AFAM Group : Armed with a new name and brand identity , Belgium based AFAM ' s product range runs from AFAM sprockets and chain to ISON and MIW filters and NITRO and SHIDO batteries . " With the transition from DC AFAM to AFAM Group , we aspire to become a lifestyle brand with a strong sense of recognisability , creativity and credibility ," says Marketing Director Davy Dousselaere . " Our aim is to be able to help our clients ' marketing efforts by being a strong house of brands , by being a well known and aspirational brand that creates a pull-effect in sales "; www . afam-group . com
Ognibene : Founded in 1948 and still founder-family owned and operated , last year saw the Bologna based specialist add to its TROFEO (" Trophy ") brake pads programme with new heat and wear- resistant ceramic brake pads - delivering improved performance all the way from low temperatures right up to over 500 degrees C ; www . ognibenechaintech . com
Tecmate International : The OptiMate manufacturer recently unveiled a breakthrough in solar recharging with a game-changing smart solar controller that charges and maintains 12V lead-acid ( conventional , AGM , GEL ) or 12.8V / 13.2V lithium ( LFP / LiFePO4 ) batteries from any solar panel . CEO / CTO Martin Human says : " Many cost-effective solar panels are delivered without any form of charge control as the low trickle of current is meant to be just enough to prevent the battery losing charge in the vehicle . The drain from the vehicle ' s circuitry and the battery will keep the voltage within range of the battery ' s natural rest voltage ( 12.5V-12.8V for lead-acid or 13.3V-13.6V for lithium LFP ). The OptiMate Solar DUO controller ( TM522-D ) converts the trickle of current from solar to pulses of controlled higher energy that is more effective for the charging requirements of any battery . Installed between the solar panel and the battery , this smart little gadget absorbs the low current into a high-efficiency capacitor that is then frequently pulse discharged into the battery , with the concentrated energy raising the voltage going into the battery . It can , therefore , absorb most of the delivered energy , with the vehicle ' s circuitry continuing its low constant drain from the battery between pulses . Essentially , more is now going into the battery than it is delivering "; www . tecmate . com , www . optimate1 . com
Società Generale Ricambi ( SGR ): Italy ' s leading motorcycle spare parts distributor has largely " flown under the radar " as one of Europe ' s majors , but is now starting to flex its muscle . The Bologna based distributor owns Moraco in France , Langenscheidt in Germany and Euromoto 85 of Barcelona , Spain , making SGR Europe one of the market ' s ' Big Five ' distribution players . Recent new products include D . I . D chain kit additions , more AFAM transmission kits , Kellermann lights , Putoline ' Action ' kits and the Uclear range of Bluetooth intercoms ; www . sgr-it . com