Page 6 - CTB n4 - 2013/4

NEWS
Michelin Policy Delivers for Knights of Old
Logistics specialist Knights of Old is reaping the benefits of fitting Michelin tyres across its fleet after a trial set of 315/80 R 22.5 X MultiWay 3D XZE steer tyres clocked up more than 300,000 km.
The Kettering-based company, which operates 196 trucks and 222 trailers from five sites across the UK, fitted a test set of X MultiWay 3D XZE tyres to one of its Scania 6x2 tractor units in August 2011. A year later, the company decided to switch its entire fleet to Michelin for both its original equipment and replacement needs, with servicing and maintenance being carried out by the company’s tyre service provider, Tyres Northampton. And a further
12 months on,
Knights of Old’s
original test
tyres have
covered more
than 300,000
km over two
demanding
years in service,
with 5.5mm of
tread still
remaining when
the vehicle was
returned to
Scania at the
end of its lease.
At this stage the
tyres had
already
exceeded the
previous
fitment’s
average mileage
by 50,000 km.
Technical
Director at
Knights of Old,
Kelvin Gingell,
says he couldn’t
be happier with the results so far. He explains: “We are a very forward thinking company and are always looking for ways we can improve our service and make our fleet operate more efficiently.
“Since Michelin first approached us about trialling the X MultiWay 3D tyres we’ve seen
multiple benefits. This has included terrific mileage performance, topping our previous premium fitment by a significant margin, plus Michelin has also been proactive in working with our local tyre dealer and vehicle suppliers to ensure we get the maximum performance from our rubber.” Knights of Old’s fleet consists predominantly of Scania and Iveco vehicles operating at up to 44 tonnes. Its vehicles service the whole of the UK and Ireland, each travelling approximately 165,000 km a year.
Established in 1865, the company has used Tyres Northampton as its service provider for more than 20 years.
As a member of the Michelin Truck Professional network, Tyres Northampton is audited annually to ensure its equipment, training, reporting and customer service standards meet Michelin’s high standards – earning the status as a Michelin Certified Centre.
Minister of Transportation, Bahrain (centre) pictured with from left, Mark Yexley, former President CPT, Ian Morgan, Chairman CPT, Simon Posner, CEO CPT and Mark Griffin, Show Director Euro Bus Expo at the show in 2012.
Euro Bus Expo 2014 off to a Flying Start.
Organisers of Europe’s premier bus and coach trade show for 2014, Euro Bus Expo, report that just weeks after launching, 80% of available exhibiting space is already taken with a waiting list for some stands now in place. The strong support from the industry comes a full year before the event, taking place at the NEC, Birmingham on 4-6 November 2014.
Vehicle manufacturers committing early include ADL, Van Hool, VDL, Daimler Buses, MAN Bus and Coach, Scania and Volvo Bus amongst others. New market entrants from China, Yutong and BYD will both be exhibiting for the first time.
Mark Griffin, show director, comments: “We are delighted with the strong demand from both current and new customers for Euro Bus Expo 2014. With 12 months still to go until the doors open, it is evident
that confidence is returning to the industry, both in the UK and internationally. The 2012 edition of the show set new standards with the introduction of EBE TV, national and international TV coverage by BBC Breakfast news, the quality and diversity of exhibiting companies, and the support and cooperation of UKTI, resulting in overseas orders being placed. We already know of some planned launches which will see yet more innovation coming into our sector.”
Euro Bus Expo 2014 takes place on 4 – 6 November 2014, hall 5, NEC, Birmingham, UK. Euro Bus Expo 2012 saw a 5% increase in attendance to over 9,200 over the three days. An attendance in 2014 is forecast to be in excess of 10,000 with over 260 exhibiting companies expected to attend.
Fines Issued Relating to Hindhead Bus Crash
Fines and costs totalling £4,400 have been handed down by Guildford magistrates following the A3 Hindhead coach crash in September 2012, in which three people, including the coach driver, were killed when a 20 year old tyre blew out.
Tracey Hannell, 39, Director of the Liverpool based Merseypride Travel was convicted of two charges. The first was allowing driver Colin Daulby to use the coach fitted with a tyre on which the ply or cord was exposed. This was actually a different tyre to the one that failed. The second charge was permitting
the coach to be used with too many passengers for the seats available. Ms Hannell was ordered to pay a fine of £4,000 for the first count, £300 for the second count, £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge. At the inquest the three deaths were found to have been caused by the catastrophic failure of a 19.5 year old tyre that had been bought second hand. The use of the tyre, which was perfectly legal, has resulted in calls for the government to look more closely at the issue of tyre ageing. The tyre was two and a half years older than the coach and older than one of the victims.
6 Commercial Tyre Business