K-Tool Publishes Catalogue, Reveals TPMS Upgrades
Wixom, Michigan-based tool manufacturer K-Tool International (KTI) has announced a number of new products, updates and promotions with the launch of their new 2008 AirAware Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPSM) Sensor and Service Pack Application Catalogue. The catalogue, published by marketer Schrader-Bridgeport International, Inc, includes part listings and a tool and accessory section within its 44 100-per-cent-recycled pages. Among KTI’s new products are: software for TPM tools, enabling their usage on all vehicles in 2008, and for the programming interface module to support Microsoft Vista; the TPMS T-10 torque tool for the easy installation of replacement Schrader snap-in TPMS sensors; 23 new sensors covering 163 new applications; and a new TPMS quick reference kit.
Continue ReadingiVoice Technology Talks Tyre Trash
The US-based company iVoice Technology has announced its filing of a patent application on a rubbish bin made entirely from recycled tyre crumb rubber. The application supports the organisation’s stated aim for its wholly-owned subsidiary B Green Innovations Inc of becoming “a ‘green’ technology company, focused on acquiring and identifying promising technologies that address environmental issues.” The company’s interest in recycling tyres peaked when the Environmental Protection Agency identified worn out tyres as a major environmental risk, a conclusion supported by the Rubber Manufacturers Association’s 2003 estimate that there were 275 million stockpiled tyres in the USA and that 290 million were added each year.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Announces F1 Tyre Compound for Final 2008 Races
Bridgestone has announced the compound allocation in the Potenza tyres to be used in the final five rounds of this year’s Formula One series. For the German Grand Prix at Hockenheim, the hard and medium compounds will be used, the first time these tyres have been approved at this track. In Hungary, the soft and super soft compounds will be used, the same allocation as last season. The European Grand Prix at Valencia – the first Grand Prix at this new street course, will utilise the soft and super soft compounds. In Spa and in Monza the hard and medium compounds will be used, a change from last season when the medium and soft compounds were brought to both of these tracks. “The data we have gained from the first seven races of the season have enabled us to make our allocation choices for the following five events,” commented Hirohide Hamashima, Bridgestone Motorsport director of motorsport tyre development. “Of these races, Valencia and Hockenheim are notable. We did not race at Hockenheim last year, so this will be the first time we have raced there with the current family of tyres. Valencia, of course, is a new street track and we do not have any previous data, and there is none from other race series. It will be interesting for everyone concerned to learn the track characteristics here. For Spa and Monza we have moved the allocation a position harder and will bring the hard and medium compounds, instead of the medium and soft used in 2007. We have made this change after analysing the data from last year, as these tracks were harsher than we had predicted. We will make an announcement about the tyre allocations for the final four races in the season later in the year.”
Continue ReadingRoadrunner Tyres Invest £5000 in Refurbishing its Reception Area
Roadrunner Tyres, part of Bridgestone’s First Stop network of tyre dealerships, has invested over £5000 on the refurbishment of its reception area. The refurbishment of the site, which is based in Cabus near Preston, follows a recent expansion into servicing for cars, vans and 4x4s. These add to the facilities already on offer which include brake, suspension and exhaust repairs. The depot has also taken advantage of the Toyota Aygo courtesy car scheme, which is available to high performing First Stop dealerships. The vehicle can be used by Roadrunner employees to go to and from work, as a courtesy car or as a general run-around for collecting parts. Andrew Hodgkinson, managing director at Roadrunner Tyres commented: “Although our customers have always been our number one priority, these recent developments allow us to provide new and existing customers with an even better experience when visiting Roadrunner Tyres.
Continue ReadingSecond Round of Indian Price Hikes Proposed
Another hike in India’s tyre prices looks likely, in hot pursuit of last week’s initial 2-5 per cent increase (as reported on 6 June). News Sources report that the hike will be at the increased rate of 5-7 per cent, and will apply to all ranges, with rubber and crude oil prices maintaining record highs. Speaking to journalists, AS Mehta, the marketing director for JK Tyres and Industries, commented on the export of India’s rubber, suggesting that the 20 per cent duty on imported rubber be cut to compensate for the lack of available domestic product.
