Bridgestone OE for Peugeot 208
On the back of offering what it calls a “very competitive technical package,” Bridgestone has secured primary original equipment fitment for the recently launched Peugeot 208. The tyre maker will supply its EP25 in size 185/65R15 88T as the predominant tyre on Peugeot 208 models with 15-inch rims and Potenza RE050A in size 205/45R17 88V as the sole 17-inch fitment.
Continue ReadingRietbergen takes on Goodyear Dunlop commercial role
As of 1 July, George Rietbergen, current managing director of Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK Ltd, will take on the role of vice-president at Goodyear Dunlop’s Commercial Product Business Unit EMEA. Rietbergen, who took over from Mark Brickhill as UK and Ireland managing director in early 2010, has been employed by the tyre maker since 2001, starting in e-business and retail-related roles and progressing to the position of general manager for the Benelux region in 2005.
Continue ReadingErich Fric named new Goodyear Dunlop UK general manager
The position of managing director of Goodyear Dunlop Tyres UK Ltd, made vacant by George Rietbergen’s impending move to Brussels and new role as vice-president for the company’s EMEA region Commercial Product Business Unit, has been filled by Erich Fric, the tyre maker has announced. Fric, whose career with Goodyear Dunlop began in Austria in 1994, will take over from Rietbergen on 1 July.
Continue ReadingHigh-end, specialty tyres essential for survival – Bridgestone CEO
Recently appointed Bridgestone CEO Masaaki Tsuya has spoken candidly about the tyre maker’s future against a backdrop of increasing competition from Asian manufacturers and global economic challenges. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal, Tsuya stated that Bridgestone must focus on high-end and more specialised products in order to survive. "We will lose if we make similar products using similar production methods (to our competitors)," he said.
Continue ReadingPirelli aiming for greener Brazil production
At an event held on 18 June as part of the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, Pirelli presented a number of projects the company plans to implement in Brazil to analyse and reduce the environmental impact resulting from tyre production at its Campinas plant. The projects, which will be conducted in cooperation with Italy’s Ministry for the Environment Land and Sea and the Brazilian state of São Paulo, were presented by Pirelli’s director of sustainability and risk governance, Filippo Bettini, at the conference’s Italian pavilion. Also attending the presentation was Italian environment minister, Corrado Clini, and the chairman of Pirelli Brasile, Paolo Dal Pino.
Continue ReadingMitas brings new products, expert advice to Cereals
Mitas Tyres Limited claims to offer the UK’s largest range of high-spec row-crop tyres, and the company showed the latest products from its range at Cereals 2012 together with Case IH. The company also provided visitors with advice on correct row-crop tyre selection.
Continue ReadingSolideal buys Forklift Tire
Solideal USA Inc has reportedly bought the assets of of Florida Inc effective from 1 June. Details of the terms of the sale have not been disclosed. The business was sold by the heirs of Silas Otha Kines Jr who died earlier in 2012.
Continue ReadingSava sales up in 2011
Slovenian tyre maker Sava has reported a 19 per cent growth in local net sales for 2011. The Goodyear subsidiary earned 132 million euros in local markets last year; in total, the company achieved net sales of 264.7 million euros and made a 6.83 million euro net profit.
Continue ReadingLorenzo secures Silverstone victory on durable Bridgestone compounds
Round Six of the 2012 MotoGP Championship saw Yamaha Factory Racing’s Jorge Lorenzo win the British Grand Prix for his third consecutive MotoGP victory. Tyre supplier Bridgestone pronounced itself pleased that the compounds it supplied in its rear slicks allowed riders to perform in milder conditions than may have been anticipated. With rain just about staying clear, track temperatures that were cool for June at 22-28°C were the major concern, but the availability of medium-soft rear slicks, selected by all but Ducati’s Valentino Rossi, allowed the field to combat this coolness. The front soft and medium compound tyres split the riders, including front-runners Lorenzo – on the more durable medium – and Repsol Honda’s Casey Stoner, who selected the soft, which warms up faster. Bridgestone said that the compounds both “worked well” and the close racing between the front-runners was indicative of both tyres’ quality.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Americas names new Technical Standards director
Incumbent general counsel for Litigation at Bridgestone Americas, Alan Yarcusko, is to take on the position of director of Technical Standards & Regulations at Bridgestone Americas Tire Operations. In his new position, Yarcusko will be responsible for proposing, guiding and promoting tyre standards and regulations on behalf of Bridgestone Americas Tire. His responsibilities also include setting the strategy and direction for future technical standards and regulations and developing proposals in this area based on the global Bridgestone Group’s future innovation and technology directions.
Continue ReadingApprentices thrive despite education cuts
Strathclyde Tyres is promoting apprenticeships as an alternative route to work for young people struggling to gain access to college courses that would have provided them with the vocational qualification to begin their working life.
Continue ReadingGoodyear returns to Hillhead
Goodyear will return to the biennial quarrying, recycling and heavy construction industries’ event, the Hillhead Show. The company will show its new off the road tyre user programme, named “Goodyear at your Service”. Available to all off-road plant operators in the Europe, Middle East and Africa region, the internet-based programme aims to increase customers’ access to expert support when purchasing and operating Goodyear tyres. The show takes place on 19-21 June at Tarmac’s Hillhead Quarry, Buxton. Around 460 exhibitors will showcase their latest news and products.
Continue ReadingMay motorcycle market 'flat'
The latest new motorcycle and scooter figures show last month sales overall were down 1 per cent against May 2011. Under 50cc bike sales were down 7.6 per cent in May, while over 50cc motorcycle sales matched those of last year. Sue Robinson, director of the RMI National Franchised Dealers Association which represents motorcycle and franchised car retailers across the UK commented "The motorcycle market remained flat in May, with 100 fewer motorcycles sold than in the same month in 2011.
Continue ReadingD. Foran Jr new USON president
Charles D. Foran Jr. (Dave) has been appointed as the new president of USON, the automated leak detection equipment maker. Dave Foran brings more than 35 years of experience leading diverse organizations. “I am extremely pleased with the opportunity to help USON, the market leader in leak detection instruments, go to the next level. USON will soon celebrate 50 years in business and my goal is to enable USON to leverage the power of the Internet to set a whole new standard in how USON reaches out to the marketplace and to our customers,” he commented.
Continue ReadingCordiant to establish 200 own-brand tyre centres by 2015
JSC Cordiant – the tyre maker formerly known as Sibur-Russian Tyres – says it intends to launch a network of franchised tyre centres under the Cordiant name. The first three centres, in Novocheboksarsk, Orenburg, and Krasnodar opened in April/May and a further six projects are expected to get underway by the end of June. The company intends for thirty Cordiant centres to open by the end of this year and more than 200 by 2015. Cordiant says it is investing at least 250 million roubles (£4.8 million) in the project.
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