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COMPANY NEWS
programmes, our focus is faced towards what the fleets want – not what we as a solutions company wants to take to market. Consequently, in our negotiation process with clients, we concentrate on looking at what’s right for the individual customer, looking at areas where we can complement the
contract that they already have. We try to take each individual
customer on its own merit.” How does the company aim to stay ahead of the competition? “We have a general desire to follow a different approach,” says Davey, “and not only to rely on tyre aspects. We have an investment in making sure we can deliver, and to achieve that, it will be necessary to think beyond tyres in the future.”
that tyres are removed for regrooving and retreading at the optimum time.
Michelin solutions also delivers detailed tyre reporting following each fleet-wide tyre safety inspection, producing valuable management information which is shared with the engineering teams in each garage.
Paul Davey, Commercial Director of Michelin solutions in the UK and Republic of Ireland, says: “Stagecoach UK Bus is a prestige customer and we are delighted to have consistently secured their
business for two decades. The team know precisely what they want from a solutions provider; they
expect a strategic-level supplier to understand and support their long term goals both flexibly and
proactively. They strive to put their customers first at every step of the journey, and expect the same
high level of service from us. “This was a terrific account to
win in 1997, and we were extremely pleased to have re-secured the
business for a further two years.”
The agreement was first signed with Michelin Fleet Solutions, which was succeeded in May 2013 by
Michelin solutions. Stagecoach UK Bus is part of Stagecoach Group which also operates rail and light rail systems in the UK as well as bus and coach services in North America and mainland Europe.
Stagecoach UK Bus Agrees New Contract with Michelin Solutions
Michelin solutions has secured a new two year EFFITIRESTM agreement to supply and manage tyres for Stagecoach UK
towns and cities across the country and carrying around 2.5 million passengers a day. This sees Michelin solutions’
Kirkby Tyres Maintains Position in Competitive Truck Tyre Market
Liverpool based truck tyre wholesaler Kirkby Tyres is reporting that it has managed to maintain
both its volumes and market share across both the replacement and original equipment markets despite extremely competitive market conditions. The company says it has achieved this thanks to its multi-brand strategy by which the company markets three key Chinese tyre brands - Double Coin, Sailun and Longmarch - offering tyre dealers a free next day delivery service.
As a result of this improved business, the company has taken the decision to expand by investing in additional land alongside its current premises, which is earmarked for additional warehousing. Once complete, this will take Kirkby’s main depot and central distribution centre to just over nine acres.
In terms of product developments, Kirkby Tyres is promoting the Double
Coin RT600 range, which has been developed specifically to cater for increased demand in local and regional delivery trucks
due to growing e-commerce pickup and delivery (P&D) requirements. According to the company, the RT600 is “ideal for P&D and regional applications”. The tyre’s enhanced tread compounds and siping are designed to “fight irregular wear and provide long life in regional, urban and all-position applications.” The range comes with a fully retreadable casing with sidewall protectors.
The latest size to be added to the RT600 range is the increasingly popular 205/65 R17.5 129/127J. The RR208 front axle tipper tyre is also new to Kirkby Tyres. According to the company, the unique design of the tyre’s middle pattern block, which comes complete with stone guards, prevents irregular abrasion. The RR208 is available in 295/80 R22.5 and 315/80 R22.5 fitments.
Overall, Kirkby Tyres representatives report that Double Coin is “getting fantastic results in EU label testing”. The RT910 super single trailer tyre, which sports A, B, 73dB ratings on the label is a particularly clear example.
Bus – representing the largest tyre contract to be awarded this year in the passenger transport sector. The EFFITIRES outsourced tyre management deal covers the entire 8,872-strong Stagecoach single and double-deck fleet on a price-per-kilometre (PPK) basis. Sam Greer, Regional Director for Scotland at Stagecoach UK Bus, said: “Michelin solutions uses expert fleet operators who work alongside our garage teams to ensure every tyre is kept in good condition. Our long working relationship is a testament to the strong performance of Michelin tyres.”
Stagecoach is the largest bus operator in the UK, connecting communities in more than 100
fleet operators working in every one of Stagecoach’s 100 major bus garages, from the Highlands to the south coast.
Sam Greer continued: “We have full confidence in Michelin solutions’ fleet operators to look after our tyres from the first fitting to the last mile, ensuring we benefit from a strong blend of safety,
performance and reliability.” Each fleet operator is responsible for preparing the wheel and tyre assemblies, including inflating tyres to the bespoke pressures advised by Michelin, before being fitted to the vehicle by a Stagecoach technician. Michelin solutions also monitors every tyre throughout its lifetime, ensuring
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