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NEWS
Bandvulc Launches Unique Tyre Labelling System
1,000 Items of BNP Paribas Equipment Covered by Vacu-Lug Contract
Bandvulc has developed a new tyre labelling system which it will be demonstrating at this year’s CV show.
The labels are generated during the tyre retreading process at Bandvulc’s facility in Devon using Merlin, bespoke production software developed in-house.
The new label is larger and clearer to assist all of Bandvulc’s customers, including the tyre fitter. It contains all the elements you’d expect, i.e. tyre make, size and serial number but the innovative part of the label is the QR code*, a barcode which can be scanned using a PDA, mobile phone or some other form of reader, to
electronically provide data on that tyre.
This will be immensely beneficial for tyre fitters of the future as they will be able to record and upload tyre job details electronically instead of completing paper jobsheets. For companies/depots adopting this facility, the future brings automatic stock holding adjustments, recording of fitters’ work and notification to Bandvulc of the work via an electronic job sheet.
* QR Code (abbreviated from Quick Response Code) is the trademark for a type of matrix barcode (or two- dimensional code) first designed for the automotive industry
Salford Quays, Manchester- based contract hire and leasing specialist, BNP Paribas, has taken out a Vacu-Lug Tyres managed Pay-As-You-Go contract to cover the tyres fitted to approximately 1,000 items of equipment.
Commencing in February 2012, the contract includes both light and heavy trucks and specifies the fitment of Pirelli steering axle tyres and Vacu-Lug Duramold tyres on drive and trailer axles. ATS Euromaster will operate as Vacu-Lug's
service partner on this nationwide contract.
"The contract will be managed using our own tyre fleet management system, VFM," says Vacu-Lug's Fleet Sales Director, Dave Alsop. "BNP Paribas acknowledges the improved financial control and information VFM offers and recognises this will give them an important edge when it comes to determining costs and tendering for new business."
Tom Foord: Kal Tire’s Founder Dies Aged 89
New EM Retread from Povolskaya
The Russian market is developing fast and the value of the vast stocks of scrap EM tyres to be found at the countries mines and quarries runs into the millions. It is only now as prices soar and commercial pressures start to impact that the mining operators are starting to look at turning these waste tyres into assets. In some places the mines are mining their own mining tyres.
However, as in other mining markets, there is a move towards the developing OTR retread sector and the Russians are not about to
hand the whole market over to the big boys.
Russian retreader, Povolzskaya Shinnaya Kompaniya, based in the mining town of Togliatti in the Samara region of Russia launched a new tyre in size 33.00R51 at the recent Tires and Rubber show in Moscow. Pictured are owners Sergey and Svetlana Bondarenko with their tyre, which is marketed under the Bontyre brand name, along with a range of new tyres manufactured in China. The first tyre in the new size was manufactured on March 1st.
(Photo Credit: Blanka Doktorova)
Kal Tire’s founder, Tom Foord passed away from a heart attack just short of his 90th birthday. In 1953 Foord founded K al Tire and steadily turned the shop into an international franchise with operations in 19 countries, and more than 4,000 employees.
He is survived by five children, including son Robert, now president of Kal Tire.
Foord was born on May 8, 1922, in Instow, Sask. He met his wife, Norah, while serving in the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II and returned to her hometown of
Vernon after getting married in 1944.
In 1953, Foord and partner, Jim Lockhead, founded K al Tire, named after the local Kalamalka Lake. Over the year, Kal Tire grew into an international business, with more than 4,500 employees working in 19 countries.
Foord handed the president’s mantel to son-in-law Ken Finch in 2005, becoming chairman until he finally retired in 2009. Finch took over as chairman that year, and Foord’s son Robert became president.
16 Retreading Business