Page 4 - CTB N7 - 2014-03

NEWS
Goodyear Rolls-out Improved eCasing Retread Management System
Iveco Trial Highlights Fuel Saving Potential of 70-series Tyres
Goodyear has begun the introduction of a new enhanced version of eCasing, its web-based commercial vehicle tyre casing management system, which is to be rolled-out progressively across Europe. The new system is intended to give customers of Goodyear further options to enable them to make the optimum retread
be offered first in the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, before being gradually introduced across Europe.
The upgraded Goodyear casing system allows customers to opt for their preferred retread design on-line , and due to the fact the system contains a full picture library of their
Iveco has standardised on 315/70 R 22.5 tyres for new Euro VI tractor units entering service in the UK after seeing the fuel-saving potential of 70-series rubber compared with the 295/80 R 22.5 fitments previously favoured in the UK.
Trials in conjunction with Michelin and a major Iveco national fleet customer recorded a 3.87 per cent improvement in fuel economy between two identical Stralis AT440S46TX/P vehicles shod with the two different sizes of tyres.
The trial compared Michelin’s
current generation of fuel-
saving tyres over the same 299km route for two days, with both vehicles operating at 44 tonnes in conjunction with tri-axle curtainside trailers.
Martin Flach, Product Director of Iveco UK, says: “Our decision to standardise on 70- series tyres at Euro VI was largely due to this test result, combined with similar testing we undertook at Millbrook.
“Our Euro VI Stralis range has been fine-tuned to maximise efficiency and
reduce total cost of ownership for operators, right down to the tyres we fit in the factory.”
Guy Heywood, Commercial Director of Michelin’s truck division in the UK, adds: “Even operators who have long- favoured 295/80 R 22.5 tyres are now considering a change in their tyre buying habits to reduce running costs. Iveco’s decision to standardise on 315/70 R 22.5 tyres simply reflects its commitment to offering the most fuel- efficient vehicles to customers.”
‘WISH’ Proposals Will
Decimate UK Retreading
Says RMA
Recent proposals for the storage of waste tyres devised under the “WISH” banner will decimate the UK tyre retreading industry if adopted in their current form according to the Retread Manufacturers Association (RMA), the trade body responsible for the interests of the UK retreading industry.
Patrick O’Connell, Chairman of the RMA and Managing Director of Bandvulc Tyres, the UK’s largest independent retreader commented; “This ‘WISH’ document has been developed without any consultation whatsoever with Britain’s retreaders.
O’Connell continued “The RMA is wholly supportive of the need to ensure that the spread of site-fires is curtailed, but as presently expressed, these proposals from the ‘WISH’ group are unworkable. As an industry we have worked closely with the Environment Agency and industry colleagues to develop approaches to safer
storage standards but our work appears to have been jettisoned in favour of a set of proposals from those with no knowledge whatsoever of our industry, commitment to regional employment or to better sustainability. These ‘WISH’ proposals are wholly destructive in their present form and if implemented would totally undermine the operational economics of many of our members’ businesses. We oppose the proposals on these grounds alone but are equally dismayed by the manner in which they have come about.
“The RMA favours co-operation and dialogue and has shown great willingness to work with the EA and others in developing practical approaches to site safety but it must be remembered that real progress is the art of the possible. These ‘WISH’ proposals so far fail that test and we will oppose them.”
choices, helping them to meet their specific requirements.
The existing eCasing system is widely utilised for managing the truck, bus and coach tyre casing and retread requirements of fleets and dealers in 13 EU countries. Currently, the system is operating in Belgium, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and the United Kingdom.
This system supports all of the Goodyear retread business options including Customer Owned Casing, Casing Exchange, Casing exchange, Casing Purchase and additionally Casing Bank in some markets. These give fleet operators and Goodyear dealers the choice of all options, i.e. selling their serviceable casings back to Goodyear, having their own casings retreaded and returned to them or exchanging casings for retreads.
The new version of the eCasing will still offer these opportunities, but will now be an integral application of the new Goodyear eBusiness B2B platform, thus offering customers greater visibility, traceability and more up to date information than the previous system. Starting in June 2014, the new eCasing version will
designs, ensures that fleet operators can make more informed decisions with regards to choosing the correct tread pattern to fit each specific application. Furthermore, the enhanced eCasing platform delivers Goodyear customers intuitive and friendly user guidance, combined with a full online tracking of Customer Owned Casings and Casing Exchange flows. This is done via what is referred to as a ‘Customer Dashboard’, allowing Customers to have easy access to all documentation relevant to the customer; such as casing return notes, disposal certificates, casing purchase orders and billing documents.
The eCasing developments are the first in a number of planned improvements to Goodyear’s commercial business solutions due to be implemented during the remainder of 2014. These include an upgrade to the Fleet Online Solutions (FOS) fleet management system and the new eCasing system will be a key application within the FOS next generation.
4 Commercial Tyre Business