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Dainese Group has announced the grand opening of its latest D-Store flagship retail location in USA at Atlanta , Georgia . Store services include Dainese ' s Custom Works race suit design programme .
The Motorcycle Action Group ( MAG ) in the UK has left the Brussels based Federation of European Motorcyclists ’ Association ( FEMA ). MAG claims to have founded the European Riders ’ Rights Movement in 1989 and says it has quit FEMA in protest at what it describes as FEMA ' s " gutless attitude to forced electrification ".
The Swiss Hostettler Group has created the role of Chief Commercial Officer , for which it has secured the services of Christophe Miravalls - previously Commercial Director at France ’ s 2Ride Group . Miravalls will initially be using his expertise to support the Group ’ s fashion and parts business unit .
U . S . household debt was at an alltime high of $ 17.3tn entering 2024 . The largest increase in any category was credit card debt , which swelled by 16.6 % between Q3 2022 and Q3 2023 , the most recent term for which federal data is available . That is approx . 67 % of annual U . S . GDP ( MarketWatch ). Meanwhile , the default rate for leveraged corporate loans has increased to 3.4 % as of mid-January 2024 . This is the second highest level since 2007 ( Fitch ).
California has the highest number of manufacturing jobs of all U . S . states ( around 1.4 million ), but among all states , it is Texas that produces the most exports . Meanwhile , California has the most billionaires ( 186 of them ), but it is Wyoming , with six , that has the most billionaires per person - which works out at ten per million people ( Economist ).
Research suggests that , for the first time , the number of Americans who use marijuana just about every day has surpassed the number who drink that often - " a shift some 40 years in the making as recreational pot use became more mainstream and legal in nearly half of U . S . states ". In 2022 , an estimated 17.7 million people reported using marijuana daily or near-daily compared to 14.7 million daily or near-daily drinkers . In 1992 , when daily pot use hit a low point , less than 1 million people said they used marijuana nearly every day . Alcohol is still more widely used , but 2022 was the first time this intensive level of marijuana use overtook daily and near-daily drinking , said the study ' s author , Jonathan Caulkins , a cannabis policy researcher at Carnegie Mellon University .
Rieju acquires Win Life Electric Vehicles ' assets
Spanish manufacturer Rieju has acquired the assets of fellow Catalan company Win Life Electric Vehicles , S . L ., including its intellectual property and industrial platform . The RAY 7.7 electric scooter and future models will be manufactured and marketed under the Rieju brand . Rieju , S . A . will manufacture the electric scooter models at its Figueres plant and will start distributing them during the current year 2024 , providing spare parts and after-sales service to the brand ' s customers . " Rieju , S . A . is on a robust trajectory and has successfully consolidated over more than 80 years of history . It currently manufactures more than
20,000 motorbikes annually at its facilities in Figueres and exports 85 % of its production to more than 40 countries . With this acquisition , Rieju , S . A . strengthens its position in the electric segment and redoubles its commitment to sustainable electric mobility in urban environments ". Jordi Riera , General Manager of Rieju , S . A ., is quoted as saying : " This agreement allows Rieju to reinforce its presence and commitment to urban electric mobility , as well as making a significant expansion of our customer base , especially with the opening of new markets . " We are very excited about this new project . We have an extensive national
' HeRidium ' brake pad backing plate technology
Leading Danish brake system component manufacturer SBS Friction is introducing an innovative new backing plate technology for its toplevel racing compound , DS Dual Sinter . Called ' HeRidium ,' the new technology is designed to match the extreme racing conditions and requirements for backing plate stability in World Superbike , and especially in 24 Hours World Endurance stock class categories . To improve backing plate strength and stability , and significantly reduce the risk of deformation ( bending ) and compound taper wear , ' HeRidium ' backing plate technology is composed of high-tech steel with a specialised heat treatment .
" Over the past 25 years , motorcycles used for racing have developed a lot ," says Allan Østli , Race Manager at SBS . " More powerful engines , new tyre compounds , suspension components , and a lot of technological integrations are just some of the developments and advances that have taken place , with more demands being placed on brake pad backing plates all the time .
" All of this affects the amount of pressure put on the brakes as lap times get faster and faster , especially in extreme and high-performance races . With this innovative new ' HeRidium ' backing plate technology , we can meet those demands . Some of our partners in racing have asked for stronger backing plates that are capable of handling even the and international distribution network that will allow us to continue growing in a segment that we consider strategic for the future ." www . rieju . es
most powerful track scenarios , and our materials scientists and engineers have been able to meet the challenge ." This new ' HeRidium ' backing plate technology will be implemented on specific Dual Sinter products and can be identified by the new identifier on the label and the product packaging . ' HeRidium ' tech-equipped SBS DS-1 and DS-2 products will be available for dealer orders from distributors from July 2024 .
SBS FRICTION Svendborg , DENMARK Tel : + 45 63 21 15 15 sbs @ sbs . dk www . sbs . dk
14 INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS - SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2024 www . idnmag . com