NEWS

Labelling Round Table!A group of members representing both large and small retail and wholesale members attended a workshop in Birmingham last month to review the upcoming tyre labelling legislation which is set to come into operation in November next year.

The meeting looked at the practical implementation of the EU Tyre Labelling Regulations which could pose major problems for retailers if the regulations are not interpreted in the right way by the UK Government.

The meeting, chaired by NTDA Director Richard Edy, explored ways

that the industry could deliver the spirit of regulation in light of the way tyres are sold in the UK.

“As with many things ‘European’ the regulations can be interpreted in several different ways. Because of this it is important for the NTDA to ensure that any enforcing

authority fully understands the limitations which confront retailers at the point of sale. There could also be problems right the way along the chain of sale from importers and wholesalers to end user ensuring delivery of product with labels intact.” commented Richard Edy.

The meeting was also attended by BTMA Chief Executive Graham Wilson who recognised that aspects of the regulation need clarifi cation in the UK context. He briefed those present on what the legal responsibilities were from a manufacturers viewpoint. The discussion explored several sales scenarios including fl eet, on-line sales, off site and mobile fi tting and other end use technicalities.

The NTDA is working with the TIF and the Department for Transport to organise a stakeholder conference later in the year which will be open to the whole of the motor trade and possibly other interested parties.

Details will be announced in due course.

Members ObituaryWe are sad to announce the deaths of two Honorary Life Members and a past Director of the NTDA.

Mervyn Thomas, Director of the NTDA for twenty years until he retired in 1987 died last month at the age of 88. One of Mervyn’s major achievements when Director was to lobby, along with the Industry, for the introduction of the tyre laws which came into force in 1972. His wife Vera worked by his side throughout his tenure at the

NTDA and she sadly passed away two years ago.

We have also been informed of the deaths of two former Presidents and Honorary Life Members Derek Peaker (who was Managing Director of ATS) and Tom Bayliss (formerly from Uniroyal).

Our condolences go to the families of the deceased.

NTDA 2011NTNTTTTT 10120202222 11111DDADADA 2AAAAAAANNNNNNNTTNTTTTNNTTTTNNTTTTNTTTNNRECOGNISING EXCELLENCE

Don’t miss the...

The Premier UK Tyre Industry Event for 2011

82nd Annual Dinnerand

Hilton Metropole, NEC, Birmingham20th October 2011

Contact: lynnesmith@ntda.co.uk or call 08449 67 07 07 for details

NEWSwww.ntda.co.uk

TPMS SurveyIn an effort to identify the opportunities which present themselves for members when Tyre Pressure Monitoring systems become the norm in the coming years, the NTDA has sent a survey out to all members to establish what understanding there is within the retail sector of the TPMS market. The survey covers training issues, problems arising from broken sensors and what specialist equipment centres currently have for handling TPMS maintenance and fitment.The results of the survey will be reviewed by the newly formed Aftermarket Suppliers Group when they meet in April, when consideration will be given to staging a series of regional workshops to help the membership better understand the market and profit from this new opportunity for retailers.

Health and Safety Seminar SuccessThe last in the series of Health and Safety Workshops, organised by the NTDA in collaboration with the Health and Safety Executive, was held in Glasgow last month and attended by an audience of over 80 health and safety professionals and retailers from Scotland.

Chaired by NTDA Scottish Regional Council representative Martin Rowlands, the event featured presentations from HSE personnel and representatives from Industry. Commented Martin: “It was heartening to see so much interest from local retailers but especially local authority inspectors. Providing inspectors with an insight into the trade is a valuable communication exercise which gives them a far greater knowledge of our sector and helps them to see first hand the problems which are faced on a daily basis by tyre distributors.”

This is the second series of events organised on a collaborative basis with the HSE. The last series concentrated on manual handling of tyres and through our direct involvement with both the HSE’s Service and Repair Group and the newly constituted Tyre and Rubber Safety Advisory Group (TRISAG) we hope to organise further events in due course.

Industry Group receives Minister’s supportResponding to the recent report produced by the Used Tyre Working Group on how the industry is handling the responsible disposal of tyres, Mark Prisk, the Minister responsible for sustainable development at the Department for Business and Enterprise said that he welcomed the work of the UTWG which, he said, provides a longstanding model for collaboration between industry and government. NTDA Chair David White, who represents the NTDA along with Director Richard Edy on this Group, which was formed over fifteen years ago, was pleased with the positive response from the Minister: “Engaging with the Minister is an important part of the Group’s work and his acknowledgment of much common ground and shared interest in seeing a robust, diverse and developing processing capability was particularly encouraging.Our comments in the report on illegal fly tipping were also taken on board by the Minister when he said that he supported industry by bearing down on illegal operators.” Last month’s meeting of the UTWG agreed to formulate a strategy for ongoing work which they hoped to present to the Minister in the next few months. NTDA has been a core member of the group since its formation in 1994.

North West & North Wales May MeetingThe next meeting of the North West and North Wales NTDA Region is being held at the Warrington Golf Cub on May 11th.

The meeting, which will be chaired by Regional Chair Andy Buxton of CES UK, will also be attended by NTDA Director Richard Edy who will brief members on the NTDA’s national truck tyre breakdown scheme TyreLink.

The meeting is open to all members, both retail and suppliers and anyone wishing to attend should contact Brian Funnell on 0151 4264574 or 07946 869169.

Discount rooms snapped up for NTDA Annual DinnerFollowing the announcement of the date and venue of the Annual Dinner of the NTDA the two hundred plus discounted rooms which have been reserved for members are being snapped up.

A limited number are still available but members are being warned to move fast to secure accommodation in the Birmingham Hilton Metropole which is going to be the venue for this, the flagship event for the whole of the UK tyre industry, being held on Thursday October 20th.

This prestigious industry event, which was sold out last year when it was staged alongside Brityrex in Manchester, looks like repeating last year’s success. The Dinner will also be the backdrop for the presentation of the 2012 Tyre and Fast Fit (TAFF) Awards.