Page 6 - CTB N12 - 2015-04

NEWS
Michelin Technical Tyre Tips Keep Film and TV Services on the Air Pressure
so whenever we order a new vehicle it must come with Michelin X MultiWay 3D XZE tyres on the steer and tag axle, and Michelin X MultiWay 3D XDE on the drive.”
Film & TV Services’ Michelin tyres are largely fitted by ATS Euromaster’s Park Royal centre in London, which ensures the specialist heavy generator-mounted vehicles are always getting the best out of each tyre in terms of lifespan, low rolling resistance, fuel economy, safety, reliability and regulatory compliance. Michelin studies have shown that incorrect tyre pressures can have a significant impact on both fuel economy and tyre life. A 10 per cent reduction in a tyre’s suggested inflation pressure means around a 13 per cent loss of tyre life, and an approximately 1.5 per cent reduction in fuel efficiency for that tyre.
Film & TV Services works with big
names in the entertainment and sports broadcast industry, including Sky, ITV, the BBC, Channel Five, Endemol and ESPN. The company provides on-site power and lighting for the transmission of live golf, football, rugby and cricket, plus a host of other televised events. The firm is currently powering ITV Sports’ Rugby World Cup coverage.
The company also provides technical facilities for Channel Five’s hit reality TV show Big Brother, and recently dispatched three articulated trucks to Majorca in support of ITV resort romance Love Island.
As well as its London base, the company also operates a small depot in Manchester with two broadcast generator trucks, while one truck is always on standby in Leeds.
Michelin’s technical expertise is helping keep outside broadcast power supplier Film & TV Services on schedule, after the latest vehicles to join the company’s fleet underwent a comprehensive weighing exercise. Michelin Technical Manager Jeremy Wheeler scheduled a visit to Film & TV Services’ London headquarters to take detailed measurements from two new broadcast twin set generators built on to Mercedes-Benz Actros rigid trucks, checking each axle’s weight –
the mid-2000s.
Film & TV Services Technical Director Chris Pratt is adamant that Michelin’s years of technical advice has been invaluable to the company, as a tyre failure on the way to power a live broadcast could leave Britain’s football fans calling foul.
Chris says: “We used to use a competing premium tyre brand, but went through a period of having a lot of blowouts, and it was affecting business. Then Michelin’s technical
CAM Lodges Rebate Management Solution
Shaun Keevil
with and without fuel – before considering average distance travelled, working conditions and the company’s specialised requirements to produce bespoke advice on how to get the most out of every casing.
The truck duo joining the 32-strong Film & TV Services fleet are only the latest in a long line of Michelin- optimised vans and trucks, however, with the tyre manufacturer having first won Film & TV Services’ trust back in
team came in and weighed 18 vehicles, providing tailored tyre pressures for every axle on each truck and van, while considering the specific needs of the business.
“We saw the benefits straight away, so we decided to switch to Michelin tyres – we got improved uptime, better fuel economy, less trouble with irregular wear and excellent value for money. We even changed our original equipment policy with Mercedes-Benz,
Lodge Tyres is turning to a tailored software solution from CAM as an extension of its Cameo platform to manage the complex retrospective manufacturer rebate process, which can be valued at thousands of pounds, eliminating all administration.
CAM's Rebate Management
Module combined with its
Online Tyre Catalogue (OTC)
is now fully tracking and
managing the rebate
structure attached to Lodge
Tyres’ leading tyre brand. As
a result, accurate rebate
figures are rolling into the
company’s management
accounts with zero admin, anticipating vastly improved
financial accuracy and significant time savings across the business.
When rebate credits are received, Lodge Tyres simply has to crosscheck values against rebate reports. Should discrepancies arise, the Rebate Management Module provides total transparency, facilitating a swift resolution to the issue.
Integral to Cameo, the module monitors both sales and purchase activities in real-time at point-of-sale, and live rebate values are processed against every completed transaction. The financial impact is applied directly to stock and/or management account reports according to user-defined criteria.
By pairing the Rebate Module with the OTC, current key billing data is delivered direct from the Online Tyre Catalogue, allowing it to generate pre- discounted invoice prices automatically
without any human intervention. This mitigates pricing errors during stock receipts and maintains the smooth running of purchase ledger invoice matching.
Martin Lodge, financial director of Lodge Tyres, says, "We had a clear business objective and the close collaboration between CAM and our management team has delivered a tailored solution that produces accurate monthly stock valuations. It's been an effective solution to the complex world of retrospective manufacturer rebates."
Shaun Keevil, project manager at CAM, says, "This project has been a real joy, as we have been able to combine and tailor two of our business management solutions that meets a real need in the marketplace."
6 Commercial Tyre Business