Posts

Showing posts from April, 2019

New van technologies guide to help cut fuel cost, emissions and climate impact

Image
The Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership and Cenex have published a new Low Emission Van Guide to coincide with this week’s CV Show in Birmingham and the revised licensing for drivers of alternatively fuelled vans (announced yesterday by the DfT.[1])The number of vans licensed to operate in the UK has grown by a quarter in ten years to 4.1 million vehicles so cleaning up their emissions – which now represent about 33% of all oxides of nitrogen and over 15% of the CO2 emissions from all road tra... Read the full story

Fleet evolution call on government to take the brakes off electric vehicle adoption with clarity on taxation

Image
Green Car Scheme specialist urges government to ‘act now’ on company car tax as electric cars buck the downward trend in car sales   Despite the news that March car sales in the UK fell once again, by 3.4% compared to last year, there is a growing force behind electric vehicles bucking this trend. EV sales doubled in February compared to 2018 and there were over 125,000 electric and hybrids bought throughout E... Read the full story

Mycarcheck.com: Be car confident like Shirley

Image
Be car confident like Shirley: Mycarcheck.com TV advert shows the right way to buy a used car Mycarcheck.com saw a 15.98% increase in direct traffic in March 2019, compared to the same month last year, following the launch of its Be Car Confident advertising campaign. The split-screen TV advert shows happy couple Ken and Shirley having very different secondhand car buying experiences. Hapless Ken thinks he knows it all and ends up with a lemon, while sensible Shirley uses Mycarcheck to answ... Read the full story

UK van sector delivers £56 billion pay-packet to British workers, finds new research

Image
One in 10 workers in the UK uses or depends on a van for their work, a total of 3.4 million people. New report finds vans contribute annual £56 billion to economy from wages alone – 11% of UK GDP.1 UK average new van CO2 down -10.4% since 2013, highlighting the important role new vans play in reducing emissions.   Industry highlights vital role Britain’s 4.6 million vans play in driving our economy and society as UK’s biggest commercial vehicle show opens. Birmingham, Tuesday 30 Apr... Read the full story

International and Saudi Athletes Launch Extreme Sports at NEOM

Image
International athletes joined their Saudi counterparts during the weekend at an extreme sports extravaganza held to bring NEOM, the world’s most ambitious project, located in the Northwest of Saudi Arabia, into the global spotlight.Bouldering world champion Juliane Wurm and Saudi female rock-climbing star Yasmin Gahtani topped the bill to kick off a one-day event of rock-climbing, wingsuiting and BASE jumping conceived to showcase the pristine beauty of NEOM with its wilderness, deserts, mo... Read the full story

A.F. Blakemore & Son Ltd Announced as Finalist for the 2019 Responsible Business Awards

Image
A.F. Blakemore & Son Ltd is celebrating after being named as a finalist for Business in the Community’s Responsible Business Awards 2019, the UK’s longest running and most prestigious awards programme, championing responsible business in the UK and abroad.   A.F. Blakemore has been recognised in the Education Partnerships category for its Branching Out programme which inspires young people into the world of work by improving their employability skills and supporting the recruitment a... Read the full story

Reusable industrial wipes from MEWA now available online

Image
The world’s leading reusable industrial wipes are now available online at www.mewa.co.uk in the company’s first e-commerce store.  Birmingham, April 2019: MEWA, the global leader in textile management, has launched a simple and easy way for customers to access the company’s reusable industrial wipes and mats online. The addition of the e-shop gives the company’s UK customers additional flexibility and accessibility to choose the best MEWA industrial wipes for each application.  The... Read the full story

New appointment at The Premier Group

Image
The construction division of The Premier Group, a specialist in retail forecourts and commercial fuel installations, has recently appointed a new financial controller. Rebecca Cook from Skewen joins the Swansea-based firm with 25 years’ experience in the financial sector, having held various senior finance roles. She most recently held a management accountant position at a nutritional supplements company before joining The Premier Group. She has also worked as a financial controller at a f... Read the full story

