Nokian profit up 82% in 2011
Despite the biting chill of the Finnish winter, the team at Nokian Tyres has surely been warmed by the company’s performance results for the 2011 financial year, which were released on 8 February. During the twelve month period group net sales rose 37.7 per cent to 1.46 billion euros and operating profit increased 71.1 per cent to 380.1 million euros. Better still, the all-important bottom line shot up 82.0 per cent, with profit for the year to 31 December 2011 amounting to 308.9 million euros.
Continue ReadingBecome a tyre ‘genius’ with Bridgestone training
Those wishing for a greater mastery over the tyre business may benefit from a new bespoke training course Bridgestone UK is starting to roll out. The tyre maker says it intends to create industry-renowned ‘tyre geniuses’ with expertise across all aspects of the tyre sector through its training, which it calls the Genius Training Development programme. According to Bridgestone, the Genius Training Development programme is the first of its kind to provide a clearly defined development structure and is the most comprehensive of its type within the industry. The programme was launched on 31 January, with 30 people from a broad spectrum of tyre companies taking part in the inaugural training sessions.
Continue ReadingANRPC: 2011 production up 6.4%
The Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) reports that Q1 2012 Production Growth is expected to marginally increase by 0.3 per cent. During 2011ANRPC's total production rose 6.7 per cent to 10.127 million tons, faster than the 6.4 per cent rate expected until a month ago. The upward revision results from a better-than-expected output from Vietnam for the year. The country produced 811,600 tons of NR in 2011 as against 780,000 tons as anticipated earlier and 751,700 tons produced in the year before.
Continue ReadingJohnson Controls appoints UK and Eire MD
Johnson Controls Batteries has appointed Mike Hall as managing director to develop new market share growth strategies in the UK and Irish aftermarket. Prior to his new appointment, he was Sales Director for Europe and Africa within the Building Efficiency Division of Johnson Controls.
Continue ReadingNew Group Product and Procurement Director for Klarius
The Klarius Group has named Glynn Cureton as Group Product and Procurement Director. He joins Klarius from a senior position at Unipart. Cureton has responsibility for the full product portfolio management including over 100,000 lines of OE quality replacement Klarius and QH branded parts.
Continue Reading3rd Guangrao tyre exhibition to be held in May
The third China (Guangrao) International Rubber Tire & Auto Accessory Exhibition will be held in Guangrao International Exhibition Center in Shandong Province in China on between 15 and 17 May 2012. According to the show’s organisers, preparations related to investment and promotional work are currently in progress.
Continue ReadingHankook donates tyres to African Charity Project
Hankook Tyre UK recently supplied 12 all-terrain Dynapro MT RT03 tyres which were fitted to two Land Rover Defenders in support of the Bhubesi Pride Project. The Bhubesi Pride Project is part of an initiative which involves a team of qualified coaching staff who shall spend six months driving through tricky terrain as they visit 15 schools in 10 African countries. The highly qualified coaching team shall be using rugby as a tool to help to educate schools and communities in Africa, both empowering teachers and uniting children through sport.
Continue ReadingJanuary motorcycle sales up 6.3%
The latest new motorcycle and scooter figures show sales overall were up 6.3 per cent compared with January 2011. Under 50cc scooter sales were up 1.3 per cent in January, while over 50cc motorcycle sales increased 7.4 per cent.
Continue ReadingToyo net income down
The first nine months of Japan’s 2011 financial year have been described by Toyo Tire & Rubber as being a “severe” business environment. During the nine month period between 1 April and 31 December 2011, the company experienced a 19.4 per cent year-on-year decrease in net income despite rising sales. Net sales increased 6.7 per cent during the timeframe in question, to 241.7 billion yen (£2.0 billion), while operating income and ordinary income rose 10.4 per cent and 11.9 per cent respectively, to 11.59 billion yen (£95.8 million) and 8.99 billion yen (£74.3 million). Despite stronger sales, net income sank by 985 million yen to 4.11 billion yen (£33.9 million) during the first three quarters.
Continue ReadingBandvulc Key Dealer Conference discusses plans for 2012
The Bandvulc Group recently held its annual BTC Key Service Partner Conference at its head office in Ivybridge, Devon, some four years since it was last been used as the venue. According to the company, the event was very well attended with the key partners travelling from all areas of the UK to attend the two day programme.
Continue ReadingHeuver to market Aeolus passenger car tyres in Europe
In 2012 Aeolus Tyres will enter the European passenger car tyre market in partnership with Netherlands-based Heuver Tyrewholesale. Although Aeolus will be entering the passenger car market for the first time, the company reports that it was certainly not an overnight decision to do so. A whole new factory has been built in China and an international team of experienced tyre specialists is being used to develop the tyres. In addition Heuver reports that it is providing “frequent technical input,” to enable it to fulfil the requirements of the European market as well as possible.
Continue ReadingInfinity promotes 2012 marketing strategy
Infinity has announced plans to expand and customise its DNA campaign to fit the national markets where it operates. The company describes its new campaign as featuring “iconic monuments re-interpreted using an Infinity Tyre.” In addition Infinity has revealed that the company will run a competition which will include trips to some very exciting destinations. Prizes will include trips to some very exciting destinations.
Continue ReadingYorkshire tyre dealership destroyed by fire
The premises belonging to The Tyre Station required demolition following a fire that destroyed up to 7,000 tyres. The blaze at the West Yorkshire business broke out late on the evening of 5 February and was fought by fire crews from across the Bradford district. Efforts to extinguish the fire were hampered by the building’s structural instability and a shortage of water.
Continue ReadingInterstate eyes truck tyre market
Interstate Tire & Rubber has announced plans to enter the truck tyre segment; the company says it will start developing a complete range of truck tyres together with its distribution partners. In terms of quality, Interstate says the range will be based on “European” standards for casing, mileage and environmental considerations, and it will possess a “unique” price-quality level.
Continue ReadingTalking again – Cooper, USW restart Findlay discussions
It’s been a good six or seven weeks since the Findlay talks between Cooper Tire & Rubber and the United Steelworkers union broke down, and no positive news has been heard on the subject since the start of the year. Now it seems the two parties are finally working again towards an amicable solution. Local news source WTOL reports that Cooper Tire management met with union leaders on 6 February; discussions between the tyre maker and the union are said to have lasted some six and a half hours, and meetings are scheduled to resume this morning.
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