TRIB Offers Retread Plant Tour CD
(Akron/Tire Review) TRIB has a new free CD available that provides an inside look at today’s modern retread plants. The e-tour highlights all steps of the retread process from the initial inspection through the final inspection after which the tire is ready for another full life. The CD was produced in a modern pre-cure retread plant, according to TRIB, and single copies are available at no cost to interested parties. TRIB said there is a nominal charge for multiple copies. To order, call 888-473-8732 or e-mail info@retread.org. A Spanish language version is also available.
Continue ReadingRetired Employees Protest at Goodyear and Bridgestone
The Akron Beacon Journal has reported that nearly 200 retired unionised workers have protested outside Goodyear’s corporate headquarters and later in front of Bridgestone Firestones Akron Technical Center to protest what they said are the tyremakers’ proposals to reduce retiree benefits. The protests, were aimed at pressuring Goodyear and Bridgestone in contract negotiations with the United Steelworkers of America. The union and two tyremakers are working under day-to-day extensions of contracts that expired in July. Negotiations started in June.
Continue ReadingBridgestone Successfully Protects Trademark Rights in China
Bridgestone (China) Investment Co., Ltd. has successfully filed a trademark infringement complaint to the Guilin Industrial & Commercial Administration Bureau. The complaint, which was wholly upheld, was against Guilin Car Wings Car Accessory Co., Ltd for closely resembling the appearance of “car wing” outlets run by Bridgestone Corporation’s Chinese subsidiary.
Continue ReadingDeveloper Eyes Ex-Amcast Plants
In the US, property developer Bill Bean is close to acquiring the two Indiana factories closed last April by Amcast, putting 500 workers out of a job. The factories made wheels for General Motors Corvette and light trucks and were shut down after Amcast failed to agree terms with GM, which was undergoing substantial financial restructuring.
Continue ReadingKwik-Fit Introduces Aircon Recharge Service
Kwik-Fit has announced the launch a brand new vehicle air conditioning recharge service across 100 centres in Greater London and the South East. Recent research from Kwik-Fit has found that almost 900,000 motorists from Greater London drive a car with a neglected and depleted air con, which can lead to trouble, as more than 630,000 motorists from Greater London admit they’ve lost their temper because of the heat.
Continue ReadingPirelli and Ford Rapid Fit in Joint Promotion
Pirelli has awarded £1,000 in Thomas Cook holiday vouchers to the top performing Ford Rapid Fit tyre dealers, with regard to Pirelli sales, in the North and South Regions respectively. A further £1,000.00 in Thomas Cook vouchers was awarded to the next highest performer overall. Pirelli was delighted with the increase in sales as a result of the promotion. The winners are:- 1st South Bristol Street Motors, Bristol Road, Gloucester Winner: Mr Alan Slater 1st North T C Harrison Ford, Stukeley Meadows, Huntingdon Winner: Mr Mark Nelson 3rd Highest Performer Overall Brunel Ford, Ashton Gate, Bristol Winner: Mr Neil Scull
Continue ReadingDel Balzo Aids Marangoni Development
UK TV viewers of BBCs Top Gear motoring programme will be familiar with the character called The Stig – an anonymous driver who regularly puts cars through their paces by driving them at the limit. Italian tyre manufacturer Marangoni has its own version of the Stig who, according to the company, has the task of assisting the Marangoni research and development team in testing and analysing each product’s ‘intelligence’, on track and road. The information gained is used to ensure performance, comfort and safety are optimised for everyday drivers. The main difference is that the identity of Marangoni’s ‘Stig’ is not shrouded in mystery – he is in fact former F3 driver and European GT Champion, Cristiano del Balzo - the current Director of the Italian equivalent of the MSA, the CSAI Velocità.
Continue ReadingUnion Says Little Progress Made With Goodyear
(Akron/Tire Review) United Steelworkers say that negotiations with Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. continue, but “progress has been slow.” The union also indicated that some job action may be on the horizon. “Goodyear has not moved from its ‘cut and gut’ agenda. Your bargaining committee has remained steadfast and is determined to achieve a contract that is fair and equitable, that protects our retirees and that provides job security for our members, the union said in a memo to members.
Continue ReadingExpansion for Michelin Nova Scotia Plant
A Canadian union leader has said that expansion plans for a Michelin plant on Canada’s east coast expose “the company’s long-term strategy to rid itself of unionised plants.” Michelin is to expand its non-unionised factory in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, with a provincial contribution of between $3 million and $8 million, a government source told the Canadian press. Dozens of jobs will be created according to reports.
Continue ReadingThe 350 mph JCB
Most of us have cursed at one time or another when caught behind a slow-moving digger, travelling on the road. Well, theres one JCB that will easily leave you standing, as the JCB Dieselmax recently achieved a stunning 350mph (563kph) at the Bonneville Salt Flats to break its own land speed record for diesel-powered cars.
Continue ReadingNew Varta CV Battery
Varta has added a new 180 amp/hour SHD (Super Heavy Duty) battery, suitable for numerous European heavy truck applications, to its advanced calcium-silver PROmotive range. This range offers 70 per cent coverage of the European commercial vehicle market and, says Varta, it is the first range of 100 per cent, maintenance-free HGV batteries to incorporate the innovative, calcium-silver technology.
Continue ReadingNew Catalogues from Motaquip
Aftermarket parts supplier Motaquip has launched two new catalogues. The first of these is the companys 2006/2007 Batteries Catalogue, which provides Motaquips factor customers with details of two-, three- and four-year warranty products, covering 97 per cent of cars on UK roads. The company has also introduced a range of Midtonics battery testers and chargers.
Continue ReadingRussian Car Output Rises
Car output in Russia rose 9.5 per cent year on year to 646,000 units in January-June, the industry and energy ministry reported. The ministry attributed the growth to an increase in car output by Avtoframos, a joint venture between the Moscow city government and Renault; Ford; the GM-AvtoVAZ JV; IzhAvto, TagAZ, and Severstal-Auto; and Russian car assembly plant Avtotor, a Prime-Tass report said. Truck output in Russia rose 18.4 per cent in the first half of the year, said the ministry, but did not provide any detailed data. The ministry attributed the growth to an increase in light commercial vehicle output by Russian automakers GAZ, UAZ and TagAZ.
Continue ReadingMarangoni Extends Meteo HP Winter Range
The use of winter tyres for the cold season has become widespread among European users in the last few years. In the past winter, for instance, sales in Europe increased by almost eight per cent when compared to 2004. In keeping with this trend, Marangoni Tyre is further extending its Meteo HP range of winter tyres. Extremely safe, with high performance on all types of road surface and over an exceptionally wide range of operating temperatures, Meteo HP can be defined as the no-compromise winter tyre.
Continue ReadingAlcoa: Dura-Bright Wheels Now Even Brighter With XBM Technology
Alcoas new Dura-Bright wheels with XBR technology provide customers with wheels that are 53 per cent more reflective and with 74 per cent more image clarity, according to the wheel manufacturer. In fact from 1 September Alcoa Wheel Products will officially begin transitioning from its original Dura-Bright wheels to new Dura-Bright wheels with XBR technology. Alcoa says its new treatment means brake dust, grime and oil residue wash off quickly and easily with a spray of soap and water. As before, Dura-Bright wheels with XBR technology combat liquid road de-icers and chemicals.
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