11 minute read
Tributes For Jimmy Byrne, Founder of Modern Tyres
Obituary: Jimmy Byrne, Founder of Modern Tyres
Tributes have been pouring in from all corners of the industry following the death of popular and well-known County Fermanagh businessman Jimmy Byrne who established Modern Tyres almost 60 years ago. He was 85.
In a statement, the company said: “It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of Jimmy Byrne. Jimmy passed peacefully at his home on Friday 3rd June. We extend our heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the Byrne family; our thoughts are with them at this most difficult time. “Jimmy founded Modern Tyres in 1965 and has been an inspirational leader and huge driving force behind the company. He will be greatly missed, by his family, all at Modern Tyres and his very many friends.” Over the years, Modern Tyres has grown to become Ireland’s largest independent tyre retailers with 40 branches nationwide. The company is still family owned and run today. Jimmy opened his first tyre depot in the Old Railway Yard in Enniskillen, and as his four sons and daughter entered the business, he was able to spend time identifying opportunities within the tyre retail sector. Sites were purchased in various prominent towns throughout Northern Ireland. As the company expanded Modern Tyres made its first major acquisition by purchasing Ards Tyre Service in October 1995; after the success of this came further acquisitions in Belfast, Holywood, Lisburn, Larne, Ballymena bringing the total number of depots to 16. In August 2002 Modern Tyres purchased the Northern Ireland arm of U.K. giant Motorway Tyre & Exhaust centres. This was the largest single purchase of tyre depots in Northern Ireland’s history, making headline new across the province. Further acquisitions were made in Belfast, L’Derry and Strabane during 2003 to 2005. In 2012 the opportunity to take over the last three remaining ATS branches in Northern Ireland presented itself giving the company a total of thirty branches. Then, in 2013 another opportunity presented itself when Hanover Tyres, with 10 depots spread from Dublin to Cork, came on the market. It means Modern Tyres now have a total of 46 depots across the island of Ireland. That he was well respected in the business community and across the north and south of Ireland was underlined by the fact more than 500 tributes and comments were posted on social media platforms since his passing; he was described as a true gentleman and a great boss. A spokesperson for Enniskillen Royal Boat Club said: “Sending our deepest sympathy to the Byrne family and all the staff at Modern Tyres on the death of Jimmy. May he rest in peace. Jimmy has been a great supporter of ERBC and Erne Head of the River for many years.” And a member of Enniskillen RFC added: “Deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Jimmy Byrne who gave much support to the club over the years. Our condolences to the Byrne family.” A keen hillwalker and bridge player, Jimmy was also a former body-builder – he won the ‘Mr. Leinster’ title in 1986 – and a marathon runner, competing in the 1983 New York Marathon in three hours and six minutes. Dearly beloved husband of the late Margaret, he is survived by sons Niall, Rory, Shane, Connor and daughter Siobhan. His funeral took place on Monday 6th June at St Michael’s Church, Enniskillen, followed by interment in Cross Cemetery.
Hultsteins launch sustainable leasing solutions to combat diesel price hike
Swedish/UK hydraulic refrigeration equipment manufacturer, Hultsteins, has introduced a new leasing option for temperature-controlled operators facing greater costs since the red diesel tax rebate was withdrawn on April 1st.
“The new finance option enables operators of existing diesel TRUs to fit an Ecogen to their tractor unit from as little £9.00 per day,” says Graham Usher, MD for Hultsteins UK and Ireland. “We can offer leasing packages for 3, 4 or 5 years to suit operators’ requirements. The fuel savings annually could be in the region of £9,000 to £12,500 per tractor unit, whilst slashing carbon & other emissions by more than 90%. “It’s an increasingly popular solution,” he continues. “Ecogen literally bypasses the existing fridge engine and during transit, it virtually dispenses with fridge diesel altogether. Moreover, if you have a Scania, Volvo or Renault, Ecogen can be easily retrofitted.” Usher explains that Ecogen does not replace the existing diesel refrigeration system, but instead works in tandem with the fridge trailer unit. Ecogen is fitted to the tractor unit and is powered by the engine PTO. This runs the 30 Kva alternator that generates 400v @ 50htz of 3-phase electric. By simply plugging the lead from the Ecogen into the fridge, using the standard 5 pin socket, says Hultsteins, operators can benefit from running the diesel fridge on its electric motor when coupled to the tractor. Hultsteins add that a small amount of diesel will be required from the tractor unit to power the Ecogen but even so, the company claims diesel consumption to the fridge unit will be reduced by up to 90%. Usher says that for a typical diesel-powered fridge unit operating for 56 hours per week and using 3 litres per hour, an annual fuel bill will be over £12,000. However, he adds that by fitting an Ecogen power-generating system the fuel cost per fridge unit will be significantly reduced, making payback for the equipment possible in under two years. Graham Usher goes on to explain that, based on Hultsteins’ fuel and usage assumptions, a carbon saving of over 20 tonnes per year, per tractor unit can be expected from each Ecogen system.
FORS announces 2022 annual conference
After a two-year hiatus, FORS is delighted to announce the fifth annual conference will take place on Tuesday 12 July 2022 at the Manchester Central Convention Complex.
