Vettel Not Yet Burning Rubber
BMW-Sauber Formula One team test driver Sebastian Vettel has disclosed that he and the team are struggling to get their best out of the new Bridgestone tyres.
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Union Acts Globally in Goodyear Dispute
The United Steelworkers union have called for international support and solidarity from their overseas counterparts during their ongoing dispute with tyremaker Goodyear. The USW has recently forged strategic alliances with unions in Mexico, Brazil, Germany and Australia in order to support each other during disputes with common employers and to increase their bargaining power through coordination.
Novex Welcomes Dealers to Durban Plant
UK and international Novex dealers were recently given first-hand insight into the production of and technical knowledge behind the tyres they sell. In a visit to the Dunlop Tyres International facility in Durban, South Africa, a selected group of retailers were taken through the stages of manufacture that go into each Novex car and light commercial tyre.
Bridgestone Outline Plans for Plant Refurbishment
On December 8 Bridgestone Firestone North America outlined its intention to invest at least US$33 million in its Aiken County, South Carolina tyre plant in the next four years as part of plans to purchase new production facilities and retool existing equipment.
New Website for Vulcanising Specialist
Established in 2002, Lawlyn Vulcanising Systems are a growing company that specialise in the manufacture of vulcanising systems for the repair of radial and cross ply earth mover tyres in sizes between 24 and 63 inches.
Bridgestone Awarded for Safety Campaign
Bridgestone has been awarded the FIA Academy’s annual World Prize for Road Safety, the Environment and Mobility in recognition of its outstanding contribution to the promotion of road safety.
The FIA bestows this award upon individuals or organisations involved in motoring and mobility that have displayed merit beyond the ordinary. The Academy’s decision to give the 2006 award to Bridgestone stemmed from the company’s worldwide promotion of its Think Before You Drive campaign.
TPMS Maker Adds Tech Resources
(Akron/Tire Review) Schrader Bridgeport International has added technical and installation information for its lines of AirAware TPMS products on its Web site – www.schrader-bridgeport.com/airaware. “Schrader wants to make it as easy as possible for technicians to find the information they need, when they need it,” said David Weber, Schrader TPMS project manager. “Our expanded Web site provides answers to the most frequently asked questions regarding TPMS. And if they require further assistance, technical specialists are available at our TPMS hotline number to answer their questions.”
Juma Al Majid Yokohama Partnership
Emirates tyre and battery distributor, Juma Al Majid Est recently celebrated its continuing partnership with Yokohama by running a test drive and launch day for the Japanese manufacturer’s Geolander range of tyres at the Expo Center, Sharjah. Present on the occasion were Mr Morita, general manager, Mr Hanatate, general manager, Mr Ghulam Nabi, department manager, Mr Longie, deputy GM, Mr Yoshimura, GM, Mr Miyamoto, GM, Mr Yagita, manager engineering and other senior officials. With the year 2006 so far having yielded strong results, Juma Al Majid Est. & Yokohama foresees a bright 2007 with the prime focus of quality service and customer satisfaction.
Dattilo Named Director of Alberto-Culver
Cooper Tire & Rubber Co.’s former president, chairman and CEO Thomas Dattilo has been appointed as a director of Alberto-Culver Co., a personal care products company responsible for brands such as the VO5 hair care range. Dattilo resigned from Cooper in August, following disappointing performance at the company. In addition to the position at Alberto-Culver, he also is a director of Harris Corp., a communications and information technology company. George Fotiades and Kay Napier were appointed to Alberto Culver at the same time. Cooper is yet to name a replacement for Dattilo with director Byron Bond standing in as interim CEO.
Apollo to Start R&D Facility In Germany
Apollo Tyres plans to set up a research and development facility in Germany, according to Onkar S. Kanwar, co-managing director of Apollo Tyres. The company plans to use the facility as a stepping-stone towards strengthening the company’s relationship with the Leipzig Institute of Polymer Science, a school of Germany’s Leipzig University which employs professionals from various global tyre majors as experts. These experts are helping to develop novel technology for tyres. News reports suggest the company is also on the look out for another two universities in Germany for similar partnerships. Apollo is also working with Indian institutes such as National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad and IIT, Kharagpur, for design and development of rubber technology, respectively.
Plimsoll: Up to 5000 Jobs Could be Cut in 2007
2006 has been a highly competitive year for the tyres, exhausts & batteries industry, although some companies have been enjoying historically high margins. But 2007 promises even tougher times, according to David Pattison, senior analyst with Plimsoll. His findings are based on Plimsoll’s Portfolio Analysis – Tyres, Exhausts & Batteries.
Looking at the tyres, exhausts & batteries market over the past 12 months, while growth was a healthy 6 per cent, well above inflation, almost a third of the 1000 companies monitored by Plimsoll saw a fall in sales. This indicates that much of the growth is being shared by a select band of firms. The effect has been that the industry has begun heading in a new direction, and the companies which have found themselves lagging behind have been slow to recognise this.
Ceat Looking to Set up New Greenfield Site
Ceat Tyres is planning to set up a new truck and bus radial production plant, which would also be used to produce car, tractor and speciality tyres, such as EM/OTR products, with at estimated cost range of 4.5 – 6 billion rupees (around £51 million). Local news sources have reported that the company is currently “scouting for land across India.” The final decision will reportedly be taken shortly.
Pae New Hankook President
(Akron/Tire Review) H.Y. (Greg) Pae has been named president of Hankook Tire American Corp., replacing J.W. Choi, who was reassigned to head Hankook’s China operations. Pae took over as 1 December. Pae most recently served as executive vice president of Hankook’s U.S. arm, and has had a number of international assignments during his 20 years with Hankook.
Continental Opens New Canadian Distribution Centre
(Akron/Tire Review) Continental Tire North America’s Canadian operations opened a new 100,000-square-foot distribution center in Mississauga, Ontario, just outside of Toronto. Continental Tire Canada new centre will service customers across Canada, the company said.
“This centre is the result of our continued growth in the Canadian marketplace.” said Guy Hardiman, CTCI’s national manager of consumer tyre sales and marketing. “It represents the importance of our market hare within the original equipment segment. This venture is especially important to ensure product is readily available for the Canadian marketplace, particularly for fitments unique to the Canadian market such as the Smart car.”
Stamford Has Changes at the Top
(Akron/Tire Review) Stamford Tires & Wheels announced that Jim Seidel, the former Continental Tire North America executive who joined the company last Autumn, has left the company. Seidel, who departed 1 December, was in charge of sales and operations.