Arlon Graphics' Squeegee Lottery

Image
The Hague, NL –  29 April 2019 Key Facts: Arlon Graphics is running a promotion on all FLITE products from May 1st until July 31st 2019. Possible prizes to win include vouchers for Arlon vinyl and Yellotools, free rolls of vinyl and even a grand prize of a trip for two to any European capital, with flight and 5-star hotel included. The Squeegee Lottery promotion runs for the entire EMEA region. Arlon Graphics is running a promotion on all FLITE products from May 1st until July 31st, 201... Read the full story

SAMWORTH BROTHERS LAUNCHES NEW FOOD-TO-GO BUSINESS ‘FRESH FOOD FOR NOW COMPANY’

Image
Fresh Food For Now Company is a one-stop solution bringing together market leading products to enable retailers to fully stock their food-to-go offering The venture marks the evolution from the long established Ginsters van sales operation into a new brand, offering a broader range of food-to-go products including Samworth Brothers favourites such as; Honest Crust, Ginsters, Soreen, West Cornwall Pasty Co. and Pro2Go from SCI-MX Operating across 16 nationwide sales offices, the company will... Read the full story

DRAMATIC PARIS E-PRIX COSTS NIO POTENTIAL DOUBLE POINTS FINISH

Image
Rain, hail and countless incidents led to an incredibly dramatic eighth round of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship in Paris on Saturday, 27th April, where NIO missed out on, what looked certain to be, the team’s first double points haul of Season 5. After a competitive run in qualifying, where Frenchman Tom Dillmann secured a season-best ninth on the grid, two places ahead of team-mate Oliver Turvey, the race itself around the streets of Les Invalides became a bittersweet experience for N... Read the full story

Ginetta LMP1 Proves Pace And Reliability At Major Test

Image
The Ginetta G60 LT P1 LMP1 car, now powered by AER’s turbocharged V6 engine has emerged from a major three day test at Motorland Aragon having conclusively proved both its pace and reliability as Ginetta close in on customer deals for the 2019/20 FIA WEC season.The car achieved the second fastest time of the three day test (1:18.626), just 0.021 of a second from an LMP1 competitor car, and well ahead on the timing sheets of the next fastest LMP1. The potential pace of the car at the test wa... Read the full story

Liberis Finance helps Doncaster-based Diva Pets achieve Number One status!

Image
Liberis Finance, an award-winning funding provider for small businesses, is helping Diva Pets to invest in new products, services and staff training to grow its dog grooming and pet supply business with its alternative funding solution – the Business Cash Advance. Wayne Briscoe, business owner, opened the Doncaster-based store in 2012 after spotting a gap in the market and when a well-located retail outlet became available. Wayne used his background in construction for the shopfitting and... Read the full story

Over 130 teams on the grid for Formula Student 2019

Image
2018 runner up Oxford Brookes University hopes to be next UK winner Team from Hong Kong to compete in the UK for the first time Formula Student launches AI car competitionFormula Student, a student engineering competition organised by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, will see more than 3000 participants from over 25 countries take part in the event which returns to Silverstone this July.Formula Student challenges university teams from across the world to design and build a single se... Read the full story

PRESS RELEASE - Shropshire Mentors celebrate Healthy Eatery Launch

Image
PRESS RELEASEShropshire Mentors celebrate Healthy Eatery Launch Shropshire Youth Support Trust (SYST) charity and members of its ASYSTORS Panel are celebrating the launch of a brand-new lifestyle eating enterprise, Lyfbar in Lawley Square, Telford. The brainchild of Alex Archibald and Bethany Tomlinson, Lyfbar offers a ‘healthy and convenient alternative to traditional fast food’ and illustrates how the ASYSTOR concept is helping nurture and drive forward entrepreneurial Shropshire talent... Read the full story

Exol announces BTRC sponsorship with Newell & Wright Transport

Image
Exol has signed a new sponsorship deal with Newell & Wright Transport in this season’s British Truck Racing Championship (BTRC).Exol branding will feature on the side of the truck and most notably down the sleeves of experienced driver John Newell, brother of Newell & Wright’s Director, Stephen and son of Managing Director Frank. Exol will also take advantage of entertaining customers on race days, seeing the truck in action.Newell & Wright Motorsport’s first appeared on the truck racin... Read the full story

Successful Digital Marketing Agency Launches New Division To Specialise in Content Promotion