Continue ReadingTYM International Secures UK Techking OTR Franchise
TYM International recently reached a distribution agreement with Techking Tire Ltd that will see the Kings Lynn-based company distribute Techking OTR tyres in the UK. The distribution agreement follows discussions between Steve Eke (TYM International) and Techking’s Keith Johnston and James Wang in London and at the recent Essen show. Distribution of the new range will become effective in July 2008. Commenting on the announcement, TYM International representatives said they will make sure that the UK becomes a successful market for Techking in the future: “We at TYM International are committed to offer the best possible service to each and every customer that uses the Techking product. We have a vast amount of storage space allowing us to stock more tyres and the sizes that are needed here and now in the UK market.”
Continue ReadingBridgestone European Prices to Increase
Bridgestone Europe NV/SA has announced price increases on all of its tyre brands and categories. The price rise will apply in all European countries, however the UK and Northern Ireland will be affected more than those countries in the euro zone. Increases here will be in the range of between 8 and 12 per cent, as opposed to between 5 and 8 per cent for most of Europe. The new prices will take effect in each market in coming few months. “Even after we increased our prices earlier this year, the raw material prices continue to increase beyond our expectation,” commented According to Gerry Duffy, vice president Sales & Marketing of Bridgestone Europe. “The recent increase in the cost of commodities such as oil, natural rubber, iron ore and others heavily affects the costs of almost all the raw materials we consume. As its financial impact is so huge and hard to offset only by our internal efforts, we have to recover some of those costs by this price increase.”
Continue ReadingNokian Tyres Named a Candidate for Nordic Environment Price
Finland’s Nokian Tyres is one of 37 candidates competing for the Nordic Council’s Nature and Environment Prize 2008. The regional environmental prize is contested by companies throughout the region, and this year sees entries from Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway, Iceland and the hard-to-spot-in-the-atlas autonomous island of Åland The theme for this year’s Nature and Environment Prize is lower energy consumption with better tools. The prize will be awarded to a Nordic product, invention or service that helps to reduce people’s energy consumption. To be eligible, a product, invention or service must be potentially applicable to all of the Nordic countries and make a significant impact. It can be anything from a single object to a major system.
Continue ReadingUnity Tyres Moves into New 28,500 sq ft Warehouse
After 26 years the Unity Tyre Co Ltd Northern Division has moved to new purpose built offices and a 28,500 sq ft warehouse in Keighley, West Yorkshire. Unity has operated its tyre distribution and wholesale service to Northern Division customers from the original site at Walk Mills, Keighley for almost three decades. Originally a woollen mill warehouse, Walk Mills was restricted in the amount of space available for the increase in stock holding that the company had planned as part of its expansion strategy. Unity needed to find premises that would allow scope for it to increase its stock holding so it could offer even more choice of products to its existing customer base in the North of England, as well as service the results of its successful sales and marketing drive.
Continue ReadingKirkby Reports Sales Growth of 20%
Kirkby Tyres and Wheels is one of Europe’s oldest established tyre and wheel wholesalers and distributors, having been in the business for roughly half a century. At Reifen 2008 the company chose to use the popular exhibition as a platform for further enhancing the company’s progression in a number of market sectors, including truck, agricultural, OTR and mining and quarry tyres. And this progress is going well; Kirkby achieved a sales growth of 20 per cent during 2007.
