible for transporting the various Continental Tyre Group tyre brands, including Continental, Semperit, Uniroyal and Barum, from Continental’s UK distribution centre to customers in Ireland. The agreement brings dealers in Ireland a number of benefits, including enhanced 24 hour deliveries and improved ‘track and trace’ on all deliveries. Continental Tyre Group will have the use of dedicated office space at the IGL headquarters in Swords, County Dublin.
Over a two-year period, ATS Euromaster has undertaken what it calls a “record period of investment by the company.” This includes £4 million spent on service and network enhancements last year along with its recently-announced investment plans for 2011: ATS Euromaster intends to inject a further £6 million into its UK fast-fit network in order to introduce a number of new services, including nitrogen tyre inflation, air-conditioning recharging and re-gassing plus computerised wheel alignment.
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