Image
WordFlare Marketing Will Create and Promote Industry-Leading ContentTorquay, United Kingdom - 20/04/2019 – The team behind the successful digital marketing agency, New Frontiers Marketing, have recently branched out into viral content creation and promotion.Their new venture, entitled WordFlare, is a company which provides an original twist on the well-established discipline of content marketing, by developing a service for clients which combines premium content creation with comprehensive... Read the full story

Auto Repair Shop, Eclipse Autos in Milton Keynes, Announces New Services

Image
Milton Keynes - Eclipse Autos is one of Milton Keynes’ most reliable car repair and MOT centers providing premium services aimed at keeping clients safe on the road and also improving the performance, durability and lifespan of their vehicles. With years of experience handling all vehicle repair services in and around its service area, Eclipse Autos has announced the expansion of its service as the auto repair shop now offers vehicle recovery and crash repair services.With the announcement... Read the full story

AIPUT secures additional £55 million credit facility from RBS

Image
AIPUT secures additional £55 million credit facility to pursue airport real estate acquisitions in London   [London: 18 April 2019]: Aberdeen Standard Investment’s AIPUT fund (Airport Industrial Property Unit Trust) has secured a £55million revolving credit facility with its long-term financial partner, RBS International.  The facility will provide flexible access to capital available to finance AIPUT’s high quality industrial acquisitions and development projects at the London airp... Read the full story

Mycarcheck.com’s valuation experts reveal significant trends in the UK used vehicle market and choose a car and bike of the month.

Image
Valuation services team manager at mycarcheck.com, Jon Wheeler, said: “With its bold design, functional interior and respectable price point, the Å koda Kodiaq was well received when it arrived in the UK back in 2017. Fast forward a couple of years and strong residual values and great build quality make it even more enticing as a used proposition. Our choice would be the 150bhp 2.0 TDI engine in SE or SE L trims, which should give you around 50mpg with road tax starting at £145 per year. A... Read the full story

EU-CHINA TOURISM YEAR BOOSTS TRAVEL TO ALL CORNERS OF EUROPE

Image
European Travel Commission reports 5.1% increase in Chinese arrivals to EU destinations in 2018Brussels, 18 April 2019: While the EU-China Tourism Year 2018 (ECTY 2018) has officially come to an end, the success of the initiative continues to be felt, with growing numbers of Chinese tourists putting European destinations at the top of their tourism agendas throughout 2018 and beyond. Agreed in 2016 by the Chinese Prime Minister and the President of the European Commission, the European Travel... Read the full story

Great enthusiasm for automotive springs in Russia

Image
Did you know that Lesjöfors is a major distributor of coil springs and gas springs to the automotive industry in Russia and nearby countries? On April 6-7 2019, our Russian representatives participated at the Phaeton Expo in Kazakhstan and experienced two days of interesting and fruitful discussions. Lesjöfors’ Russian operation is located in Podolsk city in the Moscow region. From the warehouse, we deliver products to wholesale buyers from the automotive business. In the warehouse, which... Read the full story

These are Some of the Most Commonly Misunderstood Road Signs – How Many can YOU Name?

Image
62% of active drivers can’t identify a ‘no entry’ sign - one of the most common signs in the UK. Only 46% of respondents could correctly name a ‘turn left’ sign. The least well known traffic sign is ‘with-flow bus and cycle lane’, with 79% unable to name it. The traffic sign drivers are most confident with is ‘side winds’, with 93% of respondents correctly identifying.  While the number of road accidents has much improved from 30 years ago, 2017 still saw around 171,000 t... Read the full story

Ben invites the automotive family to be part of something truly special this Christmas - Ben Ball at the Roundhouse London

Image
After 70 years at the Grosvenor House, Ben announces that Ben Ball 2019 will be held at the iconic Roundhouse in Camden on 11th December Ben is inviting the automotive industry to book tickets now for their Christmas Ball Take advantage of the early bird booking discount - 10% until 31st May Ben is excited to reveal that the highlight of the industry calendar, Ben Ball, will be held at an exceptional new venue, the iconic Roundhouse in London, on 11th December and is set to be an unforgetta... Read the full story

