Kramer praises loss-making Goodyear for ‘improvement across all businesses’
Although Goodyear Tire & Rubber recorded a net loss for the third consecutive year, company chairman and CEO Richard J. Kramer states he’s “very pleased” with the tyre maker’s fourth quarter and full year 2010 performance. “Our operating results reflect significant recovery, with improvement across all of our businesses versus last year despite escalating raw material costs,” Kramer commented.
Continue ReadingHankook UK focuses on brand, ups TV advertising budget 50%
After nine years of at the helm of Hankook Tyres UK Ltd, years that have seen the company grow from the position of a newcomer into a force to be reckoned, Richard Page has announced his retirement from the role of managing director. Tyres & Accessories understands that he will continue in a consultative role throughout what has been a pre-planned and progressive changeover into the capable hands of new MD Gang Seung Lee. In a recent visit to the Hankook UK headquarters T&A met with Mr Lee, who is commonly known as Tony Lee in the UK, and a freshly reshuffled management team to find about more about what’s in store for South Korean tyre manufacturer in 2011.
Continue ReadingGoodyear to close Union City plant by year’s end
WIthin its full year 2010 results report, released February 10, Goodyear Tire & Rubber discloses plans to close its tyre making facility in Union City, Tennessee by the end of this year. A stated reason for proceeding with closure plans is the desire to “reduce high-cost manufacturing capacity globally” as per Goodyear strategy. The Union City plant currently employs approximately 1,900 people.
Continue ReadingNokian Tyres presented with “opportunity to increase sales” in 2011 – Gran
A jaunty nautical appraisal of this year’s outlook greeted shareholders upon the release of Nokian Tyres’ 2010 financial statements. The man at the helm, president and CEO Kim Gran, stated that “a clear improvement in the drivers for demand in core business brought Nokian Tyres back to a strong growth track. The sails are now bulging with strong tailwind as we go into 2011 with thick order books and growing capacity.”
Continue ReadingRenewed Bridgestone contract “of great importance” to DHL’s tyre segment growth plans
Bridgestone Europe has renewed its Swedish market supply contract with DHL Supply Chain. The Jönköping based firm has handled Bridgestone Europe’s warehouse operations for the Swedish market since 1997 and the extended contract, valid until 2013, includes warehousing and a number of value-added services such as the studding of winter tyres.
Continue ReadingYokohama sales growth ‘more than compensates’ rising material costs
Sales for Yokohama Rubber’s tyre operations increase 13.7 per cent in the first nine months of the fiscal year ending March 31, 2011, the company reports. During the nine months to December 31, 2010 Yokohama recorded tyre business sales of 310.2 billion yen (₤2.36 billion) and operating income of 23.2 billion yen (₤176.42 million), up 37.4 per cent year on year. The company reports this sales growth came through gains both in its domestic Japanese and international markets and it more than offset the adverse effect on profitability caused by rising raw material prices as a strengthening yen. Domestic market sales were helped by an economic rebound and heavy snows, which prompted strong winter tyre sales, while overseas growth was most notable in the US and China.
Continue ReadingGajah Tunggal joins Indonesia’s LQ45 stock index
The Indonesia Stock Exchange reports that tyre maker PT Gajah Tunggal Tbk has been added to its LQ45 list as of February 2011. The list recognises 45 companies that have fulfilled a number of criteria, including highest market capitalisation within the last 12 months and highest transaction value in a regular market during the same timeframe. The company’s market growth has also been witnessed in its 2010 financials; for the first time, Indonesia’s largest tyre manufacturer exceeded US$1 billion in net sales.
Continue ReadingYokohama Philippines capacity to increase 143% by 2017
Capacity at Yokohama’s production site in the Philippines is to increase from seven million to ten million passenger car tyres per annum as a result of expansion work being carried out there in the next three years. This first phase expansion at the Yokohama Tire Philippines site involves the construction of a new tyre plant to complement the existing 165,000 square metre facility. Construction work will get underway after a tenancy agreement is signed in February and initial production is expected to commence in 2013, with full operational capacity reached the following year. A total of 20 billion yen (₤153.2 million) is being invested in the first-phase expansion; a further 30 billion yen is earmarked for the second-phase expansion work, which will further increase Yokohama Tire Philippines’ annual capacity to 17 million tyres by 2017.
