This author has not written his bio yet.
But we are proud to say that Tyrepress Editors contributed 35524 entries already.
Marcus Knoth has become the new Kraiburg Austria sales manager for UK and Ireland, effective July. Knoth started working for Kraiburg in March 2011 in the company’s tyre compounds business division. Since September 2012, he commenced working in the retreading sector as sales manager for several South East European and Scandinavian markets.
Solving the puzzle often associated with battery selection from a range that covers everything from ATVs to agricultural vehicles, Bosch has restructured its battery range in order to make selecting the right battery quicker and easier than before. The company has redesigned its colour-coding system to move the EFB and AGM batteries into its three main ranges, making battery identification more straightforward and efficient. A range of pictograms – signifying key specifications and uses – also helps garages and customers ensure they are fitting the right battery every time, resulting in optimum vehicle performance.
On 11 July 2014, a team from Trelleborg Wheel Systems undertook a challenge that few have completed – climbing the highest peak in each of the four countries of the United Kingdom in just 48 hours. They travelled with flags representing each of the 28 UK and Ireland Trelleborg Professional Centers (TPCs), a network of dealers that supply Trelleborg’s complete agricultural tyre range. The expedition took the newly-launched TPC partners to each of the highest peaks, all in aid of the Trelleborg charity initiative, the Antonio Bianchi House.
In its report, China Tire Retreading Industry – Overview and Forecast to 2017, Shanghai-based China Research and Intelligence states that China’s retreading market increased by more than ten per cent year-on-year to reach a volume of 18 million tyres in 2012. This volume represented a market scale in excess of RMB 6 billion (£575 million, $972 million). Most retreading is carried out by smaller operations, added China Research and Intelligence; of the 500 or so retreaders in China, in 2012 only 20 had an annual production of more than 100,000 units.
The Belarus Digest reports that some residents of capital city Minsk have taking to puncturing tyres on Russian-registered cars they encounter. The publication opines that these attacks on cars bearing Russian number plates are in part occurring due to the increasingly “radical” attitude of some Belarusians towards Russia, a stance linked to the conflict in Ukraine. “These tyres appear to be just one example of their growing displeasure,” wrote the Belarus Digest’s Ryhor Astapenia. He added that this radicalisation is also the by-product of the authoritarian political climate in Belarus, under which “many feel they have no way to express their dissent other than by piercing the wheels of cars.”
The 100 per cent acquisition of exhaust technologies specialist Emitec by Continental took effect yesterday. Continental has bought out former 50/50 joint venture partner GKN and will integrate Emitec into its Powertrain division. The Emitec operation will be combined with Continental’s Fuel Supply business unit to form the new Fuel & Exhaust Management business unit.
During the July the staggering and subsequent collapse of Unipart Automotive have made uncomfortable reading, especially if you were one of the 1800 staff connected to the company. Of course we now know that a rescue plan couldn’t be enacted, that part of it has been sold off to competitors Andrew Page and The Parts Alliance and that the rest is in administration. At the same time Euro Car Parts, having once been a front runner in the rescue/chasing pack, has announced it is creating 1500 jobs in parallel – presumably to pick up the floating workers shipwrecked when the great ship Unipart Automotive hit it very own iceberg (click here for complete coverage of this news and its implications on the sector).
Financial analysts have offered their response to Continental’s second quarter financial results, welcoming outperformance (particularly in the tyre division), but also pointing out that increases in guidance simply bring the firm in line with consensus expectations.
The recent announcement giving driverless cars the go-ahead on UK roads points to an exciting future – hampered at the outset by the daily routine of roadworks, potholes, worn road markings, burst mains and failed traffic lights, according to the Road Safety Markings Association (RSMA).
Figures from European motoring organisation ACEA reveal that, in June, the EU market of new commercial vehicles expanded for the tenth consecutive month. Demand increased by 10.3 per cent, totalling 166,107 units. Growth prevailed in the van segment, as well as that of buses and coaches, while the truck segment declined. All major markets expanded, from 3.8 per cent in France to 6.5 per cent in Germany, 8.6 per cent in Italy, 18.9 per cent in Spain and 25.5 per cent in the UK.
Continental Corporation has again increased its earnings forecast for the 2014 fiscal year. Upon publishing the company’s second quarter and first half results, Executive Board chairman Dr. Elmar Degenhart said Continental is now aiming for an adjusted EBIT of 11.0 per cent rather than the 10.5 per cent announced in March (when it was increased from 10.0 per cent). This 11.0 per cent target is supported, the company says, by the ongoing trend towards favourable natural rubber prices.
A former fitter who has worked for more than 25 years in a family-run business specialising in exhausts, tyres and batteries has been appointed as a director of the company. Paul Nunn, 43, from Stourport-on-Severn, will sit on the board of directors at Worcester-based ETB (Exhaust, Tyres & Batteries).
Yesterday Superior Industries International, Inc. announced it will close its Rogers, Arkansas wheel manufacturing plant as part of an initiative to cut costs and increase competitiveness.
The firm expects to cease operations at Rogers by the end of 2014. Production will be shifted to other Superior manufacturing facilities, including those in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Chihuahua, Mexico, and is anticipated to generate a net $15 million labour cost savings year-over-year. Approximately 500 jobs will be lost.
Following on Euro Car Part’s 25 July announcement that the company is planning to create 1500 jobs in the wake of the collapse of Unipart Automotive, the company reports that it has taken on “over 65” ex Unipart employees. According to a Euro Car Parts spokesperson these personnel “have been offered and accepted jobs at Euro Car Parts at a variety of branches across the UK”.
Shares in Goodyear Tire & Rubber fell up to 8.7 per cent yesterday after the company reported second quarter net sales that were US$40 million below estimates. Prices tumbled to a daily low of $25.07 as Goodyear announced it achieved March to June quarter net sales of $4,656 million, 4.9 per cent lower than in the corresponding quarter a year ago.
If you would like the latest news from the Chinese tyre industry in Chinese, visit our partner site TyrepressChina.com. Or click below to continue on Tyrepress.
