Page 17 - CTB n6 - 2014-02

CV SHOW REVIEW
Bandvulc Completes Rebranding Exercise
wholesale and service provision. This new brand launch and awareness campaign builds a strong foundation for future growth and diversification.”
As part of the process of continuous improvement, Bandvulc Plus+ has undergone some fundamental internal changes during the last quarter of 2013 to improve its operations and enhance customer services and delivery.
“Sometimes you need to refresh even the best practices and this is what we set out to do during the last six months,” said Kevin McPherson, the manager of Bandvulc’s fleet management service. Employing the services of an external party to facilitate a flow of new ideas and objectives allowed us to review all aspects piece by piece and importantly involve the team members in our customer experience enhancement plans. Establishing short, medium and long term goals provided focus and continuity for the team and I’m pleased to report that most of the short terms have already been implemented and we are now focussing on the next level.”
At the same time as the internal review was taking place, BV Plus+ wanted to demonstrate these enhancements externally and a focus group was formed to establish how this could be achieved. As a result, a clear plan for communication was drawn up to enable contact with customers to advise both good news as well as when a back order or a late delivery may occur. Plans are afoot to encourage customers to audit BV Plus+ to enable the company to continually evolve its service provision levels.
Bandvulc also used the CV Show to launch its new range of tyres for the van fleet market. Vanvulc Metro is a new range of bead to bead remoulds manufactured with Bandvulc’s own exclusive rubber compound. The tyres feature a multi-season tread for year round use and are manufactured using laser shearography in order to guarantee the casing’s structural integrity. Vanvulc Metro is initially available intwosizes–235/65R16C 115/113R and 225/65 R 16C 112/110R.
In recent years the Bandvulc Group has expanded substantially beyond its position as the UK’s largest independent retreader. In addition to its modern retread plant in Ivybridge, the company now
display on the Bandvulc stand at the CV show recently. The rebrand included subtle changes to the main company logo as well as name changes for Devon Rubber (now BV Mixing) and Bandvulc Tyre
operates its own compounding company, BV Mixing, a fleet tyre management solution, BV Plus+, a tyre wholesale company BVF1rst and a tyre service operation called TyreMaintenance.
As a result, the Group has now completed a complete rebranding exercise covering all its activities using the strapline “More than a tyre.” The new brand image was on
Contracts (now BV Plus+). There is also a new website at www.bandvulc.com designed to give a simple, clear and precise overview of the Group.
Bandvulc Managing Director Patrick O’Connell commented on the changes; “Over the past few years we have seen growth in our activities and have introduced new areas of business such as tyre
Michelin Solutions Makes CV Show Debut
A unique solution that can help truck, bus and coach fleets to radically reduce fuel consumption made its Commercial Vehicle Show debut at the NEC. EFFIFUELTM by Michelin solutions – a new entity of the Michelin Group launched in May 2013 – brings together an array of fuel-saving levers to help road transport companies reduce and contain their fuel consumption, managing it efficiently and committing to meet a fuel consumption target over periods of up to four years.
Paul Davey, Commercial Director of Michelin solutions in the UK & Ireland, explains: “This is an entirely new approach to understanding fuel efficiency, and a novel concept in the commercial vehicle sector; the CV Show is the perfect opportunity to discuss it with some of the biggest fleets in the business.”
As part of the solution, a team of dedicated fuel analysts from Michelin solutions, working with selected partners including Accenture, Worldline and TyreCheck, access a broad range of levers including eco-driver training, fitment of on-board telematics and outsourcing and
optimisation of tyre management to improve fleet efficiency and profit margins.
“Our fuel analysts gather and study data on the influences of fuel consumption, whilst also optimising tyre management through pence-per-kilometre pricing combined with a fitment strategy aimed at improving fuel consumption. We’ll then define a contractual commitment based on projected fuel consumption savings and the resources needed to attain them.
“If the joint fuel consumption saving goal is met, the two companies share the gains. If it is not, Michelin solutions will reimburse a portion of the expenses incurred on a pro rata basis. This makes the operation risk-free for fleets, and may enable the customer to considerably reduce vehicle running costs.”
Michelin solutions has replaced the entity previously known in the UK as Michelin Fleet Solutions. It currently employs around 800 people globally and is responsible for in excess of 500,000 vehicles currently on contract.
Bandvulc Managing Director Patrick O’Connell with the company’s new Vanvulc Metro van tyre
Commercial Tyre Business 17