Blakemore Retail Ball Fundraises £32,000 for NSPCC

Image
Blakemore Retail has raised thousands of pounds for the NSPCC at its third Charity Ball.The event was held at the Hilton St George’s Park on 5th April to celebrate the partnership between Blakemore Retail and the NSPCC and recognise the fantastic fundraising that takes place across the business each year.More than 250 guests comprising suppliers and staff attended the event, which included a special guest appearance by England footballing legend Sir Geoff Hurst.Guests were greeted with a dr... Read the full story

Frost & Sullivan Presents Top Cities Leading Globally in Smart Mobility Solutions and their Strategies

Image
 Benchmark against other cities for self-analysis, comparison, and strategizing, and determine the way cities are engaging with, and responding to their mobility challengesLONDON, UK – April 16, 2019 – Rapid urbanization, vehicle density, aging infrastructure, and transportation-related emissions are increasingly stressing the urban mobility ecosystem. One in twelve people in the world lives in the cities, and they account for nearly 15 percent of the total global vehicle population of 1... Read the full story

LIQUI MOLY - more than just oil and additives

Image
Full range of automotive chemicals at Automechanika Birmingham April 2019 – LIQUI MOLY will present its full range of automotive chemicals at the Automechanika trade fair in Birmingham. "We don't just supply oils and additives, we also have pretty much any chemical product required for anywhere in the car," explains Ibrahim Memis, who is responsible for LIQUI MOLY's business in Great Britain. "This makes us unique in the sector."In total, LIQUI MOLY supplies around 4000 items. Engine oils... Read the full story

BYTON prepares breakthrough in automotive industry, top management adjustment

Image
- On track for M-Byte production, with plant to enter pre-series production phase in summer, series production in Q4 2019- Changes in top management, with Chairman Carsten Breitfeld leaving BYTON and new CTO to be announced shortly- BYTON to finalize C-round funding soonNanjing, April 16, 2019 – Since being founded in 2016, BYTON, the premium smart electric vehicle brand, has experienced growth at a high rate. This summer BYTON plans to close its ongoing C-round. It is also well on track to... Read the full story

Fastned opens its first 350kW-ready fast charging station in the United Kingdom

Image
The station in Sunderland is part of the Go Ultra Low NE program Amsterdam, 16 April 2019. Fastned, the charging company which is building a European network of fast charging stations, today opens its first fast charging station in the United Kingdom. This is the first fast charging station in the United Kingdom with a charging capacity up to 350 kW. The station is located in Sunderland, near the factory where the Nissan Leaf is produced for the entire European market. Fastned supplies 100%... Read the full story

BP AND MFG SIGN A 1 BILLION LITRES A YEAR DEAL

Image
Motor Fuel Group (MFG), the largest independent forecourt operator in the UK, has signed a new five-year 1 billion litres a year fuel supply contract with BP. This announcement comes after MFG’s acquisition of MRH last year. The deal commences this month and secures the fuel supply across nearly 250 BP branded forecourts across the UK, including retention of all the former MRH sites.  This is the largest single group re-signing that BP has ever secured in the UK and paves the way for the... Read the full story

TURVEY AND DILLMANN BATTLE HARD IN ROME

Image
Round seven of the ABB FIA Formula E Championship, the GEOX Rome E-Prix, provided a somewhat frustrating start to the ‘European’ season for NIO drivers Oliver Turvey and Tom Dillmann with both missing out on target points finishes. Heading into the eagerly awaited encounter around the ancient Italian capital on Saturday, 13th April, determined to push for top 10 results, in the end Turvey came away with a 13th place finish while Dillmann took the chequered flag in 15th position.Qualifyin... Read the full story

APR and Dinan bank on LIQUI MOLY

Image
Both tuning specialists are now using oils and additives exclusively made in Germany April 2019 – German oil and additive manufacturer LIQUI MOLY has become the exclusive lubricant partner for both US-based tuning specialists, APR and Dinan. Besides LIQUI MOLY oils, the two firms are also using the brand’s additives and other automotive chemicals. APR specializes in VW Group models, i.e. Volkswagen, Audi, Porsche, Å koda and SEAT vehicles, offering car owners who want to take their produ... Read the full story

Zebra Introduces Flagship MC9300 Mobile Computer Ideal for On-Demand Economy

Image
Expanded portfolio takes productivity and efficiency to the next level in industrial environments Zebra Technologies Corporation (NASDAQ: ZBRA), an innovator at the edge of the enterprise with solutions and partners that enable businesses to gain a performance edge, today announced the ultra-rugged Android™-based MC9300 mobile computer and TC8300 touch computer. As the next evolution of the MC9000 series, the world’s best-selling enterprise-class mobile computer, the MC9300 enables b... Read the full story

