The Japanese trading company behind both Kwik-Fit and Stapleton’s here in the UK (Itochu) sold Reifen Gundlach (Raubach) to Dutch group Pon effective 1 January 2012. In a news article published at reifenpresse.de last month, Gundlach CEO Gebhard Jansen confirmed the news to Tyres & Accessories' sister magazine Neue Reifenzeitung by phone. No further details of the transaction have yet been made public.
Continental’s van tyre range boasts the distinction of being fitted to one third of European manufactured vans as original equipment, and its three tyre models cover a range of driver applications in the light commercial sector, meeting passenger comfort and safety specifications. The range comprises the VanEco, designed to provide better economy through reduced rolling resistence; the Vanco 2, for improved longevity; the VancoWinter 2 for improved cold weather running; and the VancoContact 2, which strives for improved comfort through a passenger car-style tread pattern and construction.
Good news from the Volkswagen Group at the Detroit Motor Show, when it announced that global vehicle sales rose above 8m for the first time last year, passing Toyota and moving closer to expected number one General Motors.
Nexen Tire Corporation recently won the 'Good Design 2011' award for its Winguard Sport, UHP winter tyre. The latest triumph follows winning the International Forum Design Award 2010 and Good Design award from Design Korea 2011.
The Good Design Award is conferred annually by the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design together with The European Centre of Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies. It honours the yearly achievements of the best industrial and graphic designers and world manufactures for their pursuit of extraordinary design excellence in 25 categories including electronics, transportation, furniture, industrial machinery, architecture and so on.
Founded in 1950, and now in its 62nd year, Good Design is purportedly the world's oldest award of its kind. Submissions to the program are judged by juries on criteria for the highest aesthetic in terms of innovative design, new technologies, form, materials, construction, concept, function, utility, and energy efficiency, and sensitivity to the environment.
In the four and a half years since Hankook Tire’s Rácalmás plant in Hungary entered production, the facility has produced a tyre or two. In fact, the company shares that the 25th million tyre rolled off the production line in November 2011 – and the facility’s current capacity means it will take only half this time to manufacture the next 25 million tyres.
According to the latest vehicle registration figures, the Volkswagen Golf remains Europe’s best-selling car despite a sales decrease of 2.5 per cent in October compared to a year earlier (its sales also fell 1.8 per cent measured year-to-date). The Volkswagen Polo, with sales up by 1.2 per cent in October, regained second place while the Ford Fiesta claimed third, selling 26,553 vehicles.
British Gas recently completed a year-round trial of Continental winter tyres on its fleet of car-derived vans. Following the extreme weather conditions experienced in 2009, British Gas took the decision to fit 120 of its Volkswagen Caddy vans with winter tyres to ensure its vehicles stayed on-call and on the road last winter.
Varta’s start-stop batteries have scooped two industry awards, reinforcing the brand’s prominence in both the OE and European aftermarket. Heading the accolades is a bronze Edison Best New Product Award in the Energy and Sustainability category. The annual Edison Awards are one of the most renowned business prizes, with the jury honouring the most progressive, creative and successful products and services from industry and commerce.
Alongside the introduction of the Run-Flat version of its flagship Potenza S001 UHP sport tyre, Bridgestone announced a run of OE fitments on some of the best known marques. Available in 4 40 to 55 series sizes, Bridgestone Run-Flat Tyres are now fitted right across the BMW and Mini range in Europe, in addition to a large number of models from Audi, Mercedes, Lexus and Volkswagen. Many top sports cars are also equipped with Bridgestone Run-Flats, including Ferrari and Maserati models.
Hankook Tire’s European factory has expanded its original equipment supply to the European market with the manufacture of the Optimo K415 to be fitted to the KIA Sportage, the car maker’s most popular family SUV, now taking place at the Hungarian site. Hankook says its investments in the factory show its effort “to meet the requirements of leading car makers aiming to increase the OE tyre production rate from the current 10 per cent to 20-25 per cent of the total production during the upcoming years.” Besides serving KIA, the Hungarian production site has supplied OE products to the European operations of Volkswagen since 2009 and Hyundai since 2008.
Keskin Tuning Europa GmbH has taken on a new wheel brand, just in time for the winter season. According to the company, these MAM alloy wheels are not only designed for the warm season but are also for winter season applicable and therefore suitable for all-year use. Keskin representatives report that the trademark of the MAM alloy wheels is the good quality, long life and the extraordinary design.
Sofima Filters has announced the development of a new range of filters for LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas) and CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) fuelled car engines. Sofima Filters leading stockist Fuel Parts UK’s managing director Andy West said: “Sofima Filters is consistently demonstrating its ability to progress the aftermarket range of filters on offer. The keen advances and continual growth is why we don’t hesitate to recommend their product range to our clients.”
During the launch of the Pirelli’s Cinturato P1 tyre earlier in the year, Pirelli showcased a new self-sealing technology currently available in original equipment tyres the Italian brand supplies to Volkswagen. Named “Seal Inside”, the technology allows the tyre to “fix itself in the event of a puncture, allowing the driver to carry on without having to change the wheel,” according to Pirelli. It was developed by Pirelli’s Research Department with the emphasis on safety, helping to maintain the pressure and integrity of a punctured tyre and preventing 85 per cent of the possible causes of a deflation.
Pellon Tyres in Halifax recently hosted Huddersfield Town footballer Scott Arfield, when he visited the branch for two new Kumho tyres to be fitted to his Volkswagen. The meeting came about after Pellon’s Eric Roberts, himself a life-long Huddersfield Town fan, was contacted by a friend to ask if he could help a friend fit a “couple of tyres” on his car.
During last month’s 55th China International Trade Fair for Auto-Aftermarket (Automaintech), in Beijing, Corghi’s Artiglio 50 was awarded the best tyre changer exhibited at the show. Automaintech is the most important exhibition in China for Automotive Service Equipment and Corghi participated with its own stand, showing its most technologically advanced machines.
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