This year’s event promises to attract a significant and influential audience of stakeholders from the transport sector, with capacity for up to 700 delegates, and with the inclusion of an exhibition area where FORS Affinity Partners and FORS Associates will showcase their products and services. The exhibition space provides a fantastic opportunity for transport professionals to share knowledge and expertise as well as network with like-minded businesses. FORS is also pleased to announce Drivetech as the Conference’s headline sponsor. Drivetech is a leading UK and global supplier of driver and fleet safety training, including eLearning, full on-road coaching, workshops and bespoke ‘driver days’. The company is also one of five FORS audit providers strategically located throughout the UK. Chaired by Andy Salter, MD of DVV Media and former editor of Commercial Motor magazine, the conference will explore how FORS can work together with operators towards a safe and sustainable future. The agenda will feature speakers and panel presentations from a variety of industry experts – including Andy Rhodes from HS2, Wayne Allen from Galaxy Insulation & Dry Lining Limited, Steven Norris and more – looking at areas such as decarbonisation, how FORS promotes business growth and how it remains an essential partner for transport operations of any size. In addition, Sopra Steria – the new FORS administrator – will share its vision about the scheme and will provide an update on current developments, including the implementation of version 6 of the FORS Standard. Speaking of the conference, Ian Henderson, FORS Concession Director, said, “This conference is important on so many levels as it gives us the chance to connect in person and share ideas to shape the future. We really want this to be a collaborative event and look forward to welcoming everyone on the day. I would also like to thank Drivetech for its role as headline sponsor, we appreciate the company’s support and commitment to FORS and industry best practice.” Colin Paterson, Head of Marketing at Drivetech added, “The FORS Conference is becoming a go-to event in the transport calendar and we are delighted to be supporting it. The agenda, the panel of speakers and the list of exhibitors is impressive and includes a few stakeholders who, like us, have the drive and ambition to deliver a safer, cleaner and more efficient transport community. We are also extremely pleased and proud to be an official FORS audit provider, and in a position to affect best practice at the front line of vehicle operations.”
Scoring top marks for performance, reliability and fuel efficiency in Export & Freight’s annual awards in 2019 when it won Fleet Trucks of the Year, this latest updated and upgraded Renault T High 520 6x2 TML has taken another major step forward in terms of driver comfort and safety, as Phil Eaglestone reports.
Described as ‘the most important evolution’ since the total renewal of the manufacturer’s ranges in 2013, the revamped and redesigned Renault T High is an even bigger head turner, as we discovered when we took a test drive around the roads of Northern Ireland, courtesy of dealers Diamond Trucks. Powered by Renault Trucks fuel efficient DTI 13 engine, coupled with an Optidriver gearbox for improved gear shifting, our Renault T High 520 ‘Evolution’ model, complete with High Sleeper Cab was a joy to drive as we took in a variety of road conditions from Mallusk up to Garvagh and Limavady, and along the north coast before heading back on to the M2 to the Diamond Trucks depot. Packing power with performance, it was a smooth and relaxing ride, made all the more stress free by a range of safety features designed with the driver in mind. These include a Lane Departure Warning System which issues an audible signal to warn the driver that an inadvertent change has been detected in the vehicle’s direction of travel, and an Advanced Emergency Braking System which warns of a possible collision then brakes and stops the vehicle completely without intervention from the driver. Other safety features of note was Hill Start Assist which ensures brakes are held for a few seconds after releasing the pedal to make hill starts easier, Electronic Stability Control which allows you to maintain directional control and prevent the vehicle from overturning in critical situations; it also allows you to retain control of the vehicle steering by preventing wheel lock, primarily in emergency braking situations. Fitted with a three-axis adjustable steering column, this enables you to adopt the driving position that suits you best. The column is adjusted using a single foot control to set both the position and the tilt of the steering wheel. Adjustment with both hands on the wheel and instant locking ensures both precision and safety. The wrap-around dashboard brings controls within easy reach. It includes automatic electric parking brake, adaptive cruise control, multi-function steering wheel with controls for telephone, cruise control, speed limiter and menu navigation, as well as a 7” HD main display, while getting in and out is also made easy, thanks to a door opening angle of 85°.
DRIVER FRIENDLY TOUCHES
The driver’s environment is further enhanced by air conditioning and automatic de-frosting of the side windows, windscreen and rearview mirrors. Other touches that offer drivers a comfortable life on board include multiple storage spaces, a spacious and comfortable rest area within the High Sleeper Cab, and carefully considered finishes and interior trim designs. For this latest version of the Renault T High, a tablet and smartphone holder has been added, positioned within easy reach of the driver, providing access to several devices simultaneously and charging them via two USB-C sockets.
A new A4 document storage drawer has also been added. On the passenger side, the vehicle has two storage spaces with a total capacity of 7 litres (including a 2-litre refrigerated space). A truck is not only a driver’s work tool, of course, it is also where they rest and sleep so the quality of the bed is therefore crucial and while we didn’t have an opportunity to test out the bunk, we are reliability informed that the thickness of the memory foam mattress and the doubling of the springs have significantly improved comfort levels, and for added convenience, two USB-C sockets have also been added to the bunk area to make it easier to charge electronic devices, while keeping them within easy reach of the driver during rest periods. A real home from home. While the Renault Trucks T High comes with LED lights as standard, as we would expect, additional LED lights have also been positioned on the inside of the doors to illuminate the door sill for increased driver safety when getting in and out of the vehicle at night. We didn’t do a fuel test, but we are told Renault Trucks have been able to produce more fuel savings – up to 3% more – by improving the cab’s aerodynamics, especially around the front grille and wheel arch extension and by adding a new version of the Optivision predictive cruise control system and an optimised cruise control system with two selectable driving modes. ‘Eco on’ is the default mode and optimises fuel consumption by adjusting acceleration, gear shifting, cruise control and deceleration, whereas “Eco off” allows drivers to change the driving mode. An indicator gives drivers real-time information about their driving style.
VERDICT
Having spent several relaxing hours behind the wheel, we can confidently say that this Renault Trucks T High 520 6x2 certainly ticks all the right boxes, with a comfortable and safe driving environment and a performance to match, but you don’t have to take our word for it, go find out for yourself.