Welsh construction firm acquired by a Wokingham entrepreneur

Image
The construction division of The Premier Group, a specialist in retail forecourts and commercial fuel installations, is set to embark on a new chapter in its history following its acquisition by a new owner with ambitious plans to grow and diversify the company. Chris Evans has acquired the company for a seven-figure sum following the retirement of Ken Owen, who has owned the construction division of The Premier Group since 2002.  Evans has worked closely with The Premier Group for almost... Read the full story

Emissions Calculator reveals how much CO2 cars actually produce

Image
Car leasing specialist AMT has created a new tool to help drivers assess how much carbon dioxide their cars actually produce based on their specific driving habits. It comes as London implements its ULEZ (ultra-low emission zone) this month, while other cities look to set up similar schemes. These mean drivers must become more knowledgeable about their vehicle's emissions. The Emissions Calculator uses the company’s own data on more than 15,000 different cars to give an accurate estim... Read the full story

ROME E-PRIX TO KICK-OFF EAGERLY AWAITED EUROPEAN SEASON FOR NIO

Image
Italy’s spectacular capital, the ancient city of Rome, welcomes the ultra-modern ABB FIA Formula E Championship this Saturday, 13th April, for round seven of the current campaign where NIO aims to get its ‘European season’ off to a productive start. This weekend’s GEOX Rome E-Prix marks the first of five Formula E races in continental Europe, the championship having criss-crossed the globe over the course of the opening six rounds with visits to the Middle East, North Africa, the Ame... Read the full story

Check your tyres before you travel this Easter, urges TyreSafe

Image
“Check your tyres before you travel this Easter,” urges UK tyre safety charity, TyreSafe. In addition to regular monthly checks, tyres should be inspected before any long journey or day out. With the extended Easter holiday period beginning early in April for independent schools and running as late as 26 April for some UK counties, Easter is unsurprisingly one of the busiest holiday periods for the UK. This year’s long Easter weekend is Friday 19 April to Monday 22 April and will see... Read the full story

Next Step in Grimsby’s Car Evolution Takes Shape with ABP

Image
ABP has applied to the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) to expand its Grimsby River Terminal (GRT) in order to be able to handle the world’s largest car carriers.The application is the critical first step in the consenting process to extend the existing berthing infrastructure, as well as deepen the berthing pocket through dredging. These improvements will enable the terminal, which can already handle two 175 m long vessels simultaneously, to further support the automotive sector.If app... Read the full story

Automechanika Kuala Lumpur 2019 reached new heights for ‘Sourcing, Training and Entertainment’

Image
On 23 March, the 11th edition of Automechanika Kuala Lumpur 2019 closed with roaring success. Participants throughout Asia flocked to the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre (KLCC) and took part in abundant automotive ‘Sourcing, Training and Entertainment’ opportunities. In fact, final figures reveal that visitor attendance at this year’s three-day show rose by 24 percent. Key figures for Automechanika Kuala Lumpur 2019: •    293 exhibitors from 16 countries and regions, from which th... Read the full story

Former Volkswagen and Toyota Executive, Don Jackson, to Lead Fisker Inc. Manufacturing

Image
Jackson named senior advisor of manufacturing, spearheading Fisker Inc. strategy and site selection Former roles include: President of Manufacturing at Volkswagen of America and Senior Vice President, Quality and Production at Toyota Announcement follows the reveal of Fisker’s affordable, luxury electric SUV – slated for production in the United States and mass market launch in 2021 Fisker Inc. – designer and manufacturer of the world’s most desirable electric vehicles, breakthroug... Read the full story

Port of Savannah achieves record March

Image
Total container trade up 15.5 percent; rail containers up 26 percentThe Port of Savannah handled more total containerized cargo and more intermodal rail volume, with greater connectivity and velocity, than any March on record, the Georgia Ports Authority reported today. "I would like to thank our employees at GPA, the stevedores and the International Longshoremen's Association for helping to make this accomplishment possible," said Griff Lynch, GPA's executive director. "To have handled this... Read the full story

