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NEWS
Reiff is looking for ten companies that want to convince themselves of the quality of their own brand retreads and test four tyres. The only
prerequisite is that a questionnaire on the tyres is answered during or after the test.
Special Task Force on Organised Crime, Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry, Sirim, Customs Department, Immigration Department and Malaysian Anti- Corruption Commission.
In a move which retreaders in many countries would have observed with a mixture of admiration and envy, officers raided the factories in Bukit Beruntung and Senawang in Negri Sembilan on Feb 23 and 28. A total of 480 retreaded truck and bus tyres worth RM 247,500 were seized along
with 1,374 Sirim MS224-2005 labels that were suspected to be fake.
The factory owners were detained in the raids while another person was arrested for trying to bribe the raiding team with RM50,000. The factories have since been sealed by the authorities.
In a statement Liow confimed that factories producing retreads would be monitored to ensure that they follow the standards set by Sirim. Factories operating illegally would be rooted out and shut down, he added.
B&J Rocket Expands AIRBOT Line-Up
AME International Gains US Distributorship for Just Easy Tools
Florida based AME International has announced it has completed a distribution agreement for the U.S. with Danish tyre handling equipment manufacturer Just Easy Tools.
Under the terms of the agreement, AME International will hold distributor rights in North America for the complete line of Just Easy Tools, which includes a complete line of tyre and wheel handling and manipulating accessories. Just Easy Tools can all be mounted on forklifts, front loaders, telehandlers and soon, also on truck cranes. “With AME we think we have the right partner for promoting our tools on the American market as a kind of new trendsetter concerning safety and efficiency when handling wheels
and tyres,” commented Jens Dalgaard, Technical Manager with Just Easy Tools. “The compactness of our tools and the interchangeability between the Easy Gripper, Easy Stacker and standard forks gives the customers a very versatile forklift, which will be something all potential customers will benefit from.”
AME International’s President, Keith Jarman said: “I've admired the product from afar, having met the company at a European trade show several years ago. They continue to innovate and I felt like the North American market would benefit from these proven products. It is a natural fit for our tyre service equipment.”
Since its introduction nearly 5 years ago, the AIRBOT range of buffing tools from B&J Rocket has become very popular among retreaders due the range’s effective cooling technology, which is clearly recognisable by the aggressive- looking fan wheel design, which allows the tool to work efficiently. Now the company has expanded its
range by adding AIRBOT tools with a diameter of 76mm, in addition to the existing diameters of 50, 100 and 150mm.
"We aim to meet the demands of our customers by always offering the optimum tool for every requirement," said Andreas Müller, President of B&J Rocket.
Illegal Retread Factories Raided in Malaysia
The Malaysian newspaper the Star, has reported that local trading standards authorities have put the brakes on two retread factories suspected of using fake Sirim certification and labels.
Transport Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai was quoted as saying that the tyres produced did not comply
with set standards and were a danger to the users and others on roads. “There are many fatal accidents on roads due to retreaded tyres that do not meet standards,” said Liow. To prevent a continuation of this state of affairs, the Malaysian Road Transport Department launched an operation involving members of the police’s
Contiservice Develops Advisory Board
Portugal has seen ContiService create an Advisory Council as a way to bring the opinion of the retailers and retreaders into the structure of the Conti network in the country. Consisting of six staff members, the Advisory Board is presented as an "instrument" which seeks primarily to reinforce the close links between the Network's management structure and its stakeholders.
The Advisory Board intends to bring an external vision to the challenges that are posed daily, ensuring that the Network is aligned with the defined objectives and that it remains "faithful" to the initial purposes for which it was created.
"Conti wants to be even closer to our partners. The newly created body will allow us, at any time, to align and adjust the strategy and procedures to the needs and expectations of our partners. The Advisory Board will also have as a primary function to be a
channel of communication between partners and network management, "says Marco Silva, Director of Marketing Continental Pneus Portugal.
The Advisory Board consists of Armando Barradas (Mourinha Pneus- Comércio Pneus Lda.), Armindo Alves (Recauchutagem Famalicense Lda.), Jaime Silva (Marcolino Alves Miguel Lda.), João Roís (AutoMafra- Pneus AC. ), João Sobral (H. Sobral e Costa Lda.), And Miguel Ximenez (M. Ximenez Sociedade Unipessoal).
The first working meeting was held recently at Famalicão, at the headquarters of Continental (Pneus) Portugal.
The ContiService network, which currently has 65 points of sale, intends to implement, at a national level, a network of tyre specialist and car maintenance partners with the attributes and characteristics inherent to the Continental brand.
Liow Tiong Lai listens to Sirim QAS International senior general manager Basori Selamat (third from left) as he explains how a tyre is retreaded after a meeting on the operation of retreaded pneumatic tyres in Putrajaya.
8 Retreading Business