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CV SHOW REVIEW
Bridgestone Reaps Rewards from CV Show Presence
Bridgestone says it is reaping rewards from its high profile presence at the Commercial Vehicle Show, with scores of fleet managers and industry professionals following
up interest after visiting the company’s stand.
Hundreds of people learned more about the brand and its portfolio of products at the NEC, where the
new R-Steer and R- Drive regional truck tyres were unveiled, along with Bridgestone’s latest addition to its fuel saving range, the Ecopia H-Trailer. Bridgestone’s product and marketing manager Andy Mathias said: “Not only did our stand underline our status as a true premium player, but it also allowed us to showcase some exciting new products to a
captive audience. The feedback we received was extremely positive and following on from the show, we have been receiving calls and emails
who will take the initial breakdown call and find the nearest dealer who has both the correct GT Radial product and capability to attend the
from a number of professionals who visited us during the three days.”
A highlight for Bridgestone was seen in a series of informative seminars during each day, where key Bridgestone speakers were on hand to guide people through the brand's histor y and innovations including its Tyre Pressure Monitoring System. Mathias added: “The opportunity to talk to people about our history and the pedigree that underpins each Bridgestone tyre was invaluable. Our heritage plays a big part in our overall philosophy and we had a story to tell that some people might not have appreciated.
“Overall, the show was a success on a number of levels. It is now up to us to make the most of the interest that was generated over the three days”.
scene within the strict timescale, and Infleet, who will handle all back office functions.
Successful City Bus Tyre Launch for GT Radial
GT Radial debuted its first, all position urban city-bus tyre at The CV Show, reporting that leads surpassed expected demand.
The GAU861 has been designed with an extra reinforced sidewall protector to ensure maximum resistance to curbing and impact
reading, and the positive market reaction we encountered was better still at The CV Show. The new urban city-bus tyre has been designed specifically and extensively tested to ensure it meets the demanding requirements of the European market, and bus and
TruckForce Shows New Mercedes-Benz Sprinter Fleet at CV Show
Taking pride of place on TruckForce’s stand at the CV show was one of the 60 new Mercedes –Benz sprinter 313 CDI’s purchased by the company from Birmingham dealer Midlands Truck & Van.Based across TruckForce’s 15 operating hubs, the vans are being used by technicians who repair, replace and service customers’ tyres at their premises or at the road side.
The Sprinters are fitted with engine-driven PTOs which power on-board compressors, as well as Hope Safe-T-
bar rear
safety
bumpers and
roof-mounted
flashing
beacons.
TruckForce
invested in its
first 20
Sprinters two
years ago and
according to
Marc Preedy,
Goodyear
Dunlop’s
Director, Commercial Tyres, the reliability of those vans, allied to the standard of the back-up from
the manufacturer’s commercial vehicle dealer network, were key reasons for the decision to expand the fleet further.
“Having used Mercedes-Benz Sprinter vans for a couple of years we are confident of their reliability and recognise that they provide us with a premium service”, said Preedy. “We had no hesitation in ordering a further 60 vans and we’re now in the process of integrating these latest units into our fleet. Like their predecessors, these new Sprinters are very well
engineered, with extensive safety features and high levels of comfort for our technicians.”
damage, while a unique tread pattern with a 20.2mm depth ensures good mileage performance combined with comfort and reduced noise.
Available initially in 275/70R22.5, the tyre can be used in both steer and drive positions on both 4x2 and 6x2 configurations and is M+S marked indicating excellent traction in mud and snow conditions.
Tony McHugh, Truck and Bus Sales and Marketing Director at Giti Tire UK, the manufacturer of the GT Radial brand, said: "Prior to the event the performance figures and feedback we collated on the GAU861 made for impressive
coach operators now see a very strong product portfolio. All the signs point to a hugely successful launch."
In addition, The CV Show marked the event debut of GT Radial's recently launched commercial vehicle roadside service assistance programme, GT ASSIST.
Operating throughout the UK and Republic of Ireland and working in collaboration with over 180 sites in the dealer network, GT ASSIST offers roadside assistance 7 days per week 365 days of the year within a specified response time. The programme is managed by RAC Commercial Assistance (RACCA),
22 Commercial Tyre Business