News from the RMA and its Members

Retread Manufacturers Association Affiliate to TRA

The Tyre Recovery Association (TRA) is pleased to announce that the Retread Manufacturers Association (RMA) is to become an affiliate of the TRA. Welcoming this new move, TRA President Roger Hicks expressed his satisfaction at this further endorsement of the TRA and its membership. He went on to say, "we as a body are still formulating our larger objectives and the willingness of the RMA to join with us in this future process will add to our sense of purpose. Together with the British Rubber Manufacturers' Association who affiliated earlier this year we believe we are now in key position to help ensure the UK not only meets its obligations under the EU Landfill Directive but does so from a position of real strength and influence". For its part, RMA Chairman Patrick O'Connell commented; "Retreading plays a crucial role in the tyre recovery process and, as such, we are delighted to join the TRA as an affiliate member. Our decision to join the TRA should be seen as indicative of the RMA's willingness to co-operate with other industry associations and of our desire to continue to play an active role in issues of cross-industry interest". (Oct 05)

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Safe Winter Driving with Retreaded Winter Tyres

With the winter months rapidly approaching, the Retread Manufacturers Association (RMA) is advising motorists to check the condition and tread depth of their tyres in order to make sure they are equipped to face the rigours of winter driving conditions. At the same time, the Association is promoting the safety benefits of switching over to retreaded winter tyres in order to deal with the cold and wet conditions typically experienced during the British winter.

David Wilson, Director of the Retread Manufacturers Association explained: "In many European countries it is considered normal for drivers to fit winter tyres to their vehicles during the Autumn and to switch back to summer tyres during the Spring. This has traditionally not been the case in the UK because there is a popular misconception that winter tyres only provide a benefit in snow and ice. In fact, research has shown that modern winter tyres also provide significant safety advantages in cold and damp weather conditions". In fact, road traffic statistics show that the most dangerous driving conditions are in wet conditions between 1 and 7 degrees C, typical conditions experienced during a British winter*. This is partly because drivers tend to alter their driving styles when faced with snow or ice but do not drive significantly differently in the wet. Another factor, though, is that summer tyres lose some of their efficiency at lower temperatures.

Winter tyres, however, are manufactured using rubber compounds specifically designed for the cold weather, offering distinct safety advantages in the months between October and April. Furthermore, on the occasions when snow and ice are on the ground, winter tyres have the tread patterns to cope, thereby significantly reducing the possibility of getting stranded in adverse weather conditions.

Tread depth also becomes increasingly important in the cold and the wet and research shows that driving safety decreases substantially on wet surfaces when tread depth gets below 3mm. Roadside tyre checks carried out by the tyre industry have shown that many drivers will prefer to drive until their tyres reach the legal limit of 1.6mm. However, the RMA argues that this could be putting yourself at serious risk of an accident, particularly in the winter.

Says David Wilson: "We understand the cost considerations that people apply when purchasing tyres but would argue that driving in winter conditions on worn tyres is a false economy as well as being highly dangerous. However, it is not necessary to pay extra for safety. Quality British-manufactured retreaded winter tyres offer significant cost savings when compared with new winter tyres. "The money saved in purchasing a set of retreaded winter tyres will more than compensate for replacing your tyres before they are worn completely down to the legal limit and will assure that you drive safely during the winter months". To find out where to buy retreaded winter tyres and to find out more about high-quality, environmentally-friendly retreaded tyres, visit the RMA's website at www.greentyres.com or contact the Association direct on 01270 561014.

Note for Editors: average January temperatures in some of Britain's major cities are as follows (source: BBC Weather): Belfast 2-6 degrees C Birmingham 2-5 degrees C Cardiff 2-7 degrees C Edinburgh 1-6 degrees C London 2-6 degrees C (Nov 05)

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Wigan Provides Base for Bandvulc Expansion

Bandvulc Tyres has announced that it is investing £500,000 in the expansion of its Wigan Distribution Centre. The cash injection will facilitate the company's increased penetration into the North of England and Scotland, an area that currently accounts for 1/3 of all its UK tyre sales. The move coincides with the extension of Bandvulc's distribution fleet, designed to effectively satisfy the growth in sales within the region.

Bandvulc's state of the art depot at Martland Park Wigan was completed in December 2002 at a cost of £1 million, representing the company's first major commitment to the North of England. The site, based on the prestigious Industrial Estate favoured by the country's largest logistic companies, was initially chosen for its growth potential, a vision that is now being fulfilled. With tyres manufactured from its headquarters in Ivybridge, Wigan provides an ideal location for Bandvulc from which to service the North and provide a closer proximity to its rapidly expanding customer base there, which include the likes of Hill Hire, Wiseman's, Sainsbury's, Tesco, and Express Dairies.

The new depot, which has been successfully trialled as a turn around base for the past year, will enable Bandvulc to hold 33% more stock, whilst increasing the number of trucks that can use it. Easter & Beswick Ltd, which handled the original build, began work in July on the four-month project to design and construct an extension, which will add a further one-third onto the existing building. The additional space will be equipped with two more loading bays, increasing its flexibility to handle the growth in the distribution and collection of tyre casings.

Commenting on the importance of the Wigan expansion, Patrick O'Connell, director of Bandvulc Tyres says: "This investment represents a real commitment to keep distribution in-house and provide customers with the best possible service. It also places us in a key position to effectively manage our whole distribution network and keep tight control on the ever increasing costs of running a distribution fleet, helping to negate the effects caused by fuel rises and legislative changes which restrict drivers to a 48 hour week." Built on the former site of an old bricks works, Bandvulcs new depot will comprise 30,000 square feet and eight loading bays, providing a modern base from which 8 trucks will be used to distribute some 1,500 tyres every week to customers located from Birmingham to Aberdeen.

Meanwhile, as part of a long term strategy of brand awareness and dealer partnerships, Bandvulc Tyre Contracts (BTC), the management arm of Bandvulc Tyres, has begun to increase its profile by adopting vehicle livery as part of its marketing campaign. In association with key dealers and partners, BTC is stepping up its profile campaign in the coming months with all of its major partners. Pictured with the first of two vehicles liveried in BTC's colours is Ace Tyres Limited, a strong strategically placed partner in the Milton Keynes area. (Nov 05)

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Marangoni Launch Ringnet Service in UK

Following its launch during Autopromotec in Bologna, Marangoni Tread has announced that its Ringnet network of retreaders and resellers of Ringtread tyres, has been officially inaugurated in the British market. There are currently 7 Retreading Centres in the UK that are part of the network, in strategic locations so as to effectively cover the entire country. These are Alba Tyre Management (ATM) in Scotland, Castle Tyres and Tuf Treads in Wales, Alterever, Commercial Ringtread Services ( CRS), Falcon Retreads, and Homerton Tyres in England. (Nov 05)