Continue ReadingNexen aiming for US$2.5 billion sales by 2015
While most of the western world celebrated New Year at the end of December, both China and South Korea were making plans for their celebrations at the start of February, based on the lunar calendar. Back in 2010 Nexen Tire Corporation announced plans for a 1 trillion won (US$1.2 billion) investment in its largest factory yet in Changneyeong in the same region as its first plant (Yangsan), which along with the company's second plant in Qingdao, China, continues to expand. Just before the oriental entrance into the new decade, Tyres & Accessories had the opportunity to visit Nexen on its home South Korean and adopted Chinese territory and saw how the company is implementing its plans to become a US$2.5 billion company in the next five years.
Continue ReadingWealth Sea aiming for 20% Dunlop India share
Singapore based holding company Wealth Sea Pte Ltd has made an offer to acquire a 20 per cent stake in Dunlop India. The aim of this offer, which closes on February 7, is to acquire 1,43,96,575 shares in the company. Although Dunlop India is listed on the Bombay Stock Exchange it is controlled to a large extent by the Ruia Group; through the Ruia floated Wealth Sea the group intends to increase its ownership share.
Continue ReadingBirla Carbon acquires Columbian Chemicals
On January 31, India’s Aditya Birla Group disclosed it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire US-based Columbian Chemicals Company from One Equity Partners, the merchant banking arm of J. P. Morgan Chase & Co. Aditya Birla has purchased One Equity Partners’ equity in Columbian Chemicals through its associates Alexandria Carbon Black Company and Thai Carbon Black Company Limited, along with SKI Investment, an Aditya Birla Group company.
Continue ReadingConti introduces ‘age-friendly’ factory programme
Germany, like many western nations, has an aging population. This creates challenges for employers wishing to retain their skilled workforce in operating environments that require physical strength and endurance. Continental AG is one such employer, and to tackle this situation it studied the workplaces of 25,000 of its employees within Germany with a view to adapting the jobs carried out to the varying needs of its staff. After completing this study Conti introduced what it calls the “workplace traffic light”, a system of identifying workplaces that are suitable for workers of any age (green), those in need of improvement (amber) and workplaces that are not age-diverse (red). One of these three colour designations has been given to each workplace following a profiling that includes the physical strain involved, concentration requirements, lighting conditions, noise, vibrations, draughts and temperatures. Continental reports that a total of 25 to 30 per cent of the industrial jobs at its sites within Germany are undergoing a redesign to enhance their suitability for older workers.
Continue ReadingRHA And FTA Welcome Chancellor's Comments On Fuel Duty
The Road Haulage Association and Freight Transport Association has welcomed comments made today by chancellor George Osborne that the Government is addressing the fuel duty issue. When questioned on BBC WM today Mr Osborne commented that plans made by the previous chancellor, Alistair Darling to increase fuel duty on 1 April by one penny per litre, in addition to inflation, could be addressed. "We can override it, we are looking at that", said Mr Osborne.
Continue ReadingSMMT calls for fuel duty freeze
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has called on the UK government to freeze fuel duty to relieve immediate financial pressure on businesses, fleet operators, hauliers and motorists. According to the Society the duty rise planned for April this year threatens industry, businesses and consumer confidence at a crucial and fragile point in the UK's economic recovery.
Continue ReadingBlackcircles Prepares for Volume Growth through Tesco Partnership
Following a gestation period of some five years, a new retail venture entered the UK tyre market in January 2011. Blackcircles.com has announced the launch of Tesco-Tyres.com in partnership with Britain’s leading retailer, a venture that offers access to Tesco’s massive nationwide customer base – including its 13 million Clubcard holders. Speaking with Tyres & Accessories, Blackcircles.com founder and managing director Mike Welch reflects on what the realisation of this long-held goal means for his company and what the future for Blackcircles may look like.
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