North East contributes £75m to UK space sector income

Image
 THE North East plays a vital role in the thriving UK space sector, according to a Government space industry leader who was speaking at a national conference in Sunderland.Claire Barcham, commercial space director with the UK Space Agency, the Government agency responsible for the UK’s civil space programme, was one of several speakers at the conference, which was designed to help businesses capitalise on the growing, multi-million pound space and satellite sector.More than 100 businesses... Read the full story

Top Fruit Snack Brand Fruit Bowl to Launch Unicorn Fruit Flakes SKU

Image
 UK based children’s snack company Fruit Bowl, known for its healthy fruit snacks and treats, is set to add to their hugely popular Fruit Flake range with the launch of a brand new Unicorn Fruit Flakes SKU – a product that fully embodies their “fruit made fun” brand messaging.Unicorn Fruit Flakes are a mixture of Fruit Bowl’s top selling Flake flavours –  Raspberry, Strawberry and Blackcurrant Fruit Flakes, and are made from soft, chewy pieces of real fruit purées. Unicorn Fru... Read the full story

Autotalks Gains Momentum in China after a Successful C-V2X Field Test with a Chinese Tech Giant

Image
Beijing, China and Kfar Netter, Israel – Autotalks, a world leader in V2X (Vehicle to Everything) communication solutions, is gaining momentum in the Chinese market following the successful completion of the C-V2X field test with a Chinese technology giant. The field trial evidenced Autotalks' leading C-V2X capabilities on a public road, including 3GPP release 15 compliant transmit diversity, and remarkable communication range of over 2km with a nominal range of over 1.5km.As part of its m... Read the full story

Automotive Maintenance and Repair 2019 new sectors mapped out untouched business opportunities in the aftermarket

Image
A constant buzz of business discussions could be found in every corner of the Automotive Maintenance and Repair Expo (AMR), which was held from 21 – 24 March 2019 at Beijing’s New China International Exhibition Centre. With a solid foundation in the traditional repair and maintenance sector, AMR 2019 has expanded its product offerings in lubricant oil, car care, supply chain, new energy and aftersales service. Together with the enlarged Spare Parts Zone, overseas pavilions, buyer delegati... Read the full story

Electric ‘Flex’ changes mean 92% of customer’s employees would consider an electric car

Image
A Fleet Evolution survey identified that well over 92% of respondents would consider an electric car but are nervous about relying on one for 365 days a year. The same survey found that the average commute driven was just 7.6 miles, with most employees covering around 200 miles a week and only venturing further a total of 5 weeks a year.Couple this with how dramatically electric cars have progressed. For instance, 5 years ago the typical employee would have had to recharge their car every 2-3... Read the full story

Grimsby Port Expands Automotive Offering

Image
The Port of Grimsby’s automotive offering has expanded across the newly-purchased site, the Grimsby Automotive Terminal. ABP’s Port of Grimsby recently expanded its landside offering for commodity storage, as the former Huntsman Tioxide site recently welcomed its first wave of imported vehicles.The site, which until 2009 hosted a chemical plant producing over 4 million tonnes of titanium dioxide, now houses 2,000 Volkswagen cars which are awaiting their transit to dealerships across the U... Read the full story

Ben reveals full details of Industry Leader Challenge 2019 - the Epic Thames Waterbike Ride

Image
Three automotive leaders to raise £300k by cycling waterbikes on the River Thames from source to sea The trio will cycle 166 miles from Thames Head to parliament to raise funds for Ben Cycling on water is the name of the game to support automotive industry colleagues going through tough timesThree UK automotive industry leaders will be literally cycling on water, on the River Thames from source to sea, in Ben’s Industry Leader Challenge 2019 (ILC) - the Epic Thames Waterbike Ride. This is... Read the full story

The Motability Scheme offers enhanced mobility with new lightweight wheelchair lease option

Image
Wheelchair users now have the option to include a lightweight manual wheelchair when leasing a car through the Motability Scheme. The new initiative, available to anyone placing a new application for a car, has been designed to ensure customers have enhanced mobility when arriving at their destination.Available for a one-off upfront payment of £100, the lightweight manual wheelchairs can be ordered via a car dealership at the same time as ordering a Scheme car. There are two options – the... Read the full story