Renown German brand Hofmann has reintroduced a number of lifts into its line-up. The products, previously known under the Europa name, have been reintroduced to complement the current range of electro-mechanical products manufactured at Hofmann’s European factory. The lift range, which includes both electro-hydraulic and the EML 3000 two-post electro-mechanical lift, is available from all Hofmann distributors.
Venture capital firm MMC Ventures Ltd reports that it and UK-based fund manager Enterprise Ventures have invested £640,000 in Tyres on the Drive, a business MMC describes as a “fast-growing and innovative online mobile tyre fitting service.” The funds are intended to support the expansion of Tyres on the Drive from its current area of operation in the North West and parts of the West Midlands into Yorkshire and fully into the Midlands. The mobile tyre fitting service intends to open new depots in Wakefield and Birmingham as part of this expansion."
Independent UK wholesaler Grouptyre offers an extensive choice of van tyres from its exclusive brands Evergreen, Federal and Goodride. Covering a wide range of sizes for all light commercial vehicle operations, Grouptyre says it has a van tyre for every use. The company adds that its delivery service is unrivalled, and therefore it can ensure it can get the right tyre to its customers whenever they’re needed.
As one of the UK and Europe's most progressive contract tyre manufacturers, Shanghai based SD-International offers four individual brand and pattern options to the van and light truck market sector with their Pace, Zeta and Maxtrek labels.
ATS Euromaster has reported that it beat its own roadside assistance records for the fourth year running in 2012. 2012 data shows ATS Euromaster’s customer response team and mobile fitting fleet cut the average time from receiving a customer call to arrival on the scene to one hour, five minutes and six seconds. That’s a drop of 17 minutes and 45 seconds from the 2009 times, which ATS technicians have reduced every year since. The data also shows ATS Euromaster is averaging a total time from receiving a customer’s call to completing the job at the roadside of one hour, 51 minutes and 29 seconds. That’s a saving of 14 minutes and 54 seconds on the 2009 times, which again, ATS technicians have slashed every year since.
Releasing its figures on commercial vehicle registrations for December, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders described 2012 as "a tough year", during which the market dropped by -5.9 per cent to 285,343 units.
Burton-based independent fleet management company CBVC Vehicle Management has signed ATS Euromaster to support its tyre management proposition for customers. ATS Euromaster reportedly beat off competition from rival firms to win an initial 25 per cent share of CBVC’s fleet business. The new contract sees ATS Euromaster supplying and fitting tyres to a fleet comprised primarily of cars and vans.
An in-house test conducted by car parts distributor Andrew Page is said to be responsible for the company’s decision to make Michelin its first choice tyre fitment. The tests reportedly showed that Michelin tyres lasted up to 7,000 miles more than other premium brands.
The Commercial Vehicle Show 2013 will take place between 9 and 11 April, and ATS Euromaster says it has decided to make helping fleet operators reduce operating costs its number one show objective. The company will use its 150 square metre stand to reinforce how it works with customers to reduce vehicle operating costs and improve tyre life, safety, uptime and fuel economy. Van service, maintenance and repair (SMR) will also take prime billing on the ATS Euromaster stand; this is to reflect the £14 million investment the company has made over three years to expand its non-tyre offering and to highlight its ability to accommodate the largest vans in 95 per cent of all ATS Euromaster centres.
Zafco, the United Arab Emirates-based importer & exporter of tyres, batteries and automotive lubricants, has inaugurated its new office extension in Dubai. The opening of the facility, located in the Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza), was marked by a celebration on 22 November. Senior officials from Jafza, shipping firm DP World, Dubai Customs and several banks joined Zafco’s staff at the event. Zafco described the inauguration as a “new milestone in the company’s journey of ‘Growing Together’ with its business partners.”
During the recent Automechanika show, Bosch’s Automotive Aftermarket division displayed its latest tyre workshop products, including two new balancers, the WBE 4200 and 4400. With these new additions, the Bosch tyre services range has expanded to include equipment for balancing car, motorcycle, and van wheels.
Bridgestone has renewed its contract with Ireland-based company Cork Rent-A-Van, which specialises in rental leasing and contract hire. The newly signed deal will build upon a long-running, six-year relationship. It will involve Bridgestone supplying a range of new and retread tyres over the next 12 months to cater for Cork Rent-A-Van’s fleet of 300 vans and trucks.
September, demand for new vans (light commercial vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes) declined across the EU, except in Slovakia (+9.5 per cent) and the UK (+1.1 per cent), resulting in an overall 13.5 per cent decrease. France (-12.4 per cent), Germany (-14.6 per cent), Italy (-27.6 per cent) and Spain (-34.3 per cent) all faced a double digit downturn. In total, the region counted 123,938 new vans in the month.
According to the Press Association, it has been confirmed that Ford is to close its factory in Southampton, where Transit vans are made, plus another plant in Dagenham. Reports say that 1,500 jobs will be lost in total, but it should be pointed out that Ford has yet to make any announcement concerning its plans and a meeting is being held with management and unions.
Despite the name, there is no way that Vortex Exhaust Technology Ltd is getting sucked down by the negative economic environment. On the contrary, according to the Grays, Essex-based business, things have moved quickly since the company relocated from their old premises at the end of 2011. The company can now be found in a much bigger and brighter unit on the Globe Industrial estate in Grays. Having spent the last year organise things at the new facility managing director Barry Mead reports that he is looking forward to the next chapter in the company’s business development:
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