Federal-Mogul Opens Technical Training Institute in Germany
Federal-Mogul Corporation has opened a training centre and three satellite learning facilities at manufacturing locations in Germany for aftermarket employees and customers.
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BAR-Honda 2004 On Michelin Or Bridgestone Tyres?
May BAR-Honda switch from Bridgestone to Michelin tyres in 2004 or not? F1 driver Jenson Button doesn’t “know anything about that at the moment,“ he told “As far as I know they’ve just talked about it.“ Bridgestone and BAR have a contract for another Formula One season.
Scott & Scott, LLC Announces Class Action Against Goodyear
Scott & Scott, LLC a law firm with offices in Connecticut and California, announced a securities fraud class action against The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. The complaints filed by the law firm have cited various individual defendants including Samir G. Gibara, Robert W. Tieken, Robert J. Keegan, and Stephanie W. Bergeron.
Hwa Fong plans listing on Thai Stock Exchange
Hwa Fong Rubber manufacturer and distributor of Duro and Dunlop tyres, will list on the Stock Exchange of Thailand on Dec 15.
Brembo and DaimlerChrysler to establish joint venture
Brembo and DaimlerChrysler are to set up a joint venture to manufacture ceramic brake discs. Each company will hold a 50 per cent share in the JV, which will be called Brembo Ceramic Brake Systems SpA and will be located at a new Science and Technology Park in Stezzano, Italy.
Michelin to increase spend in China
Michelin’s Asia-Pacific president Jean-Marc Francois is quoted in the press as saying that the company will invest heavily in the Chinese market, to the tune of several hundred million Dollars over the next ten years. Michelin already has joint ventures in Shenyang and Shanghai, which would benefit from the cash injection, although some may go towards establishing new factories and in marketing the brand.
Bridgestone to take over Reifen Schwarz
Bridgestone Germany is set to take over Reifen Schwarz from 1st January next year, following a creditors’ meeting last week. Reifen Schwarz is a retailer with around 45 outlets and an annual turnover of more than 70 million Euro, and the company recently filed for insolvency. The Schwarz outlets in Austria are not affected – at least for the time being. Bridgestone Managing Director Günter Unterhauser declined to comment, but directed queries to the insolvency administrator.
Trackday tyre from Cooper-Avon
Trackday driving is a growing phenomenon and Cooper-Avon has introduced the ZZR; a road-legal race tyre with a racing compound. Developed by Avon racing, the ZZR is available in sizes from 15″ to 18″.
Ellerbrock fire finally extinguished
After more than 40 hours, the fire at the Ellerbrock factory in Henstedt-Ulzburg, north of Hamburg, has finally been extinguished. The manufacturing plant has been totally destroyed, with the cost of damage running to more than 10 million Euro. The cause of the fire is still unknown.
Bridgestone OE on PT Coupe
Bridgestone Potenza S-03 Pole Position tyres are OE on the new Chrysler PT Coupe Concept, which was on show at the SEMA show. The vehicle is based on the PT Cruiser, with various additions such as custom large wheels. The tyre size for the new vehicle is 245/45 R19.
US privacy campaigners attack RFID
RFID chips proposed for use in tyre identification and TPMS are coming under attack in the USA as an invasion of privacy, as campaigners say that the information recorded can be collected and used to monitor the car driver’s activities. As the price of RFID chips drops, tagging individual items will become the norm. According to Katherine Albrecht of the New Hampshire-based privacy rights group Consumers Against Supermarket Privacy Invasion and Numbering, tagging individual items “only becomes helpful if you want to register individual items to individuals.” She contends that the RFID chips Michelin is already embedding in its tires, to help in product recall cases, someday could be used to track people as they drive past chip readers on highways or in parking lots. In California, a state senate subcommittee in August held the first-ever public hearing on RFID and privacy, and more hearings are planned for later this fall. Legislation is expected to be introduced early next year that could influence policies in other states.
Solberg is World Rally Champion
Norway’s Petter Solberg was crowned World Rally Champion after winning the Wales Rally in his Pirelli-shod Subaru Impreza. He finished ahead of Sebastien Loeb, who was under orders from Citroen to make sure that he finished safely, in order that Michelin-shod Citroen could capture the Manufacturer’s title in their first full year. In the end, Loeb came second, over 42 seconds behind Solberg, to take second place in the WRC. Carlos Sainz (Citroen) took third place in the overall drivers’ championship.
Fire at Ellerbrock
Early this morning fire broke out at Ellerbrock Tread in Henstedt-Ulzburg. The 6,500 square metre production hall has fallen victim to the flames. There are approximately 200 fire-fighters on site fighting the fire and it is expected that it will take the whole weekend to bring the fire under control. According to the local radio station in Schleswig-Holstein damage is estimated to run to approximately 15 million Euro. Marketing and sales director Dirk Rohmann stated at the factory gates in Hamburg that it was too early to state the extent of the damage. The fire had damaged the production facility but only after the fire is completely extinguished will the full extent of the damage be assessed. The cause of the fire is not known at present.
And the Winner is: Michelin
During the last three years the Michelin group has made better progress on the American market than experts had expected. This progress was supported by the Firestone disaster at the end of the last decade. Additionally Michelin profited by Goodyear’s persistent bad shape. Talking to TYRES & ACCESSORIES, Jean-Michel Guillon, COO for Michelin Americas Small Tires (MAST), states unequivocally that the tyre maker does not write off or underestimate any of its competitors. But as a matter of fact Michelin’s North American business is excellent. Michelin’s three flag brands Michelin, BFGoodrich and Uniroyal are well-positioned, and every single marketing measure is aligned with other corporate marketing measures. Michelin clearly is the market leader, has the highest prices and the Michelin brand receives the best ratings from J.D. Power. The prospects for the company are promising.
Continental Tire: Break even will be reached in 2005
So far the acquisition of General Tire in 1987 has not been a success story. During this year the loss will amount to 100 million Euro at least. This has to be changed, according to Conti’s chairman Manfred Wennemer and Martin de Louw who is responsible for Continental’s passenger tyre division and works in the North American headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina. The two set out the goal: during the last quarter of 2005 the break-even point has to be reached. Wennemer puts his hope in de Louw as a new member of the board. De Louw in his strategy focuses on new products, the extension of low cost production sites such as Mexico, and the persuasion of a multi-brand strategy that in turn is borne by the brands Continental and General Tire. For the replacement market Continental hopes for good business with the car dealers because the tyres with the prancing horse have been widely sold on the OE market during the last couple of years – there will be a pull-through effect. Wennemer states clearly that Continental will continue its business with truck tyres in North America because this division has always been very profitable.
