In keeping with our apolitical but pro-tyre, wheel and association industries position, Tyres & Accessories will not be publishing anything that could influence you vote in today’s general election. However, that doesn’t mean we can’t mention anything to do with what’s going on in Westminster…Whilst the rest of the country goes to the polls, Westminster Council has reportedly “elected” to use Vacu-Lug Tyres to provide its tyre and fleet management needs.
Biannual event Hillhead is claimed to be the UK's major construction event and the world’s biggest working quarry show, with many civil engineering and demolition industries represented. This year's exhibition on 22-24 June will feature the latest industrial traction chain technology from RUD-Erlau, which describes itself as a “Hillhead stalwart”. Since 2007, the company reports “significant advances” in its product offering, including the Terraplus mine and quarry traction chain.
Tyre changing and balancing firm Hofmann Megaplan has announced the appointment of two new members of staff. Mark Berryman has joined the company as operations director, looking after all aspects of customer service, including installation management and aftersales. John Baron also joins the team in the position of equipment specialist for the south of England.
Wegmann Automotive the parent company of the Hofmann balance weight brand and the world leader in weight production is set to present the results of a series of long-running tests at the Forthcoming Essen Show. In order to answer the ongoing question “why balance?” the company has produced video to illustrate the effects of imbalance on the vehicle and their impact on safety, comfort and vehicle wear. In order to make the messages clear to customers and consumers, some of which are more complicated and wide ranging than you first might think clearer, Wegmann has developed a specially designed counter display which will also be presented at the tyre show.
Dotz has released its latest deep-dish design, which offers a 6-spoke profile, combined with a dish and the all-important deep lip. As its Eastern look suggests, the wheel is aimed squarely at the Japanese and tuner markets, but its makers hope it will be a hit in the VAG scene, with fitments being available for all of the usual suspects. Size wise, 18-inch offered in either 7.5 or 8-inch widths and 19-inch diameter available in both 8.5 and 9.5-inch. All are available from stock immediately in the UK. Prices start from £118 + VAT.
Michelin and wheel manufacturers Hayes Lemmerz and Ronal are three of 13 new companies the Ford Motor Company has added to its Aligned Business Framework (ABF). The presence of the tyre and wheel manufacturers within Ford’s ABF brings the number of key component and service suppliers Ford has chosen for long-term relationships and closer collaboration to 90.
Ed Wilson is set to take over as Michelin UK commercial director moto on 1 June, according to Bike Tyrestore’s latest customer newsletter. Wilson will take the reins from Olivier Gros who has reportedly moved onto “new challenges” and moves from a position with Michelin Fleet Solutions in the company’s truck tyre department.
Speaking on Trelleborg AG’s performance during the first three months of the year, company president and CEO Peter Nilsson stated “the first quarter of 2010 is showing that we are building a stronger Trelleborg and that we are constantly moving towards growing and profitable segments The implemented action programmes continue to give positive effects and we are gradually growing in to a more efficient structure.”
Bosch reports that it is offering “great deals on its ‘around the wheel’ tyre equipment,” which provides vehicle technicians with the ability to service tyres and rims on passenger vehicles, light commercial vehicles and motorcycles.
The HiQ fast fit network says it expected a ‘fast and furious’ start to the British Touring Car Championship at Thruxton on April 4 – and it wasn’t disappointed. The former title sponsor, whose name is now attached to the Teams' Championship, notes that a great deal has already changed since last October’s race at Brands Hatch. However, one thing remained the same in ominous style – Fabrizio Giovanardi made a spectacular return to the grid at the 11th hour under the Uniq Racing with Triple Eight banner, and the Italian two-time winner made easy work of the Thruxton circuit, winning two out of three races. The third and final race was won by Northern Ireland’s Steven Kane, who was back behind a touring car wheel for the first time in a year.
Like most companies Trax JH, Europe’s second largest wheel balancing weight manufacturer, experienced a drop in sales during 2009. However, that hasn’t stopped the company, which exports 70 per cent of its production output to carmakers and aftermarket distributors around the world. During the last 12 months the company maintained investment in production, and if the rumours Tyres & Accessories has heard are true, has some more announcements to make at June’s Essen show. Following a slight pickup in sales during the first quarter of 2010, the Newtown-based company hopes to achieve further OE and aftermarket growth in the rest of 2010, with addition export growth across all markets moving forward.
The Swiss rim forging company Barracuda Racing Wheels makes the courageous observation that “it will probably remain a secret from men for all eternity as to why a woman will regularly drop everything and always pursue the latest shoe trends, regardless of the danger of thus ruining themselves financially.” And while many a male has pondered the seemingly unfathomable relationship between footwear and the fairer sex, few pretend to understand its importance. Barracuda, however, has boldly stepped forward and is attempting to harness the power of shoe desire for its own purposes.
Titan Wheel Corporation, a subsidiary of Titan International, has been named as a top-performing supplier by Spartan Motors Chassis. Titan Wheel produces off-highway wheels and rims for Spartan Motors, who supplies defence contractor BAE Systems with Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) tactical vehicles. Spartan awarded the top-performing designation to the uppermost four per cent of its more than 300 suppliers. The Spartan award, comments Titan, commends exceptional performance criteria related to quality, delivery, customer support and competitiveness.
In March 2010 Beissbarth received the "2010 German National Award for Outstanding and Innovative Achievement in the Field of Trade" from Germany’s Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology for its ‘Easy 3D’ chassis alignment system. The Beissbarth system received the favourable attention of a panel of representatives from numerous German trade organisations on the basis of its speed, simplicity to operate and the small space required for its use. The award was presented to Silke Spitzer, head of technology at Beissbarth GmbH, during a trade fair on March 7.
Haweka is gearing up to launch its Axis 4000 truck wheel aligner in the US. The heavy duty commercial vehicle alignment system will be distributed in this market by Haweka USA and the company comments that the Axis 4000 “promises to revolutionise the heavy-duty alignment of a full range of commercial vehicles such as long-haul trucks, buses, multi-axle cranes and agricultural vehicles” in the same way that existing Haweka product lines have benefitted car wheel balancing.
If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com. Or click below to continue on Tyrepress.
