New Radial Industrial Tyre
Continental has introduced a new radial industrial tyre, the “ConRAD HT” in size 8.25 R15. It will also be available in a “clean” version for applications such as the food industry.
Continental has introduced a new radial industrial tyre, the “ConRAD HT” in size 8.25 R15. It will also be available in a “clean” version for applications such as the food industry.
Pirelli’s German motorcycle tyre plant Metzeler has been accredited with ISO certification 14001 for environmental efforts.
Former tyre producer Phoenix (Germany) wants to double sales by 2005 (1999: EURO 859.7 million). Core businesses (now accounting for 86% of turnover) are car vibrations and acoustics, conveyors and hose systems.
Marc P. Frissora, President and CEO of Tenneco Automotive since April 1999, succeeds retiring Dana G. Mead as Chairman of the US manufacturer of shock absorbers and exhausts.
Cooper-Avon has announced that it will be making 80 staff employees redundant in Europe. Locations affected are the Melksham (UK) HQ and offices in Switzerland, France and Germany. The cuts are blamed on the high level of the Pound and large numbers of imported tyres from the Far East and have been made, says Cooper-Avon, to reduce costs and increase job security for the remaining 900+ employees.
Bridgestone Corp. has purchased the remaining 50 per cent stake of Bridgestone Aircraft Tire Comp. Asia (BATASIA) from Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Comp. Ltd. Bridgestone produces new aircraft tyres in Japan and owns retreading plants in USA, Belgium, Hong Kong and Japan.
The joint-venture aluminium wheel plant SUOFTEC of Superior Industries (Van Nuys/USA) and Otto Fuchs Metallwerke (Meinerzhagen/Germany) in Tatabanya (Hungary) has been awarded the ISO 14000 certification for Environmental Management Standard.
Following price increases of between 3 and 5% by Cooper, Goodyear, Pirelli and Yokohama in the US market, Michelin is increasing its prices of passenger car and light truck tyres by 5%. Tyre manufacturers need a minimum price increase of 3% merely to compensate for the 8% increase in raw material costs (rubber, oil, carbon black).
The Morgan Motor Company has decided to fit the new Morgan Aero 8 with the tyre pressure control system SmarTire. The 260 km/h top speed Aero 8 will have no spare tyre fitted.
In 1999, Michelin increased its investments to 128 million DM (1998: 87 million DM). Sales grew to 3.215 bn DM (3.115 bn in 1998), and employment numbers (6,747) were stable. Earnings before income and taxes fell to 69 million DM (87 million DM).
In 1999 Continental’s turnover and EBIT “only” rose around 35 % while for the same year a 70% increase in net profits to 234.7 million Euros (1998: 138.2 million Euros) is reported. Therefore Conti boss Dr. Stephan Kessel is some kind of “disappointed and astonished” with regard to the performance of the company’s shares. May this be another reason why Continental has revealed that it would float its shares on the New York Stock Exchange some time within the next three to five years?
The German accessories wholesaler WFZ has changed its name to Europart. This is the result of the expansion from a specialised utility to a car part dealer. Europart has a foothold in 15 countries throughout Europe with its own outlets.
The bad news for British oe suppliers continues. It is still uncertain what will happen to Rover Cars; Honda wants to cut production by more than 50 per cent, and there are rumours that Ford plans to close its Dagenham plant as a result of European overcapacity.
Degussa-Hüls AG, worldwide the second largest carbon black manufacturer with production sites in Europe, North America, Africa and Asia, again announces a price increase of 25 Euro per metric ton for its range of rubber blacks effective May 1, 2000, in Europe.
Continental has announced the development of a new concept for industrial tyres which combines the benefits of both solid and pneumatic tyres. It will be produced under the brand name of SFR 3000.
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