Continue ReadingThree Jailed Over Marine Hose Industry Cartel
Three men have been imprisoned for rigging bids, fixing prices, restricting supplies and allocating customers within the global marine hose industry following prosecution by the Office of Fair Trading in Britain. This is the first case of its kind since the implementation of a law in 2002, which gave the consumer watchdog the ability to crack down on cartel activities. The UK-based trio, Peter Whittle, David Brammar and Bryan Allison were sentenced to jail time of up to three years after pleading guilty. The men had already been successfully prosecuted in Texas, but the British stretch will serve towards the 20 to 30 months they were handed by the US court. After sentencing, the OFT named Dunlop Oil and Marine Ltd, Bridgestone Corp, Yokohama Rubber Co Ltd, Parker ITR S.r.l., Manuli Rubber Industries SPA and Trelleborg Industrie SA as the businesses involved in the cartel. An investigation into these companies’ activities, conducted by the European Commission, is ongoing.
Continue ReadingTitan International Announces Stock Split
Titan International announced on June 11 that the company’s Board of Directors approved a five-for-four stock split with a record date of July 31, 2008, and a payable date of August 15, 2008. “This action is being taken to show our stockholders how much we appreciate their support,” said chairman and CEO Maurice M. Taylor Jr. “We are optimistic that 2008 will continue to be a period of further growth in sales and earnings as we proceed with the implementation of 57- and 63-inch off-the-road tyre production in the third quarter.”
Continue ReadingHiQ Decides Against Management Buyout
Goodyear Dunlop UK’s management has decided not to sell the HiQ tyre chain to a team of four managers led by retail director Neil Burrows. Instead the company will continue with its plans to sell franchises in 15 regional zones across the UK. HiQ’s management team will be based at Goodyear Dunlop’s TyreFort in Birmingham. Tyres & Accessories understands that, despite missing out in the bidding process, all four managers involved in the buy-out proposal will be offered roles at Goodyear Dunlop. Mark Brickhill paid tribute to the quality and vision of the Management Buyout Team’s proposal: “The team presented a thoroughly professional bid, concept and business model. An announcement on specific future roles will be made shortly, with announcements on the individual regional franchise partnerships to follow after the due diligence process with each successful applicant.”
Continue ReadingTaiwan Manufacturers Expanding Tyre Production in China
Taiwan`s three-largest tyre manufacturers, including Cheng Shin Rubber Industry Co., Hwa Fong Rubber Industry Co. and Kenda Rubber Industrial Co., are reported to be planning to increase investment in their facilities in mainland China. Cheng Shin will invest between US$50 million and US$60 million to expand the production capacity of its Kunshan, Jiangsu province plant between now and the end of June 2009. Once completed, the expansion will see daily production capacity at the plant rise to 54,000 passenger car tyres from the present level of 45,000, making the facility the largest tyre plant in China. The company also noted it would invest between US$60 million and US$70 million to expand production capacity at its plant in Haiyen plant in Xiamen, Fujian Province. Daily output would be boosted from the current level of 4,000 passenger car and truck tyres up to 6,000. Expansion in production at these two facilities is anticipated to help Cheng Shin increase its annual sales by a total of NT$15 billion (US$496 million).
Continue ReadingMichelin Extends TBWA Advertising Relationship to US
Michelin has announced the selection of the advertising agency TBWA\Chiat\Day New York to represent its Michelin brand passenger car and light truck replacement tyre business in the United States, effective immediately. TBWA currently represents Michelin’s passenger car and light truck replacement tire business in Europe and Asia, and the company has chosen to extend its partnership with the US agency network of TBWA to allow ‘greater global synergies for the brand’ including productivity, speed of operations and operational efficiency. TBWA will draw upon their experience with the Michelin brand in other countries, said Claire Dorland Clauzel, senior vice president Michelin Communication & Brands, member of the Group Executive Council. Our vision is to continually enhance the effectiveness of our communications and the addition of TBWA will help us achieve that goal, added Scott Clark, COO, Michelin Americas Small Tires. With this decision, we have a unique opportunity to expand the integration of our communications teams and energise a new, powerful agency team capable of reaching consumers in ground-breaking, creative ways to drive brand preference and purchase intent for the Michelin brand.
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